The Seattle Public Library (SPL) is the public library system serving the city of Seattle, Washington. Efforts to start a Seattle library had commenced as early as 1868, with the system eventually being established by the city in 1890. The system currently comprises 27 branches, most of which are named after the neighborhoods in which they are located. The Seattle Public Library also includes Mobile Services and the Central Library, which was designed by Rem Koolhaas and opened in 2004. The Seattle Public Library also founded the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), which it administered until July 2008.
Seattle Central Library in 2019
Central Library, looking south on Fifth Avenue
The Occidental Block in 1900; to its rear left is a corner of the Collins Block, still standing as of 2008
The public library in Henry Yesler's former home downtown at Third and James, burned on the night of January 1–January 2, 1901
The Seattle Central Library is the flagship library of the Seattle Public Library system. The 11-story glass and steel building in the downtown core of Seattle, Washington was opened to the public on May 23, 2004. Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus of OMA/LMN were the principal architects, and Magnusson Klemencic Associates was the structural engineer with Arup. Arup also provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, as well as fire/life safety, security, IT and communications, and audio visual consulting. Hoffman Construction Company of Portland, Oregon, was the general contractor.
Seattle Central Library in 2019
The Collins Block at Second and James; the public library was one of its original 1894 tenants.
Henry Yesler's former mansion at Third and James was supposed to be a permanent home for the library, but burned January 2, 1901.
The Carnegie Library, on the same site as the current building, was Seattle's downtown library for just over a half-century.
