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Dear Editor:
Some thoughts are offered in support for a new Dodgeville Public Library building. A new library building structure may last for 50-100+ years, and therefore planning and design should set an example also for the long term. The climate-change fossil fuel energy problems will continue and efforts to organize new library building funding are rare.
Cool daylighting is very important to create the special lighting that north cool daylighting windows can provide without electricity. High daylighting windows at the north side of a building are a worthwhile aim. Library daylighting with north windows can be experienced at the Platteville Public Library.
A sloped roof to the south may fit better than a horizontal roof on a residential neighborhood street with one and two level houses. A sloped roof to the south with north daylighting windows under a higher roof part could provide maximum roof area for the installation of solar electric PV panels when there is budget for them. A low slope angle on a south facing roof is suitable for solar electric panels for the summer sun angles when there is the most sunlight and when the solar electricity is of significant value to reduce demand from the utility transmission grid. A sloped roof may leak less than a horizontal roof, and a sloped roof structure could be made of wood, possible locally sourced wood.
Because north daylighting windows and large areas for solar electric panels are so important, it would be worthwhile to try to negotiate roof height limits if needed.

Sincerely,
Joel H. Goodman
Dodgeville