Let’s remember when the Rainier Beach Library reopened on this day in 2014 (January 17)
In 1998, Seattle voters approved a $196M bond measure to build a new Central library downtown, and provide money to renovate every other neighborhood library. It was called “Libraries for All” and got 70% of the vote. People love libraries.
The Rainier Beach library, which first opened in its current location in 1981, got $3 million to renovate itself.
Originally, the Rainier Beach Branch was to be the last of Seattle’s 25 branches to be built or remodeled. But delays in other projects and schedule changes moved this project to the head of the list. The original building opened at 9125 Rainier Avenue in 1981 and was the fourth location for the neighborhood library.
Streeter & Associates Architects designed the expansion. Artwork in the building came from local artists Anna Skibska and Ariela Boronat. The remodeling job took 14 months. The larger building has room for 67,700 books.
The library is important to immigrants who can practice their English and can check out books in their native languages. Students find the collection valuable since school libraries in the South End of Seattle are not as well stocked as at schools in more affluent parts of the city. Rainier Beach is one of the few branches in the city that offers tutoring and homework help, since many parents either speak little or no English or work late.
Mayor Greg Nickels was first to borrow a book from the new branch. He checked out America Behind the Color Line by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
For further reading:
One more thing: Journal of Precipitation is a new, Seattle-area arts and/or culture website that is dedicated to exploring the Pacific Northwest outside of the “usual places” and the cultural zeitgeist. We believe in compensating all of our contributors (even though it is probably modest, compared to larger websites and magazines). If you value what we’re doing, please consider contributing to our Patreon, and allow us to continue to grow and provide coverage of our community.
