Living in New England, the winter months can be pretty rough when you’re stuck inside with a toddler. One of the best things that I’ve been able to do is take my kid to the different storytimes in the area.

I hadn’t gone to the library much since college. I had a library card, of course, but I mostly used it to read ebooks on Libby. Because of this, I had no idea that the library is such a hot-spot for families - especially with our current lack of third spaces.

While researching locations for our next outings, I would always look for photos of the library I wanted to visit. I like to have an idea of what to expect, but I also wanted to make sure that there was a decent children’s room before making the trip over. Turns out, there really aren’t a lot of photos out there for this purpose. Some libraries will have social media, but as a mom that has sworn it off, those weren’t of much use to me. Even the libraries that do have social media don’t always post photos of all of their amenities.

I’ve decided to catalog the libraries in the area for my own reference, and thought I would share it with you as well. While my personal focus is on what I can find in the children’s rooms, our librarians deserve to have all of the programs and amenities that they offer showcased.

Some locations are quite far from me, so there’s a chance that I’ve only been able to visit once or twice. My impressions are from those short visits. Please keep this in mind regarding any criticisms - everyone has good and bad days and we are all doing our best.

Happy exploring!