ELSEWHERE: An Abandoned Walmart Becomes a Huge Library

For some, big box stores are a symbol for American over-consumption. In McAllen, Texas, one such structure is becoming a symbol for something else entirely: literacy. A derelict 124,500-square-foot Walmart there has been transformed into the largest single-floor public library in the United States. The massive overhaul involved the creation of over a dozen public meeting spaces and study areas, 64 computer labs, and an “acoustically separated lounge for teens.” Here’s to making all things new! Check out the photos here.