I was lucky enough to catch Director Rachel Alter working at the library when I visited on a Saturday morning. We immediately fell into conversation about the value of public libraries, the history of the building, and the thoughtful design of her space.
West Stockbridge Library feels distinctly modern. It’s evident in the light wood shelving, contemporary furniture, and bright color palette – but the first thing that struck me wasn’t what I saw, it was the scent.
Scent plays a surprisingly important role in the experience of a library. Most of the libraries I’ve photographed carry that familiar fragrance of old books mixed with the scent of centuries-old wood of the trim, floors, and architectural details.
There’s even a word for it: bibliosmia is the distinct smell of old books.
All I know is I can’t start reading a book without involuntarily bringing it to my nose first. Old or new, there’s something about the smell of those pages. I love knowing the scent of a story before I’ve read a single word.
West Stockbridge Library smelled more like a newly built home than an old institution. After photographing so many buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s, it was an unexpected and refreshing change.
Rachel shared her appreciation for the library’s symmetry. The space consists of one large room divided into two halves: children’s and young adult collections on one side, and adult fiction and nonfiction on the other.
Across the hall is a large community room, which I managed to sneak into after a long meeting about the town’s new dog park wrapped up. The former school building also houses the West Stockbridge Police Station and Town Hall. Outside, there’s a community park with a playground, soccer field, skate park, tennis and basketball courts, and the aforementioned dog park. It’s easy to see why this building and property has become such a hub for the community.
As I moved easily through the library, I enjoyed capturing the vibrant colors – a rarity among Berkshire libraries. There are even colorful mobiles suspended throughout the space, created and donated by West Stockbridge artist Joel Hotchkiss.
Rachel also introduced me to Janet Forest, director of the Dalton Library, who happened to be visiting on a library tour of her own.
I admire people who are as curious and thorough in their work as Janet seems to be – using their own time to visit local libraries, learn from them, and bring those ideas back to their own communities. She generously offered to let me photograph Dalton Library after hours, and I left excited to see what awaits me there.
As I wandered through the stacks, patrons drifted in and out, nearly all of whom Rachel greeted by name. Sometimes she already had a stack of books waiting for them, other times they caught up on local happenings.
It’s a scene I’ve witnessed in nearly every library I’ve visited, and it reinforces something I’ve come to believe: people rely on their librarians far more than they probably realize. Not just for books, but for connection. For community. For local knowledge. For trusted guidance and resources. For the everyday conversations that hold a small town together.
Librarians shape a library just as much as its architecture, and they preserve knowledge just like the books on the shelves.
At the annual Town Meeting in 1891, West Stockbridge voted to establish a free public library. The state, along with local residents, provided the town with its first collection of books, 324 to be exact. In 2007, the library relocated to the old West Stockbridge Village School, providing more space and accessibility.