Herndon Fortnightly Library — Attraction in Herndon

First visit today and wow, what a blast from the past! For parents who prefer a pre-Moore interpretation of children's libraries, this is THE place for you!

Throughout the kids' book area, the staff do a great job of patrolling. This ensures no patron encounters any social unpleasantries. A stroller in front of the book you want? Don't stress about asking the owner to nudge it slightly; the librarian will be by shortly to get them to move it. Parents enjoying a chat on the floor whilst their toddlers alternate playing with reading? "Excuse me" need not drop from your lips; a second librarian will pop by to kick them out. That particular spot may house two adult chairs and a small table, but don't let that fool you: it is actually Herndon's least understood post-modernist art sculpture. Its intention is to DISCOURAGE chatting and resting amongst the children's bookshelves. Folks are always getting that one wrong.

My immersion into a pre-Moore children's section wouldn't have been complete without the quintessential librarian shushing. I'm happy to report that the Herndon Fortnightly Library didn't disappoint! When a young boy enthusiastically drummed upon an empty return cart, yet a third librarian stomped in to quieten him up. More "contemporary" libraries may have used that incident as a chance to demonstrate what ELSE that cart could do, perhaps even drawing the boy into that activity. "Contemporary" children's literacy supporters spout that reading is holistic and tactile; they may have been excited to find an active parallel to reading for that child who was otherwise uninterested in books! Luckily, the Herndon library knows that quelling spirit (especially of young boys of color, who will experience such wide-spread and systemic support of their educational well-being as they age into school) is far more effective at encouraging true literacy and love for reading.

Indeed, so-called "contemporary" libraries might claim, a la Moore, that children deserve to feel comfortable in their library spaces. They might even insist, a la M. W. Brown, that children ought to see the magic in the world around them. Or that learning to read is organic and doesn't involve mandated reading times. That children who observe loved ones chatting quietly amongst rows of books are more likely to feel comfortable, rather than daunted, at the prospect of learning to read. That the seemingly-abandoned stack of books next to them is in fact an open invitation to incorporate reading into everyday life and activity.

Thank goodness there is a haven in Herndon against all that contemporary nonsense! Owl-eyed librarians snatch up any off-the-shelf books not actively being read, lest present toddlers come to believe they are welcome to return again and again and again to books they've perused once already. After all, how better to emphasize the age-old message that reading MUST be reserved only for special occasions, and only at the direction of adults?

Overall, my visit was a fascinating cultural immersion into 19th-century children's libraries! The only reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of 5 is because the children's books were too accessible for little hands. It would have been much more effective if this literature was behind glass cases, so that children can have an entirely mundane and didactic experience with reading. Imagine if we allowed young tots to witness their parents asking others if they could squeeze by to reach a book they might want, or to move seamlessly from playing to reading because books have been pulled and are sitting nearby...it's just too horrific to picture. Those young minds might actually develop preferences, ideas, an interest in reading, and--dare I say it?--the confidence to act upon all...

In downtown Herndon is a large building with a dome that can be seen throughout the historic center. It looks like an astrological center, but it's a public library. Named after one of Virginia's oldest women's clubs, the library underwent a major renovation. Today, it's a library and community center for a close-knit neighborhood. Here's why you should go:

1. Books: The collection is very large, especially the children's section. My four-year-old daughter sat for over an hour reading through all sorts of books from Fancy Nancy to the Bernstein Bears to Clifford. If we didn't have dinner reservations nearby, she would have spent hours there.

2. Space: The design is stunning from outside in. When you walk in through the bottom floor, you walk up a spiral staircase up to where the dome is. If you're into photography, use it as an opportunity to snap photos.

3. Amenities: They have plenty of space and wifi, making it a great library to work from. They also sell used books for very cheap on the bottom floor. My daughter found two hardback books for $1 each.

If you love a good library, this one is...

For the 20+ years I've lived in Herndon (I grew up here), this is my first time actually coming to this library. It's a small, cozy library, but for the size of the building, seems to offer very little in terms of resources. Each of their areas seems to be very limited in size and scope. I used the "quiet room", which was nice but oddly shaped and laid out.

I think this is a good enough "hometown" library for a fun afternoon for kids, but I'm glad it's never been my...