Michael Gorra offers a personalized tour of New England’s town libraries at The Smart Set, weaving history lessons with descriptions of some of his favorite sites. He’s the perfect person to do so: For years Gorra has been stopping to visit town libraries throughout New England, exploring their histories, modern-day collections, and continuing significance for the townspeople. “Every one of the libraries I’ve collected,” he writes, “has had that essential quality, that sense of peace and purpose.” Check out the slideshow, too, for some cool library pics.
—Julie Dolan
