Monterey Public Library, Monterey, MA
The Monterey Public Library.
Monterey’s cool clock.
Just as we sometimes revisit favorite libraries in person, so do we sometimes revisit them in our imaginations. This often happens when some aspect of a particular library is brought to mind by a visit to another. This happened recently during our visit to the Woods Hole Public Library. We noticed a few similarities (that aren’t necessarily apparent) to one of our favorite Berkshire County libraries: the Monterey Public Library. And so that library was suddenly on our minds again. We’ve sifted through our photos and have reviewed our notes and thought it would be nice to reflect again on this wonderful little library.
But first, you might wonder, what are the similarities between the two? Well, first, both serve year-round communities of fewer than 1,000 people. Each also has strong ties to the local arts community. Both also have nice outdoor areas that compliment the interior spaces. And each have slightly fractured hours, which reflect the needs and realities of their communities and circumstances.
We visited the Monterey Public Library back on September 16, 2019. It was our last library of the day, but we’d driven past it a couple of times before we were able to visit. Why? Because on a Monday (the day we visited) the library is only open from 7:00pm to 9pm. Again, why, you might ask. We sure did. It turns out that most people come on Mondays, after dinner, to borrow movies and TV shows for the week. With few residents actually in town during the day, later hours reflect the needs of the community.
When we finally did arrive that evening, we were in for a real treat.
Monterey is a small town and its library is small too. But there’s a term that comes up again and again when describing libraries like this one: “small but mighty,” and that describes Monterey to a T (or an M). The original one-room library building has been converted into a gallery and community/program space. It’s a beautiful room that features nice artwork, interesting architectural details, and an outstanding Grandfather’s Clock. During our visit, it was nice to see so many people coming into this room just to set and enjoy the space and each other’s company.
The original library building, now a gallery/meeting space.
Replacing that original one-room library is a modern construction - designed by EDM Architecture and opening in the summer of 2019 - that is almost twice the size. Upon entering the new library space, the youth and media collections are to the right. To the left is the rest of the library’s collection and two nice little study rooms. There are also comfortable seating areas sprinkled throughout.
Floor to ceiling windows look out over an outdoor reading deck, a wooded ravine, and a waterfall. These windows not only provide an inspiring view, but also make the library feel larger than it is and integrate it into its surroundings.
The Monterey reading deck.
We were at the library for an hour and there was a steady flow of patrons the entire time. As you might imagine, in a community of this size, the staff knew everyone who came through the door. Between chatting with patrons, we were able to grab a few minutes with Mark Makuc, the library’s director. His association with the library began as a volunteer in 1978. Mark’s role has included everything from the work on the planning and execution of the new space to designing and building special return bins for the library. He definitely comes across as a jack of all trades, which seems to be exactly what the library needs.
One of the most heartening takeaways from our visit was seeing a smaller community get a great new library (at a pretty reasonable price) that is in total harmony with its needs. It’s something we’ve seen at many dynamic small libraries and we hope other communities will continue this trend.
