A Work in Progress: The JCOGS Library in Stowe, Vermont

It has been a busy summer here in Vermont, and my blog posts have been placed on the back burner for awhile as I tackle several fascinating projects.  One of these has been my work in helping the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe (JCOGS) get a library of Judaica up and running for its congregation.

Several years ago, a generous collection of books was donated to the JCOGS congregation to found a library which would serve their community.  After a room was set aside and furnished,  JCOGS decided to call upon my services to complete work on this exciting new library. My mission was to establish an online catalogue, train volunteers, and determine how to accommodate the growing collection within the space available in the building.

The collection was housed at the bottom of the staircase on the lower level of the building.  It offered a warm, family-friendly space enhanced by comfortable furnishings and a pleasant color scheme.  The only difficulty was that the existing shelves were already filled, and more books were stored in boxes waiting for attention.  With the collection growing,  the shelf space would be quickly maxed out, yet the addition of more shelves would risk the loss of some of the features (such as the sofa) that made this room so welcoming.

 A conference room was located just down the hall from the library, making some in the congregation wonder whether that space would be more suitable for the library as it offered considerably more wall space. 

Others in the congregation were concerned that the conference room was less welcoming and wouldn't afford enough space for recreational use, such as the book and film discussions which regularly took place.  Here are photos of the conference room at the time of those discussions.

After looking at the pros and cons of each option, I proposed that the library use both rooms:  the original room as a "community space" for book and film discussions, as well as for Jewish fiction, cookbooks, children's materials.  The conference room would then house the scholarly collection including religious texts, history, biography, and reference materials.

 My aim was to "warm up" the room with the addition of attractive shelving, and allow the scholarly collection plenty of room to grow.

The shelves were built by a local contractor, using my specifications for color and materials.  They are bolted to the wall for safety.  The conference table doubles as a study table, and there is a plan to add a reading chair as well.


There is still more work to do, but a great deal of progress has been made toward launching the JCOGS library and its online catalogue in the fall.   I'll post again when the project is finished!

Joslin Memorial Library in Waitsfield, Vermont

In 1913, just two years after the dedication of the renowned New York Public Library building in Manhattan (see my earlier post), the small town of Waitsfield, Vermont laid the cornerstone of the Joslin Memorial Library.   It was a gift of Waitsfield native, George Alfred Joslin who had made his fortune in the newspaper business.  He dedicated the library as a memorial to his grandfather, Joseph Joslin.

Like the donors who helped to build New York's great library, George A. Joslin was part of a  "Golden Age" of library construction in the U.S. which saw the country's successful entrepreneurs embark upon thousands of public library projects.  You'll find a fuller history of the Waitsfield library at this website: http://www.central-vt.com/towns/library/Waitsfld.htm.

From what I could tell, the library's footprint has not changed since its construction- almost 100 years ago.  The lower level of the building still houses municipal offices as it has since the beginning.  The last major change took place in the 1970's when a children's area was set up in the room to the right of the entrance, a room which had housed the town post office until 1966.   During the post office years, the librarian also served as postmaster and janitor!  

 Given the fact that the library is occupying a building designed early in the previous century, the Joslin Library has had to be very creative about how to fit a 21st century service into what is essentially a 19th century structure.

I'll start by pointing out some of the striking original features of the building.  In the library's vestibule (above), note the decorative floor tiles, the marble wall, and the oak doors.



 This window above the main entrance has been described as a "starburst" design.  I believe that you can see this feature in other libraries built around this era.




In the handsomely detailed ceiling there is a stained glass skylight, which was described by the architect as an "art glass panel".
















The light fixtures are still original to the building.

 

Book shelves have been added as the library has grown.  The metal shelving shown at right is softened by the use of wood panels at the end of each bank.  Grooved wooden book supports mounted on the panels are very effective in displaying materials. 

Here you can see part of what was originally a massive oak circulation station.











