Welcome to the new Sammamish Library
December 30, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Employees and contractors worked feverishly in the new Sammamish Library Dec. 23. Boxes of books sat open, comfy chairs sat in stacks and unplugged computers sat waiting on tables.
There was plenty of work left to do to prepare for the Jan. 9 opening as librarians were still working out some details around the building and situating all the books.
But Bobbie Daniel, King County Library cluster manager, and Robbin Gaebler, Sammamish site manager, could barely contain their excitement about King County’s newest library.
“I guarantee you, by the end of the first week, these will be all checked out,” Gaebler said as she showed off the humongous — compared to the old library — “easy reader” children’s section. “We’re really trying to increase and expand these collections in the community.”
Not only is it twice the size of the old library, Sammamish’s newest public space will provide more technology, more overall resources and easier access to the approximately 106,600 books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs, all in a more cozy atmosphere.
And it’s got a million-dollar view.
“Practically everyone I’ve seen has said this is their favorite,” Daniel said of her King County Library System coworkers’ opinions. “It’s one of the most gorgeous libraries I’ve ever seen.”
Aesthetics aside, the facility was designed and built to address the specific needs of businesses, working residents and students, with features like more effective “way-finding” signage, more meeting and study rooms (three), wireless Internet access throughout, room-length desks along tremendous windows, a quiet cyber room and cozy chairs.
Designers mean for the facility to be enjoyed more than the former library, Daniel said. It’s more than a place to pick up books.
“The library was designed to fix a lot of the problems in the old library,” she said. Books are to be enjoyed.”
Among the areas of the new library that have doubled in size and stock are: the children’s and preteen section and the DVD and CD section, Daniel and Gaebler said.
They are particularly fond of the overall children’s collection.
“It’s probably one of the largest in the system,” Daniel said. “This is such a treasured gem of a collection.”
Visitors will find the children’s and preteen section more accessible and books easier to find than in the original Sammamish Library, they said. Community members will also find eight public access computers in that section.
“This is like … it really feels like a civic plaza,” Gaebler said. “There are a lot of reasons to come to this location.”
Those interested in checking out movies will find 48 shelves of DVDs and tapes.
The old library held 10-12 not-so-full shelves, Daniel said.
A behind-the-scenes feature employees are looking forward to is the state-of-the-art book return machine.
The $650,000 apparatus receives books from the three book drops (one inside, two outside) and carries them to stocking carts, rather than employees spending hours lifting.
The machine saves time and muscle ache, said Daniel, and allows them to do other tasks before they restock.
“The cost to my staff is immeasurable,” Daniel said. “It’s such a benefit to their health.”
Contrary to the previous facility, the new library has permanent art installments. “Almost Square,” a piece specifically commissioned for the new library, hangs in the large meeting room and the other, what Gaebler and Daniel called a reflexology walk, sits in front of the building. There, visitors may take off their shoes and walk over the protruding stones and bricks.
Visitors may also appreciate its “green” aspects.
In addition to the ample natural lighting, efficient material use, native-plant landscaping and rain gardens, the Sammamish Library reduces its impervious surfaces by sitting on top of a 45-spot parking garage. Another 22 stalls are provided in between the building and community skate park.
Even the pavement is porous, to let water percolate through it.
And possibly the most interesting “green” feature is the geothermal energy element, which heats and cools the building using the earth’s energy.
Daniel and Gaebler said the greatest aspect of the new library is that people will come, grab a few books, maybe cuddle up to the fireplace, take in the magnificent view and stay for a while.
“It will be a library that people treasure for years to come,” Daniel said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
New: Dec. 30, 1: 07 a.m.
Employees and contractors worked feverishly in the new Sammamish Library Dec. 23. Boxes of books sat open, comfy chairs sat in stacks and unplugged computers sat waiting on tables.
There was plenty of work left to do to prepare for the Jan. 9 opening as librarians were still working out some details around the building and situating all the books.
The front walkway features a reflexology walk, where visitors may take off their shoes and walk over the protruding stones. Photo by Christopher Huber
But Bobbie Daniel, King County Library cluster manager, and Robbin Gaebler, Sammamish site manager, could barely contain their excitement about King County’s newest library.
