Wethersfield Public Library, Wethersfield, Connecticut

Road tripping to Philadelphia for the ALA’s Annual Conference was a lot of fun! Of course, it presented an excellent opportunity to stop at libraries all along the route. Our first stop was the Wethersfield Public Library in Wethersfield, CT. We specifically chose libraries that were close to our driving route but had something interesting about them. What made Wethersfield interesting was the fact that it is co-located with Town Hall. 

The main floor has an open concept one, and visitors are first greeted with the circulation desk and the teen area. The teen area was interesting! There were booths where kids could socialize, and a locker on the wall where they could lock up and charge their phones. There are additional materials for adults and a reference desk further in on the main floor. Both desks were staffed by incredibly helpful and friendly people. The library worker at the circulation desk was especially engaged in talking about the community and the joys of working at this library.

We then moved on to the second floor. It overlooked the main floor and provided a good look at how everything was organized. It was rather fun watching people milling about and using the library that Thursday morning. Additional adult materials, study rooms, and seating areas were plentiful on this floor. What struck us the most was the large paperback collection that was displayed on spinning bookshelves. The unique display added variety to the space. We did get excited over the massive card catalog along one of the walls, but alas, it seemed it was a display-only piece. It did not house any catalog cards.

We did have a goal of arriving in Philadelphia by a certain time, so we quickly moved on to the basement floor, where the children’s materials were kept. In the children’s room, a game table and a Lego play area were prominent. Books on display were categorized for easier browsing. The gem on this floor was the window overlooking the Frank Weston Garden. The garden was being renovated, but we could easily tell it would be a pollinator’s paradise!

And thus ends our first library visit on our road trip. It was an incredibly strong start. Wethersfield Public Library had an easy-to-follow layout, fun displays, and an example of the New England library quilts we’ve come to know and love on these visits. What brought us immense joy was the ET-themed sign at the stop sign as we were leaving. An unexpected fun conclusion to this visit!