It's been a long dry spell for blog entries, thanks to holidays, bad driving weather, reading books, inertia... And in the back of my mind the knowledge that this was a "hundreds" entry. Did you notice? This is the 600th library I've visited and written about! [Number 500, if you care to know, was my two-day visit to the brand-new library in Calgary. Check it out, but only after you visit Gilford, because this is quite a treat.]
This is a corner of the parking lot near the tech support area of the library. The sign is for those who are using curb-side service.
Someone broke out the sidewalk chalk for another way to direct patrons to curbside.
This visit was just a couple of weeks after Christmas, so inside and out the seasonal touches are in transition.
Pretty classy, putting the library's logo on a large doormat in the vestibule.
Also in the vestibule, a few books for sale. There is also a bookstore on the lower level of the building.
After making my presence known at the service desk, I turned left and came to a display by a local artist. I intended to come back and get some details here, but as you'll see, there was much to distract me.
Puzzles are often underway in libraries, especially in seasons that lend themselves to indoor activities. These two tables are just a few feet apart. I think the puzzle on the left looks a bit more difficult.
The periodical collection is extensive. You can borrow back issues, but each current issue has a note clipped to the cover reminding you that it does not circulate.
The beams are reminiscent of a couple of libraries I visited recently and the fireplace is a masterpiece.
Several inviting seating areas share this space. The flags suggest that meetings may be held here.
Another one of the wonderful telescopes found in each New Hampshire library. They can be checked out for a week at a time; good luck choosing a rare week of clear skies, however.
This framed poster is very timely, since there is currently a big brouhaha about whether New Hampshire should continue to be "first in the nation" to hold primary races. The poster, published by the Manchester Union Leader, shows the variety of voting boxes used in towns around the state.
Ten years ago when I started my visits and blog posts, libraries were transitioning from VHS to DVD formats for movies. Many were phasing out the VHS tapes by a policy of "as long as they keep working, we'll keep shelving them." I think this is about where we are with DVDs now.
Nine computers for public use are housed in three three-part carrels.
That white contraption on the left is a 3-D printer. When I was there it was quietly chugging along, printing something. I tried to get a small video of it in action. Here it is, but I don't know if it will play
Another transition I've been noticing: we've gone from the classic card catalog, to computers with the card catalog in a central area, to a keyboard and monitor mounted in or near the stacks,
Every nook and cranny seems to have a pleasant place to sit and read, study, or simply rest your eyes on the view out the window.
The table and chairs seem to signal "working area," and the sign reinforces that message.
Here's a glimpse into the extensive Tech Services area. Nearby is a long, steep stairway of the sort I avoid as much as I can. The tech guy saw me recoiling from the stairs and kindly directed me to an elevator near the entrance. Thanks again!
This is the young adult area; no picture because the room was occupied by a number of young adults. I suspect that it was savvy to put this next to Tech Support.
The next "cluster" with its green plants and red chairs surprised me in a very nice way. I think that if I lived in Gilford, this would be my go-to spot for library visits.
Well, this is where I should have either made good notes or taken a better picture. It's clearly some sort of historic display. I remember thinking "I'll remember this, no need to make a note." Wrong.
Now for the non-fiction stacks. No Dewey Decimal signage. Instead, books are shelved by topic. I first saw this system in use some years ago in Rochester, Minnesota. My initial reaction was quite negative; The "correct" procedure was to find a book in the card catalog, write down the Dewey number, find that exact number in the stacks. I haven't been a regular patron of a library that uses the topical system, but the more I encounter it and think about it, the more I am being won over.
Notice above that the stacks are labeled very broadly. Below, those white labels are added to the shelves to help narrow a search.
At this point the Director took me under her wing and we went downstairs to see the children's area, she on the stairs and I on the elevator. One end of the building holds a larger meeting room--and the extension of the handsome fireplace.
Bright squares, apparently made by kids, tell us that we are in the children's library. I noticed a door to the outside (or from the out to the inside), giving access to kids and adults without needing the stairs or the elevator.
This is the second place I've seen World Language books for kids.
Although we're at least partly under ground, I believe, the tall windows provide visual connection to the outside and a nice dose of natural light.
It's been a long while since I've seen a sign with this message. It really is the case that people seem to think that book displays should be left to be decorative. No, people, really: they are displayed so you can see them and use them!
[Well, maybe not if you're looking at one of those fancy trees that some libraries create with stacks of books.]
Here's the children's librarian's domain. What, no kids? Well, there had been a Baby Time program a few hours earlier, and school was in session. I'm sure there are times when the joint is jumpin'.
Here's a small group space for kids' and adult's programs. If I'd stepped in and turned right I've have been in the middle of an adult craft program. So I didn't.
If you look closely at the backgrounds in this area, you'll see some bright examples of decorations from the summer reading program which had an ocean theme. Here's an octopus keeping an eye on some easy readers.
Adults are not the only ones who like a "living room" set-up with a sofa and easy chairs.
We haven't had blizzards yet this year, but these many snow- and winter-themed books are ready to go.
It's good to see many of the expected toys returning to use as the pandemic recedes (we hope). Only the fabric toys are still standing by. This is a very flexible piece with homemaking play, a puppet theater, and even a shopping cart.
There's a kitchen any kid could love.
How much longer, I wonder, before kids have no idea what this is. I used to visit a third grade class with a similar phone, only black and heavy with all its "innards." Some of the kids couldn't turn the dial; fingers not strong enough!
: This area is especially for parents.
Ah, the downside of providing lots of toys. The Linden Hills library in Minneapolis gave this a try. As I understand it, it's a parent thing. If the parent says "OK, let's put away the toys you were using so they'll be ready for the next kid," well, the toys probably get put away, sticker or not. More common are parents who say something like "Let's go, we have to get home before the groceries are delivered, we don't have time to deal with this." It's a rare kid who will respond "I need to put these away first so I can get a sticker!" Perhaps it's different in New Hampshire.
I like the idea of clear plastic backpacks for library kits. The rule about "checkout only" serves to keep "kit materials" and "library materials" separate.
1/3/2023
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