Tour of the Central Library, St. Louis, MO

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As I mentioned in last week's "Weighty Wednesday" post, the Central Library in downtown St. Louis is the original Andrew Carnegie sponsored library. Two weekends ago, I explored the newly renovated 100 year old building with two friends and it was an inspiring experience. We exclaimed over the stunning ceilings, the massive windows, marble staircases, and columns. The more modern areas in the back and "basement" of the building were bright, airy, and colorful. As a kid at heart, I thought the young adult and children's books areas were excellently designed and, along with cafe and computer areas, there was a Creative Experience room exploring new technology and a huge room with CDs, audio books, and DVDs. Probably my favorite aspect of the building, besides everything, is the lighting throughout the space. Along with the large windows and the exquisite chandeliers throughout, the renovations include lighted bookshelves, special lighting in the ceilings, and glass walls in the modern areas which create a welcoming, (well lit!), vibrant atmosphere for learning and reading. The Central Library has a video featuring the new renovations with commentary from various people. The music in the video is fittingly epic because visiting the library made for an epic afternoon. I cannot wait to spend more time in the downtown St. Louis library!

(A partial view of the front.)





(Detail on the bookshelves)












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