Elkridge Public Library

Howard County Public Library opened a new branch a few months back.  I finally got an opportunity to stop by and visit this wonderful new branch.  This new building is located on the same property that housed the previous Elkridge Branch, but it has been beautifully updated!

Howard County has always done a marvelous job of keeping their branches updated and current with the most modern resources and technology.  This branch has something new and exciting - a tool library.  You can check out tools, take them home and use them for the full checkout period and then return them.  Talk about a huge money saving device that benefits the community!

The Elkridge Library is located just off of Route 1 in Elkridge.

As always, I post pictures without people's faces.  As always, I struggle to get enough pictures without people's faces.  For the middle of a weekday afternoon, this place was absolutely packed.   I took as many pictures as I could to get a good idea of what the branch looks like, and I posted what reflects the branch without posting pictures of people's faces.  

Front Entry

The site plan for the library.  I like the dedicated wetlands and green space.

This is the tool library.  I really like that it's separate from the rest of the building.

Library entrance. It's got a very sleek, modern feel to it.

I'm a big fan of the bubble wall along the side!

Look at all of those gorgeous books!

A view of the children's desk.

A view down the side of the children's section towards the teen section.

Study tables.

The cafe area at the very front - away from the stacks!

Howard County Public Library Elkridge Branch Website: https://hclibrary.org/locations/elkridge-branch/

Laurel Public Library

View of the front from the side.

When husband and I were first married, we lived in Laurel.  I was teaching at the time, and I remember going to the library to check out books for my class.  I had gone to high school in Fairfax County, Virginia, and our library was a showpiece.  Even though the building was old, it was light, bright, and you could tell that people loved the building.  I went there about once a month to check out books.  When we moved to Laurel, I was expecting the same.  I was disappointed.  The library was dark.  The collection was limited, and I felt terrible about checking out books for my classroom.  Any books I checked out would have seriously impacted what was available for the community.

Laurel has undergone something of a Renaissance in the years since we left.  It is a beautiful city, with so many things to offer to the community.  The top attraction (in my mind) is the library.  Laurel opened a new library a few years ago, and I had the time to go.  The building sits on the footprint of the old building, but that is where the similarities end.  Let me tell you, this is a huge asset to the community!!

I've posted the pictures that I took as I walked in with a sense of wonderment.  All I kept thinking is "This is beautiful!  Oh my gosh, how fantastic!"  Join me as I walk you through the library with me!  Please note, I took many more pictures, but I don't publish pictures with the pictures of people's faces on them.  So, I don't have as many pictures to share as I would like to have.  The good news is, that library is full of people!  It is being well used!

Rain garden in the parking lot.

Inside the front entrance - the adult stacks.

A side note here - I adore those overhead lights!  They are such a nice touch!

In the above picture, I'm standing near the fireplace.  (Yes, gas fireplace with chairs surrounding it.)  I'm looking back towards the front door.  On the left is the circulation desk.  The semi circle drop down lights delineate the circ. desk.  Look at all of that natural light!

Dinosaur footprints leading into the children's area.

A look into the children's area.  Again, look at the natural light!

Outside of the library, on the left is the children's area.  Straight back is the teen section.

Turn around from the picture above this, and there's an ampi-theater.  Do you see those blue circles?  They are part of a splash pad for kids.

Prince George's County Memorial Library System.

Laurel Public Library Website: https://www.pgcmls.info/branch/location/Laurel

Truman Library and Museum

While it's not a public library, it's still a library!  I really enjoyed visiting the library, and I really enjoyed the ability to put his presidency in the context of U.S. History at that time.  I knew the history, but I don't think I truly appreciated the full extent of what he did and the impact it has had on our modern world until I went through the museum.  We went because we were celebrating husband's birthday.  I was expecting the entire thing to be a yawn fest, but - nope - I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute that I was in the building!  I'm going to share a few pictures below, but I honestly don't think that my pictures do justice to the experience.

Replica of the Oval Office during Truman's Term in Office

The flame outside of the museum.  The Truman family is buried in the courtyard.  See those windows across the courtyard?  That's where the library is. Only REAL researchers are allowed in there. 

The infamous newspaper that came out ahead of the election results!

Harry, Bess, and Margaret!

