Welcome back one and all for the fifth installment of Derek and Darla's Summer Road Trip Diaries! This one is SO LATE, EVERYONE! September was a blur of programs, and I'm not entirely clear on how we're four days into October already. Yikessss. Believe it or not, there are still two more summer visit blog posts to come! But this time you'll read about our July 31st visit to four libraries in the Northwestern corner of our lovely county. Let's begin with Commack Public Library.
As many of you have probably heard, Commack is undergoing a full renovation of its Hauppauge Rd. building. We can't wait to see it when it opens (November 18th!!!), and I'm sure the staff and community members feel the same way! If the way they've managed to make their temporary Jericho Turnpike location feel like it never
wasn't a library is any indication, they're going to do an amazing job in their new space when it opens.
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| Children's librarian Anissa demonstrates a highly effective welcoming pose. |
The Youth Services desk is at the back of the building. That brick wall behind the reference desk? That's actually a window...a window that's usually covered with horses. The location used to be an OTB, but the mural is the only way you'd know. Apparently the staff like to dress up the horses seasonally, but decided to give them a much-deserved break for the summer.
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| The reporting desk in all its glory. |
I was a big fan of these signs - any kids and teens who won raffle baskets had their pictures displayed. What a great way to get community buy-in and keep kids excited about reading as the baskets start to disappear.
Forgive my blurry photography, but this is a great demonstration about how no space is too challenging to be able to include an early learning nook!
Next we headed up to Northport-East Northport Public Library, my hometown library! We visited the Northport branch on Laurel road.
First we popped into the Teen Room on the main level, where we were drawn in by bright and cheerful colors.
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| The central banner reads, "Books are not made of pages and words. They're made of hopes, dreams and possibilities" |
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| The teen raffle prize board, filled with goodies! |
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| We loved the kindness aspect of Northport's decorations. |
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| Hardhats and tools feature names of busy readers. |
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| Derek tries out the DIY tool bench - super cute laminated paper tools velcroed to a poster on the wall. Love it! |
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| The NENPL reporting setup. Fun fact - that Summer Reading Page used to come to all my sister's birthday parties when she was little. I'm not in denial!! |
Next up was Huntington Library, where they've been testing out a summer learning-type program that incorporates activities besides reading into folks' summer goals.
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| A look at Huntington's activity book, received by each child who signed up. |
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| Love this use of the official SRC artwork! So colorful! |
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| Some prizes, including wiki stix and little planter pots. |
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| Raffle prizes were for local businesses. |
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| An awesome mural that anyone could contribute to! |
Our last stop of the day was Cold Spring Harbor Library, where Caitlin Sempowich gave us a tour of the children's area!
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| Happy window workers are ready to build a better world! |
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| Nothing like a friendly face to greet you at the library ;) |
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| Love this lego board - had to go for the side angle so you can see how tall some of the stacks are! |
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| The In BeTween section features a charming rainbow of ALA Libraries are for Everyone posters. |
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| READ signs decorated by patrons. |
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| Check out those prizes!! |
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| A flock of Little Free Libraries waiting to be decorated. |
That's it for today! Stay tuned for two more one-season-late road trip blogs!
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