The Sexiest Library In The World!

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 27 Feb 2007, 04:10

Ok, I have to brag and show off our beautiful new library.

Let's start with ground floor...

This is the entrance. On the left is the self-service area for picking up holds/reserved books. On the right is the beginning of our amazing booksorting machine.

The conveyor belt part of our amazing booksorting machine. This part can be seen by the public and those are two mirrors to show them the books going by. We're working on screens to show them the actual sorter itself working too.

The exit - which is on the other side of the floor as the entry way. Self checkout machines and customer service counter on the left, holds/reservation section on the left.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 27 Feb 2007, 04:18

This is the news lounge. International newspapers from all over the world, plus two huge plasma screens with news channels playing all day.

And then escalators up to Level 1...

And it gets way better than this... anyone want to see more?

knightss · Post by **knightss** » 27 Feb 2007, 11:37

omg... i envy your life. i'm becoming a librarian. my library is from like 1870 and most of the books look like they were published the same year =/

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 27 Feb 2007, 11:48

that looks amazing. i am quite jealous even if your pictures lack any real books im pretty sure your library trumps just about everyones. i have been obsessed with libraries since in Beauty and The Beast she has her own library in her castle...boy do i want one like hers.:sigh:.

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 27 Feb 2007, 12:49

I love it!

I've got to give a shout out to my favorite library, though: The Seattle Public Library.

And for a look at the computer center:

The stacks are this amazing spiral of floors that you can't really photograph. If anyone takes a trip to Seattle, I highly recommend an hour's tour of the facility.

The pictures don't do it quite enough justice. I'm very excited--this March and May I'll be flying up to research there! San Diego is in the process of building a library but it won't be done for a few years and couldn't possibly be as cool as my library...or as cool as Sleepydumpling's library, which is very, very cool, too.

awelker · Post by **awelker** » 27 Feb 2007, 21:28

i so want a library like that. it is really cool looking. although there is just something about the libraries here, there quite quant.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 28 Feb 2007, 05:54

Whoa Katie! Seattle library is pretty schmick too! I will definitely go see it if I can pull of this trip to the US that I am planning. Though all the internet terminals make my brain hurt, I know how hard 42 are to manage, let alone that many. And hey, Seattle once boasted The Rockstar Librarian, Nancy Pearl!

Linda - Books are on Level 2, those are coming up. But tonight we have Level 1 for your enjoyment.

Starting with what you would see if you are going up the escalators and turned around...

Our beautiful "floating" meeting room. We have added some more colour to it since these photos were taken, but it still looks pretty good!

This is the customer service area. We are intergrated with the Customer Services section of Council (Libraries are owned by Local Government) so you can go and pay your rates or submit plans for buildings and all that stuff in the library too.

The internet lounge. See all the monitors are on those ergonomic arm things? Well I installed every single one of those bloody things!! I never want to see another ergonomic arm in my life!

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 28 Feb 2007, 05:59

Another view of the internet lounge. And those bloody ergo arms.

This is part of the Young Adult area, which is called the City Zoo (I think it's a cheesy name) Those screens there on the right are hooked up to X-Boxes. And the big one on the wall plays sport, music and stuff all day for the YA's.

More of the YA area. I love, love, love the furniture in our library.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 28 Feb 2007, 06:02

Another view of YA from the other side, looking towards the internet lounge.

The AV and mags area. Those two green boxes are CD listening stations, and the white pebble seats actually light up when you sit on them, all different colours.

A view the other way of the AV/mags area. The round slat things are coming up...

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 28 Feb 2007, 06:08

One of the DVD viewing pods up close. Customers can watch the library DVD's there in the library, or they can watch cable TV.

The Learning Lounge. These are computers that people can use to learn computer skills, software programmes, give classes etc.

Another view of the Learning Lounge. Two of my favourite things in the library are right there. Those benches at the front have MAMMOTH plasma screens that you press buttons and they raise up out of the benches. And see that big glass window? Well it's electronic, and you can switch it between clear and opaque. It's too cool for words!

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 28 Feb 2007, 06:11

I've just realised that in the last photo, the left glass is switched "off" to clear, and the right one is "on" to opaque!

More photos tomorrow.

kaytie · Post by **kaytie** » 01 Mar 2007, 14:21

I've gotta say, Australia really knows its style. I've been planning my trip to Australia and even the budget hotels look nicer than their US counterparts.

When are you coming to the US? I don't think I'm headed for your part of Australia, but if you find yourself in Southern California (or Seattle) let me know--I'll be happy to play tour guide for a day.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 02 Mar 2007, 06:01

Kaytie, do you know when you're planning to head over here? I'm in Brisbane. Home of the big ball saucepan thingy artworks! I think I have those in some of the photos I'm going to post later.

All going well, I will be in the US between October and January. I want to do 10 weeks over there. And to see as much as possible! It looks likely that I will hit Seattle, as I plan to go to Vancouver to see my best friend, then back down through Seattle and Portland back into the US.

Ok, more sexy library photos!

Our childrens area. We commissioned picture book author Narelle Oliver to write a book for us exclusively, and the result was Home, a book about Frodo the Peregrine Falcon (a real life falcon that is nesting with his mate on a ledge of an inner city high rise apartment)

Another view of childrens area, showing the mural of Brisbane's Story Bridge.

The "trees" in the children's area.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 02 Mar 2007, 06:06

The "river" in the floor of the children's area. It's not just a river, it's our river. It's the right shape for the Brisbane River. We had lots of fun running around it before the furniture coming in yelling "I'm at New Farm!" "Now I'm at Garden's Point!" like fools.

A closer view of the mural.

And a closer view of the trees.