Miller Library

There is a gorgeous piece of architecture in Howard County, MD known as the Miller Library.  Years ago, the Miller Library was housed in a 1970's era building.  They quickly outgrew the space, but the librarians boldly mustered on, squeezing every last inch of space out of that building before the new building was built adjacent to the old building.  This new building opened in 2011.  It's a gorgeous, state of the art facility that ties together books and modern technology in one seamless building.

I was looking through old pictures today, and I realized I had never posted the pictures that I took when that branch opened.  (You know I was there within the first week after they opened their doors, right?)  These pictures are from that first week in 2011.  I'm going to stop by either sometime this weekend to get updated pictures of the front of their building.  It is gorgeous at night.

Of course, you could always just stop by their website, and look at the pictures the Howard County Library system has posted of their building.  I especially love the picture on the page I'm linking to... Taken at night with the light shining through the windows like a beacon to the community the picture perfectly captures the promise of the treasure held within.
 
The Miller Library is a two story building.  Downstairs, you will find the media collection (DVD's, Books on Tape/CD, and Play Aways), computers, quiet study areas, meeting rooms, and not so quiet study areas. You'll also find the Children's and Young Adult collections.  Due to the large volume of people, I only had a couple of pictures of the downstairs that don't show faces...  It's a very heavily used library!

This picture below is my favorite part of the children's section.  It's a window, overlooking the Enchanted Garden.  The window has a large seat where children can sit and read, as well as look outside.

The picture below is from the inside, looking out at the Enchanted Garden.  I've taken a couple of classes in the Enchanted Garden.  It's a community garden tended by the Master Gardeners, and it has a little bit of everything.  Since this picture was taken in the first week after they opened, there wasn't much there.

The grand staircase from the first floor up to the second floor.   The second floor houses the library for the Howard County Historical Society, more study areas, study rooms, and the adult fiction and non-fiction collection.  The area along the back wall is all window, and looks out over the green roof below. 

Entrance from the grand stair case into the reading room.

I love that stone wall!  Do you see that glass wall in the back?  With the double doors?  That's the exit out onto the roof top for a portion of the first floor.  This is a green roof.  There are box gardens on the roof.  The purpose of the gardens is to pick up water when it rains and lessen the impact of storm water run off.

Look at all of those books!

 Look at that beautiful sight!  Books ready to be checked out - shelves that are only half full - meaning that books have been checked out and are in the hands of the community - right where they belong.