Community members gathered for the reopening festivities of the Seattle Public Library Douglass-Truth Branch on Oct. 14. Closed in the spring of 2005 for renovations, the expanded branch at 2300 E. Yesler Way is the 21st project completed under the 1998 voter-approved "Libraries for All" program.
Library service in the Central District dates back to 1914 when the Henry L. Yesler Memorial Library was opened. It was the first Seattle branch not financed by the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Over the years, the demographics of the neighborhood changed and the library served foreign-born immigrants, Jews and people of Japanese and Filipino descent.
After World War II, the library began serving an increasing number of African American residents. In 1975 the branch was renamed the Douglass-Truth Branch, after former slaves and abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth.
The 2005-2006 project cost $6,784,252 and increased the library's footprint from 8,008 to 16, 493-square-feet. The added space features an updated collection capacity of 66,700 books and other materials.
To fill it, library staff stocked 9,000 new books, DVDs and music CDs to the library's existing collection. Included in the titles are more than 1,000 new items to the branch's African American collection, a selection of work that currently features nearly 9,200 titles.
The expanded library also includes a new meeting room, a spacious children's area, 36 public computers (up from 15), more efficient staff work areas and upgraded electrical, mechanical and ventilation systems. Library officials worked with the Landmarks Preservation Board to preserve the architectural character of the building.
The architect was Schacht Aslani Architects. Construction Enterprises and Contractors Inc. was the contractor. Auburn mixed-media artist Marita Dingus created copper wire sculptures of cherubs and sea grass for the expansion. Artist Vivian Linder, who lives near the branch, created three-dimensional relief panels that depict her interpretation of Aztec, Mayan and Western African influences.
The dedication ceremony featured City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs, Mayor Greg Nickels, Library Board Trustee Michael Parham and former trustee Gordon McHenry Jr. as well as City Councilmen David Della and Richard McIver. Entertainment was provided by the Cajun group Bande Pastiche, the Washington Middle School Strings and the Garfield High School Jazz Trio. Local dancer-poet duo Vania C. Bynum and Melissa Noelle Green performed their piece entitled "Where Movement and Word Become One."
Seattle author and artist Sultan Mohamed read from his children's book, "The Story of Coffee," and the Seattle's mascot, Lulu the Book Fairy, milled about the crowd. There were craft projects all afternoon for the children and Starbucks provided free coffee and snacks for everyone.
For more information on the revitalized branch, call 684-4704 or point your web browser to www.spl.org.
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