“I guarantee you, by the end of the first week, these will be all checked out,” Gaebler said as she showed off the humongous — compared to the old library — “easy reader” children’s section. “We’re really trying to increase and expand these collections in the community.”
Not only is it twice the size of the old library, Sammamish’s newest public space will provide more technology, more overall resources and easier access to the approximately 106,600 books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs, all in a more cozy atmosphere.
And it’s got a million-dollar view.
“Practically everyone I’ve seen has said this is their favorite,” Daniel said of her King County Library System coworkers’ opinions. “It’s one of the most gorgeous libraries I’ve ever seen.”
Aesthetics aside, the facility was designed and built to address the specific needs of businesses, working residents and students, with features like more effective “way-finding” signage, more meeting and study rooms (three), wireless Internet access throughout, room-length desks along tremendous windows, a quiet cyber room and cozy chairs.
Designers mean for the facility to be enjoyed more than the former library, Daniel said. It’s more than a place to pick up books.
“The library was designed to fix a lot of the problems in the old library,” she said. Books are to be enjoyed.”
Among the areas of the new library that have doubled in size and stock are: the children’s and preteen section and the DVD and CD section, Daniel and Gaebler said.
They are particularly fond of the overall children’s collection.
“It’s probably one of the largest in the system,” Daniel said. “This is such a treasured gem of a collection.”
Visitors will find the children’s and preteen section more accessible and books easier to find than in the original Sammamish Library, they said. Community members will also find eight public access computers in that section.
“This is like … it really feels like a civic plaza,” Gaebler said. “There are a lot of reasons to come to this location.”
Those interested in checking out movies will find 48 shelves of DVDs and tapes.
The old library held 10-12 not-so-full shelves, Daniel said.
A behind-the-scenes feature employees are looking forward to is the state-of-the-art book return machine.
The $650,000 apparatus receives books from the three book drops (one inside, two outside) and carries them to stocking carts, rather than employees spending hours lifting.
The machine saves time and muscle ache, said Daniel, and allows them to do other tasks before they restock.
“The cost to my staff is immeasurable,” Daniel said. “It’s such a benefit to their health.”
Contrary to the previous facility, the new library has permanent art installments. “Almost Square,” a piece specifically commissioned for the new library, hangs in the large meeting room and the other, what Gaebler and Daniel called a reflexology walk, sits in front of the building. There, visitors may take off their shoes and walk over the protruding stones and bricks.
Visitors may also appreciate its “green” aspects.
In addition to the ample natural lighting, efficient material use, native-plant landscaping and rain gardens, the Sammamish Library reduces its impervious surfaces by sitting on top of a 45-spot parking garage. Another 22 stalls are provided in between the building and community skate park.
Even the pavement is porous, to let water percolate through it.
And possibly the most interesting “green” feature is the geothermal energy element, which heats and cools the building using the earth’s energy.
Daniel and Gaebler said the greatest aspect of the new library is that people will come, grab a few books, maybe cuddle up to the fireplace, take in the magnificent view and stay for a while.
“It will be a library that people treasure for years to come,” Daniel said.
By the numbers:
Old library:
- 825 228th Ave. S.E.
- Opened 1998
- Cost: $3.5 million
- Square feet: 10,000
- Occupancy: 279
- Parking spaces: 78
- Books: 91,559
- Technology: 17 public access computers
- Wireless Internet
- Meeting rooms: 1
- Library staff: 30
- Youth specialists: 3
New library
- 228th Avenue Northeast and Southeast Eighth Street
- Opens: Jan. 9, 2010
- Cost: $8.2 million
- Square feet: 19,500
- Occupancy: 364
- Parking spaces: 22 stalls above ground; 45 stalls below
- Books: 106,600
- Technology: 28 public access computers
- Wireless Internet
- Meeting rooms: 3
- Library staff: 30
- Youth specialists: 3
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
Other Stories of Interest: Sammamish Library
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i went there today, and it is so big! and modern!