Rockport Public Library, Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport, Massachusetts, is a lovely coastal community of approximately 7,000 people. The town, once known for its granite quarries, is now known for its vibrant arts community and delicious seafood. Our trip to the Rockport Public Library (https://rockportlibrary.org/) was an opportunity not only to see the library, but also to visit with Assistant Director Tom, a former colleague of ours from the Wellesley Free Library.
The building is quite beautiful. Its ashlar granite facade dates to 1864 and was originally part of a mill complex. In 1904, the building became a school. Finally, in 1993, the current library opened its doors at the location. To move the collection from the town’s previous Carnegie library, a human chain was formed - always a curious and delightful idea.
As we walked from the reasonably-sized parking lot, we spotted Tom tidying up the library’s grounds. Entering the library together, he led us to the second floor, where we commenced our tour in the children's area. It was large and colorful, reflecting the library’s focus on the arts. Tom described and showed us the various programs and projects done by kids and teens.
The arts theme was something we saw again and again. There was the Mother Goose sculpture, some lovely stained glass, and paintings everywhere. In fact, the library has the largest art collection in Rockport.
The second floor was also home to the Trustees’ room, which was nice enough. Several wooden ship models clapped back to the town’s maritime history. Next, Tom took us to see the conference room, which is the largest in town. As a result - and thanks to its solid AV capabilities - the space is in high demand for in-person meetings, recording sessions, and broadcasting events. Color us impressed. Speaking of color, much of the artwork in this space was especially nice.
Another sign of the library’s support for the community was the Little Free Food Pantry, located at the back of the conference room. The library also partners with The Open Door to serve lunches throughout the summer.
On the first floor, we saw additional signs on the library’s understanding and support of the community. Rockport is an older town, with an average age of 63. There were lots of assistive services and devices, particularly for people with visual impairments.
The first floor also housed the adult collection, which seemed reasonable for a library of this size. One of the highlights in the Kieran Collection. John F. Kieran (https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-f-kieran/) was a prolific and award-winning baseball scribe, as well as an acclaimed nature writer. It was a pleasant surprise.
Our final stop was the local history room, located in the basement. Rockport is a town rich in history, and it is used on a daily basis. One thing Greg especially enjoyed was their history of the Blizzard of ‘78, a defining memory from his childhood.
This was a fun visit to a lovely library. Not only thanks to the space, services, and collection, but also to the energy and enthusiasm Tom shared with us. After the library, we also stopped for seafood at a roadside stand. Delicious!