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Monticello
After twenty years of planning, the Monticello Library opened its doors August 5, 2018. As the community continues to move westward, it became apparent to JCL that a new library would be needed to serve western Shawnee and Lenexa as this area is one of the fastest growing areas in the Kansas City metro. To serve this region land was purchased for a proposed “Monticello Library” at 22435 W. 66th Street, which is northeast of K-7 and Shawnee Mission Parkway. The library has been planned for the changing future of libraries. An open concept with flexible uses, an open air patio, new and diverse seating options, and Mac computers alongside PCs are all new features to JCL libraries. Public art has been incorporated into Monticello's design both inside and out. Kansas City artist Beth Nybeck designed a Corten steel diptych out of large sheets of metal to create an abstract sculpture depicting two heads facing one another to speak "particularly to our human relationships with each other." These sculptures are along the storywalk outside the building. Kansas City artist Jim Woodfill and San Francisco based artist Stephen Lichty contributed to Monticello's interior by providing seven modified book cart sculptures found throughout the building. They also designed patterns for the glass partitions for the meeting rooms, giving patrons privacy from the otherwise open floor plan.
By the numbers……….2018 Statistics - first 5 months of operation
Visitors: 102,074
Items circulated: 187,751
Square footage: 30,467
Article researched and originally written by Amanda Wahlmeier, 2019