Big doings in Denver, with the August 11 grand opening of the Sam Gary Branch Library in the Stapleton Town Center. The 28,000 square foot facility cost $11.6 million, funded through the Better Denver Bond measure approved in 2007. The building houses a collection of more than 100,000 books and media and 50 public access computers. It now has reading alcoves for children, teens, and adults, plus study rooms and a community meeting space. The new library was designed by OZ Architecture, with construction from Adolfson & Peterson Construction, under the management of Denver Public Works, and holds to the Greenprint Denver initiative commitment of sustainability. It is on target for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification through the use of recycled materials and content, daylighting, reflective roofing, subfloor air distribution, and automated lighting and temperature monitoring, among other green features. Steven Appleton’s sculpture “LaminaLight” is a product of Arts & Venues Denver’s public art program.
On August 15, Santa Monica Public Library, CA, broke ground for the 8690 square foot Pico Branch Library, which will have a two-building design to maintain open park space and a farmers market area. The library’s 7,872 square feet will include teen, children’s, and adult collections, study rooms, public computer space, and reading areas. A separate 818 square foot community room will also be available for programming outside of regular library hours. The contiguous structures will be joined at the roofline via a trellis, with a resulting pedestrian breezeway. The Koning Eizenberg Architecture–designed branch and its surrounding landscape will be the country’s first LEED-accredited park; it is seeking Gold certification. The $10.8 million project, funded by the city of Santa Monica, is looking for a late 2013 completion.
Prince Georges County Memorial Library System, Hyattsville, MD, has begun renovations to the Glenarden Branch, to be completed in early 2013. The 9,238 square foot facility will gain an updated collection area, with Wi-Fi stations, PC stations, and lounge space, plus study rooms. The facility will also include the installation of energy-efficient lighting and new fixtures and furnishings through the design of Gant Brunnett Architects and the work of D & A Contractors.
Lead the Change is a library leadership seminar that brings together library thought leaders to show participants how today's top libraries are leading change and transforming their communities. Attendees are lead through a series of exercises to help bridge 
key thoughts to individual leadership objectives to help them harness their ideas, their innovation and their ability to lead.
About Bette-Lee Fox
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