When was the last time you were astonished by a library? Farmington Public Library, in the Four Corners region, like most, has rows of bookshelves, computers for online research, and comfortable chairs for a quiet read.
That may be true for nearly all libraries. But Farmington’s public library was designed to surprise you. Karen McPheeters, director of the library, says it was specifically designed to do just that.
Farmington’s people got just what they asked for
Nearly 20 years ago, when the city was planning a new facility, Karen tells of visits to other libraries, trying to determine what the most modern trends were. The management team of which she was part, along with the foundation board, advisory board, and architects, held 25 meetings with the people of Farmington. They were asked what they thought the library should have and what they wanted. They wanted a blending of indoor and outdoor spaces and windows, so visitors didn’t feel constrained by a building. They wanted natural lighting.
“Actually,” Karen says, “they said they wanted really good lighting.” They wanted their library sited in a park-like setting and to have a modern Southwestern look — but not Santa Fe style or ancient pueblo style. They wanted spaces to accommodate people of all ages. And — most importantly — they wanted to be surprised.
That’s a tall order. The city allocated $10 million for the library, and Karen devoted time to looking at a number of modern libraries, trying to determine what makes a more costly library special. Then she, the management team, and the architects figured out how to match that.
A library that’s really cool at a fraction of the price
It’s the reason the Farmington Public Library may be one of the best investments the city ever made. It’s the reason Karen says, “We built a library that’s really as cool at $10 million as any of the much larger and more expensive facilities we saw.” It’s the reason why, when you’re in Farmington to visit some of the Four Corners spectacular natural and historical wonders, you just must include the library on your bucket list.
Kinetic wind horses graze the front lawn
When you arrive at the library, you may first notice brightly painted, flame-cut steel sculptures of horses — red, blue, and yellow — on the park-like setting of the lawn. They are kinetic wind sculptures whose heads raise and lower with the wind.
But the library is supposed to astonish you, not just put a smile on your face.
Navajo wisdom designed into the building
At the entrance, you come into the rotunda. It faces east because the Navajo believe east is the direction from which life begins, and this Navajo spiritual wisdom is continued within the library in the other three cardinal directions. Notice all the windows around you as most have petroglyph and pictograph images etched on them. These are the stories of the ancient ones. The windows also let you see into every area of the library.
Resetting the calendar twice a year
On the floor of the rotunda are two carefully calibrated carvings in the sandstone, marking the winter and summer solstices. By design, light from clerestory windows near the ceiling mark the very moment of the solstices.
Karen says, “We have the best ten-minute party in town — twice a year.” It isn’t unusual for a crowd to gather for the solstice celebration and to enjoy the festivities, including music from local performers.
Authentic Hopi kachinas on display
Libraries have collections. Right? Only, Farmington’s library has a unique collection. Former Farmington Mayor Bob Culpepper told Karen he wanted to “bring some of my boys by.” His “boys” are authentic Hopi kachinas, and Mayor Culpepper donated his 30-year collection of more than 300 of these priceless spirit sculptures to the library.
Teens have their own space, too, where they can read. It’s decorated with life-size figures of comic book heroes, like Spiderman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
Storytime doors are a remarkable addition
Children of all ages — but mostly younger ones — flock to the children’s area, with its tiers carpeted in bold red, blue, and yellow panels in a Mondrian design. Its entrance is dominated by a set of doors unlike any you’ve ever seen. The Storytime doors to provide a quiet environment for children was Karen’s idea. Little did she know how it would evolve.
Local artists Tom and Bev Taylor accepted the challenge. Tom, a woodworker, carved the doors, incorporating a castle, sailboat, dragon on a toadstool, and even a beetle reading a book called Reading with Compound Eyes by Ima Bug. Then Bev, an expert calligrapher, not only painted the doors but inscribed the first lines of 32 best-loved children’s books. You might remember, “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of Number 4, Privet Drive …”
Dreams and Dragons delight children of all ages
When the doors are open, they fold together on a single mounting post to look like a large storybook, whose title is Dreams, Dragons, Bugs & Books, but, when they’re closed for a program, the interior pages are visible, capturing young imaginations. “Delighted by the doors, children just have to run up and touch them,” Karen says.
There are other features within the library, both indoors and outdoors, but you’ll have to seek them out yourselves to complete your sense of astonishment.
Numbers don’t lie — They’re astonishing
Since opening in August 2003, the Farmington Public Library has seen 7,049,276 visitors, who have borrowed 8,066,478 books and materials. And, yes, many are repeat visitors. The library has conducted nearly 28,700 programs, attended by more than a million people.
So, how good was the investment? In the two decades the library has been opened, its operating budgets have totaled $70,722,767. Doing the simple arithmetic, Karen says “That comes to $10.03 per visit.” And when asked if that’s a good number, she answers, “Oh my, yes. It’s simply an astonishing number.”
Become one of the Farmington Public Library’s visitors
The Farmington Public Library is open daily except Sundays and city holidays. It can be found at 2101 N. Farmington Ave.
