The last time I was at the Middleton Library I saw something I had never seen before and it was something I didn’t think even existed.

Library Book Drop Conveyor Belt

It was a conveyor belt and automatic sorter for the library materials return. You can see it goes around a corner and gets sorted into bins in the top left corner of the picture.This seems like some big time stuff! I don’t know what volume they have but I imagine this would make sense for a large library. The sign below says it can often provide immediate check-in.

Book Drop Instructions

Here is the book drop instructions. It even has a light so you know you are good to drop. I was fascinated by it – maybe a little too fascinated.

Have you ever seen something like this in a library before?

Pheasant Branch Nature Preserve Middleton WI

I have been trying to explore Middleton a little more. I recently ventured into Pheasant Branch Nature Preserve. It is a pretty cool place. There is a trail corridor and a main part with more paths and such. I like it because it is quiet and a break from biking on the noisy streets. The shade is cool on warm days and that is appreciated by me. One of the cool features is the creek crossings. There is a bridge but there is also this:

Creek Crossing in Pheasant Branch Nature Preserve

It allows bikers to go through the water and runners or walkers can use the stones on the side to easily cross it. My guess is that it allows trucks to keep off of the bridges. But I am not sure if that is the main reason.

I think that these crossings are very cool. It gets you up close to nature and I love running water. Many times I see kids down there and maybe there are a few future conservationists among them. When I was younger there was a park with a creek and all the kids would be playing in it. Those are memories that will last.

The main part of the nature preserve has a hill with a pretty good view.

Pheasant Branch

There were a few paths closed to bicycles so I will have to get back there to do some more exploring. As an aside one of the info kiosks showed that Middleton used to be known as Peatsville. Pheasant Branch was actually a town as well. It didn’t end up thriving because a railroad decided to lay track elsewhere. Interesting history!