Kenosha Public Library, Southwest Neighborhood Branch, Kenosha, Wisconsin

The last library Rachael visited before flying back to Boston was the Kenosha Public Library, Southwest Neighborhood branch in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The building is a modern-traditional civic architectural style. It serves Kenosha residents (a population of 100,000) and an additional 20,000 residents in surrounding communities.

As Rachael walked toward the unassuming brick-and-stone building, she took a moment to admire the exterior spaces. A sweet garden area and a little free pantry sat outside. It looked like a patron had left some free artwork.

When Rachael finally entered the library, she was greeted with a large lobby space. In the main area, bench seating and picnic-style tables and chairs were available. There was also a cafe, but it was closed when she visited. To the right, there was a laptop bar seating area with public computers and a room designated as a teen space. It was surprising to see the teen room so far from the main library, but the teens must love it. They have their own discreet area, and they get to be as loud as they want!

Past the double doors through the lobby, you can find materials to browse. The children’s room is off to the right, and the adult materials are laid out in a large, open-concept room. A service desk is in the middle, surrounded by public computers and printing services. This area of the library was very busy. Just outside of this space are shelves filled with print and nonprint materials. Hugging the walls are additional workspaces. With the floor arranged the way it was, Rachael quickly explored the space. 

Rachael noticed how lively the Children’s room was and went to explore it next. There, she spoke with the children’s librarian. The children’s room was busy because they just finished three storytimes for various age groups. Their summer reading program was also doing very well this year. The librarian did need to cut the conversation short because a little one needed her attention, so Rachael took a look around. The room also had an abundance of materials to browse. There was also a craft area, play areas, and public computers. 

Rachael needed to head back to Chicago to catch her flight to Boston, so it was time to wrap up the visit. She headed to the main service desk in the adult collection. This is where she picked up yet another library card for her collection and spoke to this librarian about the adult offerings for the community. Along with the print materials, the programming selection was also impressive!

Rachael didn't know what to expect when she planned to visit this library, but she was impressed by what she found. It was bustling with activity from both adults and children. Their offerings for print, nonprint, and programming were plentiful. The best part? The friendly and helpful staff. It’s evident that the Kenosha Public Library strives to be a third space that is welcoming to everyone.