The Library as a Space

Today one of my tasks was to take down and box up a small exhibit of Civil War photographs and items. This entailed venturing down to the second floor, an area of the library that I've not yet had occasion to visit. My jaunt down to the the exhibition nook prompted thoughts on the physical space within and around the library and how that space is used.

Naturally, the vast majority of a library is, not too surprisingly, devoted to library stuff: books, shelves, desks. The main branch of DPL is quite extraordinary in that it has a number of other little areas throughout the building that are used for so many different purposes. There is a sizable auditorium, an archive, and the aforementioned "exhibition room," which is really just a nook in which pictures and art can be hung. There is even what you might call a garden. While on the second floor, I stumbled across an alcove filled with real dirt and containing a riot of green plants and ferns. It's literally right next to one of the shelving units and, so far as I can tell, serves no real purpose except that it looks nice and is a welcome shot of color and life.

With so many facilities contained under one roof, each representing a different way in which the building is used, is it really appropriate to refer to the Durham library as simply a library? Because it's also a theater, or maybe a town hall. And a museum. And a records office. And even a community garden.

As Bones would say "I'm a librarian Jim, not an architect," but it seems to me that many public libraries are utilizing their space for purposes other than simply checking out books. The Chapel Hill Public Library had lovely walking trails surrounding it, and while I've not been on them since the building re-opened, I can imagine that they look all the better for having undergone renovation. The Chatham Community Library, where I volunteer every other Friday, has a nice picnic area. The main branch of DPL is a little imposing, but for the most part, each of these buildings is warm and inviting. I can't recall having seen a truly ugly public library. Perhaps it is because people tend to associate libraries with such warm, positive feelings that the buildings, both within and without, almost instinctively reflect this sense of welcome.