Almost every book we read in our house (and, let me tell you, we are voracious readers) comes from the library to which we make a generous annual contribution – and so should YOU!. We visit daily – so the reduction in hours was a shock and it inspired me to put together this tribute to the underappreciated Wallingford branch library:
Your Helpful Wallingford Library Staff: (left-to-right) Jessica, Christine (4½ yrs.), Stacey (10 yrs.), Carrie (4½ yrs., 33 yrs. at SPL!), Allison (1½ yrs.), Kristin, Jen (2½ yrs.), Dave (former manager, now replaced by Marion Scichilone), Elizabeth (not pictured, new Librarian)
What’s Great About Wallingford?:
[Dave] “we have a great children’s collection. For such a small branch, you can find a surprisingly good selection of popular picture books, chapter books and kid’s DVDs” [Carrie] Our recent remodel and the Wallingford neighborhood! [Allison] “Wallingford has a small, but great selection of CDs” [Christine] The branch is small enough to really get to know the patrons. [Elizabeth] The open new layout which makes me more accessible to patrons. [Jen] “I love the windows, the near panoramic views. In the snowstorm last winter, it was like a reverse snowglobe. A great view of the neighborhood walking by.”
What Was Upgraded Last Summer?:
[Dave] “We now have a fiber internet connection so our computers are much faster, added a photocopier and a computer, a self-checkout station just for patrons . . . better seating, more space for children’s materials, all the patron hold requests are out from behind the staff area so you don’t have to ask us for your holds. But the main thing is we re-arranged the space so you see everything and move around more easily. . . . The whole place seems brighter, calmer and just more enjoyable to be in.”
Who Are Your Patrons?:
[Dave] “Our branch is used most heavily by local walk-in patrons picking up holds, using our computers (or bringing in your own and using our free wi-fi), and parents, caregivers and their children browsing for children’s books and media.”
How Will Reduced Hours Affect Them?:
[Dave] “The changes are basically closing earlier on Wednesday and Thursday, and closed Fridays. We’re pretty quiet after 6pm anyway, so I think the tough part will be Fridays.”
(Well, I know how it will affect us – showing up at the wrong time and banging forlornly at the door with an unexpected “Closed” sign on it, the eagerly-anticipated Hold book locked inside.)
What Book Have You Read Recently That You Can Recommend?:
(Watch out, because I have personally already put a hold on all of these.)
[Dave] “The massive David Lynch bio, Beautiful Dark by Greg Olson, (Film Curator at SAM), then the classic book length interview of Alfred Hitchcock by Francois Truffaut (Truffaut/Hitchcock), and am now onto Kubrick’s Hope by Julian Rice” [Carrie] #1 Ladies Detective Agency, Harry Potter Series [Allison] Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler and Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang, a husband and wife writing about China [Stacey] How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by Franklin Foer [Christine] Larry’s Path by Carol Shields, a Pulitzer Prize winner [Elizabeth] The Arrival, a graphic novel with no words by Shaun Tan [Jen] A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller author of the best-seller Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
My and My Bookworm Daughter’s Personal Book Recommendations:
The Deltora series by Emily Rodda. Fantastic kids’ fantasy
Flannery, a biography of Flannery O’Connor by Brad Gooch. Because she was so sickly and strange yet such a fantastic writer
To weigh in on strategic planning for the library, click for information on upcoming public forums.
Anything else you want to know can be found on the SPL website.
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I love the Wallingford library staff!
I second that – they are fantastic!
And another enthusiastic endorsement of the Wallingford librarians.
And major kudos on the summer remodel. It’s so much easier to get wander around now, and the checkout process is MUCH easier. There’s only so much you can do with such a small space, but they really impressed me with what was accomplished.