Parking lots may seem boring, but as we know about libraries already: there is always the opportunity for something wonderful!

The Kansas City, KS Public Library is home to the most interesting parking garage I’ve ever seen! I was on a library research trip a few years ago, and this was one of the libraries I visited. (It’s great, by the way – definitely worth a trip!) But I didn’t know about this feature, so it was a fantastic surprise!

“The Community Bookshelf is a striking feature of Kansas City’s downtown. It runs along the south wall of the Central Library’s parking garage on 10th Street between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. The book spines, which measure approximately 25 feet by 9 feet, are made of signboard mylar. The shelf showcases 22 spines which list 42 titles, reflecting a wide variety of reading interests as suggested by Kansas City readers and then selected by The Kansas City Public Library Board of Trustees. Their final selection was made on March 16, 2004. The bookshelf was completed between March and the fall of 2004.”