Virtual Tour of the Library
If you've never been to the new Frances L. Simek Memorial Library, please visit us soon to see what you're missing. The following "cybertour" will help acquaint you with some of what you will find when you visit the new Frances L. Simek Memorial Library.
Straight ahead when you enter the front door is the Front Desk. This is where you go to ask questions and check out and return library books.
To the right and the left of the front desk are the electronic card catalog terminals. These are the reference sources that you can use to find specific book titles, authors or subjects. You can use these terminals to find books and other resources that are located in the Medford library and also in other area libraries which are participating in the Dynix automation system.
If the book you are after isn't located in the Medford library, it can be reserved and requested from one of the other libraries right from this terminal! The librarian can also advise you in the use of the card catalog terminals or help you find specific information or books. Just ask.
The library's public computer terminals are located to the left and right of the front door. Various software programs are available for public use, including educational games, word processing software and graphics programs (Print Shop, etc.). Free access to the Internet and the World Wide Web is also available here, after completing an Internet Access Consent Form and agreeing to follow the Internet -Acceptable Use Policy.
For all computer usage, it's best to call to make an appointment for the one hour time slots that are available.
Children will find many areas of interest in the library. In addition to regular Storytime programs, there are rows of spacious tables in the children's study area. Computer terminals are nearby and handy for research and writing reports. Children's periodicals and nonfiction area is adjacent to the study area.
There are other interesting toys and areas to explore in the children's section of the library - even fun and colorful toys that take some dexterity to use.
Opposite the children's study area is the children's picture book and easy reading section.
Turn left at the front desk and enter the quiet study area with another bank of computer terminals nearby. Just past the study area on the left is the adult nonfiction area.
To the left of the circulation desk is the YA Café. With rope lights and posters on the wall and a "take-out" menu listing youth reading series on the tables, this upbeat area gives teens their own space. The Café faces the youth area with shelves full of popular fiction and non-fiction books and audio books on CD. A spinner filled with paperbacks and a rack overflowing with teen interest magazines is located near comfy, big chairs for quiet reading. Nearly 50 young adult series are housed on separate shelves ranging from inspirational (like Diary of a Teenage Girl) to mystery (like Alias) to science fiction (like Young Wizards) to classics (like Red Wall) to graphic novels (like Fushigi Yugi). Come explore this expanding library area and tell us how you like it!
Just right of the study area is one of the card catalog computer terminals and the periodicals rack.
Take your favorite magazine or newspaper from the rack and go to one of the comfortable reading locations that look out on to the lake. There are numerous other tables and work areas available as well.
There are two conference rooms that are available for use by groups or organizations needing a location to meet. The large meeting room entrance is just inside the first set of doors at the library's main entrance.
The smaller meeting room is located to the right after passing through the second set of doors of the main library entrance. Make arrangements to use either of the meeting rooms for your organization's meetings with the library staff
Now that you know a little of what to expect when you visit here, come down and do a little exploring of your own. There's no end to the places you can explore and things you can see when you visit your public library.
