We asked a few elderly African American men where the old library was in this poor North St. Louis neighborhood. They pointed to an empty lot across the street and said that it had been torn down a few years ago without any replacement library being built. As I photographed the desolate space and the St. Louis Gateway Arch in the distance, we did'nt understand that we were standing right on the boundary with Ferguson, MO. Two years later this troubled city with a long history of racial strife would become world famous for the 2014 killing of Michael Brown by a police officer and the ensuing civil unrest. During this difficult time the Ferguson Public Library was one of the few buildings in the heart of the troubles not put to the torch. A sign in the library read: During difficult times, the library is a quiet oasis where we can catch our breath, learn, and think about what to do next. Please help keep our oasis peaceful and serene. Thank you!