The Valente Branch Library, Cambridge
The Valente Branch Library
Monday, November 4, 2019. 9:35am.
There are few experiences in Library Land more exciting than the opening of a new library. The Valente Branch of the Cambridge Public Library is opening at 10:00am today. It’s a chilly morning to wait outside for a library to open, but how on earth could we not? This isn’t necessarily a celebration like we saw on Woburn’s opening day - that will happen on November 20 when the library hosts a community celebration. Still, we’re pretty excited
9:46 - A few people (besides Adam and me, of course!) are beginning to gather.
9:57 - The throngs are getting thicker. Maybe 10 people now.
9:58 - The staff is getting their pictures taken.
9:59 - It’s like waiting for concert tickets to go on sale!
The doors open and we step inside. The library is one giant space, with a ceiling that angles up dramatically. It consists mainly of windows, gigantic floor-to-sweeping ceiling sheets of glass. The fronts of the study rooms and meeting spaces are likewise glass. It creates a wonderful feeling of openness. The natural light that fills the spaces is so pleasant on a bright day like today
To the right of the entrance are the adult fiction and non-fiction sections, a quiet shared study room, and a small seating area with tables and chairs facing the street. It looks like a fine space to meet and talk with friends. To the left of center is the circulation/information desk. Further to the left, are public computers (including Chromebooks that can be checked out for use in the library), movies, music and games, and finally, to the far left - teens and children. For all its use of glass, the library hasn’t created a glass wall around the kids section, which makes things a little loud from time to time.
The amazing exterior of the Valente Branch.
Along the rear wall to the left are the administrative offices, restrooms (totally clean), two comfortable study rooms, and a programming space. For the opening there were refreshments in this room, a nice surprise! After having snacks and a look around, we reserved a study room to get some work done. The process was simple and the rooms are quiet (though not soundproof).
The Valente Branch has two study rooms that can be reserved and a quiet study room available to all.
The library has a small collection of STEM project kits that can be checked out. Adam learned that the library’s entire collection consists of brand new books and that those books will stay here at Valente for the first month before becoming available for Interlibrary lending. One cool and quirky thing about the library: it has Bocce court in front and a set of balls that can be borrowed. How fun is that? This may be our after lunch activity!
The Valente Branch was designed by William Rawn Associates, which also designed the new addition to the Cambridge Main Library, as well as two others we really like in Mattapan and East Boston. The building was designed to be Net Zero, meaning it produces enough renewable energy to offset its consumption. It’s a cool building and we’re sure it will get heavy usage from the school next door and the community.
We saw many people come in: young couples, kids and caregivers, older people and everyone seemed happy to have this wonderful new library available to them. The staff were rightly pleased and excited to be welcoming people to the library. They handed out tote bags, answered questions, and were generally having a wonderful time. We were thrilled to be on hand for the opening and are looking forward to the celebration on the 20th! Library Land Score: 4.64