1. a room or building where a collection of books, etc., is kept for reading or reference. The grand urban library of today still fits the definition. But the depiction is far from adequate when considering such features as the computer that reads books aloud, the courtyard garden and the multi-room conference center that will be part of the downtown Nashville Public Library opening June 9. The brave new library that is rising from a world of limestone slabs, bricks and drywall delivered to 615 Church St. is designed to draw more people and a greater variety of people than the library of yore. Donations arrived, in some cases, before formal solicitations began, Simmons said.
Supporters are a diverse lot.
The library's books, which will number more than 365,000, are still central to the building's design. They're found on every floor in long rows of walnut-sided bookshelves, with sections also for a host of magazines, videos, audio books, DVD movies, music CDs and cassettes. The building itself wraps around what will be a central courtyard garden with trees and fountain that Margaret Ann and Walter Robinson endowed. It offers a place to sit outdoors to read, eat and chat with friends. You would think you might tuck the children away somewhere, but they've got the best spot with the best view into the garden,'' said Karen Fleming, Junior League of Nashville president.