Two Worcester County Libraries: Leicester and Spencer Massachusetts
As the summer days were getting notably shorter, we made a visit to two libraries in Central Massachusetts: the Leicester Public Library, in Leicester, and the Robert Sugden Library in Spencer. Both were great examples of small town libraries, though neither small enough to be viewed as rural.
The physical spaces, the communities being served, and the collection and services of each library are different, but they both had a really positive feeling. Interestingly, they were also each built (back in the 19th century) to include a museum in the building. These are different in execution, but similar in the expression of civic pride they embody.
Let us start in Leicester, as we did on this sunny summer day.
Leicester Public Library - 1136 Main St, Rt. 9, Leicester, MA 01524 - (508) 892-7020 | Date of visit: 08/30/2022
Leicester is a town of about 11,000 people, just west of Worcester. It is a suburb of that city, but a suburb on a much smaller scale than the dense communities that ring Boston, 45 miles to the east.
The antique portion of the library was opened in 1896 and was the work of Worcester-based architect Stephen C. Earle. It is a beautiful building. The new building (and overall renovation) was done by Durland & Van Voorhis and they did an amazing job. The new construction echoes and complements the old, and the renovation and restoration work together to create a positive space and experience.
The library is right on Main Street and is less than a mile from the town’s elementary, middle, and high schools so older kids are able to walk.
As you enter the building, it’s clear that everything is in tip-top shape. But more than that, it’s clear that really careful attention has been paid to the details. For example, there is a beautiful mosaic floor near the circulation desk. It was part of the 1896 building. Originally, great cast iron stacks pierced the floor. Over time, the stacks were removed, the holes were filled with concrete, and eventually, the entire floor was covered with carpet. Now, the floors have been uncovered, repaired, and restored. The result is a really nice reminder of the elegance of public spaces.
The library is full of interesting and useful spaces. On the ground floor/basement is the children’s room, and it’s a nice one. Bright white walls, large windows (including a bulkhead skylight that is apparently amazing when it rains). There is a lot of space for the collection, as well as for a collection of toys. The most popular items are baby dolls - lots and lots of baby dolls. The kids here go gaga over them. Maybe the coolest toys were a set of handmade wooden islands and sailing ships. They were donated to the library by a family who used and loved them and they are really something. There are also two programming rooms (one of which doubles as a community room) on this floor.
You can reach the main floor via either the stairs or an elevator. The main floor is home to the bulk of the library’s collection, which is about 32,000 items. Most of the books and resources are in the new section of the library. The antique area has a really nice reading room, the library’s media collection, and the teen area. There’s also a curious turret room on this floor. It used to be a lunch room but is now used for storage.
A few elements of note from this floor:
“Sir Robin,” an ersatz knight who once stood at the Higgins Armory Museum, stands ready to protect the reading public
Much of the furniture is original to the 1896 building and has been used by generations of library patrons
Throughout the library, there are really wonderful stained glass windows. We noticed them first here on the main floor.
On the top floor are the reference collection, two very comfortable study rooms, the trustees’ meeting room, and a museum. We have visited many public libraries, which is a given, and at many of them, we have seen “museums.” In many places, this is a dim and cramped space crammed willy-nilly with an odd assortment of seemingly random and unlabeled items. That is NOT the case in Leicester! Here, the museum is a bright and open space with well-considered display cases and clear descriptions of the items.
The single most unusual item on this floor wasn’t to be found in the museum. We’re willing to bet there are only a handful of these located in public libraries anywhere in the world. What is it, you must be wondering! It is a giant chocolate castle! It was made for by a local restaurant in 1988 and was going to be thrown out when the restaurant closed during the pandemic. Thankfully, it was rescued and is on prominent display at the library. If the plexiglass cover is removed, the delicious smell of chocolate still fills the air!
The physical aspects of this library - which are what people are most apt to notice - are great. There is plenty of variety in terms of spaces and furniture. The lighting throughout is contemporary and effective. There are both quiet and active areas, and the whole place gives the vibe of a comfortable connection between the people who visit and work at the library.
