Burton Barr Central Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burton Barr Central Library |
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| General information | |
| Type | Public library |
| Location | 1221 North Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85004 United States |
| Coordinates | 33°27′45″N 112°04′24″W / 33.46250°N 112.07333°W |
| Construction started | 1989 |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Owner | Phoenix Public Library |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Floor area | 26,000 m2 (280,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | bruderDWLarchitects |
The Burton Barr Central Library is the main library in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the most important location and the main office for the entire Phoenix Public Library system. The library is named after Burton Barr, who was a significant leader in Arizona's government for many years. This huge library holds about 1 million books and other items.
History of the Library
Money for building this library came from a special vote in 1988. It took the place of an older library building from the 1950s. That old building is now part of the Phoenix Art Museum.
How the Library Was Designed
The Burton Barr Central Library was designed by two groups, DWL Architects and Will Bruder. This five-story building first opened its doors in May 1995. It is very large, covering about 280,000 square feet (which is like 26,000 square meters).
Inside, you can go up and down using three fast elevators or a big, five-level staircase. This staircase is known as the "crystal canyon." The roof of the building has a special design inspired by Buckminster Fuller's ideas. It also has special shades on the north side and moving panels on the south side. These features help control the sunlight and keep the building cool.
The entire fifth floor is a huge reading room, about one acre in size. Every summer, a special celebration happens there on the longest day of the year. At noon on this day, some skylights in the roof shine circles of sunlight directly down. These circles reach all the way to the ground floor lobby. At the same time, sunlight brightens the upper eastern and western walls of the fifth floor.
Library Incidents
On July 15, 2017, the library had some water damage. A storm caused a sprinkler system to break. About 6,000 books were damaged by the water. The library was closed for repairs and reopened on June 16, 2018.
What You Can Find Inside
The Great Reading Room
The great reading room on the fifth floor is one of the biggest in the United States. It is about one acre in size. This room has many places to study and holds a large collection of nonfiction books.
hive @ central
The hive @ central is on the second floor of the library. It is a special place for people who want to start their own businesses. Anyone can use its free services and resources.
The Arizona Room
Also on the second floor is the Arizona Room. This room has a special collection of books and materials. They focus on the history, culture, and geography of the Southwestern United States. You can learn about everything from ancient times to today.
College Depot at Phoenix Public Library
College Depot is a free center that helps students plan for college. It has a team of advisors who offer workshops and one-on-one meetings. They can help with college applications, financial aid, and finding scholarships.
Teen Central
Teen Central is a 5,000 square-foot area on the fourth floor. It is just for teens aged 12 to 18. This space offers workshops, computers, and study areas. There is also a "living room" with a big screen for watching movies. Besides books, CDs, and DVDs, Teen Central also has an art gallery.
Children's Place
Children's Place is a 10,000 square-foot area on the first floor. It includes a story room, an auditorium, and an outdoor garden for kids. There are plans to make this space almost twice as big with new additions and renovations.
MACH1 Maker-Space
MACH1 is a "maker-space" located on the fourth floor. It offers free programs for everyone. You can learn about video game design, coding, video editing, science, and robotics here.
The Rare Book Room
On the fourth floor, you can find the Rare Book Room. It has a collection of 3,400 special and old books. You can also take free tours to see these unique items.
Central Gallery
The Central Gallery is an art exhibition space on the first floor. It shows artwork by artists from Arizona. These are artists who are not currently represented by other art galleries.
Awards and Recognition
The Burton Barr Central Library has won many awards. These awards come from local, national, and even international groups. Some of its awards include:
- 2021 Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- 1997 Award of Excellence from the AIA and American Library Association
- 1995 Best New Building from Phoenix New Times
In 2008, the library was chosen as one of the Phoenix Points of Pride. This means it is considered an important and special place in Phoenix. In 2010, it received a LEED Silver certification. This award recognizes buildings that are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
See also
