The Seattle Public Library

The Seattle Public Library Review

The hub of Seattle's 25-branch library system, the Central Library, is a stunning jewel of a building that stands out against the concrete jungle of Downtown. The bold construction brings to mind a futuristic, multifaceted gemstone covered in steel webbing—perched right on 4th Avenue. Designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramus, this 11-story structure houses 1.45 million books—plus more than 400 computers with Internet access, an auditorium, a "mixing chamber" floor of information desks, an area with materials in foreign languages, and a café. The building's floor plan is anything but simple; standing outside the beveled glass-and-metal facade of the building, you can see the library's floors zigzagging upward. Tours focusing on the building's architecture are offered several times a week on a first-come, first-served basis; call for a current schedule. The reading room on the 10th floor has unbeatable views of the city and the water, and the building has Wi-Fi throughout. Readings and free film screenings happen on a regular basis; check the Web site for more information.