Seattle Central Library
About
What It Is
The Seattle Central Library is the flagship branch of the Seattle Public Library system, located at 1000 Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington. The 11-story glass and steel structure, standing 185 feet tall and covering 362,987 square feet, opened on May 23, 2004, and is the third library building to occupy the same city block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Madison and Spring Streets. [2] The building was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus of OMA in partnership with Seattle-based LMN Architects. [2][5] Funding came from a $196.4 million bond measure called Libraries for All, approved by Seattle voters in November 1998, along with a $20 million donation from Bill Gates. [2][5]
Activities & Experiences
Visitors can browse a collection with capacity for over 1.5 million books and materials, including a continuous Books Spiral that organizes the nonfiction collection across multiple floors. [1][2] The building contains a 275-seat auditorium, music practice rooms, a writers room, classrooms, conference rooms, a teen center, and a children's center with a story-hour room. [1][5] Architectural tours of the building have been offered since June 2004, and self-guided tours are also available. [2][4] The library hosts author programs and a range of events for children, teens, and adults. [4]
Patrons have access to over 400 public computers, free Wi-Fi, and specialized collections including an Aviation Collection, Autograph Collection, Genealogy Collection, Map Collection, Seattle Room, World Languages Collection, and Zine Collection. [1][2] A FriendShop and a coffee cart are located on the third floor, known as the Living Room. [1][5]
Practical Access
The Central Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [1] Book returns are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a return box on Fourth Avenue to the left of the entrance. [1] Underground paid parking for approximately 143 vehicles is available on site. [1][2] The building is fully accessible, with power wheelchair charging stations, single-occupant all-gender restrooms, and multi-stall restrooms including children's restrooms. [1]
Entry to the library is free. [4] Visitors can reach staff by chat, email, or phone during open hours. [1] The library is designated a Safe Place. [1]
Restrictions
No specific restrictions noted in the sources.
What Makes It Distinctive
The building's exterior consists of several discrete floating platforms wrapped in a large steel net over a glass skin, with nearly 10,000 custom-sized windows produced in Italy. [2] In 2007, the American Institute of Architects ranked it number 108 on its list of Americans 150 favorite structures in the United States, making it one of only two Seattle locations on that list. [2] Over two million people visited during its first year of operation. [2]
The library has been described as one of the most technologically advanced in the nation and was called the first library of the twenty-first century by The New Yorker at the time of its opening. [5] Its Books Spiral, specialized collections, and range of community spaces distinguish it from a conventional public library, making it a significant architectural and civic landmark as well as a functioning research and cultural institution. [1][2][5]
Sources
- Central Library | The Seattle Public Library
- Seattle Central Library
- Seattle Public Library – Central Library – Visit Seattle
- Central Library History – Seattle Public Library
- Central Library Architecture – Seattle Public Library
- Central Library Amenities & Equipment – Seattle Public Library
- Hours & Locations – Seattle Public Library
- Take a Tour of the Central Library – Seattle Public Library
- Central Library Highlights – Seattle Public Library
- Open year-round
- Typical duration: 1h
Access & fees
- free admission
Things to do
- architectural tours
- art and design
- attend programs and events
- books
- city views
- interior design
- meeting room reservations
- music practice rooms
- photography
- public computer use
- reading
- self-guided exploration
Amenities
- all-gender restroom
- aviation collection on-site
- free wi-fi
- friendshop and coffee cart
- genealogy collection on-site
- power wheelchair charging
- seattle room collection
- underground parking
Features
- "libraries for all" bond funded
- 11-story glass-steel building
- 275-seat auditorium
- 362,987 sq ft total space
- aia top 150 us structures
- architects oma and lmn
- books spiral ramp
- capacity 1.5 million items
- flagship of 27-branch system
- nearly 10,000 windows
- opened may 23, 2004
- third library on same site
Good to know
- 24/7 book return box
- address
- fully accessible building
- hours mon–thu
- open hours mon/fri–sun
- open hours tue–thu
Photos
