Wow, it’s really taken me some time to finish the rest of my Seattle adventure for you. But I still feel leg pain from climbing those blasted hills all day, so I suppose I haven’t left you alone too long.
I promised you photos of the public library. Let’s get started!

Here’s the groovy asymmetrical exterior, made from glass and steel. It was the largest building from our hotel room window, a mere block away. I occasionally placed my hand on the window to let the library know I was thinking of her. Remember Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”? My relationship with the library was sort of like that, except less criminal, and maybe less creepy, too.

Here’s the main commons area, with a store, cafe, reading area, garden, and stage. This area immediately engages patrons, and gives them familiarities (and a gorgeous setting to be in). The glass walls from floors two and beyond go all the way up, allowing one to peek down at users below from anywhere in the library.

Need a computer? This workstation area has over one hundred for you. Similar stations are sprinkled throughout the library’s eleven floors.

Have a reference question? Come to the exciting desk on this floor, with recommended reads and program times scrolling above you! Or, wait for a roving librarian to find you out in the library jungle.

Each area of the library is well defined. Here, a patron examines a map.

Blended seating allows for more user interaction and comfort. Choose from a desk, chair, or couch in this reading room.

The library is more than storage for books; it is the people’s university! Here are public music practice rooms, complete with pianos inside. Other floors offer extensive meeting rooms, including a row devoted exclusively to ESL learners who want to meet for tutoring (reading, writing, job hunting, tax help, etc).

How does a library with a $40 million+ operating budget stay in business? Sponsorship. Microsoft’s name is plastered throughout the place. But, when the books are free, what else can you do?

Starbucks lends a hand, too. No surprise there, eh?
Overall, the place is stunning. It is thoughtful, it is powerful, it makes me want to learn! There’s plenty of geekery amok in the library, too. Let’s start with this: when your book is dropped into the return bin, it hits a conveyor belt and is automatically checked-in by Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Unbelievable. Let’s end with this: many librarians carry wireless communication devices so they can instantly text each other for help with patron questions. *drool*
I hope you’ve enjoyed your virtual visit. For my next entry, I’ll cover the people who helped make the Seattle trip so special.