Rye Public Library, Rye, New Hampshire
Over the past few months, Library Land has been invited to visit several public libraries: Carver Public Library, the Paige Memorial Library, and the stunning new Belmont Public Library. Most recently, we were asked to have a look at the Rye Public Library in Rye, New Hampshire. We LOVE to do this!
Rye is a lovely seaside community of 5,700 nestled between Portsmouth and Hampton. The library was built in 1911, with an addition in 1998. The grounds of the library are very nice. There’s plenty of parking, a bike rack with repair tools, picnic tables, and a pollinator garden. It’s a great little spread.
We entered through the main entrance, which is nearest the parking lot. Our first reaction was - whoa! That’s because upon opening the door, we were confronted by a massive brick wall and elevator door. It was, to put it mildly, a little off-putting. At least there was a big “Welcome” above the elevator doors!
This odd liminal also has stairs leading up to the main floor and a flight down to children's. We really liked posting the programming at these stairs. You know we’re strangely fans of library taxidermy so we loved the owls - Artemis and Athena.
We started our visit upstairs, on the main floor. The library’s well-kept condition was immediately noticeable. It’s always a pleasure to see a library that has been cared for and well maintained. The floor felt spacious, with only the normal wear and tear common to any well-used public space.
The space is made more interesting by the New Hampshire room. It’s a fishtank of a room that features a large table and plenty of seats around it for work or meetings. It’s the only reservable space available. It houses the local history collection, curiosities, as well as all the trophies the library has won for the town’s Christmas Parade!
There were a lot of other small details we liked. The way the stacks mirror the size and shape of the original 1911 building, the reading room with its comfortable furniture and working fireplace, and the coffee station are just a few. They combine to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Speaking of the collection, it is large and comprehensive. The separation of some of the genres - especially the mystery/cozy mystery delineation - was appreciated. Dozens of volumes of Jane’s Fighting Ships - a recent donation - was also an unexpected treat. While in the stacks, we saw a patron using the library’s rollator walker. We love seeing this kind of option available to improve accessibility. Nice!
We next went downstairs to see the multipurpose room and youth services. The multifunction community room was pretty sweet. It has all kinds of technology to make it a perfect place for large meetings that need to be recorded or streamed. When we visited, a staff member was reviewing DVDs that patrons reported as damaged. The DVD in question was the Count of Monte Cristo, one of Greg’s favorites!
Across the hall is youth services. This area is bright and cheering and brimming with fun. The collection in this section is large and well-organized. The focus is on children and tweens since Rye’s high schoolers attend school in Portsmouth. That doesn’t mean teens don’t come to the library. During our visit, a teen regular was spotted cavorting with the assistant director, always fun to see.
That kind of thing illustrates this library’s strong connection to its community. The library really leans into its seaside identity. We saw that in the collection, in the marvelous artwork, in the decor, and beyond. Given the number of acknowledgements we saw throughout the library, it’s clear that the town cares right back. During the visit, the library was bustling.
This is a charming library. Comprehensive, quiet, friendly, and full of resources. We enjoyed this visit a lot - and really appreciated the time the director spent with us as we toured the library. We hope it continues on its current trajectory and look forward to what the future holds!