Library celebrates building plan completion</p><p>

The Seattle Public Library is inviting the public to tour all 26 new and remodeled branches and the Central Library with a commemorative Library Passport available at neighborhood branches in South Seattle and all other Library locations beginning Saturday, Sept. 13.

In the South End, the following branch architects and artists will be at South Seattle branches from 1 to 3 p.m. to visit with members of the public and to sign passports: Mark Withrow, architect, Beacon Hill Branch; Gu Xiong, artist, Columbia Branch; Cima Malek-Aslani and Walter Schacht, Schacht Aslani Architects, Douglass-Truth Branch; and Ray Johnston, Johnston Architects, South Park Branch.

Distribution of the Library Passport on Sept. 13 will be part of a daylong public celebration marking the successful completion of the 10-year "Libraries for All" building program. Seattle voters approved a $196.4 million bond measure in 1998 to help rebuild the city's public libraries. The Seattle Public Library Foundation added $83 million to complete the building program, as well as to enhance system-wide funding for art, technology, collections and programs.

Members of the public can visit any library location from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13, to pick up their free passports. The passports feature color photographs and highlights of each building project. Passports will be available at libraries while quantities last.

Each branch will have a stamping location. The Central Library will have six stamping locations: The FriendShop on Level 3, the Welcome Desks on Level 1 and Level 3, the Children's Department on Level 1 and the Mixing Chamber on Level 5. There will be a stamping location for non-English speaking patrons at the Literacy/ESL/World Languages Department on Level 1.

Each library facility will feature a stamp unique to its building or surrounding community.

Also happening on Sept. 13:

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Library card signups.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Libraries for All "Hopes and Dreams" handouts available for kids and teens.

1 to 3 p.m. - Free coffee and snacks.

1 to 3 p.m. - Representatives of the Friends of the Library will help distribute passports and answer questions about the Friends organization and its fall book sale, scheduled for Sept. 26-28.

For more information, call The Seattle Public Library at 206-386-4636.[[In-content Ad]]