[Publib] New library to feature more "active space"

[Joe Schallan]

The City of Scottsdale, Arizona (pop. 235,000)
is planning its fifth library, the Appaloosa
Branch. (By convention, all Scottsdale Public
Library branches are named after horses, and,
no, there is no "Mr. Ed" branch!  They are
Mustang, Arabian, and Palomino.)

I think the initial design for the Appaloosa
Branch reflects in an interesting way how
people are now seeing the mission of the
public library.  Yes, books are briefly
mentioned, but the architect says that
"Something about this space has to give
people permission to talk to each other."

And what the planners -- architects, library
officials, and citizens -- see as that "something"
is lots of space for meetings, classes, computer
access, and, yes, coffee drinking.

View the Arizona Republic article about the
Appaloosa Branch at

http://www.tinyurl.com/2rusjw

An architectural drawing is included.

-- Joe Schallan, Phoenix