Ah, the Waverly Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library. The staff is helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is comfortable. The branch’s community presence is wonderful. The collection, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired (that “something” being books I actually want to read). Of course with Enoch Pratt’s online catalog I can have a title from another branch delivered to Waverly for me to pick it up (and I do). Still, it would be nice if the library could offer a more satisfying browsing experience. It’s disheartening to search for Dune novels and find only the ones written by Frank Herbert’s son Brian. Geeks know what I’m talking about.
There are tentatively three-million-dollars-worth of changes in store for the branch (if plans are approved by the city’s Urban Design and Architecture Renewal panel), which include a multipurpose room, separate reading areas for adults and children and exterior “green spaces.”
The plans were recently unveiled to the group Friends of the Waverly Library, who were largely disappointed by the modest proposal. They were hoping to see a green roof and a relocated main entrance, among other amenities.
Apparently no one thought that what was missing from the plans was the acquisition of more books. Come on, people. I mean green spaces are great, and a makeover could be a good morale boost for the struggling but plucky neighborhood. But what about the building’s very raison d’être?
