page_title: Seattle Public Library
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Seattle Public Library / History
caption_attribution_description: Description in the published source (1919): "Seattle Public Library". The old Carnegie Library in downtown Seattle, on the same site as the present Seattle Central Library (between 4th and 5th Avenues and between Madison and Spring Street. (Another library was there in between.) In the background at right, across 5th Avenue is the old Providence Hospital, on the site now occupied by the (old!) Federal Courthouse. Sky at upper right is heavily retouched, because this part of the picture was cut off in the original layout.
context_page_description: The Seattle Public Library is the public library system serving Seattle, Washington. It was officially established by the city in 1890, though there had been efforts to start a Seattle library as early as 1868. There are 26 branches in the system, most of them named after the neighborhoods in which they are located. Also included are Mobile Services and the Central Library. The Seattle Public Library also founded, and until July 2008 administered, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library.
  All but one of Seattle's early purpose-built libraries were Carnegie libraries. Although the central Carnegie library has now twice been replaced, all the early 20th century purpose-built branches survive, although some have been subject to significant alterations. Ballard's former Carnegie library has held a number of restaurants, antique stores, etc., but the others have been modernized, and remain in use as libraries.
caption: The downtown Carnegie Library as it appeared in 1919
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