Temporary library site will open tomorrow

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Though 800 Pike St. is filled with construction workers, dust and loose wires, Seattle's temporary Central Library will be ready tomorrow for its grand opening.

"It has been very chaotic and busy around here," said Andra Addison, library spokeswoman. "Saturday is going to be an exciting day for us."

For the next two years - while the city builds a new $161 million library on Fourth Avenue - Seattle's main library will operate out of rented space in the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

The opening will be marked by special events throughout the day.

At 130,000 square feet, with three floors for public use, the space is about one-third smaller than the 41-year-old library it succeeds. Not all the books, CDs, videos and microfiche will fit. But 550,000 of the 900,000 items will, and the rest of the collection - to be kept in storage in Queen Anne —will be available by request and delivered to the library the next day.

The library's look is industrial - polished concrete floors, exposed pipes and an atrium wall made of heavy plastic instead of expensive glass. The $10 million budget forced architects to find a way to make the library comfortable at the lowest cost possible, Addison said.

"The more money we spend on the temporary site the less we have to use on the permanent one," she said.

Events The temporary Central Library opens at 11 a.m. tomorrow, with a number of special events. Here is a schedule: :: 11 a.m. dance performance :: 11:30 a.m. children's story time :: 12:15 p.m. children's performer :: 1:30 p.m. magic show and dance show There also will be several drawings for prizes, including Mariners' tickets, as well as tours of the library. The library will have special opening-day hours tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. After tomorrow, the hours are: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Shelves, furniture, computers and other equipment were moved from the old library. And to bring color into the building the architects used bright orange, yellow, lime green and touches of blues and reds to decorate the walls and some of the counter areas.

"If they didn't use these colors the building would be gray," said Alex Harris, director of capital projects for the library system.

The $10 million covered construction, architects' fees, project management, a $225,000 lease, permit fees, moving fees of about $500,000, and adding space to a book-storage area, , Harris said.

Despite the smaller size, the library's layout should make it easier for patrons to find what they are looking for, Addison said.

"The old library was a little tired and cramped," she said.

Some departments have been consolidated and the children's area on the second floor is larger than in the old building (which closed June 8) and will hold the entire collection in one room. There is a separate children's room for readings and programs.

There are 70 computers in the building, mostly on the third floor. There is a reference desk on the third floor, too, along with reference computers about five feet from the book stacks.

"We think it will make it easier for the public to find what they are looking for," Addison said.

So far, the only drawback of the temporary location is it does not have an auditorium, Harris said.

When the new library by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas opens in fall 2003, the convention-center space will become the new home for the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).

"We were just so fortunate to find out the Museum of History & Industry will be moving to this building but couldn't for two years," Addison said.

"The investment of public dollars are not being thrown away in the end," Harris said.

MOHAI will be able to use the atrium, stairwells and elevators that the library installed.

Jiquanda Davis can be reached at 206-464-2774 or jdavis2@seattletimes.com.