Shhhh....

The shushing librarian stereotype has all but disappeared from the public library, but the fact remains that some of our patrons really do want a quiet place to work, read, or just relax and look out the window.  No cell phones, no distractions, just a quiet place - an increasingly rare venue in today's world.  At the same time, the public library is a lively place; filled with patrons of all ages, group homework, neighbors meeting as they choose books, staff recommending titles or helping with research, kindergarten classes visiting, story time children all checking out at the same time, book club members laughing.  I love to see the library full to the brim, but it is sometimes a challenge in our small building to find spaces for everyone's needs.  Enter our new addition - a place where we can go from noisy to quiet in 23,000 square feet so that everyone has a special place to be.  Our new entrance features a porch for seasonal use, with WiFi available and benches and tables for relaxing or working.  Inside the library we find the checkout desk; the large program room which will be open at all times (when not in use for programs!) for any kind of work, even if that work is a game of chess; the children's area with story time seating; the teen area; and places along the way for group study or just conversation.  As you walk into the new north addition you enter the quiet zone - a reading room, the periodicals room, the mezzanine and the Hartland History room.  Here we will turn the cell phones off and settle in with a newspaper or that Advanced Placement study guide, ready to concentrate and enjoy the quiet at our newly remodeled Hartland Public Library.

Create a Legacy at the Hartland Public Library

Our newly renovated library will be a legacy to the future - an asset to be enjoyed by the entire community.  The Hartland Library has always accepted donations of any size, and now we will be able to offer donor recognition and named opportunities within our new facility.  Our donor wall will be located within the lobby of our new entrance; it will be attractive and visible to all who enter.  We also have identified many naming opportunities in both the new and renovated sections of the library for those who might consider honoring a loved one or recognizing a business with a lasting gift to the library.  All donations of any size are gratefully accepted, and any donation over $500.00 will be recognized on our donor wall.  Donor brochures with more information are available in the library and on our website.  Please consider a gift to help support our mission of life-long learning here at the Hartland Library.