Appaloosa Library, Scottsdale, Arizona

The Appaloosa Library is part of the Scottsdale Library Public Library.  It is in a new area of Scottsdale.  It is mostly lit by sunlight, although lights are installed for use on cloudy days.  It is a beautiful building, well designed for the Arizona location. 

The image below shows an education game which is about the library, helping children learn about the environmental features of their library while they are in the building.  The children's area was amazing with lots of games to stimulate brains, and a few to build muscle as well.


This photograph shows the ceiling of the building with the sculptures highlighting the sculptural nature of the ducting.  It looked great, and fitted well with the overall design of the building.

This is the outside space, as you can see there is a lot of shading provided by the roof.  Although it was a warm day, it was pleasant in the shade.


This was a very well used library with lots of people reading, listening, browsing and receiving assistance from library staff.  You can look at the slideshow below to see more photographs of this library, or click on this link to be able to read about each photograph.

Mustang Library, Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona

Mustang Library, part of the Scottsdale Library system had impressive staff desks for helping with roving reference.  The desks were signed info/search with the info part for staff and the search for the public.  There were a few of these throughout the library and they were a very effective way of making opac accessible and signaling staff assistance.



Mustang Library played with its name in the art works in the library.  These mustangs racing across the bring wall, and trying to break free from it are just one of the many horse themed works of art on display.

The exterior of the library played with traditional designs giving them a new form.  It was also very practical as part of the area provided a shaded bike rack (a really good idea in Arizona's climate) and another part gave outdoor seating options (also shaded).

This was yet another really impressive library in Arizona. 

You can look at more photographs of Mustang Library, below, or follow this link to be able to read about them as well.

Civic Center Library, Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona

The Civic Centre Library in Scottdale, Arizona was telling everyone who came to the library that they were the readers choice for "best library" in 2010.  This was a great promotion as it was impossible to enter the library without seeing this banner.


The young adult area was being well used (despite this photograph), there was electronic music being created and you could hear this when you walked into this space.  It had a glass wall really really clearly letting people know this was the young adult area with signs on it.

There were two fancy saddles in the local studies area, and they were part of the collection.  The local studies area had a very good looking collection, and space for doing research. 


You can look at the slideshow below for more images, or click this link to read about the photographs as well.

Arabian Library, Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona

Arabian Library was the first of the Scottsdale, Arizona libraries I visited.  The library has a dramatic entrance and it reminded me of a canyon, but also a giant snail, and you walk into the shell or the canyon.   It is an unusual building to walk into with a strong sense of drama in the design.   It was also very welcoming so the design was not intimidating, and it was also very practical for the climate.


It was really cute that children could measure their height in horses in the Arabian Library (this feature was repeated in the other horse named branch libraries)


The children's collection had lovely descriptions for the titles which were shelved in the area, they were subject descriptions, and they were whimsical and meaningful (there are quite a few more photographs of these in the photostream)



You can look at the slideshow below, or follow this link to read about the photographs.