In
Seattle:
Hi
guys. I’ve moved to Seattle (for those of you who didn’t know), but that is
TOTALLY NOT THE IMPORTANT THING AT ALL.
Guess
what the important thing is?
It’s
the Seattle public library. I’m sitting in it right now. And you guys. You
guys. MY MIND SHE IS BLOWN. Like. Boom blown away gone not here come back in a
week blown away.
I
actually can’t believe this place. It is ten stories tall. TEN STORIES OF
BOOKS. I may weep.
And
it’s a very modern building. Lots of white, and the escalators are in neon
green, and the top floor has weird pillow padding on part of the ceiling… which
is a bit odd… So it’s not exactly my typical idea of a library (rich wood,
paneling, muted light, you know), but it has all of the important things; books, nooks, and
helpful librarians.
Can
we talk about the nooks? This place totally falls into the maze category of
libraries. And I love it for that. I can’t wait to work out the weird little
stairwells, and the “book spiral”. Yes, they have something called a “book
spiral”- it’s basically a never-ending walk upwards through non-fiction. For
realsies. With alcoves, and hidden reference librarians, and it’s just so cool.
I’m
currently sitting on the very top floor. Tippy top tenth floor. Under a wall of
light, glass, and honeycombed metal that slants above my head like the roof of
an attic. There is light, and sunshine (and blessed air conditioning, because Seattle
is totally feeling the west-coast heat wave too). I’m sitting at a desk in a
reasonably comfortable chair, with a light above it. There are other tables
with power outlets on them, deck chair seating near side-tables, and did I
mention the light?
Now,
I’ve only been here an hour. And far be it for me to deem this a perfect
library. I can already tell you that their circulation is vastly different from
what I am used to. I’m not sure if it’s better… there are certain advantages to
how they have it here clearly, but also some significant drawbacks. I’m sure as I familiarize myself
with things here there will more differences, better or worse.
But for
the moment you guys I am totally floored. It is so modern, so sleep, and just
so pretty… And for sure whoever designed it decided to make it as bright and
light as possible. A wise choice for the Pacific Northwest. Very wise.
Yes.
So, I may stay in Seattle, even without a job, just so that I can come and
oogle this library on a regular basis. I already have a collection of classic
short stories at my left hand, ready to be checked out and read, and my
volunteer application form was dropped off before I even made it past the first
floor.
Ten
stories of books.
I
can’t even.
