Publications put Princeton Public Library at the top

One of nation’s 15 best, according to TravelSmart magazine

By: Hilary Parker
   The Princeton Public Library’s place in the local community, both literally and figuratively, has earned recognition in two national publications.
   Profiled in a pull-out section of the April 15 issue of TravelSmart magazine as one of the nation’s top 15 public libraries, the library was also one of 84 libraries in the United States and Canada to appear in the Berkshire Publishing Group’s October 2006 coffee table release, "Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love."
   "TravelSmart" publisher and owner Nancy Dunnan partnered with Diantha Dow Schull, president of the Americans for Libraries Council, a national library advocacy organization, to profile renovated and newly constructed libraries as travel destinations based not only on their architecture and design, but on their commitment to providing quality resources for the community.
   In keeping with the travel theme, "TravelSmart" included a hotel within walking distance of each library in the section. The Nassau Inn was chosen to pair with the Princeton Public Library.
   "The access, the attention to the quality of the public space, the amenities and being a little ahead of the curve — all those issues were very much on our mind in selecting Princeton," Ms. Schull said, noting the library’s broad appeal. "What I like is how well it works. Every time I’ve been there, people are really using it in many different ways."
   She praised the library for the way it meets the needs of a diverse community, from youngsters to world-renowned scholars, and called it "a national leader" for its amenities like public art displays and a wide variety of technological resources. These resources, especially free Internet access, make the library an appealing place for travelers and locals alike, she said.
   "Princeton should be very proud of its really marvelous public library," Ms. Schull said.
   While the Princeton Public Library was nominated for inclusion in "Libraries We Love" by current and past members of the library’s board of trustees, the Friends of the Library Council and the Princeton Public Library Foundation, Director Leslie Burger said quotes community members volunteered to submit with the nomination attest to the fact that the library deserved to be selected from among hundreds of entries.
   Quotes such as, "It is the heart of the community because everyone comes to visit, to read, to research. It is our crossroads," and, "Great building, great staff, great books," were selected from hundreds of testimonials to include with the library’s nomination to demonstrate its place in the lives and hearts of community members.
   "I think the wonderful thing about both of these recognitions is that I think what we’re saying to the rest of the world is, ‘Come discover what people in Princeton have known for the last two years. We have something truly special in our library,’" Ms. Berger said.