Small Children Love This Library!

    This lovely stained glass window is typical of the interesting and unexpected features of this small town library in Dexter Michigan, a few miles northwest of Ann Arbor.  

This sign is along the main street of town (Near the Fire Department). The library is easy to find and is only about a block or two down a side street.

 If you look closely you can read "Dexter District Library" above the main entrance to the library.







You can see one of the stained glass panels hanging in the window above. On the left is the view from the inside.

Beyond the checkout desk (right) you are treated to this view. The high arched ceiling and exposed curved beams are not what you would expect to see in a "village Library".  Additional architectural surprises await patrons and visitors alike. 

Even the buildings pillars become an architectural statement, as seen in the long black lighting fixtures that replicate the support beems by the windows.  

Here is a view of the reading area below the wood beams. This was taken looking back toward the  check out desk.   

   This library was designed to be attractive and functional for all ages. The children were not an after thought here.  The picture below says that loud and clear.  It shows one of the reasons little kids like to come to this library.  

I almost missed this shot. I had finished my tour of the library and asked the friendly ladies behind the desk if there was anything else I should take a picture of and they said "Oh yes...go look in the childrens bathroom".  They later told me small children want to come to the library just to use the toilet.

     The leg belongs to my wife Linda and shows how small this little childrens toilet is.  This was the first time I had seen such a small toilet.  But Linda said she had seen one before.  When we were in a library in a suburb of Detroit she had searched for a restroom and said when she finally found one they had this same little toilet....so she used it!

 The pictures to the left show part of the childrens area.    

 There are toys and activities tucked in cubby holes under the window seat. 

Below left shows a portion of the shelves next to the play area. 




 The shelves are filled with Children's books. No wonder kids like this library.

Older students weren't forgotten. There are a number of rooms for them to use for study.. and   they were !  (Back in my day teens talked about dates and teachers and other teens) 

Adult readers were not forgotten either.

The photo below just makes you want to sit and browse magazines or read a book.

Or you might prefer this open air covered patio setting. 

Building architecture is displayed even over the patio pictured above.
The building was filled with features like this.  

The computer section was well equipped and roomy.

Some libraries have comfy chairs tucked into corners and reading nooks, but here they put this group in a straight line??  Must have been a reason.

                        Oh, there was a reason alright. 

The photo below was taken to show the large window wall that looks out on a walking path along the river.

 And here are some views of what they would see if they looked up from their reading. 

The walking path and landscaping is still being completed (Spring 2012), but is open. The photo to the left shows a unique feature. The path becomes a bridge over the river and under a railroad bridge. Notice the tracks near the top.

There was one more feature of this library not often seen in small town libraries.

So down the unique stairs to the lower level  (actually only one flight down..I took this from one flight above the main floor.) 




 The lower level had large rooms to accommodate meetings and groups sessions, and the walls were covered with nicely displayed art work.

A big thank you to the staff of the Dexter District Library for allowing me to feature their lovely library in my blog. They were fun and friendly ladies and made us feel welcome.  If you ever get to visit here they will give you the same small town, friendly greeting we received.

PLEASE NOTE: 
       The visit to Dexter Library ends here!
The following comments and photos are mine and are in no way connected with Dexter District Library.  The library is in not connected to this business except they are in the same town a block or so apart and these photos were added  out of respect for our veterans.
This ended my visit to the library, but did not end my experience in Dexter.  I normally do not promote private business on this blog but this one was just a block from the library and was so unique I decided to describe it.

Below is a restaurant with "God Bless America"  proudly displayed.

Inside the patriotic theme was continued

The flags of the five branches of our military were displayed on the wall. My apologies that my camera did not include the Army on the left or the Coast guard on the right.  Our waitress said they usually have either the Declaration of Independance or the Constitution as part of the table covering

The waitresses all wore shirts with different messages on the back. 

This message seems appropriate especially since I am writing this a few days after memorial day.  Find some one who served in the military, shake their hand and tell them "Thank you for serving our country" 

And finally a big thank you to those who read this blog.  Your comments and suggestions for libraries to visit are always welcome, as well as any comments you would like to make.       davidwiseley@gmail.com 
I will respond to all who write me.