Seattle Public Library

Libraries
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It isn't often that the library is considered one of the coolest joints in town, but Seattle's downtown library is such an architectural wonder that it is one of the city's highlights. When the building opened in 2004, its design created a rift among many locals, who either loved it or hated it. Indeed, there wasn't much of a middle ground with this giant glass cube and its diamond-patterned...

Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Seattle-area native Joshua Ramus's groundbreaking design for the Central Library has turned what is often a utilitarian building into an architectural mecca. Its shape is hard to pin down; some call it a just-landed spacecraft; others describe it as a Rubik's Cube cinched by a corset. The library, which opened in May 2004, houses some one million books (the...

OUR VISION FOR SEATTLE A city where imagination and opportunity thrive. OUR MISSION The Seattle Public Library brings peopl...e, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. SPANISH LANGUAGE FACEBOOK PAGE Please like our page for Spanish-speakers! INTERACTING WITH THE LIBRARY ONLINE Here are some guidelines for online...

This downtown location is the hub for all of the Seattle Public Library branches, and it circulates more than a million books annually. It has a large computer area and a 200-seat auditorium where literary programs, workshops and events for kids are held (all free of charge). Other services include an area to assist deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing patrons, a genealogy desk for those...