The Seattle Public Library’s Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., is tentatively scheduled to close at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27, so construction can begin on an exciting expansion project.
The date is tentative because
the Library is currently
advertising for general contractor
bids, which are due to be
opened May 25. The closure
date will be finalized once
the bids are received and
reviewed.
The Library will add staff
to nearby branches to help
meet the need for library
service during the closure.
In addition, librarians will
continue community outreach
to children and young adults
and will make school visits
in the Broadview area.
Branches near the Broadview
Branch are: Ballard Branch,
5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089;
Green Lake Branch, 7364 E.
Green Lake Dr. N., 206-684-7547;
Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood
Ave. N, 206-684-4086; Lake
City Branch, 12501 28th Ave.
N.E., 206-684-7518. Patrons
also may use the new Northgate
Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave.
N.E., after it opens in mid-July.
Users may choose any other
Library location as a pickup
location for items placed
on hold, interlibrary loan
requests or purchase suggestions.
Patrons may return library
materials to any branch.
If Broadview Branch patrons
don’t select an alternate
branch, their holds will
be sent to the Greenwood
Branch.
Saturday, May 27 is the last
day to pick up an item on
hold, or check out or return
materials at the Broadview
Branch. The book drop, however,
will stay open until 5 p.m.
Friday, June 9.
After the Broadview Branch
closes, staff will prepare
the books and other materials
to be moved into storage.
Construction work, which
will begin after the building
has been emptied, is expected
to last about a year. The
expanded branch is projected
to open in the second half
of 2007 after the furniture,
equipment, books and materials
are moved back into the building.
The $7,050,250 branch project
will include an updated collection
of books and materials, more
seating and computers, improved
lighting, more energy-efficient
windows, a more efficient
interior layout and a larger
meeting room.
The branch will grow from
its original 8,405 square
feet to 15,000 square feet.
Miller Hayashi Architects
designed the addition to
be spacious and light, while
still relating to the original
branch, which was built in
1975.
The building also will include
artwork by Seattle artist
Theresa Batty, who is creating
several pieces that abstractly
reference navigation, as
it relates to direction and
to personal searches for
belonging and identity. Batty
will produce four cast glass
blocks that contain images
and will be attached to a
plaster panel, in addition
to a long suspended wooden
form embedded with glass
and copper ornaments. The
Office of Arts & Cultural
Affairs manages the Library’s
public art program.
The expanded branch is part
of the $196.4 million “Libraries
for All” bond measure
that Seattle voters passed
in 1998. The bond money,
which can be used only for
construction of libraries,
is funding new and improved
branches, in addition to
the new Central Library.
To date, the Library has
completed the new Central
Library and the Ballard,
Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill,
Columbia, Delridge, Fremont,
Green Lake, Greenwood, High
Point, International District/Chinatown,
Lake City, NewHolly, North
East, Rainier Beach, Wallingford
and West Seattle branches.
Many other branches are in
the planning, design or construction
phase.
The Seattle Public Library
Foundation continues to raise
funds from private sources
to enhance the public bond
commitment and keep pace
with the demands of patrons
for a high level of library
service. Every dollar raised
will ensure a level of excellence
in the Library’s facilities,
collections, and programs
that would not be possible
through its tax-based support
alone.
For more information about
“Libraries for All”
or the Foundation, visit
the Library’s Web site
at www.spl.org.
(For more information, call Caroline Young Ullmann, assistant communications director, 206-615-1627.)
Return to the Libraries for All capital projects page
Return to the list of Libraries for All press release headlines
Content modified: 10 May 2006
05/10/2006
© 1999-2006 - The Seattle Public Library