Soooo… Let me tell you about my visit to one of the library branches in Hampton!  Northampton Branch Public Library is located on Big Bethel Rd. in Hampton in the Pavillion Square shopping center. This is such a cute library and is the closest branch to my neighborhood.  Outside of the building you will find the parking lot as well as the book drop. It has been over 10 years since I stepped foot in this library (I know, terrible), so I was so excited to see all that had changed.  This branch is one of the smaller branches for Hampton, but it was always one of my favorites due to the coziness of it. The library has had some upgrades, but it still had the same setup for materials which brought back many wonderful memories for me.  I was most excited about the children’s area especially since I know work in a children’s library.  They have added new toys and furniture and made the space a little more colorful which was nice to see.  

When you first step into the branch, you are welcomed by some great staff since the circulation/info desk is the first thing you see. There were also signs up in the front advertising library and computer policies. You can easily figure out where things are located because they clearly labeled the collection which is categorized by the Dewey Decimal system. To the left is the children’s/teen section and a catalog computer station. To the right are the public computers and the adult materials.  There are also a good number of tables with chairs in both the children/teen and adult sections that could be used for studying. There unfortunately are no quiet areas due to the library being one story with little space.  This library has one small program room, but it was closed during my visit. The library was mostly quiet when I visited but I did see a couple children playing and a diverse population of people using the computers. The individuals who utilize this library are mostly from the nearby community and schools 

Before I left the library, I noticed a table with a quick take-and-make craft for kids as well as a list of upcoming programs. Hampton Public Library offers a diverse line-up for individuals of all ages. The programs that are in person have a great possibility of being well attended especially since there is a bus stop near, and it is easily accessible.  

When you look at Hampton Public Library’s website, it can be confusing at first glance. The website is located on city’s website and includes a lot of links. After looking at it for a few minutes, I was able to find the catalog, programs, and resources etc. quickly. There was also no mention of staff on the website. In my opinion, it would be helpful if branch managers were mentioned. Hampton Public Library offers e-resources, e-books, and special collections (main branch) and you can find information about them all on the website. They do offer a diverse collection of resources, but I couldn’t find resources besides audio books for those who are visually impaired. I was specifically looking for braille books, but I unfortunately was unable to find them at the time.  

Overall, this is a wonderful library that is full of character and resources for the community. I do wish there were more technological upgrades offered but I truly enjoyed the visit. I plan to visit here more often and to bring my daughter to take advantage of some of their programs.  

If you are ever in Hampton, I recommend visiting this quaint neighborhood branch. Even though this library has made some changes, I am glad that it still is a welcoming environment.