Speaking of people, we were so lucky to have Suzanne Hall, the library’s director, take us on a tour of the library. Like all the staff, she was engaged, friendly, and happy to talk about the library. We witnessed many interactions between the staff and the public; all were positive and professional - especially in the children’s area!
Reflecting on the visit, Leicester really is a fine example of a well-maintained, well-used, and well-loved town library.
After a quick snack stop at Hot Dog Annie’s, we made our way to Sugden Library in Spencer.
Robert Sugden Library - 8 Pleasant St, Spencer, MA 01562 - (508) 885-7513 | Date of visit: 08/30/2022
Spencer is just the next town over from Leicester and is roughly the same size in terms of population. It feels denser, more urban even, but it's still a town of just under 12,000 people.
Just off the busy main street, the library is wedged between another building and a parking lot. It seems almost hemmed in. The building was dedicated in 1889 and is in the Romanesque Revival style. Its scale hints at the hopes and ambitions of a growing community - between 1870 and 1880, the town population grew from 3,952 to 7,499, so that early optimism was not entirely unwarranted. That population growth has slowed, but the library has continued to be integral to the community. It has been updated and renovated many times over the last 125 years or so, most recently in 1996.
Walking into this library felt good. There was a quiet energy to the place that was comforting and reassuring. We arrived at the end of the day with only 30 minutes to spare before the library closed. Nevertheless, the director, Cheryl Donahue, was willing to show us all around.
Our verdict is that the library looks great. Sure, it’s a little cluttered (in a good way!), but everything appears to be in good condition. Cheryl was able to call out a number of things that needed attention - the roof and HVAC come to mind. From a patron perspective, though, the overall experience was positive.
That experience was an abbreviated one, given the time, but let's explore some of the spaces and highlights of the library, shall we?
As at Leicester, the children’s area and a community space are on the ground floor. The kids’ area is nice (if a little cluttered), and the carpets and furniture are in good condition. Right outside is a garden that is used for various programs and activities.
Up one floor is the highlight of the library - its large and striking reading room. The original library building was funded by Richard Sugden, a local wire magnate who had been born in Yorkshire in the UK. Standing in the reading room, one senses a certain “Britishness” to the space. High ceilings, dark beams, broad tables, stained glass, and shelves ring the walls. It is beautiful and is frequently used for events - including the occasional wedding. Lovely.
The second floor houses part of the collection, but, more importantly for our purposes, a museum. It overlooks the reading room and gives the impression of perhaps having once been a choir loft. It is the domain of Mary Baker-Wood, the former director of the library and someone steeped in the long history of the community. Like the rest of the library, the museum is also cluttered, but in a comfortable and interesting way. While there is always more work to be done, excellent headway has been made on curating this broad collection.
There is a small third floor - or at least a partial one - that is reachable via a spiral staircase. It is currently used for storage, so we didn’t explore it.
One of our favorite stories has to do with the library’s connection to the community - always an important thing. I can't say why, but I got the impression that the library is pretty integral to the community. There was a local history program one day. The older gentleman doing the program was recalling long-gone businesses and what the town was like in his youth. He started talking about a movie theater where he had gone on his first date when he was 14. A woman in the audience raised her hand and said, "it was with me." The speaker turned bright red. Cheryl told us this story with such tenderness and clear care for the people she serves. If that doesn't talk about a connection to a community, I don't know what does!
One of our favorite things about the library was its positive spirit. It's an eclectic place, and that shows up just about anywhere you look. This eclectic nature was matched by the director, Cheryl, who is totally amazing and full of energy and ideas. She confessed that she’d been concerned that we might visit and think poorly of the library. Nothing could be further from the truth. We love ALL libraries and found a lot to love at both Spencer and Leicester!
When we left the library - with a bag of free books for the Cottage Street Little Free Library - we visited the nearby Saint Joseph Trappist monastery. Sadly, the monks stopped brewing earlier this year, but it is a beautiful spot, and we were glad to visit.
Two towns, two libraries. Much in common, much different, but both outstanding and wonderful!