447 Michigan City Public Library, Michigan City, IN

This bold sign ensures that you will not mistake this location for anything but the library. In the background, the shape of the building suggests pictures I've seen of factories designed with sloped roofs and clerestory windows like this.

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I haven't seen this design used for a library, but I think it makes sense. It lets in a lot of natural light, and it pays homage to this manufacturing area.

The grounds are softened by the presence of trees and shrubs that make a very nice "campus."

Inside, I found an increasingly rare payphone (50 cents, no incoming calls). Walls that are not clear glass are translucent, giving a bright look to the interior without glare.  

A story nook at the entrance to the children's area has an animal theme, from the rug on the floor to the mural on the wall. There are four rockers, one for an adult and the others for kids, plus some books and toys.

My favorite part of the children's area includes this puzzle mat with green "grass" and blue "water" pieces, plus the tree trunk, stump, and mushrooms, all made of thick foam. The pink and blue "egg" chairs "...are for children and adults with their children present." Staff told me that I was lucky in my timing: this area would soon be mobbed with kids and parents for a story hour,

There is also a very large rug with bright-colored squares directly in front of the children's librarian's desk.

Picture books are shelved in two levels of metal bins with rails to keep them from falling forward and author's initials along the top. The school-age collection includes non-fiction, fiction, readers, and media. There are a lot of bags with puppets that can be checked out.

The teen area shown below continues the factory theme with the large exposed pipes (air ducts, I believe). I can't explain the significance of the full-sized traffic light!

Some other discoveries:

• A "Die Cut" room with a device that teachers use to cut letters, numbers, and shapes from paper or cardboard. It's a nice idea to make this available to patrons (with supervision; must be 18) rather than keeping it for staff use.
• Nice signage on the ends of stacks. I wish I had a picture. Each sign involved a recessed space with an incised book shape and uniform labels, all covered with plexiglass. They are very attractive.
• Biographies are shelved together, not dispersed throughout the collection. This is the approach to biographies that I prefer, and I think many patrons agree with me.
• A "Dewey See It?" poster takes an interesting approach to understanding the Dewey Decimal System. For each "hundred" there is the number, some topics, and some relevant objects. For example, the 100s show a UFO, computer, library, newspaper, and Bigfoot.

The library surrounds an attractive courtyard, shown below.

"But what about the  adults?" you ask. Well, I did wander through the fiction stacks. I saw extensive ESL material adjacent to eight tutoring carrels "reserved all day for Learning Center Tutors." Fiction and Biography collections are followed by non-fiction. There is a large Indiana and Genealogy room with three word processors and a computer reserved for genealogy research. And some easy chairs facing windows provide a browsing space for the nearby periodicals.

At this point I had wandered to the wrong side of some caution tape. I didn't cross any tape, honest, but I had found a way through the maze, as it were. And a very nice gentleman with police insignia encouraged me to leave the area, as work was being done on the windows overhead. I guess I really was out of line. Sorry!

5/16/2017

452 Mackinaw Area Public Library, Main Branch, Mackinaw City, MI

I rashly decided that the library was close enough to my motel that I could walk. And I did walk, but oh my, it was a longer walk than I expected!

The building certainly is not fancy, but with a library, what matters is what's within.

The children's area is to the right of the entrance. A whiteboard has been mounted on the wall for kids to express creativity. A sign says that some pre-loaded iPads are available for kids to use in the library. Series books include many Nancy Drew books, various editions old and new, plus "Michigan Chillers" and "American Chillers," two series I've not been aware of. I just checked my home library's catalog, and it does have a collection of American Chillers. (But not the Michigan series!) Decorated paint stirrers are available for shelf markers.

And isn't that pillow-loaded bathtub cool?!

A large meeting room has a very long mural of US History. Chairs, a podium, and a large-screen display, look ready for a program.

    

Here is a corner for reading or study.

Kids also have a cozy corner.

There is also a large Michigan History room with an extensive collection of books and objects. My favorite was a model of Paddle to the Sea.

5/17/2017

451 Mackinaw Area Public Library, Bliss Branch, Levering, MI

When visiting libraries, it's fun to be surprised. In this case, I drove where my GPS directed me, turn left, turn right...there must have been an easier way! But eventually I spotted my goal, a small building seeming in the middle of ... lots of fields and woods.

The single vehicle in the parking lot had a cute picture of English sheepdogs. I was looking forward to this visit more and more!

The library is small, not quite tiny. It reminded me of a number of libraries I've visited, especially Grand Isle, Vermont, In both cases, I found a single staff person dedicated to providing lively, creative programming.

Last December, Bliss held a square dance; it must have been in the adjacent community meeting hall. February, cutthroat cribbage and potluck snacks. There is a writers' group and a musicians' group. For kids, the librarian is collecting colorful plastic bottle caps for a big summer art project. And before they go to their new homes, the sheepdog puppies will make a visit. How I wish I could be there that day!

The library has most of what all libraries have...just smaller. Here we see periodicals, a computer, a printer, a literature rack.

This display of books about cabin living suggests a likely interest of the local patrons.

Kids have a small collection of books and media, plus classic Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls.

