This being my third or fourth time here, the architecture and interior design of this library still…read morenever fail to impress me. It's one of Seattle's landmark buildings, and a place that's on the must-see list for visitors if you're a fan of unique design. This relatively new building was constructed in 2004, funded in part by a $196.4 million bond approved by Seattle constituents in November 1998, and in part with a $20 million donation from the Gates Foundation. The location replaces the two consecutive libraries that stood in the same location, the Carnegie Library which stood for about 50 years, and the Bindon and Wright Library which stood for 41 years. The design was conceived by the Dutch firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture in conjunction with Seattle firm LMN Architects (Loschky, Marquardt and Nesholm), and involved creating space to house 1.5 million books, which was 600K more than its predecessor, while simultaneously aiming to dispel the stereotype of libraries being stuffy and closed off. I think they succeeded! The exterior almost appears to covered in a web of steel mesh, with over ten thousand custom-sized glass windows; the inside floors look like floating open layers inside the building, Entering the building from Fourth Avenue into the main lobby, this is the 3rd floor of the building with a gift shop, small cafe, books on hold, an auditorium, and spacious reading rooms. Up a floor to the "red floor," the 4th floor uses thirteen shades of red paint and includes meeting rooms, computer labs and more public meeting spaces. The Books Spiral is a seminal format for shelving of books according to the Dewey Decimal system without breaking up the order over different levels; it progresses at a two degree sloped incline spread over the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th stories. Other facilities include music practice rooms, genealogy collection, map rom, and a couple small gallery rooms for temporary exhibits. The 10th floor is highest level and also offers views of the surrounding blocks and over the reading/meeting rooms below. The biggest gripe most people have is probably the parking, which is exorbitantly expensive even coming from NYC. There's a structure under the library, though at $7-8 an hour it's not cheap.

Fun and interesting architecture for a public library. They have a paid parking lot, which is crazy…read morefor a public library. The first 20 mins are free and after that it's $4 per 20 minutes. Lots of areas to read and relax. Very spacious, has a coffee shop inside. Larger than most other public libraries. Free WiFi and public bathrooms available. The ambiance is nice. It's a rip off to have to pay for parking.

If you are a book lover and are visiting Seattle, you have to stop by this library at the…read moreUniversity of Washington. This is free and open to the public and I swear it is giving Harry Potter vibes. The architecture in this library is so amazing. I can imagine being a student and doing all my studies in this amazing location. Im almost shocked they have it open to the public. It also has the world's largest book on display which is a sight to see! Dont hesitate, I will remember how beautiful it is forever!

Nice, well-kept library at UW. Some of the architecture was very harry potter-esque. The library…read morewas huge and had a large selection of books of multiple genres.

Seattle U's new library opened last September 2010 and it is fantastic!…read more Six, yes SIX, floors of state of the art computer labs, study (group and private) rooms, a cafe, conference rooms, and also an outdoor seating area. You just have to walk through it to fully appreciate the design and layout of it all. Aside from the aesthetics, it also offers a few services for research, math, tutoring, and writing. There's just too many things details to list in a review, so visit the website!

This is my neighborhood library. It's a small one but has lots of displays such as staff picks, new…read morereleases, new teen books, and peak picks! Peak picks is where you can pick up popular books with no wait for a 2 week period. There is a small outdoor seating area which is a nice option during the warmer months. Free parking lot underneath the building.

I love stopping by this library when I'm walking around the neighborhood. Or when driving, an added…read morebonus is that there is a free parking lot in the garage. If you need to, you can take the elevator from the parking garage to go straight into the library- very useful when I had a broken foot! The staff usually greets you when you come in and are friendly when you need help. The library has lots of windows to give it a more airy, light atmosphere. Although it's a bit smaller than other libraries I've been to, the shelves are still full of books to explore. I love the way they display recommended books to read! The "on-hold" area is easy to navigate, and it's right next to the self checkout station so if you need to quickly pop in to grab your stuff then check out, it's super convenient. I just really like this local simple sanctuary, and I hope others do, too.

Stopped at this library to do some work during on a Friday. The parking garage is very small and…read morethe spaces are tight, so beware if you are not too good with parking like I am. I was able to find street parking, but there was a 2 hour parking limit. The first floor is the main floor with community tables and computers. People also sit along the window to do work. The second floor has locked meeting rooms. There is a mix of different people that come to this library, with a lot of people that come in looking for a warm place to hang out. It was a bit too loud in there for me so if you're looking for a quiet place to do work, I would look into other libraries.

Laptop camper here. The Capitol Hill branch is attractive, fairly new and cozy (small). The…read moreexterior features an eye catching triangular grid structure covered by climbing vines. It's especially pretty at night when illuminated. When you're sitting inside the library, it feels like you're in one giant, crowded room. There is an upstairs but it's mostly filled with group meeting rooms. If you're lucky, you'll be able to use the upstairs quiet room but it's limited to a handful of people. The free wi-fi draws many laptop campers who sit at long communal tables and type away. They also have a few seats outside for outdoor laptop campers. They have library computers too and they're usually all taken. It always seems to be busy inside with a loud kid running around or hollering. Self-checkout available. Be sure to go online to request materials be delivered to your local branch for pickup. You know you love me. X0 X0, laptop camper.

