535 Rye Public Library, Rye, New Hampshire

I've been watching library news during the COVID-19 epidemic. Some libraries opened partially back in January, and I was able to make a few visits. Then the scene went dark until April, and I discovered that the Rye Public Library is again allowing people to come inside.

Although I grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, I don't think I'd ever been to Rye. It's a very pretty town, with an attractive library.

 It will be even prettier when the grass is green. I liked seeing the bicycle maintenance post and the picnic table. It makes me think of a place where people like to be active and get outdoors.

These doors face the parking lot, so of course I started here. Then I saw the signs and remembered the instructions on the website: Use the doors facing Washington Street.

These doors are being used to manage traffic in and out of the library. As you can see, this is the older part of the building.

After introducing myself and getting permission for pictures, I spotted a very unusual couch. All the libraries I've visited have found ways to keep patrons off the furniture, but this was a first for me. It works, and you don't have to move the couch very far...just tip it forward!

To be sure I wouldn't forget, I started my visit on the lower level, in the youth department. Nobody was here! Well, there are no toys out these days, of course. And it was a very nice warm, sunny day, one of the first. A good day to be outdoors.

One advantage of minimal library services (if there is an advantage) is the chance to reorganize and make changes. And organizing picture books is quite a challenge!

In normal times this sunny area would be busy with parents and pre-schoolers. For now, it's being used as a cleaning area for books that have been returned. From my library page days, I'd say that all children's books could use a cleaning when they are returned. OK, not all. But many. At least some more than others.

This is the entrance to the Teen area, and the pictures are of library patrons and their pets. LOTS of pets! I'd show you the teen area, but the light pouring in the windows made my pictures come out 'way too dark.

So I'll show you the school-age kids' books. If you look closely you can see that one table is full of books, the next one back is actually available for use, and far back some chairs are upside down to minimize what must be cleaned each day.

I had forgotten that their were two parts to the library, the old and the newer. As I left the youth area I noticed that this is the old exterior wall.

OK, I know that you can't really see this, but it is a map of Rye with pictures of businesses and landmarks around town. This seems to me a great project, and of on-going use to show kids where things are. Maybe good for adults, too?

I always appreciate a sturdy railing with a good graspable diameter!

Metal supports above the top shelves identify the general areas of the stacks.

The grounds will be handsome when late Spring arrives. It's always nice to have a view from inside a library, connecting the library to the world.

The wall above the shelves is used to display art. I didn't ask, but I'm going to guess that these works are by local artists.

When I came back around the building to the parking lot, I got a better look at the entrance to the newer part. Oh, it feels good to be able to visit libraries again, even though I have to hunt for the open ones!

4/11/2021

534 Hill Public Library, Hill, New Hampshire

OK, we're not quite at the library yet. I didn't trust my GPS, so I stopped at a general store and found this outside. The library is very close; I'd call it a stone's throw away, but I throw like a girl who went through school before Title IX. In other words, I can't throw worth a darn.

This isn't the library, either. but it was at one time.

THIS is the library. At one time it was the elementary school, but in 2004 the buildings were switched. The library goes back 125 years; take a look at its history here: https://hillpubliclibrary.com/about/

The town of Hill has an interesting story. Visit here: http://www.hillhistoricalsociety.com/ to learn about the relocation of the town to provide flood control in the 1940s.

I really like the detailing at the front door. 

The sign and another Little Free Library. Let's go in.

In honor of the election (I assume), the library is hosting a collection of old campaign buttons.

I peeked into a couple of the catalog drawers and saw that they are still packed with cards. I forgot to ask, but assume these are no longer kept up to date, replaced with a computer catalog. 

You'd be surprised how many libraries I visit that have popcorn machines for movie night! They frequently look like this: 

Hill surprises with an older popcorn maker that reminds me of the one from my childhood in Nashua.

Oversized books have their own display in a sturdy wooden unit. Just to the right (I thought I had a picture) are Youth Biographies, Youth Reference, and Early Reader Reference. With the school right next door, it's nice to have a good collection of non-fiction for kids.

Here's another corner of the children's area.

