In an age when so much of American civic life is fractious and frayed, we need to celebrate our shared institutions that remain rooted in tradition but also embrace the changing demands of their communities.
Such as public libraries.
They allow Americans to be themselves, to explore who it is that they are. Where, at least in several recently built Bay Area examples, you can check out a book or put the 3-D printers and laser cutters to use. Settle into a chair and let time drift, or mark your calendar to attend a scheduled talk by a local author. Many newer libraries deliberately open up to their surroundings, gently defying societal concerns about public security.
All this is on display in Pleasant Hill, where the one-time centerpiece of Contra Costa County’s library system was replaced last summer by a facility that excels on multiple levels,…
