Library travels

I know many of you are like me, in that you visit other libraries while traveling. Maybe it's for professional reasons, maybe it's to check your email and to use a restroom, nonetheless, it's always interesting to see how others live and work.

Christmas-time found me in Florida, in the small west coast fishing village of Cedar Key. I've been there many times, but it had been a couple of years and the library had moved to a new location. I wondered why there was an old fire engine right outside the window off the Children's area. Much to my surprise, I was told that the Fire Department retrofitted the engine and donated it to the Library. They let the children climb all over it and (!) hold story hour programs on the top. As a kid, I would have been thrilled. As a more nervous librarian type I couldn't help but wonder about liability. It's a unique spot and I found it refreshing and worth a few photos.

So, what interesting library stories do you have?