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All the United States Missouri Kansas City Kansas City Library's Community Bookshelf

Kansas City Library's Community Bookshelf

Community bookshelf of 25-foot-tall book spines.

Kansas City, Missouri

Added By
Christopher Linton
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View of the “books.”   http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidking/939...
Another view of “books.”   http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidking/939...
  calvinsehrt / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

One of the most striking features of downtown Kansas City, MO, is the facade of the parking garage for the Central Branch of the public library. Covered in signboard mylar, the garage appears to be a row of books lined up on a shelf except in this case the "books" are 25 feet high and nine feet wide.

The garage behind the "books" was constructed in 2006 in response to the need for additional downtown parking. Community input was requested on ways to beautify the new structure and ultimately the idea of a bookshelf evolved.

Community members and patrons were asked to vote on the titles to be displayed and the ones chosen reflect a wide range of famous literature. Titles of the 22 volumes (here's a full list) represented include "The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkien and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury among many others.

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Libraries Architectural Oddities Architecture

Know Before You Go

Runs along the south wall of the Central Library's parking garage on 10th St. between Wyandotte St. and Baltimore Ave.

Community Contributors

Added By

ronin

Edited By

johnjohncoler, x37adventures, Collector of Experiences, calvinsehrt...

  • johnjohncoler
  • x37adventures
  • Collector of Experiences
  • calvinsehrt
  • lbrescia

Published

August 1, 2013

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Kansas City Library's Community Bookshelf
14 W. 10th St.
Kansas City, Missouri, 64105
United States
39.102274, -94.583919
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