The Arnett Branch Library is the TARDIS of the city libraries. Stick with me on this one. Go for a visit and you'll see what I mean, Arnett is definitely bigger on the inside. There's so much going on, it's easy to overlook the small size of the building on the outside.
I think it's easy to forget about the smaller branch libraries when Central is so big and the town libraries are being invested in. But as responsible library patrons, we can't forget about branches like Arnett, which are serving their constituents and adapting to better serve their needs. Case in point: on my last visit, the library was full of kids, as it should be after school. Every computer had a kid at it, books were being read, programs were taking place. A full library warms my heart every time.
Yes, Arnett could stand to be open more often. Yes, Arnett could stand to have more parking. And yes, Arnett could stand to just have more physical space for shelves. But instead of focusing on those traits, which could easily apply to every city branch library, it's more important to focus on what the library does have, which is a solid dedicated teen space, plenty of space for kids, and shelves full of materials just waiting to be checked out.
I made a deliberate choice to get a knitting book I needed from Arnett and I'm glad I did. There were so many books that looked like they hadn't left the library in years, which made me want to take them all home. Yeah, I'm that person, and I have no shame. Why not boost the circulation statistics of a book in order to extend its shelf life? (Um, I went there. That's a new level in library fangirl.)
Consider this, Yelpers: Let's make a point to visit Arnett and show it some love. I bet most people don't even know how convenient the branch is to UR, Strong, and Brooks Landing. Next time you grab lunch at the Arnett Cafe, grab a book to go with it. That's my idea of time well spent and if supporting a great library happens to be a part of the fun, then we all benefit in the long run. read more