Missoula Public Library New Main Library

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Combining several community organizations under one roof, Missoula,\nMontana\u2019s new main library is a vibrant cultural hub for the region. Serving\nmore than 120,000 residents, most of whom live in small mountain and rural\ntowns, the library does a lot with a little, an ethos reinforced by its budget\nand the state\u2019s penchant for conservation and utility. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The library is situated in the heart of Missoula\u2019s walkable downtown\nand is highly visible from the city\u2019s main arteries. Standing tall on Main\nStreet, the library retracts as it opens to the Clark Fork River, an adjacent\npark, and a residential neighborhood. The building\u2019s shifting scale unites its\nurban and residential surroundings, and the design provides multiple access\npoints for those caught in bad weather as they use the popular riverfront\nwalking paths that lead downtown."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Missoula is located in the convergence of five valleys, and the\nlibrary\u2019s design draws on the region\u2019s geology to evoke layers of sediment,\nglacial activity, and the mountain skyline in its overall form. The reflective\nexterior cladding, which continually changes the library\u2019s appearance, suggests\nthe city\u2019s dynamic valley weather. Inside, the main stair, which was inspired\nby a celebrated mountain climb that\u2019s visible from the library, traverses its\nfloors and provides patrons with opportunities to discover and engage in\nactivities. The team used materials on the ground floor to shape cave-like\nforms and bright pink on the children\u2019s level to reference bitterroot,\nMontana\u2019s state flower. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The library\u2019s program was shaped by its previous director\u2019s wish for\na cultural hub for the community where residents could work, learn, and play\ntogether without cost. The library\u2019s unique partnership with its nonprofit\npartners helps provide Missoulians of all ages with access to vibrant learning\nexperiences. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Despite needing a library more than three times the size of the existing\nfacility, the county would not fund additional staff to operate it. Its\nnonprofit partners, which include community access TV, a family-focused\nlearning lab, and two University of Montana outreach programs, were selected\nbecause of their ability to provide services that bolster community resiliency\nand hands-on learning experiences. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"A critical aspect of the memorandum of understanding between the\nlibrary and its partners is the requirement to waive entry fees in exchange for\nspace in the building. All of the partner spaces were carefully integrated\nthroughout the new building and share a common design language that reinforces\na cohesive aesthetic. "]]]]}