Two innovative floor configurations for accessing the main collection in Seattle's new central library can be tested by the public between 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 and Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Federal Center South, 4735 E. Marginal Way S., Building No. 1202. A public hearing devoted to the two “book spiral” floor designs—both providing the public unprecedented access to the Library's non-fiction book collection - is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Federal Center South, Building No. 1202. (Because it is a federal building, photo identification will be required to enter the building.) See Map and Directions to Spiral Mock-up Design Presentation.
Architects from the Office for Metropolitan Architecture and LMN Architects, who developed the unique designs for the book collection, will be present at the public open houses and hearing to listen to comments and answer questions about the book spiral alternatives.
Seattle Public Library's new central library, which will be constructed on the existing site at 1000 Fourth Ave., is in the design development phase. The new 355,000-square-foot library, funded as part of the 1998 Libraries for All bond measure, is scheduled to open in 2003.
Capital Program Director Alexandra Harris said the Library has been working with members of the disabled community as the book spiral concept has evolved, but said the Library wants to be sure all members of the public have an opportunity to experience the two latest proposed designs.
“We are interested in having older users, parents with strollers, the visually-impaired and users with mobility issues—as well as Library users without disabilities—to give us their comments,” Harris said. “We want this design element to be thoroughly evaluated.”
The gently sloping book spiral winds through four floors of book stacks. The innovative design means the Library can increase its non-fiction collection without disrupting the Dewey Decimal system-based order of the collection. This disruption is a challenge in the traditional design of libraries. Currently, when collections grow beyond their space allotments, they must be broken up and isolated on separate floors. Subject specialist librarians also are frequently separated from their collections. This situation can be frustrating to Library patrons, who must go to different floors for materials or assistance with a particular subject or topic.
OMA/LMA's proposed book spirals would mean patrons could count on knowing one Dewey Decimal address would follow the next in sequence. “Library patrons could easily browse and locate all materials in their logical numerical position in the continuum,” Harris said. “Collections always would be kept in their entirety, merely shifting on the spirals. Expanding collections would never split into partial departments and be moved to disconnected floors.”
A continuous spiral also would make it easier for staff members to shelve books because they could push book carts in one direction and shelve in obvious numerical sequence. It would give all patrons, including disabled patrons, the freedom to move throughout the entire collection without depending on stairs, escalators and elevators.
For more information about the book spirals, including a map and directions to the test site, call the Library's capital program office at 206-386-4624. Individuals unable to test the book spirals during the scheduled times, should call 206-386-4624 to set up another time.
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Content modified: 13 September 2000
12/30/2005
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