589 New Durham Public Library, New Durham, New Hampshire

I guess it's fair to say that I'm not always the best at details. My sister said she would pick me up at 1 pm the other day; I messaged back that I would see her at 10. She set me right on that! So maybe it's not surprising that I had New Durham's library hours right in my notebook: Wednesday 1 to 7. Fine...except that it was just about noon when I arrived. I didn't see the problem right away. There was one car in the parking lot in addition to mine. I walked down toward the street to get a picture of the sign...

Then I headed back to the library building. Beautiful day, beautiful building.

A nice long ramp up to the door...which was locked! Finally, light dawned. I was an hour early! What to do? Hang out for an hour? Go find some lunch? 

Ponder the Story Poles next to the ramp? I'm not familiar with story poles....

    

Wonder why book donations are not being accepted? [I can think of a few reasons.]

As I walked back down the ramp, help arrived in the form of a staff person coming to work. I explained why I was hanging out on the ramp, and she very kindly let me in. No problem here with the "no people" rule for picture-taking! I met the other staff person, explained my project, and started exploring.

Four computers are ready to go. Three signs above them served different functions.

First, the local rules, all very reasonable reminders. I don't very often see computer rules laid out this clearly. They are examples of good computer practice.

The second sign takes us beyond the local rules to a set of general behaviors.

And the third sign provides a lesson in making sure you are getting accurate information in your searches. Taken together, these signs provide a survey of responsible computer use.

The entry to the library is through a vestibule that takes one to the children's area on the right and the adult area. on the left. Let's go left. The first display is an Author Spotlight, currently featuring James Lee Burke.

Tucked in a back corner I spotted what every home, and every library, needs: a place for "everything else."

I'm now accustomed to seeing a lendable telescope in every New Hampshire library. Here, though I failed to get a picture of it, you can also borrow a microscope! I would have loved that possibility when I was a kid. All we got was stereopticon slides., and the days Miss Manning put those out were always special.

   

If you've been around the blog for a while you probably know that I always try to remember to look up at the ceiling in a library. You never know what you will find. Here in New Durham I found that many of the ceiling tiles are painted with unique designs. A map of North and Central America, for example.

Or a collection of children's handprints. I asked about this and learned that it's a custom, several years old, that is part of the celebration of the summer reading program. It's not an annual custom, but what fun it must be to leave your mark overhead.

The submarine is cardboard and kid-sized. It's not yellow!

This alligator (or crocodile) provides manipulatives for several kids at once.

Libraries are not just for books these days. In fact, many libraries are taking the lead in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). programming. I think there must have been a grant program, because I've seen STEM/STEAM kits and toys available in several libraries lately. This is something else that I would have enjoyed when I was a kid.

 

Sometimes you see STEM and sometimes an A is added to represent Arts. I haven't seen a space designated as Maker Space very often here in New Hampshire, but in Minnesota it was very common. Maker Space can vary from a corner for art projects to a whole room with sewing machines, 3-D printers, and other technology that can be borrowed. or used on-site.

For those who need an imagination starter, I like the poster on the left.

This poster seems to be aimed at older elementary or middle school kids. It fits with the 300 Books Before Middle School program. I've recently started seeing a few libraries with the 

Before Middle School program and I think it's great as a follow-on to 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.

      

Just before I left I recalled the summer reading contest between New Durham and the Goodwin Library in Farmington. You may recall that Farmington had an enormous octopus and kids there could add paper loops to it for books read. Down in New Durham they did not have a purple octopus, but they were certainly keeping track. New Durham won, but the results were close: 1901 to 1819, just 82 points different. Try again next year?

8/24/2022

 

588 Gilmanton (Iron Works) Year Round Library

 Here comes another one-day, two-library trip. First stop: the Gilmanton Year Round Library. Yes, there is another Gilmanton library in the blog. The other one is the Gilmanton Corner Public Library; This one is the Gilmanton Year Round Public Library. [There's also a Gilmanton Iron Works Library which has very limited hours; I'll try to catch it another time.]

So, is everyone set? Remember, this is the year-round library. Let's take a look.

I started by walking down the driveway to get a picture of the sign. I noticed that the Gilmanton School is right across the street. That suggests all sorts of programming possibilities.

Those are solar panels in the field behind the library building. I learned that they were installed a few years ago, and they provide enough electricity that the library can be air conditioned. That was a very good thing this summer, which has been super-hot.

And now we approach the library...or the barn?

How about...both? I've been to (or at least heard of) libraries that were once grocery stores, big box stores, large family homes, a jail, (in the Bahamas), train cars (Chile). Try searching for "libraries converted from other buildings" and you'll find some cool surprises.

The book sale is on, but that was not the biggest event on the day I was there.

