Seattle Public Library – University Branch

The University District branch of the Seattle Public Library is located on Roosevelt Way across the street from the Seven Gables Theatre. It is located in a classic old white building which was opened in 1910 and is considered a Seattle landmark.
This library is similar to the Fremont Library in architecture, though this location is a bit larger in size. There are a couple of reading areas which are good if you are looking to get work on your laptop done at this library. If you are looking for a library that is really quiet, this is one that I would recommend. The aura of this place almost makes it seem like it is a crime to speak in this building.
Though since this library is located in an old building, the library does seem to be a bit old fashioned when compared to other neighborhood locations like Ballard and Capitol Hill. There also didn’t appear to be any air conditioning, so it is unpleasant inside here on a hot day.
If you are not a UW student and need a place to study or work in the University District, this library is a nice spot if you don’t want to work out of one of the coffee shops on the Ave.

Decent public library located in the U District. It’s kind of small compared to other libraries. And the building is older so it has the old building smell. But I have been here a handful of times.

It’s a nice walk from my apartment, pretty quiet, and the staff were super helpful in showing me how to use the self-​checkout!

Small and charming. Friendly staff. Some days due to the homeless populous it can smell real bad. Decent book selection and fast wifi!

Good kid selection.
Nice quiet open space for families.
I’ll be back soon. :)

Go online.
Browse.
Put your items on hold.
Wait for the notice to go get them.
Happiness.
Renew if you need more time.
EASY PEASY.

I almost forgot about libraries. I use to love going to them when I was a kid. Spending hours and borrowing stacks of books. My mom always enjoyed taking us there. With the use of the internet I usually get the information I need in seconds.
You can get your books, Cds, and Movies all at the library. Bring your kids and let them hang out in the childrens area. The periodicals is a vass collection. All your local papers are at your finger tips. Whats great is you can go online and make reservations for any media and have it delivered to your local library. By using the library you can save on your entertainment costs. Everything is FREE…
Thank you Benjamin Franklin for supplying libraries to the people. Remember be good to your local library. It’s a treasure in your back yard.

The University branch library is small, but really pretty. I don’t normally go to this library, but today I went because they had a copy of a book on the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The only librarian I have encountered there was kind of militant for my taste. Here’s why:
When I arrived at the library, I first just scanned the nonfiction books (organized around the perimeter of the library) for the early childhood education section. I didn’t find it in the main room or in the north room, so I decided to just hop on a computer and look up the call number of the book. Since I was in the north room and there were two computers sitting vacant (there was no one else in the room), I decided to hop on and look up the book. The computers were in the kids’ area and had the child-​sized chairs. Since I was only looking up the call number for one book, it seemed faster to just use one of those instead of searching for another computer.
I had been seated long enough to log in and open the library homepage when the Militant Librarian came by. She was a younger librarian, with long dark-​brown hair. She told me that those computers were only for children and I needed to move. I asked if I could just finish looking up the one book I was trying to find and she said no, that the computer needed to be available for the children. I looked around the empty room and pointed out that there were no children in the library, and asked if it would be okay if I just looked up my book. She responded that no, I could not. She said that sometimes there are swarms of children who come in at once and that I might intimidate them from using the computer.
Keep in mind: I am here picking up a book on early childhood education. I have been a pre-​school teacher, a nanny, and an elementary school teacher at a public alternative school. I am now a lawyer for youth in the foster care system. I am not intimidating to children.
At this point, I got mad. I appreciated that she was trying to advocate for children to be able to use the library equipment, but this was a bit much. If there were children present, I could see her point. If she had said that I could look up the one book but then I needed to move and next time please don’t use those computers, that would have been reasonable. Kicking me off a computer in case a swarm of children come in who will be intimidated by my presence is ridiculous (I would have gotten off of the computer had I seen even one child.) I got up from the computer, walked away and angrily said, «I’m not sure I see any swarms of children on their way in.»
I am a huge supporter of the libraries, but I am glad that this is not my neighborhood library. My normal neighborhood library allows adults on the computers in the children’s area (after all, how else could an adult who prefers to use a filtered-​internet computer have access to one?), and they also are very nice about the ways in which they redirect patrons from behaviors that are unacceptable. When I was studying for the bar exam at my neighborhood library, I saw all kinds of different things happen at the library that the librarians handled in kind, gentle, yet firm fashion.
This was just one small event, but it’s the only interaction I’ve had at the University branch library, so it’s 100% of my impressions of that library. The treatment from the librarian made me want to avoid that library entirely. If it had been my normal neighborhood branch, I would have been even more upset. Thankfully, my normal branch is wonderful, with great librarians. I will continue supporting the libraries, but I truly hope that the University branch starts working with its librarians on ways in which to enforce library rules without alienating the patrons.

I love this building. It has a stately look and feel.
Many staff come and go. One winter I spent many hours there as a volunteer activating the scantron stickers in stacks of books. I had been ill and was returning to health from bedrest to volunteer to work.
Many years later I asked for 15 extra minutes on the internet and the manager raged at me in such a horrible tirade I am surprised we both didn’t go up in smoke! Of course, I reported it. Six months later the libraries have extended their time limits on the internet to 1 and another half hour. WHEW!
I hope that RAGING manager gets complained about enough to get him out of public work. in the meantime I am a great person and the libraries are a public source for use with many great staff members.

A beautiful old library in the heart of the University district.
I actually came here for a great free class on writing. I forgot to register until the last minute but the desk help was nice enough to put me on the wait list if someone canceled. You know what, someone did, and they actually called me! I think this is the first time that’s ever happened to me. I was so excited.
They have a small parking lot in the back, which is great for the area. Though you have to watch the idiot university kids that try to zip into the small lot since there is only one small entrance and exit.
The downstairs facility for the meeting was great. Big and comfortable. And the program was impressive. Glad it was free but they could have charged for it because it was a quality class. They also host a wide variety of writing classes throughout the year and their book club book listings are impressive too.
An excellent place to take a class!

A note for those looking for free wi-​fi. This branch has nice strong free wi-​fi that is available 24/​7, even if the branch itself is closed.

This beautiful old building was one of the recently renovated branches of SPL. It’s a bit far away from the UW campus, but it’s right next to Scarecrow so I forgive it. When you walk in it might catch your notice that the most significant looking section is the holds area. I know I treat this branch as more of a place to pickup my online holds than a place to browse. The librarians are helpful and have always been really nice when I’ve had a problem.