The Seattle Public Library’s Temp Signage

Here’s a really neat Post from Matt Haughey’s A Whole Lotta Nothing blog on the new Seattle Public Library. There are dozens of hastily printed and taped signs added since it opened, due to people asking library workers the same questions repeatedly and many people accidentally tripping emergency exit alarms.

He notes the balance that must be struck in a public space between function and form. The library is beautiful to look inside and out, but sometimes difficult to figure out where exactly you would do certain tasks.

He says the library was a great space filled with interesting things to look at and useful spaces, but far too subtle for an obvious funtional space like a public library.

January 3, 2005 by Uncategorized 4

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4 Responses

  1. Cyberpunk Librarian says:
    January 3, 2005 at 10:30 pm

    Building a library

    A while back I had a paper at my desk with rules on building and remodeling a library. SPL followed almost none of these rules. Of course these aren’t established, institutionalized guidelines. They’re just what you’re going to need to do to make your library work.

    I don’t remember all of the rules, but a few of them included:

    • Skylights cause impossible glare, but they make up for it by leaking.
    • Never make a soft cozy corner if you don’t want it occupied by a bag lady.
    • When people walk into a library, they expect to see books and librarians.
    • Today’s trendy colour coordinations are tomorrow’s avocado, mint, mauve, and orange.

    I seem to remember that, among these rules was something along the lines of “diverge from straight lines of shelves at your own peril.” How much are we willing to bet that, in ten years or less, all the shelves at the new SPL are in straight lines with standard signage available out of a run of the mill library catalog?

    Reply
  2. Fiona says:
    January 4, 2005 at 12:58 pm

    I saw those signs too…
    My first thought was, are they part of the design? Very low fi, kitschy. Then I looked closer and thought, surely they could have used something else other than blue sticky tape!

    Reply
  3. dbryan says:
    January 5, 2005 at 2:59 am

    Re:I saw those signs too…
    They might have the same rule that our administration has about posting things, we can only use the blue “painter’s tape” because it won’t mar the walls (and heaven help you if you mar the walls of a brand new building)

    Reply
  4. slashgirl says:
    January 5, 2005 at 7:58 pm

    Re:I saw those signs too…
    Even painter’s tape (ours around here is green) will mar the paint if it’s left up too long. Yes, the voice of experience speaking. In our school, we’ve got cheap paint on the walls and one must use much tape to get stuff to stick. We’ve tried double sided poster tape, regular scotch tape, masking tape, painter’s tape. They all take the paint off if left up too long although the poster tape and painter’s tape lasted a bit longer..

    I generally put on a fair bit of tape and I have taken paint off the walls, even being as careful as possible. Fortunately, I put posters in the same spots every year and cover up the spots. The company that owns our building is too bloody cheap to repaint anything but the hallways, right now.

    Actually, if I do it right, after 10 years or so I should be able to get all the mint green paint off my walls.

    s/

    Reply

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