The Seattle Public Library’s Greenwood Branch (8016 Greenwood Ave N) will reopen at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 17, after being closed for nine weeks for refurbishing.
The 12-year-old branch closed on February 13 for improvements that support the changing ways that patrons are using libraries.
Improvements included adding a laptop bar in the teen area, combining service desks, increasing seating options, adding electrical outlets to tables, upgrades to the meeting room and repositioning the public computers to reduce glare. The worn carpet in the branch also was replaced.
An indoor-outdoor boulder in the children’s area also was removed due to ongoing moisture problems. The boulder was moved across the street to a parcel designated to become a community park.
The branch will reopen while the front window is still covered in plywood to limit the closure period for the public while a piece of custom glass is being fabricated for the area where the boulder was located. We expect the branch to close again in June or July for one or two weeks so the custom glass can be installed. A public celebration will be held after that work is complete.
The changes were designed to improve access to technology, make it easier for patrons to interact with one another, and create flexible, open, welcoming spaces throughout the building.
The Library promised to protect the public’s investment in its buildings as part of the 2012 voter-approved Library levy. The Greenwood Branch improvements are part of the Library’s commitment to ensuring its buildings are well-maintained, clean and comfortable for patrons.
Patrons who picked up their holds at another branch during the closure should talk with a staff member if they need help to restore their holds pickup location to the Greenwood Branch.
For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.
