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Once we closed the buildings, we realized that some people were using the libraries to recharge electronic devices, use bathrooms, get warm, etc. After discussion of what we could do for everyone, decided to keep the WiFi on 24/7, keep outside outlets available, and place a port-a-potty in the parking lot. (It’s popular in emergencies with many others, not only those without a home.) Cookbook Book Club — part of our work to build community. Before Covid, we would pick a cookbook, then invite everyone to bring in a dish to share from that cookbook for a potluck meal. It’s a way of testing recipes and also creating community by spending time together. Computer Autopsy — We use old computers and invite folks to come and take them apart to see what’s inside – folks also must put it back together and make it work again! Teen Makerspace Workshops — One was to build “scribble bots” that make markers move around. Also created “squishy circuits” with electromagnetic Play-Doh. Lebanon’s brand-new teen librarian began just as Covid-time arrived and she’s doing great virtual programming getting to know youth. She holds trivia nights, game nights, dance parties, movie nights – doing things together and providing for communication during the activities. Amy’s heart lies with their children’s programming, especially early literacy programs. - Storytime with guests — Shows a photo of Amy’s husband, Poor Tom, a volunteer firefighter in Plainfield, who got in a little trouble because he brought in and showed a real axe!
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program – Its objective is to promote reading with newborns, toddlers; promoting bonding through reading. Parents receive an instruction sheet and a sheet with 100 icons; one is stamped each time a book is read. Every 100 books, they receive a new sheet. When they finish 10 sheets (1,000 books), the child receives a free book. So far 350 kids have participated, with 150 having so far completed it.
- Paul T asks if his grandchild in California could participate and Amy replied, “YES!"
- The library offers downloadable books for kids, participating in the NH Downloadable Books Consortium.
- We offer contact-free pickup at both libraries even with construction going on. People place holds on books by phone or on-line; librarians put items outside folks to grab. Amy sees this service continuing beyond the pandemic. It’s a way for folks to pick up books even before the library doors open.
- Library Lab at Romano Circle - We have an outreach librarian who works on getting library services wherever we can in town. Before Covid shutdown, Celeste was going to Romano once a week. Reading Dogs are therapy dogs trained to sit still while the kids read to them.
- Monthly Story Times at Listen dinners – Started as a partnership with CLIF (Children’s Literacy Foundation), but the continued after CLIF had to drop out. Amy took books to dinners and did storytime for any kids who came to dinner. She also brought books to give away to kids there.
- Baby Buzz – Allows parents/caregivers to talk while babies are engaged.
- Picture Book Mystery Bag — Parents love this. Small children in libraries enjoy looking through picture books. We find out the age and then put 10 books in a bag for children to to see what they might enjoy.
In addition we support four Little Free Libraries: Colburn Park, Senior Center, Riverside Park near skate park, Kilton Library. We use donations for this. A volunteer gets the donations then drives around sprucing up the little libraries. We encourage people to take books and leave books. We’re doing lots of “Readers’ Advisory” activities. On line, one may complete a form which then will generate book-reading choices according to what folks indicate. The Library then sends them ”Your Next Five Books”. More conversation follows to narrow future book recommendations. Sean Fleming then spoke to us briefly about THE LEBANON LIBRARY RENOVATION Sean Fleming (Sean told us that Amy went to Listen Dinners on her own time Friday evenings before other commitments forced her away.) Sean is Bill Secord’s son-in-law. Bill was a school librarian for 10 years, and others in his family also were librarians. Bill suggested years ago that Kilton and the downtown library should find specialization areas unique to each building. Lebanon Library has the historical collection, a microfilm reader, and lots more use of teen room and children’s room. It’s a busy, busy place. Part of our project is to expand the teen room and make the children’s room more easily accessible and usable. All renovations take place within the existing walls of the building – there’s really no room on the lot to expand. - First concerns being addressed are: health and safety issues. We must be ADA compliant; heating and cooling systems more sustainable.
- More space for the public to move about
- Two new meeting rooms.
- More BATHROOMS!!!!
- Improved access for the whole building
$2 million project. First renovation since 1985, which itself was the first renovation since the 1909 original construction. We are one of 1700 Carnegie libraries built in the US. All of them have an exterior entry staircase symbolizing a person’s elevation by learning. Andrew Carnegie thought that “ambitious young people” would be the users, flying up the steps to gain knowledge. We needed a more accessible entrance, which we have in the children’s building (1985). The landing outside the front door is very short, with the door extending beyond the landing when opened, causing people to step backward, causing some spills. We are bumping out the landing but retaining the existing stonework; we OK'd the design the heritage commission. 1985: library addition doubled the interior space by adding 4,000 SF. When the addition came, a furnace was added but the oil tank was buried outside the building. It’s a single-wall tank and now has to be removed. We will replace it with a heat pump and put the oil tank in our basement. This adds to the library’s sustainability and should prevent oil leakage. A new central stair will make the building safer and more easily accessible tying together all the floors of the building. Right now, we have 2.5 floors and a basement = 4 different levels which are hard to navigate, even for our board members! Stair changes allow us to add two new bathrooms – one in the basement and one on the main floor. Many people, even those who’ve used the library for decades, don’t even realize that there is an “upper level” in the library. ADA compliance: We’ve made some improvements over the years. One was widening the aisles (some only were 20” wide!). The historical collection will move to the balcony, bringing it up from the basement/staff-only area. We will have tables and chairs for people to browse the collection. Also, the microfilm reader will be there. Sean showed a photo of the original interior entrance. Over 800 of the Carnegie Libraries are still open in the US. In 1909, the desk was purposely placed to block access to the shelves – librarians fetched the books for patrons. We want the renovation to revitalize interest among the community in the library. It will be a healthier space, with more outdoor air coming in. Sean thanked Lebanon Rotary for its contributions. Sean praised Amy’s creativity with her choice of speaker’s books for our use.
Bill Secord presented the book going to the Kilton Library in honor of Amy and Sean. It is The Nest that Wren Built.
Will Koppenheffe added a note: Andrew Carnegie was a steel magnate who created what was to become US Steel. At that point he was the richest man in the world. The Lebanon Library Foundation board has committed to raising $300,000 toward the cost of this renovation. Will served on that board. Every current member has committed to contributing. Will would encourage all of us to make a contribution to the Foundation to support the project. Will feels that the library in any community is, next to the schools, the most important civic institution in the city.
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