Where are libraries needed in America?

Hello, I am a senior Interior Design student at Colorado State University and I am going to be designing a library for my capstone project. A component of the project is to find a location, so that is where you come in. Where in America is a library needed and why is it needed? Is the community in need of enrichment?

Thanks so much!!

I think the better question is: where ISN'T a library needed?

Another question: aren't you supposed to be doing the legwork for discovering a location in need? As opposed to asking other people to give you ideas.

Why are you limiting yourself to the Americas? Although right now planning a library for one of the Caribbean islands destroyed by the hurricanes might be an idea. Barbuda, perhaps?

I think Puerto Rico qualifies now, or somewhere in Florida or Texas? Perhaps Mexico City, or wasn't there an earthquake in Chile?

Still, lesmel has a very good question: are you supposed to be outsourcing a "component" of your capstone project to a random and anonymous internet message board?

There are public schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands that probably could use some assistance. If you are interested I'll find their names and addresses for you.

Asking other librarians is a perfectly valid way of doing location research!

If you want continental US, I'd look at either a) very rural areas in the West - where the nearest library might be two or three hours away, and funding cuts means libraries are being centralized and bookmobiles are disappearing or b) very urban areas where small local neighborhood libraries in poor areas are closing or being undermaintained, again in favor of centralized libraries that are harder for vulnerable populations to access.

The problems there are less about lack of buildings and more about funding for staff, upkeep, and collections, though. Most such places have buildings standing vacant that could be remodeled if the funding was there.

Also maybe look at non-English-speaking or otherwise underserved cultural groups. I know that I live in an area with a huge and varied immigrant population and plenty of public libraries, but library materials in languages other than English are very hard to access, so an independent library with a multilingual and multicultural focus might be very appreciated. Or Native American communities are almost always underserved; I might talk to local Native elders about what they might want in a tribal library - a focus on preserving and teaching language and cultural knowledge? Outreach and community spaces for difficult-to-reach communities? Educational resources?