A Jewel in Appalachia

Join AIA Richmond and AIA Northern Virginia for a jointly held virtual event on the award-winning short film “A Jewel in Appalachia” about the transformation of the Lawrence County Public Library. The film was awarded people’s choice in the 2022 AIA Look Up Film Challenge. You will hear directly from the projects architect and filmmakers from OPN Architects and Library Director Carlie Pelfrey about the importance of this transformative project to eastern Kentucky.

Louisa is the small-county seat of 2,327, in Kentucky’s largest county. It’s a place of scarcity, where the per capita income $12,008 and 30% of the population lives below the poverty line. The original 1960s Lawrence County Public Library, with limited windows and collection space, high shelves, hidden and inadequate seating and storage, could not deliver on the library board and director’s promise to be a beacon for learning in a place where light can struggle to break through poverty’s pervasive darkness. They were committed to a process and a promise for a renovation that would create an epicenter for the county; embrace justice, equity, and care; address challenges head on; highlight access and opportunity; and most importantly celebrate the belief that a modern library can thrive anywhere. The renovated library, which opened in February 2020, manifests this mission. It is transparent, accessible, flexible, easy to navigate, promotes digital literacy, and is welcoming and inclusive to all ages. The library is prideful without being ostentatious. It is now a place where a love for learning is on display, showing residents that they deserve to aspire for better. The Lawrence County Public Library is an act of love.

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