Saturday Snapshot

 Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home with Books. To participate in this meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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 I live in a small town in a rural section of NY state. It's very beautiful here with hills and trees and changing seasons, although I'm not a big fan of snow anymore. One month of winter would be enough for me! I have been planning to post photos of my hometown library for a long time. I finally took my camera in this week and got some of the shots I wanted. It's very impressive and is a rare gem in our area. I need to get more of the interior to do it justice but I have some nice shots of the outside to give a glimpse of this beautiful building. It's really so much more impressive in person though. I think this will have to be a multi-part post to show the different sections.

Our library has the largest collection in the county. Started in 1935, the Georgian Colonial style building was opened in 1937 thanks to an endowment fund of a local family. The materials are a combination of New England Colonial Harvard Brick for the walls and Indiana limestone for the trim. The roof shingles are hand-made from clay. Some of the original flagstone terrace in the front was recently replaced due to problems caused by tree roots and the back terrace and extensive lawns have been modified over the years. A charming cupola adorns the roof over the front entrance. The interior has a beautiful foyer with hand-carved pillars and wood trim, a reading and reference room, children's and picture book rooms, meeting and exhibition rooms, local history room, a beautifully remodeled auditorium that seats 340 people - and I haven't even mentioned the top floor yet!

Since the large back terrace was restored a few years ago (after 40 years of being closed off) the library hosts more events. The local high school now holds their spring prom inside with access to the back.  Weddings and receptions are frequently held there as well and all kind of events take place in the auditorium and exhibition room. During the summer there is even music on the front lawn once a week when local talent performs with free concerts.

I'm sorry for such a long post and so many photos but it is such a special place for me and I wanted to share it. The building and the grounds are beautiful and provide many services to our community. Fortunately we have volunteers who provide additional help to keep this ship sailing smoothly. I use this library every week and now that my kids are older, I think I will volunteer more of my time to give back as well. Interior photos to be posted another day!

Our beautiful public library!

Front entrance with cupola above it

New front patio with various benches, flowers & lighting

View from front patio towards front yard & Main Street

One set of bench seating with landscaping in front yard

Back view of library with staircase and parking to left, basement staff parking on right. Stone railing surrounds terrace

Back entrance to auditorium

Back terrace with flower fountain and cafe seating

Corner bench seat on back terrace