Nick Earman | The Changing Landscape of Public Libraries

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES Nicholas Earman Cincinnati, Ohio Spring 2022

ABSTRACT

The American public library is a relatively new institution which has borne witness to rapid urbanization in major American cities and an evolving cultural environment. For some, public buildings in urban cores are often the only places people can turn to use the bathroom, stay hydrated, or shelter from the elements. During an unforeseen crisis, or a natural disaster especially, people may have nowhere to go other than public buildings. The complexity of a 21st century life has nearly rendered the public library and its services obsolete due to changes in media in a world dominated by the internet and digital communications. Despite being heavily criticized, the public library has proven to be an essential tool for the public as it continues to adapt alongside it. Specifically in communities that are disjointed from ongoing and active development, public libraries tend to be dismissed as a useful resource, as they are often taken at surface level and do not receive significant funding.

Previous generations of public libraries were developed on the principle of building a broad, general education for all, often working in close relations with adjacent schools and learning centers. Public libraries today are still keen on providing a general education, however, the internet has proved itself capable of fulfilling that role. As the internet has alleviated some of the pressure put on libraries to satisfy this educational mission, a growing emphasis is being placed on libraries to focus on the building of social capital for the community it serves. Vital life skills in a 21st century American life such as cooking, budgeting, or filing taxes, are often overlooked, or not taught at all in today’s American education system but are crucial for success. Newfound skills can spark hope and put power directly in the hands of people to make change and work towards building a better future.

In an era when architecture is often dictated by business considerations, public space tends to shape into semi-private space, or disappear completely. The most marginalized members of society, who are also the greatest beneficiaries of public libraries, seldom get a say in the crucial decisions that shape their communities. As the public library evolves and continues to mold itself to fulfil new roles, it is imperative to build on principles of inclusiveness in a manner that celebrates differing notions of a truly public space.

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TOWELL LIBRARY Los Angeles, California 1993, Hodgetts + Fung Designed for only a five-year lifespan, a temporary building for the Powell Library at UCLA was constructed for the sole purpose of housing its collections while it underwent a renovation project. The Towell Library, as it was later referred to as, was required to fully function as an operating campus library with flexibility for potential future uses, despite the impermanence of the building. As the university lost a prominent hub of its campus, the designers Hodgetts + Fung Design Associates arranged a grouping of buildings to honor the operating axis of the existing campus, while also redirecting their proposal towards the southern side of the site which engaged a lively student center. Due to the intentionally temporary use given to the proposal, a raw aesthetic of exposed materials and detail assembly joints was exploited.

Even though the building was designed to be temporary, that didn’t take away from its responsibility to safeguard its collections which require it to be earthquake-proof; the steel substructure has the ability to undulate and harmlessly flex during the event of a natural disaster. The temporary structure comes with numerous restrictions and limitations especially in regard to materials and construction techniques which directly affect the low budget and thin time constraints of the project. The building employs numerous reusable materials such as an aluminum and fabric roof. The fabric chosen to be integrated in the design offers numerous benefits including ideal acoustic and lighting conditions in areas for reading.

Where lighting needed to be intensified in the stacks, cheap linear fluorescents provide practical efficiencies for those conditions. The former landmarks of the site are delineated through the use of wood, masonry, and plastic forms. Not only was the building designed to be rapidly constructed, but it was also equally important to be quickly deconstructed, which was achieved through the simple arrangement of its metal ribbing structure. Despite what otherwise could have been an ugly infiltration of temporary housing structures, the Towell Library went on to maintain a positive reputation within the campus, eventually achieving an identifiable icon status.1 1 Library Builders, 1. publ. ed. (London: Academy Editions, 1997). 93

CLAYTON COUNTY HEADQUARTERS Jonesboro, Georgia 1988, Mack Scoggin & Merrill Elam Architects Many of the recognizable public libraries in the United States are larger, national civic institutions. Uncommonly discussed are the numerous small-scale libraries that surround urban cores, which are equally important in terms the services provided to the public. The Clayton County Headquarters Library located in Jonesboro, Georgia, a low-key and rustic part of the country, is a special type of library where “information is sought for practical reasons and history is personal.” In other words, this is not a destination for the academic scholar, but rather, it is a library that serves its specific community as a “filling station for information and for living life.” Designed by Mack Scogin Merill Elam Architects, the building amounts to 32,000 square feet in a lush, wooded area near a creek. In order to ease the overwhelming task of wayfinding in public libraries, the building’s interior is clearly defined by its two axes, centered at the circulation desk. The library is split in two zones, administration and public.

