Kansas City Library

[ashling]

[taterguy]

1. Doesn't look structurally sound

When it rains wouldn't the spines and pages get all wet?

[Cracklin Charlie]

2. They don't.

But they look so cool. We had about 6 -8 inches of rain this week, and they are fine.

[Cracklin Charlie]

3. Can I borrow this picture?

It's a good shot of the library. They have a great online photo gallery.

[chromotone]

6. That's not the library

That's the parking facility across the street from the library. But it's a picture known around the country in library circles.

Last summer I was in Orange County, CA and stopped by one of it's smaller branches to find some local information. I was told it may take awhile and the librarian asked me for some contact information. He would relay the information to me when he found it.

Since I was staying with a friend in Yorba Linda, I took out my business card (I work at KCPL) and wrote my friend's phone number on the back. The librarian looked at my card, noticed where I worked, and said, "Oh, that's the library with the big books!"

I was flabbergasted! Remember this was a small branch of a library system in Orange County, CA.

Here's the library


You can see the parking facility next to it.

[csziggy]

8. Was that originally a Carnegie library?

The architecture looks appropriate.

[chromotone]

9. Actually, it was a bank: the First National Bank

Here's a little history--

Established in 1873 as the Public School Library of Kansas City, the institution became a cultural center for the city, providing not only educational resources, but an alternative to other downtown entertainment establishments of the time. In addition, the Library enhanced the image of Kansas City as a community that was civilized and cultured, which was attractive to East Coast promoters offering financial support to Kansas City's then-fledgling economy. Although hopes were high, the Library endured a humble beginning. Its first collection consisted of a set of American Encyclopedia placed within a single oak bookcase (both of which are still retained in the Library's holdings).

--more--
http://www.kclibrary.org/library-history

The architect who design the Frist National Bank building also designed several over KC buildings--

January 22, 1882: William D. Wight, who, along with his brother Thomas, will create the architecture firm of Wight & Wight that will leave a neoclassical look on such famous Kansas City landmarks as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Jackson County Courthouse, and City Hall, is born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

--more--
http://www.kclibrary.org/blog/week-kansas-city-history/wight-stuff

Nice place to work!

[ashling]

7. Why not?

I did. It was on facebook

[lunatica]

4. I love it!

I would certainly visit it! And especially if I was a kid.

[taterguy]

5. The life-sized chess board on the roof is cool too