I Visited All 31 Libraries in the Monroe County Library System. Here's What I Learned.
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Last September, I joined the Board of Trustees for the Monroe County Library System (MCLS).
What is the Monroe County Library System? The MCLS is an association of independent public libraries. MCLS members receive many benefits, like a shared catalog, shipping and delivery services so patrons can borrow materials from any library in the system, outreach services, admin and technical support, and more. Central Library in downtown Rochester is the operational hub of the MCLS; the Rochester Public Library is comprised of Central Library and 10 city library branches, all part of the MCLS.
As an obsessive reader and someone who’s always down for an adventure, I decided to visit every library in the system. That’s 31 libraries! I began in late September and finished in early March. In October, my client Celebrate City Living did a theme called “Celebrate: Libraries” on our Instagram, so I visited all 11 city library locations in just one month!
It’s been a fascinating journey to explore all these beautiful libraries that are so vital to our communities. Every library has its own personality and quirks. It was a joy to see the amazing work library staff are doing across Monroe County! I shared my journey on Instagram using #EmilyExploresMCLS, but thought it would be valuable to recap the experience in one convenient blog post.
I’ll be sharing my library experiences in the order in which I visited. My husband joined me for as many of the visits as his schedule allowed, so if I say “we,” that’s who I’m referring to. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
1) Winton Branch – North Winton Village
Winton is my home branch, so I’m there often. They rotate through entertaining signs out front that make me laugh. This branch has a quaint feel and friendly staff. I always enjoy popping in to grab a movie or a YA novel!
Favorite things about this library: the funny rotating signs, beautiful flowers out front, and the friendly staff.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
2) Central Library – Center City
On my visit to Central, I met with the head of the children’s department as well as the circulation services manager and his team. Central Library is made up of two buildings connected by an underground tunnel–the Rundel Building (the older of the two) and Bausch & Lomb (the newer of the two). There’s so much to take in at this library, so be sure to plan enough time for your visit! The children’s section has an amazing Secret Room that’s currently being renovated; the media center is jam-packed with audiobooks and DVDs; the tunnel is full of cool murals; you can catch various exhibits in the Rundel Building. Plus, you can check out things like sewing machines and ukuleles! Be sure to visit the Foodlink Cafe for a delicious bite to eat before you go.
Favorite things about this library: the Foodlink Cafe and the displays under the stairs by the children’s department.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
3) Sully Branch – Beechwood
This cute little library is located inside a rec center and had Foodlink’s Curbside Market set up outside on the Saturday when we visited. They have the largest manga collection in the county! They’ve also got a great event space with huge windows, a giraffe named Twigga, and giant Connect 4 in the children’s section.
Favorite thing about this library: the fact that they print Totoro on their receipts.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
4) Frederick Douglass Community Library – South Wedge
Douglass is the smallest of the city library branches! The space is cute and full of great materials that are in demand in their community. I found awesome stuff to check out here–like a Palestinian cookbook and a fun YA fantasy novel. The beautiful murals outside by Shawn Dunwoody and Calan Gloss make the space feel bright and welcoming.
Favorite thing about this library: the gorgeous murals outside!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
5) Lincoln Branch Library & the Toy Library - 14621
The Lincoln Library is located on Joseph Ave; I visited on a rainy day but inside it felt warm and comforting. They carry many books and DVDs in Spanish and have bilingual staff members who can assist patrons. The toy library boggles the mind; they have an abundance of toys that anyone can check out! They even have kits that teachers can check out to promote play in their classrooms. Parents and kids can come in and play together on site; you may want to call in advance to check beforehand, as policies have changed throughout the COVID pandemic. This branch will be reconfigured soon to make the Toy Library more visible and accessible, so stay tuned!
Favorite thing about this library: the fact that you can check out toys and board games.
Learn more: Lincoln Website / Toy Library Website / Instagram / Toy Library Instagram / Facebook
6) Phillis Wheatley Community Library – Corn Hill
Phillis Wheatley has colorful murals by Shawn Dunwoody outside to welcome patrons! The inside also shows off staff members’ creativity, with a paper Groot in the children’s section, a dragon extending out of a bookshelf, and clever displays. The StoryWalk outside changes monthly, where you can read a full children’s book as you walk along the path from the parking lot to the entrance of the building. They also have a community garden in the back. Don’t miss out on their monthly crafts, too! They’re pretty fantastic–I made a witchy Halloween decoration with the craft kit I picked up in October.
