The theme of Seattle's 1962 World's Fair was "Century 21." Look around today at the major public buildings in our city - from Fisher Plaza to City Hall, Experience Music Project to the Washington State Convention Center - and you will note that our city's architecture reflects that space-age theme.
Magnolia Library has a place in making that happen. As one of the first public buildings commissioned after the World's Fair, the bold, Asian-modern design signaled wider public acceptance of that style in public buildings. Think about that next time you are sitting down to an Asia-Pacific inspired feast at Wild Ginger restaurant.
Flash-forward 40-some years, and our library is one of the busiest small libraries in the city. It performs admirably in a variety of missions, including celebrating literacy and kindling a love of leaning in toddlers, providing research tools for lifelong learners and serving as a friendly community crossroads. All in a small - even intimate - community setting.
Designated a landmark building in 2001, the Magnolia Library later was included in the "Libraries for All" bond issue passed in 1998 to update (and in some cases replace) facilities, improve technology and add material to collections. Most notable has been the completion of the new library downtown.
However, there are other eye-catching examples, like the soon-to-be-completed Ballard branch library. If you like bold architecture, well, this is your town.
A quick visit to HistoryLink.org on the subject of our local library was interesting, but not surprising. Like most really good things done over the years in this community, Magnolia's library was the dream of not-to-be-messed-with mothers who during World War II grew tired of the limitations of the bookmobile.
These Magnolia moms, who also started cooperative preschools during this time, were not about to use up precious gasoline-ration coupons to drive clear over to Ballard and Queen Anne just to check out books. So they took over a derelict tavern building at 32nd and McGraw, and made it into a library.
Convert a derelict tavern into a place of community pride that celebrates art, literacy and culture. Hmm, can we all meet with our jogger-strollers over near the US Bank on 30th? We've got another derelict tavern to convert, and stay-at-home parents are invited to lead the charge - just like in '42.
And these moms (really, some things never change around here) did that library up in inimitable Magnolia style: knocking out walls, painting, bringing in proper tables and chairs.
But that wasn't all. Remember, this is Magnolia. They then went over to the Seattle Art Museum and walked away with "loaned" works of art to decorate the place!
The Library Board got the message: within two years they took over the lease. That little library had almost 4,000 patrons borrowing on a regular basis in the 1940s. Clearly, those moms knew their market, and how to execute a business plan.
So, like any successful business venture, they expanded. In 1959 the library moved into a former Safeway grocery store at 34th and McGraw, even while planning was underway for a "landmark" location of architectural significance and importance.
Legendary Seattle architect Paul Hayden Kirk studied the site of our current library, at 34th and Armour, and in a remarkable early display of progressive environmental consciousness, he designed around the ancient madrona tree growing at the corner there.
True to form (yet again) of Magnolia values and priorities, our community club established a library art fund to commission pieces for the facility - and they did this even before it opened.
Thanks to consistent vision and devoted patrons, the current Magnolia library has served us well since 1964. In the months ahead, you will have the opportunity to share your "hopes and dreams" for the 2007 library remodel directly with the designers and project managers.
But you can go right now to the library and ask for help in accessing their Web site at www.spl.org and comment directly about this project.
The Magnolia library renovation is an ambitious project, and what would really benefit our community for another generation is simple: a burgeoning group of community heroes to step up and get involved with making this a successful project.
Here's the good news: it all won't fall on your shoulders. There is a group, Friends of the Library, that has done the hard work of organizing and providing a means to take advantage of your contributions.
And, as Magnolia community volunteer/auctioneer extraordinaire Rene Spatz says: there are no fundraising goals in Magnolia which cannot be achieved, if really rocking parties are involved. So pass that pitcher of Margaritas, and let's make this library project really exciting.
P. Scott Cummins is a Magnolia-based parent, writer, community volunteer and native tree planter - always happy to party for a good cause. Write him at mageditor@nwlink.com.[[In-content Ad]]
