There were all kinds of nice things to see in this library! And those nice things started outside with the art.
I love this! And the egg statue is reading Humpty Dumpty! (Yes, yes, I know: there is no mention of an egg actually in the poem. But it’s tradition!) It’s just so cute! What a nice way to welcome people to the library.
The dog statue on the left, that says “It’s always the right time to read,” is the dog at the library. And I’m guessing this is a thing across the community - because the dog in that nice suit jacket is named Lincoln and I found him at a Lincoln Highway exhibit gazebo! I love when communities do this, and have everyone decorate the same thing all over the place so you see the individuality.
And they have so many good things going on at the library. Having this handy chart by the door, that can easily be updated each day with the flyers for the day’s events, seems like such a good idea! I’ve never seen this in another library, but it’s so convenient everyone should try it
When you turn your head from the daily schedule, as you come in the door, look at this amazing view you see! I love to see all this space, and the art. It feels fancy and good - a welcoming place to enter the library.
This made me VERY HAPPY! Many years ago I read the book Why We Buy, by Paco Underhill, and it was one of those books that changed me and gave me different ideas to go spinning off in new directions in library service. He was a retail anthropologist, and talked about different strategies for increasing what people buy. He also talked about libraries, and how we could increase the amount of books that people take home.
One simple tool he suggested was to put these basked around the library. Not just by the door - put them in the farther away areas of the stacks. Then, if people get the idea to grab a few books and they run out of hands - they can grab a basked to use, and maybe they grab a couple of extra books! So simple, and yet I rarely see them in the library. So this was wonderful!
One of the things I’m looking for in the libraries is the languages reflected in the materials the library collects. I’d say that the days we could collect material just in English, and assume we have served our community, are done - if they ever existed. It’s important to reach out to your community, talk to people, look at demographic data, and find out what other languages are spoken at home - and then to reflect that in the collection. So this was pretty great to see!
A couple of fun things in this picture. First: movies! DVDs are lovely, and it’s good to have them as options for patrons. And then that shelf to the right (under some of the very nice paintings for sale!) is one of my favorite things: a Library Of Things display. Patrons can grab one of the pictures, take it to the Circ Desk, and get their items. I am extremely delighted every time I see one of these programs in a library!!
A seed library! We’ve seen them, we love them - it’s basically a staple in public libraries now! Lovely.
I chatted with the Technology person for a while, and they were gracious enough to show me around and talk with me about all the different excellent things that are going on in this library. SO MANY THINGS! 3D printers, crickets, laser cutter, and so much more! It’s just great to see libraries taking the lead here for community, and providing this kind of access to things that may be harder to have at home.
And there is such an embarrassment of riches available in this library, they basically just casually mentioned that there was ALSO a recording area for podcasts and such!!! LOVE THIS! I was so pleased to see this, and appreciated them showing me around!!!
And then this! I’ve never heard of the Lincoln Award!!! But look how nicely it fits into the theme of this whole summer adventure!
From the AISLE website: “For a book to reach the master list, adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction titles must be nominated by teachers or librarians and vetted by the nominations committee. While the popularity of a particular title is important, the overall quality of the work is of primary importance. Each year, a panel of high school librarians, teachers, public librarians and students determines the final master list of twenty titles.
“This program encourages teens to read for pleasure and to become lifelong readers. Named after former President Abraham Lincoln, an avid reader and noted author, the Lincoln Award is sponsored by AISLE and administered by the steering committee.”
There were so many good things available in this library! Maybe today is a day to celebrate art and creativity and technology! Is there something you want to try? Today might be a good day to do something fun in that area.