Favorite thing about this library: the StoryWalk outside!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
7) Lyell Branch Library – Lyell-Otis
Great murals out front welcome you to the Lyell Branch! This library is small but mighty and does an excellent job serving its community. They have a Sharing Shelf where patrons can take home clothing items or shoes as well as a small food pantry. The children’s section is super cute, and they’ve got crafts for kids and coloring sheets too.
Favorite thing about this library: the Lyell Loyalty Chest, where kids and adults alike can select a prize for themselves after filling up a punchcard by borrowing materials regularly.
Learn more: Website / Facebook
8) Maplewood Community Library – Maplewood
Maplewood serves many new Americans, children, and teens at their bustling library! I appreciated staff members’ sense of humor, as one clerk was decorating for Halloween with creepy photoshopped Halloween photos and toy dinosaurs eating dolls.
Favorite thing about this library: the 1,200 origami cranes hanging in the children’s section.
Learn more: Website / Facebook
9) Charlotte Branch Library – Charlotte
Only a handful of city library branches have multiple floors, and Charlotte is one of them! This branch has a charming children’s section, with lovely murals painted by a former employee. They have dulcimers available to be checked out, a 3D printer that gets a lot of use, and a great local history section too.
Favorite thing about this library: the dumbwaiter in the children’s section that brings books up and downstairs.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
10) Arnett Branch Library – 19th Ward
The Arnett Library is a hub for the community, and folks love the book spine mural outside, created by local artist Richmond Futch! When designing the mural, staff and the artist worked together to include classics, bestsellers, and titles the 19th Ward community would connect to. There are more great murals inside too, featuring scenes and characters from literature. They also have a Little Free Food Pantry by the parking lot.
Favorite thing about this library: the book spine mural all around the building.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
11) Monroe Branch Library – Upper Monroe
The Monroe Branch Library has an incredible children’s room with its own entrance; it’s full of stuffed animals, Legos, a puppet theater, and a huge collection of Braille books. There’s an eye-catching mural as you head upstairs from the children’s room. They’ve got a sizable collection of Hallmark movies to lift your spirits! This branch is the oldest in the city. The Branch Manager mentioned that they are one of the only libraries locally that plays music during the day–they find it sets the tone and can create a calm environment for all.
Favorite thing about this library: the elevator decorated to look like the TARDIS.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
12) Penfield Public Library – Penfield, NY
The Penfield Library was our first foray into the suburban member libraries! I found tons of amazing books here that I may not have picked up otherwise. It was busy when we visited, with older folks reading the newspaper and teenagers hanging out and studying. They also have a cozy fireplace!
Favorite thing about this library: the goofy fish in the fish tank in the children’s section.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
13) Chili Public Library – Chili, NY
Chili recently built a new Community Center where many resources are centrally located, and the library is one of them! The new space is great, with a cozy reading room, a wonderful children’s section (that was full of happily playing kids when I visited), and a brand new makerspace. They also have a Leaf & Bean coffee station!
Favorite thing about this library: the art on display in the reading room.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
14) Pittsford Community Library – Pittsford, NY
My OG library! I grew up visiting the Pittsford Library before the old one was demolished and the current building went up. The current building is super spacious, with a great children’s area, huge windows letting in tons of natural light, and lots of study rooms. They have plenty of new books and a solid teen section too.
Favorite thing about this library: the iconic book-shaped book drop!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
15) Irondequoit Public Library – Irondequoit, NY
The Irondequoit Library is fabulous all around! The children’s section has castles and wood carvings, there’s a cool teen area with bright pink chairs, a maker’s lab, and an ongoing book sale. The space has a lot of personality and we found plenty of great materials to check out!
Favorite thing about this library: the happy potted plants on the long windowsill.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
16) Henrietta Public Library – Henrietta, NY
We were lucky enough to get a wonderful tour of the Henrietta Library from library director Adrienne Petinelli. We learned that the sidewalk and part of the lobby are heated so they don’t have to shovel in the winter! The building also has geothermal heat, which keeps the temperature stable and was more affordable long-term. There are many unique details in this space–like windows outside the children’s section depicting scenes from books in the public domain with the text of the book printed on them. The children’s section is awesome, and TR the dinosaur, the library mascot, is everywhere! Overall, the space is light and airy, with a playful and welcoming atmosphere.
