New chapter begins at North East branch library

By Jessica Blanchard
Seattle Times staff reporter

BRIAN CASSELLA / THE SEATTLE TIMES Nancy Minard, center, reads the children's book "Fed Up" to her grandchildren, Tiamo Liu Minard, 3, and Sage Liu Minard, 5, in the children's section during yesterday's reopening of the North East Branch of the Seattle Public Library.

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Library officials said the turnout at the library, which closed more than a year ago, was second only to last month's opening of the new Central Library downtown.

"People seem glad to come home," said acting branch manager Jane Appling. "It's been wonderful to watch people coming in the door and going, 'Wow.' "

The North East branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., has been the system's most heavily used library since it opened in 1954.

It was declared a city landmark in 2001, and architects working on the expansion sought to preserve the original building's look and feel, said Frank Coulter, project manager.

The $4.7 million addition more than doubled the building's size, from 7,042 square feet to 15,000 square feet. It kept the original structure's pavilion-style feel, with high ceilings and wide corridors, but added new carpeting, energy-efficient windows, community meeting rooms, seismic structural improvements and more parking.

Library staff donned Hawaiian shirts, leis and beads for the opening day — to distinguish them from the visitors — and the lively Cajun band Les Femmes d'Enfer had many tapping their toes and some even dancing in the aisles.

Patrons sipped from complimentary cans of apple juice and cups of coffee and nibbled on cookies as they browsed.

	BRIAN CASSELLA / THE SEATTLE TIMES Patrons browse the books in the children's section during the reopening of the North East Branch of the Seattle Public Library yesterday. An overflow crowd created long lines at the door and the checkout.

Security staff kept the long checkout line moving, but it often stretched to the rear of the building.

As she waited to check out, Gabi Litemiller, 14, said she was impressed with the library's look and especially liked the new teen section, which features shelves of young-adult fiction, racks of teen magazines and a central sitting area.

"I've been waiting for this (library) to open," she said, shifting her armload of novels from one arm to the other as she waited for her chance to check out. "I've been to other libraries, but this one is way nicer than the others."

Not everyone was a fan of the new decor. While he liked the teen area and appreciated the expanded selection of books, magazines and videos, 16-year-old Willis Tuttle said he preferred the old furniture to the sleek new chairs. "It's a little tacky, but I'm sure I'll get used to it," he said. "Overall, it's pretty nice."

The expansion is the 10th project completed since voters approved a $196.4 million bond measure in 1998 to pay for improvements to the system's 22 existing branches, build new branches and construct a new Central Library.

Another 17 library construction projects are planned.

Many library patrons said the long wait for the reopening was worth it.

"This is very exciting," said Pat Gunn, 42, as she stood in line with her 4-year-old son, William, to check out a stack of videos. "We really missed not having our library."

Jessica Blanchard: 206-464-3896 or jblanchard@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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