Manchester Life 2017 | Page 14

BY BETSY BLEAKIE PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANCHESTER COMMUNITY LIBRARY focus on Manchester Community Library L ibraries across the country are undergoing an evolution. No longer simply repositories for books, libraries are seeking out reinvention as a means to better serve a more multifaceted purpose in response to the changing cultural, demographic, and technological trends. Modernized libraries are needed now more than ever before. Right here in Manchester, the evolution of the Manchester Community Library (MCL) since its opening in 2014 is being shaped and molded in front of our eyes, providing an exciting new 21st- century library experience. MCL is more than a town library; it is a regional “hub,” with membership coming from 30 towns outside of Manchester and people visiting the area, who stop by the library to use a computer, make copies, read the newspaper by the fire, or check out the bulletin board of local happenings. ELIZABETH HAYNES PHOTOGRAPHY 12 manchester life | www.manchesterlifemagazine.com