Seattle Public Library
beginning in 1890, the Seattle public library system
began, although there had been numerous efforts to establish one as
early as 1868, and today, there are 26 branches. Every one of the
early purpose constructed libraries were actually Carnegie
libraries, even though the central Carnegie library has been
replaced twice, but they are still standing. This outstanding
library has gone through some difficult periods, like many others in
the nation, especially during the Great Depression, when many people
that were out of work and had nothing much to do during their days
would visit the library and take advantage of the excellent reading
materials that were housed there. It wouldn't be until the start of
WWII, in 1941, that the funding and the creation of the Friends of
the Seattle Public Library would start a great rebound. During the
mid 20th century, the library would have numerous "book stations"
throughout the city, that would generally rotate the books they kept
on hand, but they would loan more than just books, like sheet music,
phonograph records, song books and piano albums, reproductions of
famous paintings and various other pictures. By 1950, the library
was subscribing to 200 newspapers and some 1700 periodicals.
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