2011 in libraries

As with last year and the year before, I tracked the libraries that I visited this year. I usually take pictures if I can. I use Daytum to track visits. The graph it produces is weird because the one big chunk is the library I work in but the other big chunk is called “twenty-four more items” which is sort of a weird way to display data. If anyone has a better lifetracker app they enjoy, please do let me know.

I went to forty-four different libraries for eighty-three visits total, I’m sure I have forgotten some. It’s a big increase over last year. Here’s the short annotated list of what I was doing in libraries last year. I have a few library photos in this Flickr photoset.

• Kimball Library, Randolph VT – this is the library where I work as an on-call part timer since I live up the street, and also where I check out books
• Hartness Library, VTC, Randolph VT – this is the good college library nearby me where anyone in the state can get a library card
• Westport, MA – the library in the town where my father lived and where I still spend a good amount of time. Great booksale.
• Fletcher Library, Ludlow VT – I was part of the e4VT program here and taught a basic skills computer class with ARRA grant money, a lovely old school library
• Ann Arbor PL, MI – gave a few talks over a few days and got to hang out here, love this place
• Milwaukee Public, WI – a library I hadn’t been to in a long time, an impressive building that maybe used to be a zoo?
• Howland Green, New Bedford MA – one of New Bedford’s “not the main library” libraries.
• Terraza PL, Austin TX – a cool little branch near where I was staying.
• UNT – Willis – got a tour, enjoyed the open spaces
• Hudson PL, MA – a small funky branch right by a river
• Chapel Hill NC – in the mall for the time being, but pretty neat for a temporary library
• Lubec, ME – lovely and small with great furniture and mosaics outside
• Central Branch, Portland OR – long been one of my favorites
• Marquette, Milwaukee WI – got a tour from a friend and saw the abandoned old entrance
• SIBL/NYPL – the best place to check email downtown
• Southworth PL, Dartmouth MA – another small branch in Southern MA
• Emily Fowler Library, Denton TX – got some local history and learned about local architecture here
• Central Branch, Austin TX – another perennial favorite – got some books for the plane
• Ryerson Library, Grand Rapids MI – an impressive library with a lot going on inside
• Pierson, Shelburne VT – underneath the town hall with a good board game collection
• Kalamazoo Public – neat and fancy, got a tour of the basement
• UNT – Eagle, Denton TX – checked out the new learning commons getting set up
• Denton North Branch, Denton TX – a weird side-of-the-highway large branch
• Kent District, Kentwood MI – neat suburban library with some cool public art and terrific views
• Bar Harbor, ME – got a tour while they were setting up for the booksale
• Lawler PL, New Bedford MA – another small New Bedford Library, sort of sad looking
• Roanoke PL, Roanoke TX – a small library doing a lot with what they had
• Twin Oaks PL, Austin TX – a fancy new little branch
• Bailey-Howe, UVM, Burlington VT – one of my faves, especially the special collections in the basement
• TWU, Denton TX – got a tour from my friend Greg and enjoyed the history and the air conditioning
• Maine State Library, Augusta ME – a great hideout after a long day conferencing
• Ransom PL, Plainwell MI – one of the little libraries we saw driving from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids
• Kilton PL, Lebanon NH – tour from my friend Virgil! Neat new branch.
• Olin College, Needham MA – tour from the head librarian, neat materials science collections
• Alling PL, Williston VT – a small library good for checking email when on the road
• Hartland VT – my friend Mary works here!
• Allegan District Library, MI – a pretty straightforward library
• Parchment PL, MI – a diaorama of the parchment factory is hidden in the basement here
• Peabody Institute, Danvers MA – a beautiful building with a lovely landscaped grounds, nice for hanging out
• Putney PL, Putney VT – warm and small with a lot going on for a teeny place
• New Bedford PL, New Bedford MA – beautiful old building sort of clunkily repurposed, always great for a visit
• Ferguson Library Stamford CT – went to a CLA event here and bought expensive books from their booksale
• Holland MI PL – fancy and with turtles
• Brooks PL Brattleboro VT – some neat open source stuff going on there, got a tour after giving a talk