By engaging its park setting and neighboring programs, Pico Branch Library encourages use of an educational resource in a minority neighborhood. Conceived as a community living room, Pico Branch is sited to preserve existing green space and repurpose underutilized space, activating an adjacent event plaza. A distinctive roof form, generated by an integrated design approach to sustainability and daylighting, and water conservation strategies including rainwater harvesting to flush toilets - a first for Los Angeles county - contribute to the Library's LEED Platinum designation. The project was developed with the community in a series of public design workshops.