I spotted a bin of ice skates under a table. Why not? Vermont libraries often have snowshoes. And Hill has a nice skating pond just across the street. I saw on the library web site that summertime story programs are held by the pond; now there will be a new seasonal activity!

Every modern library has a collection of technology. If you look closely you can see the plexiglass barrier separating the two monitors.

I'm a fan of maps, so I was pleased to see this rug in the children's area.

Take another close look and you'll see that the shelves are all on casters, allowing maximum flexibility for library programs. Excellent idea!

The final picture I took gives another view of the "tech center." I see that I have missed the coffee station, the books for adults, media...  I don't know what caused me to miss so much. Anyway, if you're in the Hill area, stop in and say Hi to the librarian. She's been there for 18 years and counting!

 11/13/2020

533 Public Library, Merrimack, New Hampshire

In general I like to visit libraries on nice sunny days, the better to enjoy the ride. But one drizzly day about a week ago, I just wanted to get out of the apartment. So, with my GPS set to avoid highways, I meandered to Merrimack. Although I grew up not too far from here, I'd never been to this library. I knew it only as a building up on a bit of a hill next to route 3. And I hadn't realized that the original building has a nice modern addition.

When introducing myself to staff and getting permission to take pictures, I learned that, like many libraries these days, the building would be closing at noon for cleaning; I had about 20 minutes! 

I headed off on a clockwise tour of the main floor. The first thing I noticed was a "library of things," something I haven't seen often lately. It wasn't called this, as I recall, but there was quite a variety of techie devices available for loan, including a couple of Nintendo gaming systems!

The "things" available include cake pans. This took me down memory lane, as the first place I saw a library lending cake pans was Nashua, Iowa. I've seen them in many places since then, but not recently for some reason.

Near the cake pans is a set of pages showing games that are available for loan. Most places where I've seen games in libraries they are either available for use on-site or simply on shelves for check-out. Merrimack's system would be much more reliable, I think, than keeping them on open shelves. When I last worked in a library, one of the minor pains was checking-in items like "Fun with Phonics" to make sure that all the bits and pieces had been returned. I wonder if staff here have to do that with all the game pieces?

The non-fiction stacks have enough cookbooks to keep the whole town eating well!

Periodicals are available, but in keeping with the Covid-19 rules, hanging out and browsing are not encouraged; note the lack of the usual comfy seating.

BYOL: Bring your own laptop.

The location of new books and media is eye-catching!

Speaking of media, there is plenty.

Plenty of DVDs to while away hours of quarantine.

At this point I came to a room in the old part of the building, "Staff Only Quarantine Area." Every library I'm aware of has set up an area to quarantine books that have been returned.

A view through the window to the quarantine room caused me a double-take. Very clear after a good look, but for me, it took a couple of seconds to recognize the gloves.

One area is set aside for teens. Many libraries have provided grab bags for the pre-school and elementary set; this is one of the few places where I've seen this kind of programming for teens. Sorry that the poster is not legible; it says that each bag contains two books, a snack, and a craft. Return the books, the craft materials and snack are for the young person to keep. Really neat programming.

Remember that I had only 20 minutes? Now I'm down to about 10, and I've headed downstairs to the children's area. Here I found a couple of staff and we got talking about programming, kids' reactions to not having the usual toys available, things like that. Meaning that I started taking pictures here just as the "we're closing" announcements started.

I clearly didn't do the space justice.

Seeing the announcement of the Great Stone Face Book Award winner reminded me that I want to read it. So I just went to the website of my home library and requested it. Aren't computers wonderful?

There is a nice collection of picture books and J fiction and non-fiction.

There is a mystery here. Earlier today I wrote my entry for Newton, NH, and the entire post was underlined...and I have no idea why. Likewise, I have no idea why this post got off on the right foot and maintained normal formatting throughout. Honestly, I thought I approached this one in exactly the same way. One of those computer mysteries (to me). If anyone has a theory, feel free to leave me a comment!

Back in the car, the pause for a red light allowed me to grab this quick shot of the older part of the building. I can't complain about the rain since NH is in a state of drought this year.