I don't know if you can read all of the text.  This is the most sobering artifact I've ever seen.  It's the plug from the "Fat Boy" bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki.  Remember, Pres. Truman made the decision to drop the bombs.

The document, with Truman's corrections, that recognize Israel as a state.

Lawrence Public Library

While we were in Kansas, we ventured over to the Lawrence Public Library.  I have been following them on Facebook for quite some time.  I love their social media presence, and I just couldn't wait to see their physical building!  

I can honestly say this was one of the most surprising libraries I've ever been in.  The building is large, and built in a circle.  (Hence the fiction loop below.)  They have a large auditorium in the front as you enter the building, in addition to a coffee shop.  Looking at the picture below - you can see the fiction loop along the back wall.  You can also see the open doorway halfway down - that's where the circulation department is located, and you can also shortcut over to the non-fiction collection, the children's and young adult section and access the stairs to the basement.  It's a gorgeous building that brings in light, air, and art - oh so much art.  The building was breathtaking!

Join me in a tour of this beautiful building!

Front Entrance

The back of the building, along the fiction loop.  Romance is on the right.

Coming off of the fiction loop and into the non-fiction.  If you look at the front of the building, this is on the right hand side of the building.

The back corner of the building.  Just look at those gorgeous windows!  There's another set on the other side of the building, both overlook the big park across the street from the library.

The center of the building.  I guess the proper word is atrium.  Stairs to the downstairs on the left.

Children's is directly across.  Look at that beautiful strand up above!

Downstairs.  Meeting Rooms, Business Center, Computer Lab, and Local History Section.  So many people down here - it was impossible to get pictures without faces.

Lovely artwork in the basement!

View from downstairs looking up.

Looking into the children's section from the atrium area.

You can't see it from here - but the city has flooded one end of the park across the street from the library to make an ice rink.  You can kind of see the ice and the kids skating on it if you squint!

Lawrence Public Library Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/lawrencepubliclibrary/

Lawrence Public Library Website:
http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/

Savage Library

I posted these pictures back in April, but I'm posting them again!  I'm cleaning out the 3,000 pictures on my phone.  *sigh*  Some are being printed out as prints and put into an album.  Some are being deleted, and some, I'm posting on here just to make certain I've got a copy of them somewhere!  Enjoy!

Back in the spring, I stopped in at the Savage Library in Howard County.  When the kids were little, I used to bring them here for story time.  Especially Little Miss.  The librarian just "clicked" with my daughter, and she adored her and made many friends!  The library was remodeled several years back.  The building had been shared with the Senior Center.  A new Center was opened in the area, and the library expanded into the other half of the building.  I really do like the use of space.  What was a very dark, closed space has been opened up, lots of windows have been added, the service desk expanded, more computers are available, and the teen section is pretty phenomenal.  Even better, they have added a large meeting/auditorium space where the senior center was located.  It's a very light and airy space.  One thing I've noticed while visiting the Howard County Libraries is that they seem to be using a consistent color palette throughout their buildings.  So, while the buildings might be different from place to place, they have a consistent color theme that carries across all buildings.  I'm not sure how I feel about this - because it takes away the individuality of each building - and some of their buildings were designed by internationally renowned architects.  I like the individual personality of each building - I feel it reflects the community.

In the meantime, come venture through the library with me!  I found a new tool on my iPad that allows me to write on the pictures.  I've written on some of them, and I've blacked out faces.  (Just in case if you find yourself wondering what the heck is going on in the pictures....)

Reading corner back in the older children's area.

Check out desk straight ahead.  Picture books to the left.  Computers to the right.

Love that long run of shelves!

The carpet is great!  I think I've seen it in other HCL buildings. 

I entered by the check out desk, and turned left.  Wall is on my left - computers to the right, YA ahead.  See the stools on the left just before the open doorway?

THIS is the stools that were up ahead on the left.  Nice laptop bar!

The YA section.  I like the fact that there's a designated eating space right here.  No sneaking food in the stacks, no empty containers of food to find in hidden corners. 

And this is the hallway to the multi-purpose room.

More YA.  I'm very impressed with the size of the YA collection!

STILL in Young Adult.

MORE in the young adult section.

Looking back towards the children's section.  Years ago, the wall that divided the two halves of the building was just past the laptop bar - right where you see the wall jutting out.   AND, there were bookshelves everywhere, literally stuffed everywhere.