Seattle library visitors get a unique branch stamp put in booklet

Marsha Donaldson still remembers, as a child, checking out a book from the local library and seeing the stamps of all the others who had checked out the same book.

From that grew the new Seattle library passport, launched Saturday, a unique stamp for every branch, affixed in a passport book. The stamp for the Montlake branch, for example, features the Montlake Bridge. The South Park branch stamp features the likeness of Cesar Chávez, with the phrase "Sí, se puede." ("Yes, it can be done.")

"I just thought how cool it would be to have a stamp," said Donaldson, who considers the Northeast branch her home library. "These libraries are such a reflection of our neighborhoods."

The idea began about four years ago when Donaldson and her husband, Bill Ferris, decided to visit every library as it was rebuilt or remodeled under the "Libraries for All" project, which is now completed.

They had two rules: Each had to check something out, and they had to go to a neighborhood café afterward.

Donaldson said she got the idea for the stamp when she talked to a library fundraiser and mentioned how impressed she was with all the new libraries. So she wrote a note to then-librarian Deborah Jacobs and told her how she thought it would be fun to have a passport with a stamp from each library. "I've traveled to places unique without leaving Seattle," she said.

Immediately, Donaldson heard back from library staff members, who said they loved the idea and had already begun designing the passport booklet.

"It made us feel so good," Donaldson said. "They really took our idea and ran with us."

Her husband said they've lived in the neighborhood for 12 years and he is astounded at the changes in each of the neighborhood libraries. "There are all these hidden treasures in Seattle," he said.

Donaldson said it began when they visited the new opening of the Northeast branch.

"We said, 'These are so cool; let's go see what's happening with all of the others.' We ended up spending a couple of hours at each branch because they made them so inviting," she said. "We had to wait for the libraries to catch up with us."

The couple have been to all 27 libraries, including the flagship downtown branch.

Their favorites? They say they love them all, but when pushed picked out two: the Douglass-Truth on East Yesler Way and the Beacon Hill branch.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com