The Family Heirloom

The Weeks Public Library is a fantastic and unique building. Established in 1897, the library was built through a donation by Caroline A. Weeks. I love that so many of these old buildings are able to remain as testaments to the foundational love of literacy and education in New England. It’s a place that you can walk into and know that it is part of a centuries old tradition to walk into that exact building for exactly the same purpose as someone generations past. At the same time, the town has not shied away from updating the back-end of the library, and expanding it to serve all of the modern needs of the town’s population.

Building Amenities

Like many of the smaller libraries in New England, a town’s population can really have a grip on the most minute details of construction - for better or worse. The stipulations placed on the historic building, combined with the abutting property lines, leave very little wiggle room for the growth of any future expansions. The current staff is clearly passionate about using every square foot of the building to its maximum potential. Ideally, given the funds, there may be a music garden (!) in front of the building some time in the future. Such is the dream of the current director, who is not afraid to get his hands dirty while making his patrons’ dreams come true. Having built something similar for his previous library, I wouldn’t be surprised if you drive by in the next few years and see the director himself out in the front yard digging into the hill for the enrichment of the community. All librarians have a passion for their patrons in a way that few other professions do, and it’s always amazing to see.

There is very little parking - but it is a small town and unless there is a very popular event, it likely wont impact your visit. When you walk in the main entrance, the steps to the children’s room are to the right, and the main desk is down a short hallway to your left. You an access the historic portion of the building with its comfy chairs and gas fireplace by walking straight back from the entrance of the building. Unsurprisingly, one of my only complaints is that there is not an abundance of options for working on your laptop if you’re someone that prefers to sit at a desk or table - particularly if the large reading room is booked for an event. It’s really not that big of a deal though, and I’m really having to dig for any negatives for Weeks Public Library.

Children’s Room

If my toddler was writing these, he would tell you that Weeks is his favorite library. The Children’s Librarian is an absolute gem - I could see being a Director in her future if that was what she wanted to do. She is just so, so great and her storytimes are some of the best.

The picture book collection is astounding. There’s a massive variety, but more than that, the careful curation of themed sections makes searching FUN and inspiring. Everything is so colorful and bright that it’s impossible for it to not lift your spirits on dreary days when you’re stuck inside anyway.

The toy section is great as well, offering a healthy amount of pretend-play opportunities in a quiet, safe place. The storytimes are held in the adjacent meeting/craft/program room. It was a perfect amount of space, and close enough to the children’s room that kids could come and go as they pleased if they started to get restless.

Teen Room

The Teen Room at Weeks is behind the front desk area when you walk straight in and to the left. The room itself is bright and colorful, but in a way that is as if the Children’s Room itself matured with bright accents rather than the saturation of color (which I do also love). The vibe feels geared more toward a study/homework room than a hangout spot. It doesn’t seem as though the teens themselves have had as much input on its offerings than at some other locations, but that’s based off of my first and only impression. I would love to see it in action, but try to avoid teen rooms during open hours to make sure that they have their privacy. I appreciate that the room is up and out of the way so that neither little kids, nor adults, are bothering them.