By Nolan Cotlier
Boston University News Bureau
If you want to feel in the middle of the serene action, sit by the fiction stacks.
The Worcester Public Library, located at 3 Salem Square, has been serving the Worcester public since 1859. As of today, the library has undergone a myriad of changes. Even in the past 20 years, there have been tweaks and adjustments that aim to improve access to their facilities.
It is no question that the library aids in providing the public with different kinds of services. When walking into the Worcester Public Library, it almost feels like the library is providing the same amount of comforts as it is knowledge.
The first thing you might notice is just how open the ground floor feels. Your eyes might even focus on the self-checkout station located in the middle of the floor. Considering the amount of resources you can access at the Worcester Public Library, it’s quite the empowering sight.
One measure that aids with establishing the library as a true resource of the public is the signage. Each side room and area of the building is marked with signs that are identical Worcester street signs that each feature a heart shape.
By midday, much of the seating space in the library is taken up by community members. The second and third floors feature nonfiction, staff desks and even some computers. These floors are quiet and focused.
The first floor is where the movement happens. The various side rooms, help desks and seats, flow with multiple different people as the hours go on. Much of the conversation you can hear is based on accessing the various resources the library offers.
You can simply walk up to the info and state “I want to use a computer,” and someone will be able to direct to one of their multiple desktops. Aside from technological assistance, you may
also hear people asking for help with accessing family records. Birth records and other artifacts that are specific to the Worcester area have a chance of being sourced through the library’s resources.
A few areas of the building feature these curious signs. These are symbols paired with RightHear software that is designed to guide visually impaired individuals.
Featured next to the info desk is a light-hearted way for people to engage with the library and community at large. The sign next to the wall reads: During the month of March, the Worcester Public Library will be collecting cat pictures and non-perishable food items in the spirit of “March Meowness.”
These donations can be dropped off at any branch of the library. The same goes for pet photos.
The library has undergone significant renovation since its founding in 1859, and even over the past few decades. Even before its current design, people have been loyal attendees. One library goer, who has been coming to the library for 20 years, called the space a “safe haven.”
She came to the library frequently when she was in high school. She now has three kids who she also used to frequently bring here for the library’s children’s programs. Although she “likes the feng shui” of the first floor, she prefers the quiet atmosphere of the upper floors.
Since the library offers services that range from foreign newspapers, to a place to charge your phone, it is natural for some people to come inside to use the restroom. Afterall, it is public.
As the hours go on, it is clear that the library remains a calm place to read a book or access a computer. If you happen to need a really quiet space to get work done, or just relax with a book, the upper floors will provide the atmosphere you need.
