Stowe Free Library in Stowe, Vermont

 Stowe has been a magnet for tourists since before the Civil War.  In fact, the Stowe Free Library was founded with a donation of 51 books from a group of summer hotel guests who used proceeds from an art sale to fund the purchase of this founding collection.  It was supplemented by a town appropriation of $100, making Stowe the first town in Vermont  to appropriate a sum of money for library purposes under the state law of 1865.

The classic Greek Revival building where the library is now located was originally built as a school in 1863.  The building was abandoned in 1974 and slated for demoliton when a new high school was constructed outside town.  Thanks to a bequest from Helen Day Montanari and the diligent work of local preservationists, the old schoolhouse was restored in 1981 to house the Stowe Free Library and the Helen Day Arts Center.

I worked at the Stowe Free Library from 1987 through 2000, and I'm proud to have been part of a small team that worked to expand the library in 1993-94.  The design of the lovely addition was by Montpelier architect, Barbara Conrey.  Thus, this visit was particularly enjoyable as I caught up with many old friends and colleagues.  There have been some changes and improvements over the last number of years which I'll point out as we go.


To the right is the library lobby.  The built-in display cabinet makes great use of the lobby while providing excellent security for items displayed.  You will note that decorative molding on walls and doors throughout the library supports the neo-classical theme of the building - and at minimal cost.

The front desk faces you as you enter.   Like the circulation desk at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the higher shelves enhance the available work space behind the desk.  The central part of the desk is low, making it accessible both to children and to people with disabilities.  Again, note the molding which ties the desk in with the rest of the building.  Here's a glimpse behind the desk.

The dark wood shelving in the library was made by local craftsmen and gives the library a cozy feel that patrons enjoy.  Note the book supports that were added to the end of the shelves for display purposes. 

Effectively lighting public libraries is both challenging and important.  Here, additional lighting was added later as new shelving was built and dark spots needed to be addressed.  Note both the track lighting as well as the globe lights.






Here is an example of some of the original fluorescent lighting.  Note the unusual rectangular pattern in the ceiling lights. This setup offers more flexibility if the shelving layout is changed in the future.   I always liked the molding around the fixtures which minimized the intrusiveness of having modern fixtures in an older building.

Here's another view of the stacks and the lighting above.

The periodical reading room was originally placed adjacent to the children's area in an open plan system.  The reading room was later walled in to provide a quieter space. However, the French door and large windows preserve the light and airy feel of the original space.

Because libraries are the focal points of their communities, bulletin boards are in great demand for postings of local events.  The rear entrance of the library provides ample space for posters (note the two bulletin boards).  The pamphlet holders on left of photo have been very useful as space for additional library and community information.

A local interior designer took the functional walls of the library's meeting room and gave them visual interest as well as a thoughtful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

I want to thank the outgoing Stowe Free Library Director, Stephanie Chase, for a great visit.  She has done a magnificent job and I wish her the best of luck in her new position.  I also want to thank all of my former colleagues at the Stowe Free Library, as well as the library board (past and present) for their years of commitment to this important institution.   It has been nothing short of an inspiration to see how far the library has come since I first arrived!

Peterborough Town Library in Peterborough, New Hampshire

This library proudly states that it is America's first publicly supported library.  From its founding in 1833, it was housed in a number of locations in town.  However, in 1893 it finally found a permanent home in  the simple but classic brick building shown here.  For more on this library's history, check out this link: http://www.libraryhistorybuff.org/peterborough.htm
With the growth of the town, the library undertook a number of additions beginning in 1957, with a second large addition completed in 1978.  Since then there were a number of more recent improvements, including the creation of a parking lot and the addition of an air-conditioning system.

The 1978 addition offers a large, open-plan space, with the children's area contiguous to the main desk and periodical reading area.  To give you the idea,  I took this photo with my back to the main desk, looking toward the children's area.  As you can see, the walls are painted a warm red and the new section is lit by large windows.  There is a window seat in the children's area which provided a welcoming spot for young readers.

The noise level in such an open space can be a challenge and I was impressed with an original solution that served to kill two birds with one stone.  The librarians told me that the activities in the "art area", an exhibit and craft space, were conflicting with the needs of those who wished to read in adjacent areas.  They found an interesting fix by carpeting the walls of the art area both to absorb noise and to provide a very flexible gallery space which allowed exhibitors to nail things to the wall without the surface showing any visible holes or dings.  The effect was lovely, as you can see here.

It's always fun to see how a library might take a structural feature such as a post and transform it from impediment to asset.  This charming games table is a perfect example.

Before leaving, I had to take a photo of one of the most unique features of this library - its own book shop.  The next door property was left to the library in a bequest.  In a very smart move, they used this lovely building to house an ongoing book sale which, at least in my view, must be the envy of every librarian who has ever struggled with the space required for those important fund-raising book sales.

Thanks to Assistant Director, Linda Kepner and Children's Librarian, Lisa Bearce for taking time out from a busy day to show me around.  And congratulations to the Library Director and my former Vermont colleague, Michael Price, for his leadership of this fine library.