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Westgate Branch is Open

by aadl-news

The Westgate Branch opened Tuesday, September 6! There is plenty of parking in the rear of the shopping center, and the best access is from the Rite Aid end of the center. Just drive around, park behind the Library, and enter through the new rear doors.

As of today, holds may be placed for pick up at Westgate, and if you have outstanding items on a request list, please go to aadl.org/contactus and send a message asking to have your holds relocated to West for pickup. All outstanding holds waiting on Pittsfield shelves for Westgate will be available today at Westgate.

It has been almost 10 months since Westgate closed for renovations, and we are very pleased to be reopening in four times the space, with a new rear entry, a Reading Room, two small meeting rooms, a large program room, dedicated space for youth, a Sweetwaters Cafe, and books, books, books!

We look forward to seeing you sometime soon in the new Westgate!

Josie

Comments

Submitted by llee on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 8:29am

I'm soooo ecstatic for the new renovation!!! Can't believe that AADL actually went through with it...there was a time when I'd heard they may have closed this location. Thank you for the expansion...can't wait to stop in this morning!!! Plus there's coffee and food now. I'm there every week before and will continue to do so :)

Submitted by tdsiterlet on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 12:25pm

To be brief : W O W !!!!!!!!!! It's so nice I don't think a scruffy old curmudgeon like me will be allowed !!!!! The MASSIVE screens in the computer lab will take some getting used to !! The info/check-out desk is perfectly located, and the fireplace looks way too inviting. In all, a brilliant piece of work.

Submitted by Zekicmom on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 6:50pm

Just back from checking out the new branch (no pun intended), and it's really impressive. Looking forward to attending programming there and getting to know the layof the land.
Welcome back West Branch!

Submitted by SurfGrape on Thu, 09/08/2016 - 10:09am

It's beautiful! I loved visiting there yesterday and can't wait to go again. Congratulations, AADL!

Submitted by lbootzin on Fri, 09/09/2016 - 5:03pm

It's absolutely lovely inside. I'll have to get used to the new shelving system, but it shouldn't be too hard of a transition.

Submitted by izzygreta on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 2:44pm

The inside is lovely, but I think you need more bike racks outside. They filled up quickly this afternoon.

Submitted by mbeth on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 3:13pm

Simultaneously the space is expansive and welcoming yet one can enter some sectors and feel somewhat secluded.
The lighting seems to make the interior elegant
The chalkboard look to the signage reminds me of the world music at a nearby market
It has been worth the wait.
already it is a well loved addition to our town
Congratulations on creating it

Submitted by carrier on Sun, 09/11/2016 - 8:35am

It's a beautiful place
However, there seems to be a lot of wasted space; it's more like a play area or a bookstore to roam around in. Those type areas
are available all over town. I would prefer a library to have tons of books, CD's, DVD's.
Sweetwaters and other cafes are available everywhere, too. Why take up library space for it? Especially with Barry Bagels right next
door.
Is there a drop box in the front?
Sorry to complain, but I was hoping for a library.

Submitted by willow on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 7:48pm

The West branch is lovely and spacious but definitely feels like a bookstore/coffee shop hybrid inside a library to me. I am definitely now in the old fashioned, older generation camp. Snort.

I find the organizational scheme to be harder to use than Dewey decimal. My kids like it, however. I think it's harder to find a specific item on the shelf -- a long list of the subject hierarchy, so in some cases, SO many words!, but probably more browsing-friendly, especially in fiction because of the subject divisions rather than alphabetical by author.

Are items from the West branch all going to stay at West, rather than be moved around in the way the other branches' stuff does? Or are all the branches doing away with Dewey?

I really like that there is space for tools, art prints, etc. I am absolutely thrilled that the kids' non-fiction is in the kids' area, and I am so glad there is room for events there, like storytime.

Most of all, though, I am pleased that the library is such a vibrant part of the community, and that West branch is in the same location, which I think is more accessible to infrequent library goers.

Submitted by rees4905 on Tue, 09/13/2016 - 9:16pm

You mean plenty of car parking. Are you going to be adding bike parking at some point?

Submitted by mabellek on Thu, 09/15/2016 - 10:44am

Great space and I love the parking in the back. I missed the branch during reconstruction so much. Coffee on site too!

Submitted by nerzhin on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:48am

I would love to see a more cozy, nook-like library rather than the sterile airport look. I suppose it may not be sanitary enough for a city library, though. I do love the coffee shop addition, though!

Submitted by ajreader on Mon, 07/03/2017 - 7:17am

This is my new favorite library branch! The children's section is excellent - so inviting and my kids love it! Beautiful, well-thought out space that encourages you to spend some quality time at the library. Thank you for creating!

Submitted by galarzad on Sun, 07/09/2017 - 11:44am

My girls and I love biking to this branch. It is bright and welcoming...and they love the sweets at Sweet Waters.

Submitted by toheiichikawa on Wed, 08/23/2017 - 10:24am

d(^_^d)

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