Part of that was removed and replaced by what is essentially a more space-saving office desk.  Librarian Joy Worland told me that the library had just finished automating.  Note that laptops are used, once again because they save space. 

This view from the desk gives you an excellent idea of this historic library's  gracious interior.

Because the library has no dedicated program space, programs are held within the library itself.  Stacking chairs are tucked in along the walls and brought out when the library hosts a speaker.

Like other libraries, the Joslin Memorial has found that the availability of current information on the Internet has allowed them to downsize the reference collection.  The library is taking advantage of this trend to create an area for young adult materials in the main section of the library.  As you can see from the photo on right, this is a project that is now underway.

With our back to the circulation desk, we are now looking down the corridor toward the children's area, with it's inviting blue rug.

The children's collection is housed in a cozy and inviting room. They have made the best of their space shortage by the use of plexiglass book display holders (on right in photo) which allow books to be attractively displayed on windowsills while still permitting light to come through.

On the wall opposite the windows pictured above, the bulletin board cleverly placed above the bank of shelves offers space for signs and appealing displays without a loss of wall or floor space.

Even with little or no extra space, the library staff has made the most of what they have.  Plastic bins and baskets keep things tidy and attractive; appealing displays make children want to pick up a featured book.

With very little storage space, I asked about how the library managed its book sale.  Their solution is an "ongoing" book sale, tucked into a shelf in the marble-walled vestibule - a very effective solution. 











Finally, public internet stations (to right of photo) are  located near the main entrance.   You'll notice as you look toward the back of the room how all available wall space is being used and while the shelves are crowded, there is still a feeling of spaciousness.

I would like to thank librarian Joy Worland for her great work and for her willingness to take the time show me through this historic library. As the Joslin library approaches its centennial, it will be looking to expand upon the existing century-old space and to make the library handicap accessible.  It will be exciting to see their progress!  For more information, check out the Joslin Memorial Library's website at: http://www.joslinmemoriallibrary.com/

A library neither small nor rural: some thoughts inspired by a brief visit to the New York Public Library

I've been busy with a some interesting consulting work and so have had little time for the library visits I've enjoyed so much.  However, a family wedding brought me to New York City a few weeks ago.  I wandered its noisy, vibrant streets, amazed by the city's joyous energy.  Eventually, my perambulations brought me to the renowned New York Public Library.  How could I not venture inside for a brief visit?

It is a jaw-dropping experience.   In case you've never had the pleasure,  I offer a telling glimpse of the building's opulence by showing you a lowly drinking fountain on the main floor! 




The famed Map Room wasn't yet open, so I ducked into the Genealogy Division on the first floor whose windows look out onto Bryant Park in early spring.  Note the graceful London plane trees which shade the park in summer.

















  You can imagine what it must have felt like to be an immigrant  in the early part of the 20th century and to enter a place such as this:  a veritable palace of learning, open to everyone.  Every bit as much as the Statue of Liberty promised freedom, this library has promised hope.  

Like many of the rural libraries I'm familiar with in Vermont and New Hampshire,  the NYPL was born in an era between the late 19th and early 20th centuries when public libraries were taking hold of the public imagination.

As we all know, one of the prime movers behind the expansion of public libraries during this period was the Scottish-born industrialist Andrew Carnegie. 

Although the founding bequest that helped to build the NYPL was from another philanthropist (former governor Samuel J. Tilden)  Carnegie followed up by  donating the funds to develop a system of neighborhood branch libraries in New York.

Carnegie famously said, "There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration."

Here's a link to more information on the founding and building of the NYPL: http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/history

I thought about this era, with its unprecedented construction of beautiful and well-stocked library buildings, and about the philosophy which inspired them.   Clearly, the concept had its detractors.  But  the many benefactors who donated the funds to erect public libraries in their communities, both urban and rural, had the same message in mind:  "If you work hard and educate yourself you too can realize the American dream."

