Our story about Albany's other library caused me to drop by the place this week.

I hadn't been there for a while, sorry to say. But it's a good bet that I'll be a frequent visitor from now on.

It is what a public library should be - partly because it looks like one, and partly because you can easily get there without a car if if you work or live near the central part of the old town.

We ran the story April 3, prompted by all the attention that the new main branch of the Albany Public Library on 14th Avenue had received in the preceding months and years, culminating in the grand opening last month.

Let's not forget the city's other library, reporter Cathy Ingalls thought, and so she did a feature on it.

When it came to writing the headline, we started with "Albany's first library."

But the story said it was not the first. When it was finished in 1913, a human chain transferred the books therefrom the previous one.

So we settled on "Albany's historic library."

Not the best word choice either. Historic is supposed to mean of importance in history. Too many times now it means just old, and lately old can mean anything over 50 years of age.

In any case, the older library at 302 Ferry St. also got a facelift in recent years. It has been handsomely restored in and out.

Here are the things that make it a standout kind of place:

• It is compact and uncrowded.

• From anywhere in the older sections of town, you can get there in minutes on a bike.

• It has an ample collection of books, magazines, local and Oregon papers, videos and other materials, as well as public computers for Internet access.

• You can sit there and read in peace, or wander and browse, without anybody bothering you.

• The librarians are friendly and helpful, like librarians everywhere, but because there isn't a crowd - at least when I was there on a weekday afternoon - they can help you right away and there is no wait. You want a library card because you can't find your old one? They'll whip one up in a couple of minutes. No fuss, no muss.

• The collection includes everything that could be wanted by somebody looking for something entertaining to read. (Example: The mysteries by Lee Child and Michael Connelly.)

Andrew Carnegie gave Albany the money to build the place a century ago. It's still a gem. Long may it last.

On our website democratherald.com, we've launched yet another experiment, a little video panel discussion about public affairs in Oregon and the mid-valley. We call it Oregon Week for now, pending something more original coming to mind. Reporters Jennifer Moody and Carrie Petersen joined me in the inaugural venture this week. Take a look. I pledge that we'll get more proficient - and technically slick - as time goes on.

You're invited to check out democratherald.com, including the new Oregon Week and DH Today, the editor's weekday morning video blurb about what we're working on.