The Week in Library Land: January 5 to January 11
The first full week of the year and a week full of Library Land fun! The week might not have kept up with the previous week’s blistering pace but six libraries in a week isn’t bad at all.
The week started with a visit to the Honan-Allston Branch of the Boston Public Library. We’ve visited this branch a handful of times and have always been impressed. It’s new and modern, but the lack of study rooms - and the bathrooms - have kept the score down a little. Still, it’s a beautiful contemporary space. Library Land Score: 3.64.
The stylish Honan-Allston Branch of the BPL.
On Tuesday, I took a trip to the Seekonk Public Library. I’ve wanted to visit Seekonk for some time, for the name alone! Built in the 1970s, the building shows its age, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t doing a great job for its community. While the town has a population of around 12,000, it is routinely in the top three in terms of circulation in the CSAIL library network.
There’s a lot to like about the library, including a lovely nearby meadow with a short walking trail (currently not fully accessible), some neat diner-style booths that are available as workspaces, and a staff that was more than willing to chat.
A sunny January day at the Seekonk Public Library.
As nice as the current library may be, things will be looking even better a few years from now. Seekonk is currently number seven on the list for a construction grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. It will probably be a while before ground is broken and even longer before new doors are grandly opened, but still, it’s always exciting to hear about a new library in the pipeline! Library Land Score: 4.18.
There’s no mystery - we love libraries. This sign is at the South Boston Branch of the BPL.
While I was in Seekonk, Adam was up in Boston at the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library. It’s a busy branch and on past visits that business can translate into a pretty loud library. That was the case again on this visit. In general, we’re pretty forgiving when it comes to noise - especially the noise created by enthusiastic kids - but sometimes it can wear a bit thin. We wonder if a future renovation could separate the children’s area with some new glass walls/partitions. Library Land Score: 2.73.
It wasn’t homesickness that brought me back to the Morse Institute Library in Natick on Thursday, no, it was a few errands in the area and my desire to get some work done. As usual, this library proved itself to be perfectly suited to my needs. Even though I may have moved, it’s nice to know I can always make myself at home at the Morse. Library Land Score: 4.45.
Words to read by at the Woburn Public Library.
On Fridays, Adam frequently finds himself at his gym in Woburn for yoga. That means he also frequently finds himself at the Woburn Public Library with some Friday work deadlines. We really can’t say too much about this that we haven’t said many times before. This is an excellent library and one that every library lover in the Greater Boston area needs to visit. Library Land Score: 4.91.
The last stop for the week was at the Medway Public Library. I’ve been a number of times and have enjoyed every visit. This one was no different. I said I wanted a quiet place to work. Rather than pointing me to one of the three or four open-topped study rooms, I was shown to a small reading room that was perfect.
During my visit I also asked about the Friends. Despite our being huge library fans and supporters, neither of us has done anything formal to help our own local libraries. I think that’s going to change in 2020! Library Land Score: 4.36.
The last thing that happened in Library Land wasn’t a visit to a library - it was confirmation that my application to pursue a Master’s of Library Science at the University of Washington iSchool is complete and that I will hear their decision in March. It’s rare that I want time to pass quickly, but in this case I’m making an exception - March can’t come soon enough!