Sadly, that time in our history has passed.   It's unlikely, in the push for ever lower taxes, that public institutions such as these will enjoy the support that they did at their founding.  But interestingly, when requests for library funding are put directly before the voters, the voters almost always say yes. People still believe that public libraries are one of the most important institutions in our democracy.

This leads me to wonder about the disconnect between governments and the governed.  If our local governments listened to their constituencies there would be a great deal more money available in this country for the building and stocking of public libraries.   Failing that, perhaps there are some modern Carnegies waiting in the wings to build a lasting monument to the concept of hope through learning.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston, Vermont

Although the Town of Williston established a public library as early as 1905, the library didn't find a permanent home until 1958. In that year, the widower of Dorothy Alling  had a library building constructed to honor his late wife's long-time support of the library.
The brick colonial revival building, appropriately christened the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, offered 1500 square feet of library space and served the town until the 1980's when the growth of Williston made it clear that more space would be needed.  The first addition to the original building was completed in 1986 followed by a second addition in 1998, bringing the library to 9500 square feet.  For more information on the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library be sure to go to its excellent  website at http://www.williston.lib.vt.us/

The main desk faces you directly as you come through the doors.  There's ample work space behind the desk, flowing directly into the staff offices.

 Just across from the main desk I noted an original take on the question of whether or not people should be permitted to eat in the library.  Here, library customers are invited to enjoy their lunch or coffee at little cafe tables set up near the front door. 

Let's take a quick peek behind the desk to see their DVD system.  For security reasons the staff decided to keep the actual DVDs behind the desk, leaving only the cases on display.  The DVDs are stored in numbered envelopes which match the numbers on the cases.  As in a video store (remember those?) the patron simply brings the case to the desk and the staff quickly retrieves the item and inserts it into the case.  In fact, it's better than a video store since you're able to keep the original case when you check out the item.  This system is simple, cost effective and space-saving.

The spacious office area is well-planned, and accommodates the library's entire staff. Although the offices are located in the central interior of the building, there are many windows which face directly into almost every public area of the library.   Kitchen facilities,  seen in the photo at left, are tucked in on one wall out of public view.

To the right of the main desk is the library's adult collection, housed in a large, bright room.  This room combines functionality with comfort, and features inviting nooks for reading or study.

  In the photo below we are looking out from the adult section, back toward the main desk.  Here's an idea I haven't seen anywhere else as yet:  see-through display cases which are built into the wall, giving a sight line from one area to the other. It's pretty nifty, and we'll see it repeated as we move to the children's area.

 

In this view we are looking down the corridor connecting the main desk area and adult collections to the youth collections.   The left hand wall of the corridor is used for art exhibits. Windows in that wall provide natural light into the staff offices thanks to the large exterior windows on the right of the corridor.  They offer a lovely view of the library's garden, seen below in winter.

 Perhaps the centerpiece of the Youth Area is "The Family Room", the connecting link between the picture book room, the meeting room, and the youth collection.  Truly a multi-purpose area, it is popular with teens and with parents waiting for children during story times.  It also serves as an expansion of the meeting room which is facing us in the photo.

For popular programs the doors between the Meeting Room and the Family Room can be folded back, almost doubling the available space.

Here's a closer look at the Meeting Room itself.  The closet to the left of the podium contains a kitchenette.  There is also storage for chairs and for audio-visual equipment.  Spotlights and audio speakers are mounted on the ceiling.

Aside from the picture books themselves, perhaps the highlight of this room is a charming mural by a very talented local artist, featuring views of Lake Champlain and its" Lake Monster", Champ.

The photo on right is taken in the "Family Room", looking toward the youth collection.  Note once again the see-through display case.   In brief, the Youth Area of this library consists of the Family Room, a Picture Book Room for pre-schoolers, and a third room housing materials for older children and young adults.

I'll close this post with a view of the bay window in the Children's Area. The comfy cushions and chairs offer a perfect welcome for young readers.

 Many thanks to dynamic Library Director, Marti Fiske, for taking the time to show me around.  It's inspiring to see how far this busy library has come over the last few decades!

