Beverly Public Library

I grew up down the street from Beverly Public Library – I was one of those «you’re always holed up in your room with a book!» types and loved to go there.
That said, Beverly PL is one of the nicest non-​academic libraries I’ve ever been to, esp. since the renovation. The city did an amazing job here, retaining the historic feel of the 1916 building while incorporating all of the de rigour accessories of the virtual world.
It’s an impressive venue and I think worth a visit if you’re in Beverly, especially with its location across from (also revitalized) Beverly Commons.
And here’s a word of support for librarians, who are set upon but still provide irreplaceable services. I agree many *are* really cranky! But ask them a research question or for help locating something and you’ll find they really know their stuff. Librarians have to find a way to show that they continue to be relevant and important.

Haha I totally agree with Cookie Z. on the men on the computers. I occasionally visit the library, but it seems almost like clock work that every time I go this library to pick up a book while passing by the computers I catch a dude looking at a high resolution photograph of an oiled up bikini model or muscular dude.
I don’t really have that much of a problem with it, to be honest, just something funny I noticed. You’ll also find facebook stalkers, small boys playing
, and young adult men using up the bandwidth to watch movies.
Eh, well these people are paying tax dollars/​have parents that are paying tax dollars to allow them to have the freedom to access these computers and use them how they wish.
As long as there are restrictions (like only allowed 1 hour of use at a time) then thats fine with me.
As for the library itself, its very beautiful. The staff have been very helpful. I only had one situation where a woman at the reference desk was angry at me for asking why I’m not able to renew my book after renewing it 2 times.
She said «YOU HAVE TO LET OTHER PEOPLE READ THE BOOK». Fine, I returned the book and a day later I renewed it again. Only to have it end up in my lap a week later. This happened to me repeatedly with every book I had to return.
I understand that libraries don’t want people holding onto this stuff infinitely, but if I bring the book back in great condition. I should be able to immediately check it out again. I showed them evidence that I didn’t lose it or destroy it.
Its a shame that I have to return these books when obviously nobody wants to read/​reserve them.

So, I like my local library.
I often come to use the wireless internet connection — there are lots of places to sit –tables, desks, little ledges on the third floor. It is clean, bright, and well lit.
The kids space is downstairs — it isn’t huge, but they have a decent collection, computers specifically for the kids use, and a play area surrounded by shelves of picture books for the little ones with blocks and few toys and puzzles as well.
They also run lots of kids programs —
My favorite part? The quiet third floor. I very rarely see anyone up there but me. It is kind of creepy quiet, but a great place to just wander around the stacks and lose yourself in thought. There is some study space up there, too
It works for me!

This may be a chicken or egg thing here… Is a person who seeks a Master Of Library Science Degree an asshole before they recieve the degree or does it happen after the degree is handed over?
It is an absolute dream of mine to someday encounter a Librarian that does not seem like a high strung chihuahua in all mannerisms.
Certain friends of mine have hinted strongly to me that a Librarian would be the perfect profession for the woman of my dreams…
That may be true, but I’m still looking… They are just so…
The Library is a community spot where the staff is paid by the tax dollars of the people who live in the community… At some point in Library School these employees of taxpayers forget that their positions are at the will of some elected official and ultimately the taxpayers.
I looked hard the other day in the whole library but was not able to find one pedestal in the joint which really surprised me since too many of the staff seem to feel that is where they belong.
What is the sanctimonious crap we as a society have heaped on libraries and librarians? Think about this the next time you walk into the Beverly Library… What are these people doing for you? The answer is not much… The Internet, and all the other media options are eroding the importance of the uptight shuuuusssshing librarian and they have to be feeling the squeeze.
I’m still putting in my order… I would like a librarian, who gets the world we live in, has a life way beyond the dusty bookshelves, is not full of it, and has a sense of humor even about the glasses at the end of her nose… Speaking French is a plus as well as the ability to understand sports, even the obscure ones… must like growing things, Woody Allen movies, and the perfunctory «walks on the beach»
Now I’ll just wait for either FEDEX or UPS and see what happens…