Closed Walmart Converted Into Largest Library in the USA

[Dana]

It appears where retail giants fail, public libraries succeed. McAllen, Texas converted a 124,500 sqft "big box" into the largest single floor library in the US.



The LA Times reports:

McAllen is near the southernmost tip of Texas, on the Mexico border. "In a city like McAllen, with cartel violence across the river (less than 10 miles away from the library), I think it's amazing that the city is devoting resources to a) not only saving a large and conspicuous piece of property from decline and vandalism, but b) diverting those resources into youth and the public trust," Ramirez writes. "It's easy to fall into drugs, drinking, and violence when you live on the border. It's not really easy to find a place to hang out when you're 14 that's not the mall, the movies, or Mexico. And a giant library -- a cool-looking open space devoted to entertaining the imagination? Well, I think that's the best counter-move against violence imaginable. And you don't even have to wait for a computer now."


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http://boingboing.net/2012/07/05/wa...boing/iBag+(Boing+Boing)&utm_content=FaceBook
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[acctnt shan]

That doesn't look like a library, that looks like a book store... libraries should have tall shelves you can get lost in, and tables/couches to curl up in with a good book!

 

[AUFred]

A lot of abandoned building like that one could be put to better use than just occupying space.

 

[Jackass master]

Wish they would do that with the one sitting empty up here. As Fred says it is a good use of the space. The mentality that we just demo buildings and put up the shape they want for the next one just drives prices higher and fills landfills up.

 

[hart]

Cool..

 

[redliner]

Building that size would be pretty expensive to maintain for a library.

 

[Patch]

I wonder how well it will do. Libraries seem to be struggling now a days with the Internet. Course lots of people go to the library to use the Internet.