Rockland Public Library in Rockland, Maine

This posting is a tribute to our late friend, Patrick Reilley of Rockland, and to his work on the library committee which restored and expanded this beautiful library in 2001. 

The Rockland Public Library, one of the famed Carnegie libraries, was completed in 1904 on land provided by the Town of Rockland.    In 1996, town visionaries created the Rockland Endowment Association with the purpose of soliciting private donations to improve their library.  It is a testament to the people of Rockland that their efforts raised an astounding three million dollars.  These funds made possible the expansion and restoration that we will see today on our tour.  For more information on the library, check out the website at http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?render=homepage

You will find two "main" entrances to this library: the historic entrance at the top of the page, and the entrance to the new section on the opposite side of the building, seen on the right.  

There is a service desk at each entrance with sight lines that go directly from one to the other.   In this view we are at the historic entrance looking back to the new entrance.  Note the handsome curved desk which serves as an information/reference point.  It looks toward the circulation desk straight ahead in the new section.

Now let's look at the library interior from the new entrance.  Note that the original exterior has been preserved in this restoration. The connecting atrium gives us the illusion of being outdoors.  Its effect is stunning and cheerful.   Here is another view of this area and its atrium.

During our dark New England winters, it's helpful to remember that a large, bright window can transform itself into a black wall by 4:30 on a December afternoon.  The architect took this into account by using track lighting above the glass to warm up the area when there is no light coming in.

Directly off the circulation area in the new section is the children's room, a nicely-planned space.  I liked the juxtaposition of the children's area and the main circulation area as both are active and noise-tolerant spaces.


In the photo above we have a view of the circulation desk from the children's room.  The French doors to the right of the photo lead into the "children's garden", a fully enclosed garden space.  Sadly, wintertime doesn't allow us to fully appreciate this charming feature, but one can fully imagine how inviting this must be in warmer weather.  Here's a view looking out from a window in the children's area.

 In an alcove adjacent to the children's room is a nifty storage area for story time and craft supplies.

Below is a view of the children's room from the main circulation desk.  It has a fine bay window - an inviting reading area for parents and kids.  I also want to point out the pendant lighting fixtures which are used throughout both the new and old sections of the building.  They provide good light while preserving the historic feel.

Directly across the new addition, on the other side of the circulation desk, I found the audio book section.   Note the clear wall lettering, a way-finding system used throughout the building to good effect.  

Before we go into the historic section of the building, I wanted to point out another view of the circulation area and the clearly designated display of new materials.  It seemed that there was very good communication between the library building committee and the architects; the library is laid out in a thoughtful and customer-friendly way, all the while preserving the beauty of the original structure.


This is a view of the periodical reading room from the information desk in the original structure.  Note the beautiful architectural details, the ironwork, and the handsome fireplace fitted with a modern insert.  This is such a gracious and welcoming space, clearly beloved by library customers today.

In the wing opposite the reading room is the non-fiction area, thoughtfully placed adjacent to the information desk. Note the glassed-in area for quiet study.

Once again, this area is clearly signed as you can see in the photo below.

Here's another photo of the historic section looking up at the beautiful lines of the ceiling.

In several of these photos you can see the use of well-chosen pendant lighting fixtures which seem to bridge the gap between the early 20th century architecture and modern 21st century illumination needs. 

Another nice design feature is the use of cushioned window seats along a number of windows. 






The library's ground level serves a variety of functions, housing a tutorial room, the board room, a community meeting room, and the library's own book store, "The Book Stop".

 This unique take on the traditional library book sale features a large, plate-glass window looking out onto  the corridor.  As you can see, this is not your typical book sale, but an actual retail space staffed by volunteers and filled with eager shoppers. To learn more about "The Book Stop", check this link: http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?render=page&callname=book_stop. 

Warm congratulations to all those who have had a part in the renaissance of this beautiful library, and thanks to Children's Librarian, Jean Young for taking some time out to show me around on a busy Saturday.