Earlier this year we went down to Seattle to visit the student ALA group there. We had a great time! Here are photos of some of the things we saw.

Here’s part one, part two, part three, and part four.

Okay, so remember how in the last post I said we didn’t just go to libraries while we were in Seattle? I lied.

We got a super sweet tour of the Central Branch of Seattle Public Library! (Photo actually from an earlier trip.)

Their automatic sorting machines.

Their break room was on a floor that is mostly for admin staff, and is completely empty on the weekend.

A long way down!

From leff: Daisy, David, Eka, Matthew, Kelsey, Anna, Sarah.

Models of the library from before it was built.

A boat! What doesn’t this library have?!

Checking out the non-fiction section with our awesome tourguide Lisa!

All libraries need a cat right?

All libraries need a negative round right?

The nonfiction section is super neat, it’s a series of ramps in a spiral, so you can walk through the entire thing from 000 to 999.

On the computer level (or “living room”) they have this super neat sign. I think this one is showing representations of what people have checked out.

Computers!

All libraries should have these. So cool!

Also, weirdass video art you have to watch while riding the escalator. All libraries should have these too.

Up to the “red floor”.

It’s like a weird sci fi movie set or something.

Apparently there’s meeting rooms on this floor, but they were all locked.

The second floor.

Games in the teen section!

The Starbucks teen section. Lots of corporate sponsorship around.

We were there while there was a playoff game happening.

People were super excited to watch the game on huge projection screen. Also, this room is pretty nice.

Kids section.

Anna is short.

The floor.

Disability services.

While I think this is super cool, I really think it exists because there aren’t enough Chinese speaking staff members to catalogue the material properly.

On the way to the bus back to Vancouver.

The end! Thank you Seattle! Thank you SALA at UW! We’ll come see you again soon, but first you have to visit us!