Favorite thing about this library: Dave Pollot paintings of TR the dinosaur!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
17) Gates Public Library – Gates, NY
We visited this library on my birthday! They had lots of colorful crafts to take home, a fun children’s section, a big book sale, and lots of educational activities. Plus, the staff were friendly and one librarian recognized us from sharing our library journey on Instagram! We had a nice conversation.
Favorite thing about this library: the chart where you could measure how tall you are compared to various dinosaurs.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
18) East Rochester Public Library – East Rochester, NY
Tucked away in a building on Main Street, this unassuming library is full of unusually shaped spaces (like the children’s/teen area) where they’ve packed in as much as possible! It felt very welcoming and homey, like a true community hub.
Favorite thing about this library: the manga (Children of the Whales) I only found at this library and nowhere else!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
19) Webster Public Library – Webster, NY
Webster’s space is only one floor but it spans far and wide, with a colorful children’s section, a welcoming teen area, a puzzle exchange, a seed exchange, and so much more. I also loved the map in the entrance of library cards from across the country.
Favorite thing about this library: the beautiful paper art installations made by staff.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
20) Brighton Memorial Library – Brighton, NY
This library has done some updates since I used to tutor there several years ago, and is looking fresh and inviting! I loved the grab-and-go book bundles they had in the children’s section on a variety of different topics.
Favorite thing about this library: the reading room full of new fiction.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
21) Rush Public Library – Rush, NY
This was another library that felt like a real community hub. They had their very own teen zine, a puzzle section, a warm fireplace, and lots of cozy nooks where you could curl up with a book.
Favorite thing about this library: the fireplace.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
22) Mendon Public Library – Honeoye Falls, NY
This library had been transformed into a giant game of Candyland, which was so creative! I loved their Elf-inspired sign in the lobby, the ongoing book sale, and the igloo made of empty milk jugs. They also had a neat fundraiser going on where they were selling necklaces made by a local artist!
Favorite thing about this library: the life-size Candyland game spread out across the library.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
23) Fairport Public Library – Fairport, NY
Located on the bottom floor of a shopping center, this library has a funny shape, but every inch is packed with materials and designed to cater to the folks they serve! The children’s section was busy with kids playing, there was a lovely reading room with big windows and a nice view of the canal, and the whole place was hopping with patrons on a Friday afternoon.
Favorite thing about this library: the part of the children’s section where kids can play shop like it’s Wegmans.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
24) Ogden Farmers’ Library – Spencerport, NY
This little library had some lovely murals in the children’s section, cool Lego creations by kids on display, resources for exploring your genealogy, and an awesome teen area. I appreciated that in the teen section, they had signs encouraging adults to go sit elsewhere, so teens could just be themselves and enjoy the space.
Favorite thing about this library: the amazing selection of books in the teen section!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
25) Greece Public Library – Greece, NY
The Greece Library is incredibly spacious, with something for everyone. They have a 3D printer, book club discussion kits, anime DVDs, crafts, and more. The best part was the whimsical children’s area, AKA the Story Garden. It features a hobbit hole, light bright, toys, and lots of room to run and play.
Favorite thing about this library: the stunning Story Garden, complete with a hobbit hole!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
26) Scottsville Free Library – Scottsville, NY
This building used to be a theater and meeting space for the community and has strikingly high ceilings and wood paneling! Their children’s room is small but full of great books, and they’ve got a solid selection of new books, biographies, magazines, and music.
Favorite thing about this library: the beautiful, historic space.
Learn more: Website / Facebook
27) Mumford Branch Library – Mumford, NY
Mumford is a branch of Scottsville and is just eight minutes down the road! Every inch of available space is packed with books. There are paintings on the walls and cute cat pillows on comfy armchairs. I loved that the children’s section was decorated heavily with Spongebob!
Favorite thing about this library: the way books are absolutely overflowing from every surface.
Learn more: Website
28) Newman Riga Library – Churchville, NY
Newman Riga celebrated its 100th anniversary recently! The staff clearly know all their regulars well and are happy to make book recommendations. They had a great Black History Month display when we visited, and lots of fun, diverse books in the children’s and teen sections.
