not to belabor this, but I was just thinking about it... do people really use libraries with so much information available to us online? (Well, my real question is do people use them enough to warrant a $162 million new one)?
According the Seattle Library’s own website:
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATRONS TO VISIT
The new Central Library is expected to draw more than 8,000 visitors per day during its first year of operation (4,000 a day in the old building). Architects designed the Library accordingly – not just as a civic icon, but as a functional, user-friendly building featuring comprehensive services and a mix of formal and informal spaces.
TECHNOLOGY
The new Central Library will feature more than 400 public computers. The old building had 75. The Library boasts a wealth of databases (more than 50) and other electronic resources to help patrons. It also features an advanced automated book check in and sorting system. Self-checkout will be available at several locations. Some Library staff members in the Charles Simonyi Mixing Chamber and the Books Spiral will wear lightweight, wireless communication devices to talk with each other as needed. The new Central Library will have wireless Internet access, so patrons can use their wireless laptop computers to access the Internet at any location in the library and will not be limited to regular computer areas of the library.
..if you are curious what “Mixing Chamber” and "Books Spiral" rooms are, here you go.
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According the Seattle Library’s own website:
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATRONS TO VISIT
The new Central Library is expected to draw more than 8,000 visitors per day during its first year of operation (4,000 a day in the old building). Architects designed the Library accordingly – not just as a civic icon, but as a functional, user-friendly building featuring comprehensive services and a mix of formal and informal spaces.
TECHNOLOGY
The new Central Library will feature more than 400 public computers. The old building had 75. The Library boasts a wealth of databases (more than 50) and other electronic resources to help patrons. It also features an advanced automated book check in and sorting system. Self-checkout will be available at several locations. Some Library staff members in the Charles Simonyi Mixing Chamber and the Books Spiral will wear lightweight, wireless communication devices to talk with each other as needed. The new Central Library will have wireless Internet access, so patrons can use their wireless laptop computers to access the Internet at any location in the library and will not be limited to regular computer areas of the library.
..if you are curious what “Mixing Chamber” and "Books Spiral" rooms are, here you go.
- selma 5-18-2004 11:26 pm