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The beautiful gardens that surround the tables, chairs, and umbrellas on the Meekins Library patio create a welcome sanctuary in the center of Williamsburg. Have you ever looked down at the patio bricks? This oasis was created by Nick Dines in 2003 when the Meekins was renovated. The patio bricks have their own stories to tell. Many of the bricks honor or memorialize town friends and neighbors—library and booklovers of all ages.

Take a look. In addition to those dedicated to people, you will see bricks that capture library magic: “This is the Road to the Magic World of Book.”

  • A Haiku poem by Jack Barry: “after the rain/a bucketful/of stars”.
  • Bricks of dedication: “For Readers Today and Tomorrow” and “In Honor of Sisters.”
  • Bricks of encouragement: “May the Beauty That You Are Be What You Do” and “For the Brave and the Faithful Nothing is Difficult.”
  • Words of wisdom: “Books Give Kids Good Thoughts” and “Reading Expands the Mind.”
  • And there is humor: “Outside a Dog a Book is Man’s Best Friend. Inside a Dog It’s Too Dark to Read” a quote from Groucho Marx.

Escape to the Meekins patio to enjoy the lovely gardens and take time to “read” and discover what the bricks have to say. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and photographer. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.

Posted to Facebook 9/19/2024

a brick engraved with the words: "after the rain a bucketful of stars jb & rw" set among other bricks on a walkway.
a brick engraved with the words: "reading expands the mind robin foley," set among other red bricks with some moss and pebbles.
a brick engraved with the words "in honor of sisters" surrounded by other bricks and small patches of green plants.
a brick reads "in memory of all fallen firefighters williamsburg fire department," engraved in black text.
a weathered brick with the engraved words: “for the brave and the faithful nothing is difficult.”.
a red brick engraved with the words "for readers today and tomorrow" set among other bricks and gravel.
a brick on a sidewalk engraved with the words: "may the beauty that you are be what you do.
a red brick with an engraved quote: "outside a dog, a book is man's best friend. inside a dog, it's too dark to read. groucho marx.
engraved brick reads: "books give kids good thoughts. hccs yellows '04," set among other bricks with small plants nearby.
a red brick walkway features an engraved brick with the words: "this is the road to the magic world of books.
a round metal patio table with four chairs and a closed blue umbrella is set on a brick patio surrounded by greenery and trees, with a street and house in the background.