The Denmark Update with No Update

Submitted by Callan Berry and Jessica Dillard

Hello from the land of the unknown! It’s been a while since we’ve given everyone a look at what we’ve been up to here at Denmark. Since mid-February, we have been busy getting the branch ready to open, from creating displays to stocking the front desk with supplies. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ve accomplished so far.

But, before we do, the Denmark staff would like to give a big thank you to Facilities and IT for helping us get ready and making sure we are running smoothly before opening. We would not be functioning without them! Or opening our lockers, restrooms, or staff computers whenever they mysteriously lock us out.

We would also like to thank the DE CSAs for everything they have done as well. Not only have they shelved the remaining boxes of books and other traditional CSA duties, but they have helped with creating signage, displays, and programs, and they have been helping make DE as clean as it will ever be, from dusting to picking up litter to vacuuming the Meeting Room to situating the furniture. Thank you, DE CSAs!

Around the Branch

There’s surprisingly a lot of work to make a library look like a library, even after the books are already all on the shelves. The IS and CSA team tackled designing, cutting out (harder than you think), and displaying informational signage to make navigating and understanding this big and beautiful branch a little easier. We made everything from Out of Order signs, to study room rules, to world language signs that can be seen through the stacks, to shelf labels to let you know where that book you’ve been looking for could be hiding. 

Our fellow branches have generously been collecting top-notch puzzles for us to populate our puzzle exchange; thanks to them, we have this beautiful collection for the community to add to and borrow from.

At the front desk, the YS team has made activity boxes for families to “check out” while they are at the branch. There are three boxes each for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, containing unique items for each age group.

We are also excited about all of our furniture being uncovered and set up around the branch. No more plastic coverings!

Adult Areas

Our IS team has been hard at work putting together their displays. Here’s a sneak peek at a few of them.

Make sure you’re stopping in often to see these rotate out and get the latest updates on our programs and book recommendations.

We didn’t forget about our staff picks! To make use of some extra room by the computers and printer, our staff picks display is situated on the counter with each book sporting a bookmark designed by staff with each staff’s name.

Youth Areas

The YS team has also been hard at work. We are all very excited for you to meet our mascot, Denny The Horse! Denny can’t wait to share some of his favorite nonfiction books at his Dewey Decimal Number of the Month display, or for you to drop off your completed scavenger hunts in his mailbox… or maybe even a biography of him! Look out for Denny around the library and in future storytimes. 

Our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and 500 Books Before Middle School displays with our caterpillar and dragon friends have joined us at Denmark. Make sure you’re logging all your latest reads in Beanstack to earn your place on their wall of champions! Our princess (and Branch Manager) Sarah will be cheering you on from atop her 500 Books Before Middle School tower.

The YS team has exceeded their creativity expectations with the cubbies above the Easy section. These cubbies will be changed periodically. It’s the perfect “I Spy” spot in the branch!

As for our Bookworm, the public will have a say in this friend's name! When we finally get those doors open we will hold a poll with 5 names for you to select from, and whichever wins the vote will be the name bestowed on our big garden friend (Blog Post soon to come with vote results).

We can’t forget about the endcaps on the Juvenile section! Here’s a few that we know patrons are going to be excited to see.

The Teen Section has come alive with interactive displays, encouraging students to submit their book recommendations and to share an encouraging message with others. All of us here at DE cannot wait to see how the teens utilize this space and we are excited to welcome them when they arrive!

Staff Areas

Cumming has Irma, Post Road has Roxanne, and Denmark has . . . the Bookinator. A few weeks ago, we held a vote on what to call our lovely AMH and the winner was Bookinator, with The Boss coming in at a close second. We made it official with the Bookinator receiving their very own FCPL name tag.

We have also been setting up our workroom and have already made use of all of the machines we have from the Brother ScanNCut to the large laminator. Our drive-thru desk is all set up as well and ready to go!

While getting the branch ready, we have noticed several excited patrons who are eager to get inside Denmark. Just this week, 3 patrons have slowly driven by the front of the library, looking in to see what’s going on, and 16* patrons have come up to the front doors, most carrying books to return. One was our neighbor who lives right next door who came to inquire about donating books to the Friends bookstore. She said she is so excited for us to open and she has been waiting as patiently as we have!

Along with the community, we too have been counting down the days until opening!

*10 more folks stopped by since the original photo was taken!

Sarah Grace summed DE up perfectly the other day: “Every day we are closer and closer to madness.” But in our case, there is magic in the madness.