Sharon Public Library, Sharon, Massachusetts

When we first visited the Sharon Public Library in 2019, it was located on North Main Street., Since then, it has moved to a brand-new building on School Street! The new building opened in May and it is really lovely.

This new building is very modern. Especially compared to the old Carnegie building it replaced! It seems that the designers of the current library considered every modern-day need, including electric car charging stations. It was interesting to see a curbside pick-up cart near the door. At the height of the pandemic, these were common. They seem to be rarer now.

As you walk into the space, it is spacious and welcoming. There are circular soft seating arrangements in the center of the lobby. It encourages visitors to stay a while, even if they aren’t looking to work or study. The first floor houses the bulk of the library’s collection. One could browse periodicals, DVDs, Fiction, Mystery, and “Other Realities” collections. Seeing Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction cataloged as “Other Realities” was fascinating. 

The second floor housed the Adult Non-Fiction, Teen, and Children’s collections. It was also where most of the study rooms are located (there was an ADA accessible study room on the first floor). Every study room had a flower name, which was charming. The color schemes of both the Teen and Children’s rooms were also delightful. The green in the Teen room was especially striking.  As we’ve said before, color is a big deal here at the Library Land Project. NERD ALERT: Another of the library’s enjoyable elements was the lighting. There were interesting fixtures throughout the building. Modern and fun, the light fixtures added personality to the various rooms.

No matter which way you looked, little things that the library workers did to make the space usable and enticing to patrons were evident. From the “lucky ducks” near the high-demand books, to the free pins at the self-checkouts, to the signage reminding patrons that the librarians are happy to help, it makes a body want to come back to the Sharon Public Library time and time again.

The old building (for which the town is seeking new usage proposals) served the community for over 100 years. The library’s impact - whether in the new building or the old - has been incredible. There is no doubt that the library, its staff, collection, programs, and services will continue to have a positive impact on this community for many years to come!