Incorporating a
Stadium Library into a sports arena could enhance the public's use of
the space as well as create an inviting and profitable atmosphere.
Other amenities could offer their services including galleries,
museums and cultural event space into the stadium’s environment.
Restaurants
now in these facilities are open only during an event, but
could be open year round and serve the public in a cultural mall type
atmosphere.
A
city’s government is responsible for its neighborhood libraries and
may be the majority owner in their local stadium(s) or sports
arena(s). The stadium within that town which that is built solely
for a professional baseball team may be used as little as 40 times a
year -- and during that time for only a few hours. A basketball
season is a little longer, but stadiums and arenas are not useful to
the public except for those attending occasional sporting events and
concerts.
There
is an abundance of untapped potential here, through these facilities,
that could be a great asset to their community.
Many
of the public libraries in communities all over the country are
finding their funding continuing to dwindle and many local
governments are closing branches due to economic hardship.
The
cost for running the stadium’s library could be part of the sports
team(s) contractual responsibility and perhaps offer a tax deduction
as a nonprofit contribution to their home field neighborhood.
Another
benefit is that there is a large parking lot in relationship to the
building. The city could raise money and provide a community service
through renting the parking lot out for farmers markets, street
fairs and regular events for the public to enjoy.
For
the neighborhoods that house a stadium the marriage is ideal - it
offers a positive urban renewal opportunity that would bring
jobs, educational resources and a core meeting place for the
community to gather. All of this would be of great economic benefit
to the city’s government as well as providing its citizens a
harmonious balance between their cities commerce and the public's
cultural welfare.
Moreover,
a city could offer a tax break or some other benefit to its private
industry for hosting a small library branch (or a Neighborhood Short
Stack). These could be located within a lobby of a downtown
commercial building or dedicate to a floor or two within a high rise; space within a business park or retail mall -- any leased or
rental business property located in a convenient location for the
public's use could be utilized.
These
businesses could enter into an agreement with the city in regards to
hours of operation, parking requirements and other necessary service
agreements in exchange for exemptions.
A
Neighborhood Short Stack could cater specifically to its
local demographic while still being connected to the greater
public library as a whole, all the while providing a valuable
community space, unique for its area within the city.
Any
community could blend their businesses with nonprofits services, and
entertainment with cultural resources. The result being, not only
success for the partners in regards to economics, but expanding a
city's ability to provide greater public service to its community.
Creating
Stadium Libraries and
Neighborhood
Short Stacks could be a great place for a city to start.
