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SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY

Despite the pace of the internet and other media technology, we still believe libraries are an irreplaceable resource among the landscape of archiving information. While many cities are cutting budgets and closing their cultural cornerstones, it’s exciting to see others continue to invest in new strategies to keep their local libraries alive. Curated Magazine points us to an interesting article by Design Observer.

Seattle’s Central Library is an architectural feat. It also services as a great example of old school tradition surviving in an ocean of technology. In her article, Amy Murphy points out, “Koolhaas (the architect of the library) has often talked of a perceived assault on books by the culture of digital information. ‘As other media of information emerge and become plausible, the library seems threatened, a fortress ready to be ‘taken’ by potential enemies,’ he has written. ‘In this scheme, the Electronic become identiﬁed with the Barbaric.’ As Koolhaas has repeatedly stated, this positioning is not only untenable but unnecessary. ‘It is not a matter of either/or… The modern library, especially in a cyber city such as Seattle, must transform itself into an information storehouse aggressively orchestrating the coexistence of all available technologies.’” Be sure to read Design Observers fascinating article on the Seattle Central Library. Click Read More for additional information and photos.