The public space is a deep, open plan with a stepping roof allowing light to pour in from elevated clerestory windows. The children’s books are designated to the shortest end of the structure and the tallest stacks are lined along walls with raised ceilings, maximizing on space and intimacy at a human scale. The building evokes an industrial feel, through its long spanning steel trusses and metal siding, as well as a nostalgic familiarity due to the façade’s textures and patterns resembling a classic compositional notebook cover. Most small-scale public libraries, especially those in rural areas, must not forget to design for vehicles when most people are traveling extended distances to use their local library. Like many of their other library projects, Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam Architects place the parking lot for the building at the forefront of the property. A sculptural frontispiece of the building greets visitors at the parking lot and transitions them into the large spanning, shed-like massing where the library’s collections and reading room have adequate space for people to sprawl. This project highlights how people and their dependence on the car is something that can be embraced and exploited in the process, opposed to becoming an afterthought in the design process when solving the need for parking.2 2 “Clayton County Headquarters,” accessed October 7, 2021, http://msmearch.com/type/libraries/clayton-county-headquarters-libarary.

BUCKHEAD BRANCH LIBRARY Atlanta, Georgia 1989, Mack Scoggin & Merrill Elam Architects The Buckhead Branch Library, also designed by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, is a 22,000 square foot public library in the city of Atlanta, Georgia completed in 1989. Like many other small-scale libraries across the country, the existing Ida Williams Branch Library was becoming dated and needed intervention. The Buckhead neighborhood is a “nouveau riche” area just outside Atlanta, linked to downtown by means of a high-density commercial zoning strip following I-85. This unique neighborhood becomes the focal point of “a cultural shift where the boutique succeeds the pool hall.” The structure was built with steel framework, cast-in-place concrete walls, and slate siding atop a hill, concentrating its ordering geometry along a linear axis leading to a view of the downtown Atlanta skyline. What is perhaps most striking about the new library is its entry sequence and attention to detail at the pedestrian scale. A series of sculptural canopies, lined with expressive details, encourages pedestrians to step into the building’s broad interior and continue their exploration.3 3 “Buckhead Branch Library,” accessed November 15, 2021, http://msmearch.com/type/libraries/buckhead-branch-library.

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The West End neighborhood of Cincinnati is located just west of the Central Business District and the historic neighborhood of Over The Rhine. Union Terminal stands tall on the western edge of the neighborhood, a former train station that has since transformed into a museum center. Since the late 1800’s the West End has housed various pillars of industry including chemical manufacturing plants and soap and candle making. The West End was experiencing a steady influx of new residents and gradually became a densely populated neighborhood with a distinctive cultural identity. As the demand for housing increased, conversations began to shift, favoring large apartment complexes over townhouses and the identity of the West End rapidly changed. By 1890, white flight ensued, where wealthier populations abandoned the West End and migrated to other popular neighborhoods, such as Over The Rhine, resulting in the population decline in the West End. As a result, 85% of Cincinnati’s black population was now concentrated in the West End. As development expanded in wealthier neighborhoods of Cincinnati, city planners and policy makers focused their efforts elsewhere, ultimately neglecting the West End which continued to decline in population through the 1930’s.4 4 Arefi, Mahyar. “An Asset-Based Approach to Policymaking: Revisiting the History of Urban Planning and Neighborhood Change in Cincinnati’s West End.” Cities 21, no. 6 (2004): 491-500.

Like many other major cities, the Cincinnati Planning Office and Housing Authority together proposed a slum clearance plan, aiming to resolve issues of overcrowding and areas that were considered unappealing within the West End. Allegedly, the purpose of this plan was to link the lower basin of Cincinnati with the surrounding valley. More blatantly, the proposal was an attempt to remove the low-income black population to make room for wealthier whites. This slum clearance process was happening across the United States and the clearance of the West End in Cincinnati ranked as the second largest in the nation. The introduction of highways in major cities allowed for major clearances and for the West End, it was the construction of Interstate 75. During the late 1960’s the highway project bisected the West End, displacing a quarter of its residents. Attempts have been made to reverse the damage done, yet through the 1960’s-1980’s, the neighborhood lost about 70% of its population, reducing the number of residents from 42,000 to only 12,000.5

