Scotland Public Library & D’Elia Antique Tool Museum
My first visit to the Scotland Public Library/D’Elia Antique Tool Museum was in June 2006. I had applied for the position of library director and was to be interviewed by members of the library board. As I followed the graceful curve of the driveway into the parking area, I admired the lovely wooded setting and the attractive façade of this new building. Upon entering the library, I was captivated by the gorgeous layout, striking architecture, and roomy seating area. The large circulation desk was welcoming and functional at the same time. Study carrels with computers offered privacy to patrons. The children’s room, with its hand painted mural and stained glass window panels, was charming. I envisioned families gathering for activities in the wrap-around window seating. The conference room offered ample seating, a large rectangular table, and a retractable screen for presentations. Accommodations were specifically made for the teen population, offering a separate area with computers, shelving, and seating. Clearly, the architect had designed an attractive building while planning for functionality and future growth.
The physical location of the Scotland Public Library wasn’t always so eye appealing. It has come a long way since its inception in early 1895 by Reverend Henry Burnham Mead. In that year, the town appropriated $100 to establish a free library, and by late December the library had its first home—the second floor of the schoolhouse. Prior to having a public library, students were often permitted to use the extensive private libraries of many of the town’s scholarly residents.
As the town grew, however, it became necessary for the school to utilize the entire building. In 1951, a renovated woodshed behind the school became the new home for the library. When a new elementary school was completed in 1962, the library moved back into the schoolhouse into a room on the first floor. At that time, the library was typically open two days a week, and always open immediately after church services for use by patrons from outlying districts.
In 2001, the town was acutely aware of its growing population and the need for a new location for the library. A proposal was made to convert an old firehouse, but one Scotland resident would not hear of it. Andrew D’Elia, while searching for a home for his extensive collection of antique tools, suggested joining with the public library in one locality. He generously donated the funds to put a new structure on an existing town-owned parcel of land. The result is the lovely building at 21 Brook Road in Scotland. The library occupies 7,000 sq. ft., and the D’Elia Antique Tool Museum is in a separate 1,000 sq. ft. room that is maintained by Mr. D’Elia.
The museum is a handsome addition to the building. A large room with over 20 oak display cases houses more than 1,000 patented transitional planes. Stained glass windows in the museum depict a few of the planes on exhibit. The D’Elia Antique Tool Museum is open weekends from May through September and by appointment. For more information, please visit www.deliatoolmuseum.com.
The building officially opened its doors for business in June 2005 and is the pride of the community. Scotland Public Library now serves the public five days a week for a total of 25 hours. A small town appropriation and various donations support the library. Interest from several trust accounts left to the library by residents helps to offset library expenses. The Hutchins Memorial Fund sponsors awards at the close of each school year at both the Scotland Elementary School and Parish Hill High/Middle School.
Currently, the Scotland Public Library offers a weekly story time, a knitting and crocheting group, and various children’s programs during summer vacation. There are seven patron computers to access the library’s automated card catalog and the Internet. The library has a 60-minute computer use policy, and we are beginning to see a need to enforce that rule more strictly as attendance increases. The new building has been very well received by the community; patrons’ comments are nearly always positive. First time library users and out-of-town visitors often remark at how beautiful they find the building. The library is becoming a gathering place. The conference room is used for meetings for a local historic group, a farmers market group, and monthly library board meetings. Local teenagers and parents with their children meet after school to discuss plans and homework assignments, or to just relax with a good book. With a growing selection of best sellers, audio books, and DVDs, there is something for everyone. The Scotland Public Library/D’Elia Antique Tool Museum is truly a treasure for this small town.
The Scotland Public Library/D’Elia Antique Tool Museum is the winner of the 2008 Excellence in Public Library Architecture Award for libraries smaller than 18,000 sq. ft. The award will be presented during CLA’s Annual Conference in April.
Reported by: Mary Geragotelis
Posted: 04.01.2008