on libraries

[rivendellrose]

Before I started exploring the new Seattle Central Library, if anyone had ever told me that there could be such a thing as a library that I would feel actively uncomfortable in, I would have laughed at them. No, I love libraries, I would have told them - every one I've ever been in, I've loved.



This library is honestly unpleasant to me. I have inserted pictures from their website, in an attempt to explain my feelings.

The elevators are waaaaay too neon green, so I decided that the best choice was to take the escalator. That'd be a great solution if the escalator weren't actually worse. To begin with, it's bright fluorescent yellow, a color which, in excess, makes me kind of nervous. It has writing on the sides in glowing letters, which would have been sort of interesting if I weren't already battling eye-strain, exacerbated by the afore-mentioned godawful yellow. And I don't want to talk about the recordings of whispering in the escalator shaft. I'm not a nervous person by nature, but that made me feel veeery edgy.

But, I figured, that's the escalator from the main entrance floor. Surely the others won't be so excessive. I was right - there was no writing or audio recordings in the next one - it was tiny. So thin that I barely felt like I fit on it, and I am most definitely not a large person. I pity any larger individual who tries to get up to the stacks. It's also yellow, and gave me an effect of tunnel vision and panic because it leads directly into the next escalator up, with only a tiny walkway between. And once you get off this monstrosity, you're immediately hit with a feeling of near-vertigo because (surprise!) the floor is not level, but only just so that you can barely recognize it at first, and just feel dizzy.

This whole thing has the feeling of a warehouse designed by a modern artist. Shelves are arranged in what I'm sure is meant to be an 'open' manner, with lots of spaces and a feeling of... well, impermanence. This is not what I want when I'm in a library. Nor do I like the effect of feeling like I'm in a converted airplane hangar when I'm trying to work on the public computers. Maybe I'm just developing some degree of agoraphobia - open spaces usually don't bother me much, but this place just makes me twitchy.

I don't even want to talk about this space. I'm glad I haven't found it in my wanderings. And I think this one would probably make me feel honestly ill.

Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but if this is the library of the future, it's really a pity, as far as I'm concerned. I'll probably just place holds online and pick them up, if libraries continue to be made like this... Sad, since just hanging out in a library has always been one of my greatest joys.

I think I'm going to stop by Bartell's on the way back to the courthouse and see about picking up some reading glasses. My eyes hurt. Otherwise, having a very good day. Just felt the need to... I dunno. Just to share my feelings about this new style of architecture, I guess. Bleck.

Comments

[nicolemarieh.livejournal.com]

aw, sorry you didnt like it. now that i read your entry, i remember the first couple times i went there i thought it was kinda cool, but actually wandering about i didnt feel very comfortable either. And I agree on the neon yellow/green colors, theyre ugly and they *hurt*. Now I like the library, just because of its size, and I think im just used to the rest of the stuff. I do like the modern architecture though. The "red" floor is floor 4, and is only for meeting rooms so you have to make an effort to go to it. I'm pretty sure you cant reach it from the elevators, there are stairs somewhere that lead to it though.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I like the looks of their collection, but as long as I've got the UW libraries I don't have any need for the Seattle Public collection. After that... well, that's what online holds and transfers to the U-District branch are for. ;)

[nicolemarieh.livejournal.com]

good call :)

I dont particularly enjoy the long journey up to the book spiral.. but once I'm there I dont mind. So many books, books, books, and i want them all! :D So I tend to sort of get lost in that and forget about the other things. Mind, I dont have another library to easily go to and compare it with.
But I do know what you (and other commenters) mean about it not being a "real library"..its missing that comfy feeling.

Also, my only other gripe about it- its loud. Like when you actually take the stairs, they are metal, and even if you walk slowly, its still kind of loud. and because of all the open areas.. all the little noises carry and are magnified. so yeah... despite the bad though, I still like it :)

Could be just one of those have to grow to love it things, or could just be different strokes for different folks. =)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I'll probably grow to like it in time (at least more than I do now!), especially since I think a large part of the problem today was feeling icky about my eye-strain headache thing. I'll always prefer traditional libraries, I think, but there are aspects of this one that I do really like. The all-window exterior, for instance, is really nifty.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. It was just not very comfy in there. I have only been ther once & all I can say is Brrrrr

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

That's it exactly - I associate libraries with feelings of comfy stuff and being able to curl up in little nooks with a pile of books, not with so much open space I'm constantly afraid of someone looking over my shoulder, and colors that jar my vision.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

my thoughts exactly. I don't like alll that wide openess I will just stick to the new Ballard Library

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Is that the one up by the JoAnne's? I keep seeing that building and thinking it's a library, but I've never gone in.

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

yep, they just opened last month. It is so nice & comfy

[shoeless-girl.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's certainly... intense. I'm sorry it makes you so uncomfortable :(

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Eh. For now, I don't even need it 'cause I've still got free access to the UW libraries, which are way better anyway. And after I graduate, I'll just have my holds sent to the University District branch of the Seattle library, which is closer anyway. And doesn't look like some sort of insane art student's final project.

[hannis.livejournal.com]

...That does not look like a library at all. It looks like an airport or something.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I know. I love my city, but the planners do stupid things sometimes.

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

... o_O Dude, libraries are supposed to be places that you can get lost in, not lose your lunch in.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly!!!!

[gurny.livejournal.com]

Ok, now I'm going to have to break down and actually go inside it. Will probably go tomorrow since I don't have class and it will make me get out of bed and be useful before 11.

I find the look of the outside pretty interesting, but I can't say I'm as in love with it as some people. The inside does look quite jarring. Why people make public buildings that are going to look like a bad art project in 10 years I will never know.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly! If they'd made it classic, they'd never have to remodel it just because it's out of style - something like Suzzallo's reading room will never be 'out of style.' But something like this...

You don't have class at all tomorrow? That's awesome! What time will you be up there, I could try to find you if you were going to be still around when I get off for lunch.

[gurny.livejournal.com]

What time do you normally released for lunch? I figure I will be in downtown around noon or so. Just let me know.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

We get out for lunch about noon - today was 11:45, but if I assume it'll be that again you can bet it'll turn out that they have to keep us a bit, just to spite me. If you'll be downtown around then, I'll just call from my cell whenever I get released, and we can try to hook up!

[gurny.livejournal.com]

Sounds good :)