ALA Annual 2011: Librarians and Architects Gather To Celebrate LJ's New Landmark Libraries

THREE CHEERS FOR GREAT DESIGN (clockwise from top l.) A crowd gathered at the LJ booth for the reception, including (top r.) Mindy Kittay from Colorado's Anythink Libraries, which took one of the top ten spots; LJ's Rebecca Miller thanked all the participants for their vision; Tappe Associates' Jeff Hoover (which designed the Honorable Mention Kilton PL) with project coordinator Louise Schaper; representatives of King County Library System--Gregory Smith, Holly Koelling, Bruce Schauer, and Richard Eadie--took pride in LJ's Library of the Year award and the New Landmark Sammamish Library; Ginnie Cooper of DCPL (whose Anacostia Library is one of the Honorable Mentions) talked with Traci Lesneski of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. (which designed the New Landmark Roseville Library and Honorable Mention Maple Grove Library), and LJ's Francine Fialkoff; and Schaper chatted with Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle's Jeffrey Scherer and NLL judge Toni Garvey from Phoenix Public Library, which has two New Landmarks. Photos Copyright 2011 Sean Gardner/Getty Images

On Sunday, June 26, 2011, LJ celebrated the inaugural group of New Landmark Libraries (NLL). LJ Executive Editor Rebecca Miller described the idea behind NLL, to identify the best new and renovated library buildings to which other libraries considering construction would look as the new standard. Miller gave a nod to library consultant Louise Schaper, instrumental in organizing the project. The New Landmark Libraries consist of ten top facilities and ten honorable mentions. See the complete list.

Ranked number one following the extensive review process is Poplar Creek Public Library, Streamwood, IL, designed by Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects of Chicago. Poplar Creek administrative librarian Patricia Hogan called the recognition a vindication, an acknowledgement of how important the library is to the community, more a place than a warehouse.

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