I personally will always have a special place in my heart for this library…read more This library is huge and easily accessible by bus and has plenty of free parking. The staff is always helpful and friendly when I have questions or need help. It's also always warm inside the library which is nice for those looking for a warm place to sit and read or charge a phone. I love the upstairs area where there are more computers and printers and plenty of comfy seating! I always find myself returning to this library or going out of my way to stop by here so I definitely do recommend!

I really like Bellevue Library and I'm not gonna lie, the free parking is a HUGE DRAW in a city…read morelike Bellevue. Don't take advantage of it, ya'll, I mean don't take advantage of it in a bad way - we need this to stay; and the parking lot is gigantic. I had no idea the last time I came. This time I delved down below and yikes! It was almost a little scary lol. Gigantic tunnel of parking - and crazily busy all of the sudden as Sunday got later - maybe students crash studying for Monday. Okay enough about the parking. Love the art, both the public and the student art pasted inside. Meeting spaces, event space. The library itself is down the rather cavernous hallway - the library itself feels pretty gigantic; enjoyed browsing the suggested new titles on offer. The used book store appendage outside the main doors was open this time around during my visit. I wish they took more than just cash or check. Could not partake : ( I saw tons of appealing books and also they had puzzles and puzzle books. A great place to spend a couple of hours in Bellevue.

We absolutely love our neighborhood library branch. Yes, it's a smaller location, but the people…read morewho work there are truly wonderful- welcoming, helpful, and always excited to connect with kids and families. They do such a great job rotating fun activities and displays for children, so there's always something new to explore. One of our favorite parts is their amazing collection of stuffed animals, including their beloved big dog. It's such a charming touch and makes the space feel extra cozy and kid-friendly. We visit lots of libraries around town, but we always come back to this one with genuine joy. There's just something special about it. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the neighborhood!

The Seattle Public Library - Montlake Branch is truly a neighborhood library. Though its small in…read moresize and the collection isn't extensive, I love that there's a branch for the Montlake area. I visit the Montlake branch for a monthly board committee that I serve on, otherwise I would've never known about this location. But I'm glad to know this library is convenient for those in the neighborhood, as it's easy to get to, with friendly staff. Coming from Bellevue through public transit, the library is next to bus stops and is walking distance, which I find is very important for the placement of libraries. I think it should be accessible for those using public transit, and it indeed is. As mentioned before the space is on the smaller end, especially when compared to other Seattle libraries. But it has all the same services, like using a free community/conference room. There is a parking garage on the lower level of this library; however, the parking lots are tiny! But street parking is easy to find around here.

Cozy local branch of Seattle public library. They have a really cool section by the front that has…read morefree books that don't need to be returned. This is a great spot to hang out if you need to kill some time or get some work done in downtown Ballard. It seems pretty full all the time with some folks. Just trying to get out of the rain or snow

The desk librarian was so helpful and with out hesitation brought me into the library system again…read more. I love all the folks and the building does a lot for our community and we are lucky to have people to help with resources and encouragement. Thank you.

We were walking in the neighborhood and stumbled upon this gem of a building and library. Upon…read moreentering, you can tell the building is old and they have maintained the character while also modernizing. The super tall ceilings made it for me and the organization was great. they do a good job of containing the sound with high glass walls that block it, but keep the open feel. When you walk in is the checkout desk and the children's area is to the right. They had a decent selection and some small tables and chairs for the kids. Unfortunately when we were there, the computers and website were all down due to a hack. We spent about 30 minutes here and had a great time perusing the books and settling down with a few. They made multiple announcements of their closing giving people fair warning to pack it up and we finally left when they closed.

Wow, when you can find the TRUMP books at the West Seattle Library you know you've scored! Let's…read moreface it those book burning ultra left wackos would be having a marshmallow roast with a bon fire of Trump books. Outside of having the Donnie books available for your pleasure I'm sure some other diamonds in the rough are available to the readers and myself. Thanks for not removing books of value for the general reading category section of this wonderful West Seattle institution.

The Douglass-Truth library is named after Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth and is such a nice…read morepart of the community. I really like the architecture here, the librarians are really nice. It's also spacious, and the library is open and clean. Definitely worth visiting.

This area needs a library location. It provides a hub to avid readers, to community contributors,…read moreand people looking for a place to better their mind and use the internet. When the entire block had its power out, the library was still up and running. The staff are friendly. If you need a book that is not there, just use the online catalog to request a hold to this branch. The only downside is that there are very few closed spaces for group study or calls where you need to speak and disturb the quiet. It looks small on the outside but is way bigger inside.