Library 110: West Hartford Library & Community Center
An ode to maximalism.
Library 110! The West Hartford Library was the 110th stop on my quest to read, write, and knit in all of Vermont’s public libraries.
I read: Gather by Kenneth Cadow, chapters 29-30
I wrote: an ode to maximalism
I knit: a Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague
This library is near the Appalachian Trail, and on our way in there were two hikers and a dog refreshing their water supply and using the WiFi.
When we arrived, I realized I’d left Hen Solo (my emotional support chicken) at home for the first time in my library quest. As a rush of disappointment set in, Chewbwacca confided in me that he was ready to step out of his sidekick role and do a library solo. He can fit into spaces Hen Solo can’t, he reminded me. New photo opportunities, he promised. He did a great job.
The sign out front suggests that this library was built after a previous building was destroyed in — guess what— a flood. Vermont’s signature natural disaster.
Courtney, an artist and maybe a future art teacher, gave us a tour of this library and community center. It felt like a home.
In some libraries I want to read, in some I want to write, in some I want to chat. In this one I wanted to take 494726373 pictures. Why?
I love stuff. I love my stuff, I love other people’s stuff. I love visiting new friends’ homes and looking at their unique curation of stuff. I love opening the door to a new library and getting a first glimpse of how their stuff is organized. If I had a library, it would be full of stuff. Just like this library.
Because I am a person who likes to collect and count things (like libraries and towns and finished objects and cast ons), the peep diorama collection in this library made me want to scream with joy. As did the bird nest collection. And the wasp nest collection. Signs. Games. Stuffies. Plants. Vintage singing giant pez dispensers. A clock with a sloth riding a llama.
I understand the need to Marie Kondo stuff on occasion, but I can’t show you a single item in this library that does not make it better by being there. It was perfect.
Here’s to maximalism! My favorite orientation to stuff.
