lovely time
This past weekend, B and I had the pleasure of visiting Madison and La Crosse, Wisconsin. I’ll go back any day. Each time we’ve gone to Madison, I’ve enjoyed it even more. We were there just one day but made the most of that day just puttering around the State Street area, including spending a bit of time just wandering around a used bookstore. (The photo was taken in the children’s room of the bookstore.) And staying in a great bed & breakfast. I love b&b’s just because they are so cozy and welcoming. Then we headed up to La Crosse, Wisconsin to visit the former director of the library where Bryan used to work, who is now the director at the La Crosse Public Library. She gave us a great tour of La Crosse as part of the historic tour that she does as a side job. Then we talked libraries for several hours after the tour. La Crosse is beautiful, I can definitely see the attraction of living there. For a town that’s just over 50,000 it seemed like a much larger town. We were so impressed with their food co-op complete with a great restaurant on the second floor. I’d definitely go back to La Crosse for a longer weekend. 
On the road, I did manage to get quite a bit of knitting done. I worked on part of a secret project and knit one of the borders to the Moderne Baby Blanket. I’ve now completed three of the four borders and if I can stand the blanket next to the a/c window unit, I may have a finished blanket by the end of the week. I have a few tv shows from last week to thank for my progress.
Today we’ve been recovering from our travels and getting ready for the next week. This is my last week at the local public library and then next week I start training at the library on campus for my graduate assistantship. The transition that we’ve known was coming for several months is finally here and I’m so excited about it.
Several of you mentioned in the comments of my last post that you can’t imagine having a coffee shop in the library but it’s been great. The staff love it and it brings people in the library who want to read the paper and get a good cup of coffee. We have an area limiting where food can go, which seems to have worked well.
Since I’m starting library school, you’ll probably see more about library stuff here. Here’s an interesting article that I found regarding a library no longer using the Dewey system. It makes sense but at the same time there is a part of me that thinks, how will they ever keep track of all of the books but I guess it’s the same as separating fiction into genres, such as mystery, romance, etc.
Kelly said,
August 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
Did you visit Gunderson Hospital in LaCrosse? if not you missed a great LaCrosse landmark.. well the place of my birth : )
Felicia said,
August 7, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Sounds like you had a pretty fabulous vacation.
Erin said,
August 7, 2007 @ 8:20 am
What a great trip! It sounds like you had a wonderful time!
I can totally relate about the whole blanket thing. It’s been so hot here I haven’t hardly touched my knitting!
Elspeth said,
August 7, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
I love the blanket, it’s gorgeous! It’s interesting that you’re transitioning into libraries when I’m transitioning out. At least I don’t think I’ll get a library job again but I do need a job so we’ll see. I miss seeing other libraries and talking libraries, though. Have a great time at school, and I hope Bryan gets a great job!