The big event was a party for the young library patrons who are "graduating" from library story time to kindergarten. The library was loaded with kids, challenging my "no pictures of people" rule. But what a great reason for that challenge! The party had just ended when I arrived, and kids were everywhere, clearly at home in the library.

I grabbed this picture of the solar panels from inside.

I always like to see what kind of signage guides patrons in the stacks. These are really attractive.

      

This bookshelf is the home of the Classics Corner. Recently I seem to be seeing more classic fiction shelved and promoted. I like seeing this, as there's a lot of good reading in those older books. Try "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis, for example.

A set of carrels is being used for public computers.

I noticed several of these signs indicating that patrons have contributed to specific features of the library. I'm sure there are many more that I didn't see.

This cabinet displays books by local authors. 

They all looked interesting, but this one really caught my attention. I don't know the author's age, but I think it is very respectful that his book is displayed with the others.

          

I went upstairs to see the book sale and also to get a good look at the structure of the barn.

Here we are overlooking the first level with the remnants of the party. A couple of little girls were having a grand time taking cookies from the leftovers. I think they thought they were getting away with something, but I don't think the adults cared. And I mean that in a good way.

Back on the main level I found the play corner for the younger kids. As the kids checked out books and started leaving with their adults, the staff began tidying up from the busy morning. After the pandemic days, when toys and furniture were put away for months, I don't see a messy play space; I see a library serving in its classic way again.

Some places have suggestion boxes that seem to hide, as if they didn't really want any suggestions. This one, on the other hand, is really up-front. My suggestion: Keep doing what you are doing, it's great!

As I was driving away, I had to stop for one more look at the barn-turned-library. And here's a teaser: While looking on line for libraries in converted buildings, I came across another barn...and it's in New Hampshire. It's on my list...

8/24/2022

587 Madbury Public Library, Madbury, New Hampshire

So...you remember that I was headed off to visit the second library of four on my planned route. I was driving along, obeying the gps, when I saw one of those standard blue-and-white library signs. 

Perhaps I should stop? I kept driving for a mile or so, then saw a great place to turn around. So I did, and I went back to the blue sign and turned right. I turned right too soon and found myself on what was clearly NOT a road to a library. Extricated myself from that error, went back to the road, drove another hundred feet or so, turned onto the correct road. Drove up a hill to the town offices but didn't see a library. Headed back down the hill and there it was, in plain view. I'm not sure how I do this, but, well, here I am.

It's amazing how many of these canopies are in use at libraries this year. I think they became popular during the pandemic, when programs needed to be conducted outdoors.

The summer reading theme at most libraries is "Oceans of Possibilities," and it's fun to see how many ways this has been interpreted.

The grounds of this library are wonderful, with open wooded areas and several paths, including a story walk.

      

Usually by this time I would have posted a picture or two of the library sign, and thus its name. Somehow I managed to forget this, so here you are: Madbury Public Library. 

Something unusual about this library is its age. Most libraries, here and elsewhere, have a founding story that goes back close to the founding of the town. Madbury's library was born at a town meeting in 2001! Like many of its older cousins, it started life in a closet, then a house owned by the town. By the end of 2019,the library had its "forever home" in a handsome modern building. 

The library has a wonderful "make yourself at home" vibe.

Flowers add to the "at home" feeling.

The summer program includes reading challenges for kids and adults. Shown here are the prizes available for completing activities. In a town with a population of just under 2000, there are 48 kids and 24 adults signed up for the prizes. I don't have any figures for comparison, but this sounds like a pretty good level of participation.

How often in the blog have I mentioned trees as a theme, especially in children's areas? Trust me, it's a lot! 

One corner of the children's area is ready for imaginative play based on camping.

I try not to have favorites, but it's hard to resist this stack of cushions that look like slabs with tree rings. Spread them out to seat four kids, or stack them for a taller stool.

Here's a closer look at the tree. Can you identify the birds that hang out here?

Here's another bright bit of art with a bird theme.

We're back to my starting point where  a hand-made quilt presides over the computers.

 

In the children's area I spotted a neat book, "Madbury--pictures in time: an alphabet book for all ages." This is a hard-bound  book with a page for each letter of the alphabet, and pictures, of course. U, X, Y, and Z are especially creative. By using business signs, street signs, and  significant buildings, the town is thoroughly represented. I just had to buy one!

 So I ended my second visit for the day, my serendipitous stop. As I headed for my next stop, the gps and I got into one of our tangles. The gps does not say "recalculating," as my old one did. I thought this was a good change until I realized that if I made a small error without realizing it, that error would cause the gps to change my route [without telling me] and send me on a trip that could be miles out of my way. And that's exactly what happened on this trip. I got so turned around...and the day was so hot...I just gave up and told the gps "Take me home." I still have one important re-visit to work into my plans. And I have more than 100 libraries to visit in NH, plus many in other nearby states.

8/4/2022