Turn the Page
Last year, Forbes magazine published an article by economist Panos Mourdoukoutas arguing that Amazon stores should replace outdated libraries to save taxpayer money. Forbes later pulled the op-ed but it didn’t seem to matter as a number of libraries were already inspired to evolve faster than a shush from the circulation desk. In Texas, libraries are coming alive by implementing grand renovations that feature open floor plans full of light and casual meeting spaces; cuttingedge gadgets and makerspace technology; and connections with nature and the environment.
A leader of the renaissance is the new, $125 million Austin Public Library’s Central Library, completed in 2017. This LEED Platinum-certified building—meaning it’s “green”—is outfitted with a magazine included the library on its list of the World’s Greatest Places. Austin’s showpiece is representative of a golden age of library innovation across the state. Here are three more libraries boasting smart, beautiful changes.
