592 Chesley Memorial Library, Northwood, New Hampshire

 When I took this picture I didn't know that the open house was to meet staff and trustees, learn about the Friends of the Library and see the new "library of things." That sounds like a busy couple of hours. I hope there was a good turnout.

The library was founded in 1954 and dedicated in memory of Alice Chesley Tasker's parents, George and Mary. In 1991 Joseph Grano provided a major grant for a new wing. 

Improvements kept coming. In 1995 the building was made ADA accessible and the lower level was prepared for the children's area. In 2007 Northeast Credit Union provided new shelves and in 2008 David Burton and Shawn Meyers created murals.

Oh how I wish we'd had a sign like this on the book return where I worked. I hope it does the job! It's very frustrating to bring in the returns at the start of the day and discover dozens of books from someone who surely knew that "gifts" were supposed to come in and be vetted by the staff. A lot of donated books just aren't of any use, even for the book sale.

The first area I came to was for teens. I can't tell you anything about that decorative pole, but I'm sure it is the work of young-adult patrons of the library.

Here's another view of the YA area. All of the tables (I think) were graced with these attractive cloths. A very nice touch, and we'll see it in other areas.

In the children's picture book area, the books are in bins that were built locally, and the bins are all on casters so the space can be readily reconfigured for programs.

These handsome bins are not cheap, and patrons were invited to make a donation of a certain amount and have a donor's plaque attached.

As you can see, this computer is for accessing the library catalog. And those colorful cards on the left represent the kids in the "1000 Books before Kindergarten" program.

I've seen manipulative toys many times, but never have I seen one that provides different activities on each side and the top! 

Here's an interesting idea. I didn't spot any of the purple dot books, but I like the idea of drawing attention to the usefulness of picture books for addressing difficult issues with kids.

Here's another idea I like, that I used with kids I tutored "in the way back times." Choose a book and start to read. If you get through a page with only one problem word, the book is too easy. Four or five problems, too hard. Two or three, just right. However, it's my experience that some kids will read "above their level" if the topic is compelling (dinosaurs?). And the best book for a kid is the book that kid will read!

I spotted this Lane cedar chest in what appeared to be a workroom. Looking around the library's web site, I learned that this is the dress-up chest. I got the impression that it would be going back into service soon.

In the adult stacks, books are shelved on the windowsills as well as the shelves. The wooden shelves are good-looking carpentry.

The chairs are classics...and there's another one of those attractive table coverings. 

I appears that adult programs are held in this area, and the extra chairs are "stored" right at hand at the end of each of the stacks. Smart, convenient, out of the way but ready to use.

Back at the beginning I mentioned the new wing built in 1991. It's in memory of Theodora Kalem Grano, as this handsome sign tells us.

The painted sign is supplemented by a more traditional plaque.

Oh, you just have to get tough when the subject is new DVDs! 

In the foreground, recorded books on CDs. In back, to the right, the cases hold CD versions of town documents, meeting minutes, and such. That's a new one to me. I hope there is a plan for when CD players go the way of the dinosaurs!

Pretty standard plea for a computer center, though many libraries allow "beverages with lids."

I think I've seen one of these at least once. Flags wear out, no matter how well they are maintained. What to do with them? Your best bet is to find a "flag drop box" like this. Whichever group maintains this box will ensure that your flag will be disposed of respectfully, usually by burning. I was glad to see a display of VFW guides to flag etiquette, and I took one. My grandmother had me pretty well drilled in this, but a refresher does no harm.

And here is the new "library of things" mentioned at the beginning. The one on the far right is a popcorn maker and the one on the far left is a technical Lego set. I'm not sure about the others.

Some genres of fiction (romance, mystery, sci fi) are familiar. I'm familiar with Spiritual Fiction as a genre with various names, but I associate it with the Midwest; think Iowa, for example. It's one more way that libraries meet the needs of their particular patrons.

Here's a quick look at the back of the library from the parking lot.

And this is one of the longest ramps I've seen, providing access to the lower level.

 

9/15/2022

551a Maxfield Public Library, Loudon, New Hampshire

This was an interesting experience. Often, I search the blog to see if I've already visited a planned library. This time, I was so confident that I had not visited, I didn't even check.  When I got to the parking lot everything seemed new to me.

As I approached the door, I still had no sense of having been here before. But when I got inside, staff greeted me with the news that they remembered me. Really? Well, if you say so...

I decided to treat this as a new visit for one principle reason: My first visit, as it turned out, was a year ago, in September 2021, when libraries were just starting to open as the COVID pandemic wound down. So my entry from that visit (Just search for "Maxfield") will show the difference between the major response to COVID and the "almost back to normal" status.

So I began my visit. This is the YA corner...and I have no memory of seeing it before.

These slanted shelves lift for access to the back issues of periodicals. I've seen these shelves many places, of course, but here? No, not familiar. And it's likely there were no periodicals on the shelves at the time of my first visit.

This takes "painting stones" to a whole new level. Did I see this on my last visit? No idea. [Note: I have deliberately not looked at the earlier entry.]

This telescope is part of the program to provide New Hampshire libraries with telescopes. This one looks like a slightly different model than those I've seen before.

