Libraries, such as the new Salt Lake City library, are being designed to be amenable to a brave new, noisier world.
The $65 million Salt Lake City library, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, "was designed not only to be an architecturally striking landmark but also to be the new information center and gathering spot for the 21st century. Librarians wear 'No Shh!' buttons; a cafe sells coffee, sandwiches and muffins; about 163 computers are available for games and Net surfing; and music can be heard on all floors-- and not just through headphones. There's also an art gallery, concerts, public meeting space, talks by authors and a CD and DVD collection that could rival Tower Records....This redesign of how people have thought of libraries isn't just a Salt Lake City phenomenon. New libraries are being planned in Des Moines, Philadelphia, Seattle, Minneapolis and Tulsa, and planners say they hope to adopt similar innovations."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Here's America's unquietest library

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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