When on vacation, visit the local library!

Kathy Rolfes

Seriously, you won’t be sorry! Back in 2002 I forced my family to take an hour detour from our vacation resort in Maine to travel to the Skidompha Public Library to see the original artwork of Barbara Cooney, a children’s book writer who received multiple Caldecott awards (I am a real fan of Cooney’s book, Miss Rumphius!)

Since that stop was so perfect I have made an effort to include a trip to the local library as a “must stop” during most of our vacations There are so many reasons why I include these little gems on my trips, but I guess the number one reason why I visit local libraries is that it is so validating. I’m never disappointed entering a library and constantly impressed with effort put into even the smallest of the libraries to engage their community. You find out so much about the place and people that you are visiting and I always walk out with awesome recommendations from our trusty local counterparts (could be local art, could be book suggestions, could be a restaurant or a secret local trail that nobody knows about, you never know!) Even our close local libraries like Lyons and Nederland are a true pleasure to visit

Here is a list of my 2022-2023 visits so farit certainly is nice to be a semi-retired librarian!

-Southampton Free library, New York (Free swag and great restaurant recommendation)

-Greenpoint Library Branch - Brooklyn NY (I got invited to join a special class on lamp repair...and I happen to have a lamp that needs repair!)

-Mackinac Island Public Library, Mackinac Island, Michigan (respite from all the crazy tourists and free beautiful postcards)

-Teton County Public Library, Jackson, WY (so many trail maps and you can check out records!)

-Buenos Aires Library, Buenos Aires Argentina (Great street art)

-Scottsdale Public Library, Arabian Branch (Wow on the architecture)