Most libraries I see these days have found a way to have a comfortable reading area, usually centered on a window or a fireplace. This is a really nice example of a window corner.

The yellow sign is a reminder to maintain a six-foot "social distance." I don't see this being rigidly maintained these days, but it's a nice reminder of healthy behavior.

And now I come to a step-stool with a handle to help with balance. And this is the first thing I've seen that I do remember from the other visit!

This bookshelf holds local history materials. including, if my memory of this visit is correct, a collection of local school yearbooks.

Many libraries have a multi-purpose meeting room. This one is tucked around a corner near the unisex restrooms and the door to the children's area. That's where we'll head next.

At the bottom of the yellow-tile stairs we find the children's area--and I remember so much of it from the earlier visit! But probably not that nice wide chair; upholstery was banned during the pandemic. Too hard to clean.

A small amphitheater creates more program space outside; this picture shows about half of it.

I remember the yellow painting smocks, but on my last visit this room would not have been in use. No programs in those days, but there would have been "take and make" kits, I'm sure. And they'd have been available by "curb-side service," with everyone masked.

And I remember the mural that pays homage to the local racetrack, The New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Upholstery again, and materials set out for anyone to handle.

I don't claim to remember these cute animal chairs; they may have been tucked away in the old days.

I sort of remember this. The blue rail on the right leads us up from the main kids' area to a seat ahead and the elevator on the left. Sit and wait for the elevator? Curl up on the carpeted seat and read? Whatever works for you.

This mural shows a small airport, like one nearby.

The youngest library users have the habit of gnawing and drooling on...just about anything. Rather than putting "yucky" items back on the shelf, or leaving them on the floor, do other parents and the librarian a favor and put them here for cleaning.

Speaking of the youth services librarian, one reason this library caught my eye was that I read on the website that there is a weekly class for kids to learn and work on reading and writing cursive handwriting! They do not learn cursive in school, and the librarian told me that they seem to think of it as a craft or an art, like calligraphy. Nope, it's good old cursive. Source of my worst grades in third grade, and I still have lousy handwriting. In fact, I very rarely write cursive and my "signature" still looks like it was written by a third grader. But Louden is too far and the classes are only for kids. Let's head back up the yellow-tile stairs.

Somehow this picture got out of order, but I did want you to see the handsome fireplace.

And now, with my memory refreshed, I'm off to one more library. I always try to do two or three libraries in a trip, and New Hampshire makes this fairly easy by having a library in every town, and the towns packed quite close together.

9/15/2022

591 Lee Public Library, Lee, New Hampshire

 

Welcome to the Lee Public Library, with a pair of those ubiquitous canopies ready for outdoor programs. [This is the year of canopies; two years ago we had the year of Plexiglass.]

It's quite common to see a library and a historical society as close neighbors or even in the same building.

Some serious rock painting has been going on here.

Happy 130th birthday to the Lee Public Library. And here's wishing you many more years of serving the community.

Accessibility is almost always an issue in older, pre-ADA buildings. The solution here is a ramp and a set of steps leading to a side door.

This attractive display by the Friends of the Lee Public Library reminded me that I haven't seen many recruiting displays like this lately. I've seen plenty of evidence of active Friends groups, but not much in the way of recruitment. I wonder why that is.

I went around a corner into the children's area and immediately saw this clever room box. As a former builder of dollhouses, I'm always interested in miniatures. [Does anyone want a dollhouse? I have one that is too large for my apartment, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Free to a good home!]

I don't know why, but that couch gives the children's area an especially homey touch. The children's area usually has a chair or two, perhaps a chair wide enough for an adult and one or two kids, but in my memory, a couch is rare. It looks very welcoming.

There's a chair that matches the couch--so this area has something for everyone.

Youth books are identified and shelved by whether they are hardcover or paperback.

A bright rug that could lend itself to all sorts of games and discussions about animals.

People from larger, urban libraries are sometimes surprised to learn that books are still checked out with a date stamp. One advantage: No need to go to your account on line to find out when your book is due back. 

A long view of the library. Butterflies are being hatched in those two containers in the foreground.

I like this sign for the way it directs you to a new location: "Turn around. They're right behind you!"

A very different view from this direction, with computers and technology at the ready.

Since this is a decade-birthday year for the library, here are some "presents" for the public. The blue and red objects in the center are caps with the library's name. I was tempted, but I recently bought a cap and should be all set until I lose it. And history says that I will.  Below the caps are a number of books by local authors. I'm intrigued by one that tells the history of education in Lee, so I've requested it through ILL at my home library.

Is this the naughty chair for a bad bear? I hope not, but he certainly does look sad and lonely.

Although I've been assured that I can take pictures with people in them, I'm sticking to my personal policy of no people. In this case I felt a twinge of regret, because this isn't a static picture. A librarian was preparing the fabric you see to assemble "grab and go" craft kits for patrons. And while I was watching that and chatting, a patron joined us and shared with me how she finds materials for such kits, at thrift shops and other sources. It certainly looked like a effective partnership!

And off I go to continue my quest to visit "every library I can." Will I reach 600 before the end of the year? And which will I visit next? Only my planning notebook knows, and even that is not sure.

9/2/2022