As any librarian knows, light is for reading books, not for blotting out the stars.
Wimberley Valley Dark Sky (WVDS) recently honored the newly revised and expanded Wimberley Village Library with the Night Sky Friendly Business award, for lighting that protects the dark. The Wimberley Valley – including Wimberley and Woodcreek – is an official International Dark Sky Community, so designated in 2018 by Dark-Sky International.
Making the library expansion Night Sky Friendly was a goal from the earliest planning, said Library Executive Director Carolyn Manning. Both the new and older section of the Library adhere to standards aimed at minimizing light pollution.
“We wanted to be more conscious of how lights affect people,” Manning said. “The light posts that were put up in the older parking lot, and the lights on our porch, all shine down. We don’t have any lights that shine out.”
The Night Sky Friendly Business status is awarded to any Wimberley Valley business or enterprise which has consistent non-polluting night lighting. The Award is a joint project of Wimberley Valley Dark Sky, the Hill Country Alliance and The Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce.
