The new International District/Chinatown Branch of The Seattle Public Library will open its doors with a festive community celebration beginning at noon Saturday, June 11.
The 3,800-square-foot branch at 713 Eighth Ave. S. is the 16th project completed under the 1998 "Libraries for All" voter-approved building program.
The branch is part of a five-story complex known as International District Village Square II, located between south Lane and Dearborn streets and Seventh and Eighth avenues south.
The architect was Miller Hayashi Architects. Cope Construction Co. was the contractor. Rene Yung created artwork for the new branch. Yung used teacups collected from residents of Chinatown-International District to create sculptural artworks in the branch.
Program schedule
The dedication ceremony will begin at noon with City Librarian
Deborah L. Jacobs, John Franklin, chief of departmental operations
for Mayor Greg Nickels, Library Board Trustee Eric Liu, City Council
President Jan Drago, representatives from the Friends of The Seattle
Public Library and the Citizen Implementation Review Panel, the Library
book fairy "Lulu," and the Seattle Chinese Girl’s Drill Team.
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
The branch will remain open until 6 p.m.
The International District/Chinatown Branch opening celebration is made possible by premier sponsor Starbucks Coffee Company, signature sponsor Safeco Insurance and The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
About the building
The branch has seating for up to 40 patrons,
a collection capacity of 12,000 books and materials with
an emphasis on multilingual and multimedia materials, computer
work stations and instruction areas, and modern technology services.
The overall project budget is $944,815, which includes the Library
Board-approved addition in March 2005 of $1,843 to pay for additional
art costs.
International District Village Square II includes 57 units of affordable family housing, a community center, retail space, and underground parking. The Library leases space in the complex for the branch from the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority.
Libraries for All
In 1998, Seattle voters approved a $196.4 million
bond measure to fund improvements to all 22 existing
branches, build new branches in underserved areas
and construct a new Central Library. There are currently
many projects in the active design or construction
phase. For more information about the building program
or branch opening, visit www.spl.org,
or call (206) 386-4636.
(For more information, call Andra Addison, Library communications director, at 206-386-4103.)
Return to the Libraries for All capital projects page
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Content modified: 2 June 2005
12/30/2005
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