Libraries are everywhere. Andrew Pettegree writes ” no society has ever been satisfied with the collections inherited from previous generations.” And following that trend, libraries are evolving to meet the needs of 21st century patrons.
Different libraries are meeting those needs with different levels of intensity. The American Library Association (ALA) helps guide the transformation nationwide.
Here are some libraries I have visited:
Laramie County Library
The Laramie County Library is a bastion of knowledge. The community funds it very well with a supplementary sales tax. Because the community supports the library so strongly means you can find a lot of titles you can’t find in most places. Paired with the relatively sparse population of Wyoming, this library manages an outsized Interlibrary Loan program with regional libraries.
Notably, each floor of the library has very specific identity and features. The ground floor is stocked with adult fiction and multimedia (DVDs and Video Games). There are also board games on the first floor, but unfortunately this collection is underdeveloped and not available for check out. The 2nd floor is devoted to Children and includes a separate space for teens (and the YA books they read). The 3rd floor is quieter and contains adult non-fiction and genealogy. This library was constructed in the 2000s and due to a quirky state regulation, had to be financed with a cash payment rather than a more typical taxpayer-backed bond.
This library is special to me because it was formative in shaping my perception of what a modern library should be like, boasting welcoming architecture, patron-driven acquisition (SirsiDynix Symphony ILS/catalog and automated RFID checkout systems), and a robust stream of programs.
Salt Lake City Library
The Salt Lake City Public Library evokes a sense of wonder as it combines sweeping curves and brilliant illumination to hold a vast collection of books to satisfy a variety of readers.
As one would expect, the metropolitan library of Salt Lake City also boasts a large and diverse collection of books and media. What makes the Salt Lake City Library special is how it highlights the special aspects of its community. In particular, the non-English portion (fiction, non-fiction, and language books) of the collection is much larger than most libraries, owing donations from the Latter-Day Saints community left over from preparing for their missions. A newer addition to the library is a live beehive on the roof of the library which also pays tribute to the culture of the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
Minot Public Library
The city of Minot, ND has a library which hosts a decent collection of books and contains a section where patrons may check out board games, presumably to ride out the bitter winters.
The stacks appear very traditional and the alluring scent of books (well, actually decaying lignin and binding glue) permeates the building. Set against the background of the rail station, it accentuates the small-town vibes.
Newport News Main Street Library (Newport News, VA)
This library contains a really decent stack of books. The Children’s section is well decorated and welcoming. The Adult section houses a good collection of titles while also presenting a honest depiction of race relations in Newport News over the past 200 years.
Omaha Public Library System
The Omaha Public Library system has nodes all over the city of Omaha, Nebraska. I visited the Downtown and Papillion branches. Both appear to have well composed selections. The Papillion branch alphabetizes their big children’s books with very visible lettering and shelves. The Papillion branch also has an above average collection of books pertaining to Native American (Indian) literature.
Photo Credit:
Main Street Library, Newport News, VA (2018)
Rick Egan, Salt Lake City Tribune (2021)
Austin McKenzie 