39 votes

Kansas City Library Parking Garage

14 W 10th St, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 USA

Independent
Credit Cards
Accepted

“One of the most unusual parking garages around”

One of the most unusual buildings in Kansas City has to be the facade of the parking garage for the Central Branch of the public library. The garage wall was designed to look like a row of giant books lined up on a shelf. The book spines, which measure approximately 25 feet by 9 feet, are made of signboard mylar. The shelf showcases 22 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. 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 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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Reviewed by
Tiffany Whitehead

Road Warrior
26 Reviews
72 Helpful

June 07, 2014

We went in the summer and the trees need to be trimmed, as they obstruct the view of the book facade on the parking garage. The library itself is worth a visit, as well! It's housed in an old bank building and is beautiful.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
helloiamprince

3 Reviews
1 Helpful

October 27, 2013

I would love to go there!!! O_O

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
candystar

1 Review
1 Helpful

August 26, 2013

During the warmer seasons, the trees are so full of leaves you can barely see the books decorations (in the picture) at all. You might want to go during the fall/winter. The inside of the library is lovely with interesting decorations especially in the children's area. :)

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Cheryl Keeffe

17 Reviews
1 Helpful

April 11, 2015

Rated 5.0

This was just stunning. Thankfully the trees were not yet leafed out to block any of the view.

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Reviewed by
hautedawg

1 Review
0 Helpful

November 05, 2014

KC native here. Come in the fall, generally the weather is nice (crisp mornings, warmer afternoons, delightful evenings. If course this isn't always the case, we do get hit with cold.

Besides the library in the fall, our city is covered in trees, so many colors, a drive down Ward Parkway on a sunny afternoon is amazing.

Come to Kansas City, one of America's little secrets!

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