Favorite thing about this library: the stack of old yearbooks which we flipped through to find photos of some of our friends who went to Churchville!
Learn more: Website / Facebook
29) Seymour Library – Brockport, NY
Seymour has a modern, welcoming feel. I enjoyed spotting googly eyes on a cabinet in the children’s area, and appreciated the clever I Spy game with an old dollhouse. The teen section seems perfect for teenagers, complete with booths where they can study for hours. They had an awesome DVD selection; we found lots of movies to check out.
Favorite thing about this library: the drawings on display by talented teens!
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
30) Parma Public Library – Hilton, NY
Parma was a delight to visit! They had a great manga section and cute teen lounge, plus a children’s section with families playing, and awesome new books on display. They also still had COVID test kits to give away to the community!
Favorite thing about this library: the paintings displayed along the tops of all the bookshelves, making the space feel homey.
Learn more: Website / Instagram / Facebook
31) Hamlin Public Library – Hamlin, NY
Our final library visit! The children’s section was incredibly colorful, and they had cute storytime bags for families to check out. They also had jigsaw puzzles to check out, beautiful photography books, and tons of cookbooks. I loved the bench outside painted to look like an open book, and the breathtaking Aerosol Kingdom mural by the parking lot!
Favorite thing about this library: the bins you could check out full of mementos to teach people about the 40s and 50s.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, a brief Q&A with questions submitted by folks on Instagram!
Did you notice any trends on your visits, like between rural libraries and city libraries?
I’ll confess, as I drove out to some of the more rural libraries from my home in the city, I started to feel a bit nervous and out of place. I spotted many “Let’s Go Brandon” and “Thin Blue Line” flags along the way each time I went to a rural library. Will these libraries be less welcoming and inclusive? I wondered.
Those concerns turned out to be ill-founded. Some of the rural libraries turned out to be my favorites, like Ogden, Parma, Mendon, and Mumford. They had fantastic selections of books, cozy spaces for kids and teens to feel comfortable in, and carried plenty of diverse books.
I did notice that at some of the more rural libraries, staff knew most patrons by names and could clearly tell we were outsiders! They weren’t any less friendly, but they seemed confused by the newcomers taking photos.
Since the 31 libraries span all of Monroe County, from city neighborhoods to suburbs to rural towns, it was interesting to see the huge variety across the system. There was a ton of diversity from Lyell to Henrietta to Mumford, and each library has tailored its look and feel, services, and materials to best serve their patrons.
Which libraries had the best kids’ sections?
That’s a tough question because there are so many great ones! Within the city: Central, Charlotte, Monroe, and Lincoln stand out. Central will be debuting the renovated Secret Room soon! Charlotte and Monroe both have a whole floor just for children. Lincoln boasts the amazing toy library, which is a dream for any kid!
In the suburbs, I’d say Greece and Henrietta have some of the best children’s sections. Greece has the incredible Story Garden with the hobbit hole, and Henrietta’s is beautiful, colorful, and spacious. Fairport has a mini Wegmans, and Chili is brand new and was full of kids playing when I visited.
How can I support libraries?
Visit your local library! Check things out and be friendly to the staff. Library staff work very hard and occasionally have to deal with cranky patrons, so your kindness really makes a difference! Plus, circulation numbers are tracked, so legislators who are in charge of funding libraries love to see that libraries are being well utilized.
Donate books – Many libraries have ongoing book sales as a revenue stream. You can donate your gently used books, and often games and puzzles too. For the Rochester Public Library, that’s coordinated by the Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library. The member libraries within the MCLS coordinate their own book sales, so check with your own local library for more information.
Contact your elected officials and encourage them to fund libraries.
Donate – Libraries can always use more funding to keep up the amazing work they’re doing. Any amount you can donate is meaningful! Again, for the Rochester Public Library, donations go through FFRPL; member libraries have their own ‘Friends of’ and foundations that coordinate donations, so check with your local library for details.
Get involved – Many libraries have volunteer opportunities! Whether it’s serving on a board or sorting donations, there’s likely a hands-on way you can help. Contact your local library to learn more.
What’s your go-to local library? What do you love about it? Share with me on Instagram at @servemethesky!
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