5 Arefi 2004, 491-500.

PRESENT DAY WEST END There are a handful of historic buildings within the West End that, although blighted, survived various waves of redevelopment and strike sentimentality with local residents. The Regal, formerly known as The Casino, was a performance theater that hosted national talents while providing employment for many West End residents. The three-story formal brick building stands proudly on the corner of Linn Street and Clark Street with a glistening chrome dome, setting it apart from the monotonous developments that surround it. The Regal’s success accelerated after it was purchased by Jack Goldman who transformed the venue to feature films alongside the live performances. The Regal was comparable to the nearby, and significantly larger, Music Hall, but at a time when segregation and racial tensions were extremely high, The Regal served as a safe haven for black people where they could frequent without risk of persecution. Upon arrival at the theater, regulars and newcomers were greeted by familiar faces such as the doorman, Mr. Charlie, and the mouthwatering aroma of hot dogs sold by local vendors. In its prime, the Regal hosted a multitude of events and services to the public in addition to the regular films and shows. The Regal also hosted fundraising events for disadvantaged children and local schools. They provided opportunities for children to showcase their skills in talent shows, and even hosted the annual Christmas party for 4000 children in the community.6 A gradually failing economy and subsequent re-design of the West End resulted in many light industrial complexes to replace housing, forcing much of The Regal’s audience out of range, until the building was ultimately sold in 1996 and has been dormant since.7 The urban fabric of the West End has changed drastically over the past century, but after the introduction of TQL Stadium in 2021 the neighborhood has seen a rise in attention as people begin to see its potential once again. Today, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority owns The Regal and has initiated plans to house a multicultural arts center in the historic theater.8 There are many lessons to be learned from the history of the West End, its people, and its buildings. The Regal highlighted the importance of entertainment in the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable members of society who are constantly fighting exclusion. It would be cliché and inappropriate for all historically significant buildings to be restored to their specific former functions, however, it is necessary to understand the value those buildings created for its people and transition similar values to future generations.

7 Popyk, Lisa. “The Regal Theater Preserved for Future Generations.” Accessed October 7, 2021. https://www.cincinnatiport.org/regal-theater-preserved/.

8 Holthaus, David. “A Daughter’s Vision: Arts Center in Father’s Name at Site of Old Regal Theatre.” Accessed Feb 15, 2021. https://www-bizjournals-com.uc.idm.oclc.org/cincinnati/news/2021/07/02/daughters-visionarts-center-in-fathers-name-at.html.

“New West End Theater” Cincinnati Enquirer; Nov 9, 1913; pg. 16

Other historic buildings in the West End, such as the Dayton Street Branch Carnegie Library, were ultimately demolished, leaving no evidence behind. The city of Cincinnati was donated a total of nine libraries from Andrew Carnegie, only one of which has since been demolished – the West End branch. After the destruction of the library, its services had to be made available to the community in temporary spaces over the following years, so it found itself various short-term homes including a room in a nearby public school and even a station at the Lincoln Laurel Housing Project. It was not until 1961 that the library found a permanent home, just north and on the same block as the latent Regal. Formerly known as the Lincoln Park Branch, the one-story brick building designed by architectural firm Glaser and Meyer was later renamed the West End Branch in 2001 to better reflect its current community. The interior quality of the library is rather surprising as it is flooded with light from clerestory windows that wrap the entire perimeter, yet it struggles with a variety of other problems related to growing pains including parking, noise, and a general need for more square footage. Much like The Regal, the West End Public Library demands the attention of passerby’s as it sits on a prominent urban corner with a provocative, white sawtooth roof and bright red columns in a predominately industrial landscape. The block in which these public buildings sit is bookended by two unique, attention calling roofs, suggesting the need for further architectural intervention to link the various community amenities and services offered across the block.

As the city of Cincinnati inevitably expands its development across the lower basin, it is imperative to not dismiss or demolish the historical scars left across the landscape of the West End, but build with and around them. Development is a slippery slope in the eyes of residents who have faced generations of wrongdoings, further emphasizing the need for careful and honest architectural intervention moving forward. In other words, new buildings should not always strive to be flashy and attention seeking, but every new building is obligated to recognize when architectural intervention needs to be downplayed in support of the context it sits within. Not long after the Regal began its journey to regain its status as an active community landmark through its transformation into a multi-cultural arts center, the West End Public Library approached the building owners in hopes of extending its programmatic services in the new arts center, given the close proximity of the two culturally significant buildings.9 Forging a physical connection between the two structures seems like a logical strategy to move forward with for an expansion of both the historic theater and the public library, however, the West End was not immune to strategic investors during its inactive years, making such a proposal very difficult and expensive. The Jet-In Jet-Out convenience store is located just behind the Regal and uses the entire paved area around it as its parking lot.

Furthermore, a Richie’s Restaurant drive through and its 360° paved parking lot is wedged directly in between the Regal and West End Public Library. This thesis does not solely seek to provide a solution for the current West End Public library per se, but rather speculate on an opportunity for a harmonious relationship between all landowners of the neighborhood block as a strategy to link the various community amenities into a cohesive campus.

9 Michael Burson (Owner and Principal Consultant), in discussion with the author, January 2022.

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A deliberate effort to give the community a voice is the only logical, and more importantly ethical, way to move forward with the building of the West End. The policies that go into the making of cities and communities are shifting from a brick-and-mortar mentality to the building of social capital. For example, the libraries Andrew Carnegie donated were all beautiful pieces of architecture which the vast majority of people liked. However, that is all the communities received – a beautiful building. The communities that accepted Carnegie libraries were left to sort out all the operating costs which ultimately led to many libraries finding new uses. Instead, money should be allocated primarily to improving social structures and values at the individual level, such as job creation or skill development classes that can empower residents to take on a grassroots mentality and make vital community changes themselves, opposed to outsiders making all the decisions with little to no community input.

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