This is a Library

What's a library? 

This is about the Carthage Free Library. I'd love to hear about your public, academic, or special library.

My library is located in a charming building on Budd Street, but its services are at the Farmer's Market, the school gym, and anywhere the community gathers. 

My library is summer reading, water balloon tag, and animal encounters. It is the place where fantasy and reality intersect to spark further imagination and investigation by readers young and old alike.

My library is a safe place to go after school. It is a place to create, study, play, read, and learn. The library is Lego club, tea parties, story time, and art class. It is patrons painting the mural in the children's room and planting bushes in the library's front yard.

My library is paranormal investigation, author visits, local history classes, and cooking demonstrations. The library's local history room is a treasure trove of resources and host to an oral history project. My library is a resource community members need to improve themselves and the community. My library is job fairs, internet access, basic skills classes, and the chance to make a better life. And, my library is a massive capital campaign undertaken to ensure physical access to the entire library for all patrons.

My library is family movie nights, craft classes for all ages, and spaghetti dinners. The library is Pysanky egg decorating, wine tasting, monthly book club, and student art shows. It is friendly staff, regular volunteers, an active Board of Trustees, and a Friends of the Library organization--all of which constantly strive to connect to and add value to their community.

In a word, what's my library? Amazing.