Lincoln Highway: La Porte County Public Library
Whizzing through Indiana now!
This was an interesting library to visit - old fashioned on the outside and very modern on the inside! The La Porte County Public Library was a Carnegie library building, and has been expanded and updated to fit modern needs.
Sorry about the perpetual tilt in the picture. But you get the idea here - a lovely brick building and invites people to come visit!
The surprising thing about this library (there is something unique in every library!) is that I was there for a while before I ever saw an employee. When you come inside, there is no desk by the door - something that surprised me so much, as it reached down to one my fundamental, unconscious thoughts about libraries. Doors = Service Desks. But this library is doing new things!
And they have the standard good library things: comfortable chairs, lovely views out the windows, and some small growing plants right there!
I finally saw at the Information Desk, a small single-person thing that I completely walked past without seeing the first two times. The employee there was dismayed at being referred to as a Reference desk person. I think I like this strategy of allowing patrons more freedom to browse without supervision; I just wasn’t expecting it.
I’ve seen these machines in a couple of libraries so far in Indiana, and I really like this! Needing legal help is always scary, and expensive. So anything that can be done to make at least some basic information easier to find is a wonderful idea!
I really liked these shelves. It’s kind of the vibe of the whole library: a little dim so the lights aren’t blinding you, very tidy, and nicely organized. Plus: look at all of those nice new books! I’ve read a few of them, I’m on a waitlist for a couple more. (Obviously, people who like the books I like have excellent taste in reading!)
I found the Circulation desk near this display! I loooove watching the Olympics!!! Having no athletic skill at all does not stop me from getting extremely excited about the Olympics. I’m very happy that now they are every two years, instead of winter and summer being held in the same year, so now I don’t have as much time to wait to enjoy them!
(Television note: this is absolutely your time to get a VPN if you don’t have one. The NBC coverage is generally garbage, and you don’t get a lot of options in what you want to watch. With a VPN you can virtually be in Canada or Great Britain, or whatever other country you want. Those two provide coverage in English, and both have a LOT more options in watching different sports. NBC is not always trash - I pay for Peacock just so I can watch bike racing, and it’s absolutely great. So, I guess: make your own decisions.)
Comfortable chairs!! These look nice a padded and comfortable. And I like the desks next to them, so patrons can browse around for a pile of books and have them sitting right there without any trouble. And look at the nice full shelves behind the desks!
I popped up to the top floor to look at the Children’s department. I think these backpacks are always a good idea. And having them printed with the library’s logo is a wonderful idea on top of that! Kids never want, or need, just one book - that would be bananas! Take home a bunch of great things to enjoy!!
Today may be a good day to spend some solitary time, and enjoy yourself in new ways. Read some library books while you enjoy your time!