Guessing Game

Can you guess where I am?

No?

It's brand new, just opened last week.

Let me show you a few details.

 

There's a staircase.

Does that help?

Not really, it's a cool staircase with lots of details and textures,

but it could be any were, couldn't  it?

 

This won't help you solve the mystery,

but do you see the little girl with her mother way at the bottom.

She was such a cutie!

All she wanted to do was climb the stairs.

Up and down

Over and over

Her mother patiently held her hand.

 

Here's a few more things I saw.

 

 

There's a kitchen and cute little chairs.

Thinking day care?

Nope!

When the structure was built, the design team polled groups of children on what they wanted to learn.

 

“The No. 1 thing was learning how to feed themselves.”

 

That's pretty sad isn't it. So many small children are left at home alone and have to fend for themselves. That information led to the development of a teaching kitchen. The kitchen will offer cooking classes that will help children understand nutrition.

 

Here's another hint.

One of the ways you can get here is by school bus.

 

Thinking school?

Nope!

 

With this peek of the outside, do you see how this slightly resembles a barn? When architect Reese Rowland designed the structure he "drew on childhood memories of dusty sunlight filtering through the slats of his grandparents' barn, winding forest creeks and fortresses made of crates and ladders. These themes of exploration and inspiration informed the building's design."

 

You can wander into one of the rooms and play.

 

 

Community center?

Nope!

 

You can just sit a spell and rest.

There's a chair just your size.

 

 

Haven't figured it out yet?

I'll show you something else you can do there.

 

 

It's such a bright, cheerful place. Susan Gele, assistant director for public relations at Central Arkansas Library System says, “the colors inside are so vibrant and child-friendly that when you come in as an adult, it’s hard to be sad here. It’s hard to be distressed. It’s a hopeful, happy place.”

 And, it is!

I was smiling the whole time I was there.
There are frogs and turtles on the bookshelves and chairs.
There's a caterpillar bench and
rows and rows of books, just kids books.
There are toys, puzzles, games, and
computer terminals for the older ones.
Who wouldn't have fun here??

 

 

 

It's a library especially designed for children.

 

 

This is the most wonderful library I've been in!  Most of the children's sections in the other libraries around town are pretty boring. A few computer terminals, stuffed animals thrown around, and maybe a few pictures on the walls. Oh wait, one of our libraries does have some kites hanging from the ceiling. None are as spectacular as this.

 

I hope you enjoyed discovering this place as much as I did. It was fun to capture in pictures; from the small details to the overall picture. There's still more; outside walking trails, ponds, and a greenhouse. If things work out, I'm going to try and post some of those images tomorrow.