Awards: Check Out 6 of the Finest New Library Buildings in the U.S.

It's a tricky time for public libraries. In addition to the constant threat of budget cuts, these time-honored cultural institutions also have to fight to stay as relevant as possible in this rapidly digitalizing world. In some cases, this might mean ramping up public access to the Internet; in others, it might mean bringing in 3-D printers for community use. And as evidenced by this fresh batch of winners in the American Institute of Architects's 2015 Library Building Awards, the design of the structures themselves certainly matters. Whether it's the exuberant renovation of a Brutalist masterpiece by Paul Rudolph or a new San Antonio library built largely of locally-made materials, each winning design tells the story of how thoughtful architecture can help the library evolve and keep up with the times.

Photo via OPN Architects

Cedar Rapids Public Library Cedar Rapids, IA OPN Architects ( )

After a flood in 2008 severely damaged Cedar Rapids' existing public library, the city set out to build a new central library that's meets the broad needs of the 21st century. This mission translated into a more streamlined interior ("more like an Apple Store and less like the DMV") with shorter shelves that "preserve views across the building" and strategically placed staff kiosks, as well as floor-to-ceiling glass windows that wrap around the structure and engage with the street and public plaza. While the new library is 10,000 square feet larger than the original structure, it uses "less than one third of the energy consumed by the old building on a per square foot basis."

Photo via OPN Architects

Photo via designLAB architects

Claire T. Carney Library Addition & Renovation Dartmouth, MA designLAB architects ( )

The Brutalist library originally designed by midcentury architect Paul Rudolph some 40 years ago has been updated into an attractive new campus hub via bold and bright graphics on the interior, not to mention glazing and metal sunshades that turn it from "an 'energy monster' into a sustainable benchmark. The school estimates that the renovated library with its new addition is getting three times as many visitors as before.

Photo via designLAB architects

Photo via Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects

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Awards: Check Out 6 of the Finest New Library Buildings in the U.S.