The greatest asset of this library is the creativity and energy of the librarian and her patrons. It really makes my day when I find one of these small, rural gems. Live long and prosper!

5/17/2017

450 Petoskey District Library, Petoskey, MI

I tried to visit this library in the summer of 2014, but I failed to take into account the time zone change from Minnesota/Wisconsin. I arrived just as the doors were being locked, but I promised myself I would come back.

This is the only view I have of the kids area, as it was being renovated and/or reorganized. Therefore, it seems that I will have to include this on my itinerary on another trip. It's a beautiful part of the state, so this will not be a hardship!

Of great interest in the lobby area was a traveling display by Zonta Club of "Great Girls in Michigan History." Large posters of women of historic interest and accomplishment include where each was from (Sagniaw, Detroit...) and explains her contribution. A sign asks "Do you have what it takes to be great? Of course you do!" Single-word signs (Courage! Persistence!) are available for props in selfies. I thought I had taken a couple of pictures, but according to my camera, I did not.

Near the circulation desk I saw not one, but two 3-D printers. The one on the right seemed to be printing something. High-tech tools like this are seen more and more often in libraries today.

I chose to photograph this fireplace-shaped display simply because I like it and I think the use of books is interesting.

The teen area ("Teens Only! 7th - 12th grades") is behind a maker space room and adjacent to a classroom. The book and media collections are quite extensive.

When I got off the elevator, the first thing I saw was this display about Book Club Kits. Many libraries, including the one where I once worked, have book club kits in tote bags, but simply shelve them in a way that makes them less than ideally accessible. Sure, they can be found in the catalog, but I like the idea shown here of displaying the book jackets of the kits available, then marking the ones that are currently out with a sticky note.

Adding physical items (water bottle, bandanna, visor) to a display of books about outdoor activities is a nice eye-catching touch. Many libraries do this, of course. This display caught my eye also because of the unusual table.

There are many ways to acknowledge library donors. These ceramic "book spines" are one creative option.

Looking from the second level and down the elaborate staircase.

    

There are several reading areas with a living room ambiance.

Adult non-fiction stacks are above the children's area. There is a local history room, study tables, at least 8 computers. And of course the library has fiction stacks and all the usual media.

I have a restless feeling that I have not done the Petoskey library justice, but I will give myself a chance to do better when the children's area is open again. Next summer, most likely.

5/17/2017

272a Charlevoix Public Library, Charlevoix, MI

This was a re-visit. I was here in August 2014--with only 20 minutes before closing! (Put "272" or "Charlevoix" in the search field to reach the earlier post.) This time, I allowed plenty of time, including time to talk with staff. And I'm sure I still missed many features. If you're ever in this corner of Michigan, you really should have a look! And if I missed something that you want included, put a comment on the post.

There is a small playground on one corner of the grounds, and a gigantic monarch butterfly sculpture in the middle.

   

The library was once an elementary school, with two welcoming wings. 

The bear bears a map of this corner of Michigan. Charlevoix is disconcertingly close to the bear's tail. And the bit of old construction material on the right suggests that the town once had a Carnegie library.

 

These two pictures give a glimpse of the traditional woodwork and calm color scheme.

    

The reading room's origin as the school gymnasium is only apparent if you look at the ceiling.

Same reading room, from the other end.

Having a catalog computer on the end of a shelf in the stacks is very convenient. A puzzle exchange is tucked in a corner.

    

Someone does jigsaw puzzles the same way I would, with all those blue sky pieces lined up neatly. Let's see, I need a piece with a funny bump...where is it?

These areas of the library would be right at home in a lakeshore house, I think.

    

Teen areas can usually be spotted by their bright colors and funky furnishings.

    

My recollection from the too-hasty visit three years ago was that the children's area of the library retained the classroom features of a school. I was reminded on this trip that the wing was gutted and rebuilt as needed for its new role in life. I'd like to think that the wall behind the drinking fountains was tiled like this originally, but I'm probably wrong. However, the clock is original. Some of us remember these clocks with their punched paper tapes running through to ensure that the bells rang at exactly the right times. The clock still runs. The bells do not ring.

I hadn't seen this poster before, but I wish it would be displayed in every school, library, pediatric clinic, you name it. This is why I often wear a T-shirt that says "Talk to your children and read to your children." In the poster, note that the parents aren't even paying attention to each other, much less the kid. Pet peeve of mine.

It's hard to show, but the librarian's desk in the children's area is curved on both sides, facing the book area and the corridor. Nice design touch.

Teens don't get all the bright colors, of course. I especially like the red signs with the white rope knots in the corner.

   

Trees are a theme here. These are just two examples of the very large artificial trees. One has a computer embedded in the trunk. Another, not shown, has a space large enough for a child to sit inside.

    

The round, domed room at the end of the corridor was busy with kids and parents, so I settled for a picture of the ceiling.

Message to the staff, if you got this far. Yes, I have a booklet about the library...somewhere. It's now the last day of my trip, the car is a disaster area. But I had to get caught up with these posts. I will read the literature soon, and correct any egregious errors.

5/17/2017