Although Darien Library is already a place where much of the community gathers, we envision the new library as even more of a "great good place" for Darien. An expanded library will allow us to schedule more lectures, cultural programs and recitals, improving our ability to provide resources for intellectual pursuit and collaborative learning for all ages. We specially intend that our cafe will give users an experience similar to that of the coffee houses in Victorian London, a focal point for informal discussion of thoughtful ideas in an intellectually stimulating environment. The retail feel of our "Main Street" area, which will showcase new materials and technology, is likely a first for public libraries. And of course we will have many contemplative spaces for what Jesse Shera, former Dean of the Library School at Western Reserve University, called the "quiet stir of thought".... fulfilling the library's traditional role as the beacon of life-long learning.