2014 in libraries

I tracked the libraries that I visited this year, like every year. Previous years: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (and this little list of reviews from 2003)

I went to thirty-six different libraries in seven states and two non-US countries for eighty visits total. A bunch more than last year, but some were just for ukulele practice or tech planning sessions at a friend’s library. Here’s the short annotated list of what I was doing in libraries last year. Top three libraries are: my local public, my local academic and my summer local.

• Kimball – my local and also the place that hosts Ukulele Club
• Hartness at VTC – the best academic library anywhere near here. Good hours, great place to hang out.
• Carney – UMass Dartmouth – probably my favorite library building of all time
• Chelsea VT – helping with tech planning, I go here often
• Somerville West – did a talk and stopped by here another time. Lovely upstairs.
• Goddard – did some VLA website work here
• Fairfield/Millicent – One of the most amazing looking libraries in MA with some cool local lore
• Aldrich/Barre – Went to a few meetings, my favorite local library renovation story
• Mackinac Island MI – small and lovely with a great book sale and classic furniture
• NYLP/SIBL – keep waiting for them to close this but they haven’t yet
• Southworth/Dartmouth – they have a harpoon display here!
• Pierson/Shelburne VT – went to a meeting, small with a great puzzle collection
• St Ignace MI – killing time while stranded here, this is a great building where you wouldn’t expect it
• Atwater/Montreal – my favorite Canadian library
• British Library – got an awesome tour from Stella Wisdom
• ULU Senate Hall UK – got a great tour from Simon who no longer works there
• Rockingham VT – dropped off some things, stuck around to take a peek at this great place
• Guilford UK – one of the smaller local publics, nice with a watch museum next door
• Roxbury VT – helped with the automation project
• Artizan St UK – community center, small and busy
• John Harvard Library UK – had an odd section for Black Titles and a security guard
• Sunderland MA – great place to pass the time en route to or from Amherst
• Somerville MA – the other little library
• Boxboro MA – wifi to check email if you are early to visit Mom
• Boston Public – got a great tour by Tom Blake and saw some great stuff
• Sun City AZ – hanging out while visiting Jim’s folks
• UM – Duluth – Chihuly sculpture!
• NYPL/Epiphany – I always love the huge staircase in here
• Duluth MN – bizarre design but fun to hang out in
• Westport MA – great DVD collection, sort of an odd place
• Barbican UK – inside the funky Barbican, lots of great UK history books
• Varnum, Cambridge VT – stopped by randomly, folks were so nice and friendly
• Ashfield MA – gave a talk, enjoyed getting to see the place
• NYPL/Kipp’s Bay – small and in need of renovation but warm and welcoming
• City University, UK – stopped to check email en route to dinner, nice place, square dancing outside
• Vicksburg MS – neat renovation, fun kids area

Did not get to as many Vermont libraries as I had wanted to as part of my 183 project. Working slowly on maybe getting a statewide 183 project up and running with other members of the VLA. Looking forward to another year of library visiting.

Apologies for putting Duluth in MI accidentally. Now fixed.