Urban Mid-Atlantic: Libraries: Setting a new standard for avant-garde urban design?

Part I

Seattle Central Library, Seattle, WA
Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Steven Pavlov

This article is one part of a multi-segment series titled The Urban Transformation, which takes a look at how certain public institutions and private businesses are adapting to nascent urban environments

In many cities across the United States some of the most architecturally distinctive and impressive buildings are libraries. In the Mid-Atlantic the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and the main branch building of the New York Public Library are two of the most iconic buildings and are part of the second and third largest libraries in the world respectively. Both buildings feature neoclassical architecture and were constructed around the same time in the 1890's. In a number of urban communities in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as around the country, there is a growing trend to build architecturally striking libraries, if not quite at the same enormous scale as the grand libraries of the late 19th century.

Libraries as Architectural Icons
The main purpose of libraries has always been to serve as physical (and now virtual) repositories of society's collective knowledge, history, and achievements in all fields from religion to science to culture. Therefore it is fitting that libraries visually reflect the content they contain and provide inspiration to visitors and passers-by.

Below are some of the most architecturally noteworthy libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond:

Thomas Jefferson Building,
Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Stephen A. Schwarzman Bldg/Main Branch,
New York Public Library, New York, NY
Photo Credit: Ken Thomas

Enoch Pratt Free Library Main Branch,
Baltimore, MD
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Main Branch,
Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Parkway Central Library/Main Branch,
Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

McKeldin Library, University of Maryland,
College Park, MD
Photo Credit: Gazette.Net

Low Library (former), Columbia University,
Manhattan, New York, NY
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Geisel Library, University of California San Diego,
La Jolla, California
Photo Credit: Antoine Taveneaux

Robarts Library, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The Relevance of Libraries in the 21st Century
Dating back to 2600 B.C., libraries are among the oldest institutions still in existence. Today, libraries are commonly perceived to be publicly/academically-supported places for storing and providing access to large collections of printed materials, including fiction and nonfiction books, encyclopedias, magazines, journals, newspapers, maps, and other print material. In reality though, libraries are more than simply buildings filled with books, and serve as important community institutions providing free or low-cost access to non-print media (film, music, etc), the internet (through computer stations and public wi-fi), and ebooks. They also serve as important social and recreational centers where members of a community can meet, relax, and interact.

Urban libraries are even more important as community institutions since they provide a public space in densely populated areas where such space is rare. Many also serve disproportionately poor populations and provide them with access to information via the internet and print collections which would have been very difficult to access otherwise due to limited incomes. Through a library's resources the impoverished can find jobs, obtain health information, and get connected to government services and benefits. Access to the internet has actually been a major reason that many big city library systems the U.S. have been getting much busier lately.

Despite their importance, some people still feel that libraries will soon become endangered. It is true that the retail print industry is struggling thanks to the advent and surging popularity of ebook readers and tablets, the high profile bankruptcy of retail-giant Borders being a huge sign. However, libraries aren't profit-seeking ventures and declines in book rentals don't hurt their bottom line at all (except for maybe the extremely small revenue gained from overdue fees). As stated above, many public libraries are actually seeing their foot traffic increase, providing a greater incentive for local governments to maintain or increase funding. Academic libraries also remain critical sources for conducting research.