Central Library Named Spaces
Spaces named for donors include: Anne Marie Gault Story Hour Room, Faye G. Allen Children's Center, Microsoft Auditorium, SirsiDynix Gallery, Evelyn W. Foster Learning Center, The Norcliffe Foundation Living Room, Maria Lee Koh and Family Fiction Collection, Starbucks Teen Center, Washington Mutual Foundation Meeting Room, Howard S. Wright Family & Janet W. Ketcham Meeting Room, PACCAR Inc. Meeting Rooms, Boeing Technology Training Center, Charles Simonyi Mixing Chamber, Maffei Family Aviation Room, Barry A. Ackerley Business Collection, Peter F. Donnelly Arts and Literature Collection, Maritz Map Room, A. Scott Bullitt History and Biography Collection, Eulalie and Carlo Scandiuzzi Writers' Room, Albert Balch Autograph Collection, Betty Jane Narver Reading Room, Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room, Virginia Burnside Board Room, Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Plaza and Joshua Green Foundation Arcade.
Anne Marie Gault Story Hour Room
Level 1
Faye G. Allen Children's Center
Level 1
As a teacher, Faye G. Allen spent her professional life sparking the joy of reading among children. In her personal life, her love of books is demonstrated even in the design of her home, built around her own library and filled with favorite works chosen by her and her children, Jo Allen Patton and Paul G. Allen. Fully half of her large collection is composed of children's books. The Central Library is proud to dedicate its children's center to Faye G. Allen, reflecting her celebration of the written word, her support of youth literacy, and her emphasis on libraries as a treasured resource for future generations.
Microsoft Auditorium
Level 1
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft's history of community investments has fostered a variety of innovative community partnerships creating sustainable solutions that make real and lasting differences in people's lives. In addition to direct corporate contributions, Microsoft's employees have long recognized the importance of being engaged in supporting organizations in the Puget Sound region and in communities around the world.
SirsiDynix Gallery
Level 1
Since 1979, SirsiDynix has been providing software and services to libraries and their communities, with a belief that access to information is crucial to the success of individuals and communities everywhere. Its goal is to support libraries as they change and evolve in an increasingly digital world.
Evelyn W. Foster Learning Center
Level 1
Evelyn Foster was an avid book lover who considered literacy to be an absolute right for everyone and was disturbed that there were people who were unable to read. She was also a patron of the arts and the original secretary for the Seattle Art Museum. Her husband, Albert, founded the Seattle Opera Association. Together, they formed the Foster Foundation in 1984 because they wanted to give back to the city of Seattle.
The Norcliffe Foundation Living Room
Level 3
The Norcliffe Foundation is a private nonprofit family foundation established in 1952 by Paul Pigott for the purpose of improving the quality of life of all people in the community by the application of financial and human resources.
Maria Lee Koh and Family Fiction Collection
Level 3
Maria Lee Koh, a longtime Seattle resident, is an ardent believer in the power of education, the written word and the public library system. She emigrated from Shanghai, China as a college student. One of Koh's favorite Chinese sayings was impressed upon her by her mother, a self-taught and voracious reader: "There are golden castles inside books." To honor her mother, Koh is proud to support the Library and promote the wisdom of this saying. She wants her family of children and grandchildren, readers of all ages and from all parts of society, and new immigrants and their American-born offspring and descendants, to experience the excitement of finding many golden castles among these stacks.
Starbucks Teen Center
Level 3
Contributing positively to its communities and the environment is an important part of Starbucks Coffee Company's mission. The company fulfills this commitment by helping build stronger communities. Starbucks has many programs that help the company contribute positively to the communities where its partners (employees) and customers live, work and play. It encourages and rewards volunteerism and participation in organizations that are important to its partners, including local schools, literacy programs, walk-a-thons and Earth Day activities. In 1997 the Starbucks Foundation was created to benefit local literacy programs in communities where Starbucks has coffeehouses. Its mission is to create hope, discovery and opportunity in communities where Starbucks partners live and work.
Boeing Technology Training Center
Level 4
With a heritage that mirrors the first 100 years of flight, The Boeing Company provides aerospace products and services to customers in 145 countries. Boeing is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense systems, human space flight and launch systems and services. By focusing intensely on customers and the dynamic, complex air travel marketplace, Boeing makes insightful innovations in technology that benefit operators. Boeing's family of products and services deliver comprehensive customer solutions. As part of its ongoing commitment to the Puget Sound community, Boeing is proud to sponsor Seattle's Public Libraries to make this home we share even a better place to live and work.
Howard S. Wright Family & Janet W. Ketcham Meeting Room
Level 4
Howard S. Wright is recognized widely for building and developing many Seattle landmarks, including the Space Needle, and for his leadership in guiding and inspiring Seattle's growth in the last half of the 20th century. Wright also generously supported the arts, education and many medical and civic projects with both his time and financial contributions. Wright's five children and his sister, Janet Wright Ketcham, joined together to dedicate this space in his honor.
PACCAR Inc. Meeting Rooms
Level 4
PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of premium light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services, information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business. PACCAR is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.
Washington Mutual Foundation Meeting Room
Level 4
With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual was a national financial services company that provided a diversified line of products and services to consumers and small to mid-sized businesses. Washington Mutual operated consumer banking, mortgage lending, commercial banking, consumer finance and financial services offices throughout the nation. Washington Mutual made millions of dollars in cash grants each year to support affordable housing, community development and K-12 public education.
Charles Simonyi Mixing Chamber
Level 5
The Hungarian-born philanthropist and software developer Charles Simonyi came to the U.S. at age 18. He earned an undergraduate degree in engineering mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley, and a computer science Ph.D. from Stanford University. Simonyi was one of Microsoft's original programmers, and the chief architect and developer of Word and Excel applications. In 2002, he founded his own company, Intentional Software Corp., which works to improve software productivity. He founded the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences in 2003.
The Maffei Family Aviation Room
Books Spiral 7
Greg and Sharon Maffei and their four children are believers in libraries, lovers of flight and The Seattle Public Library. Greg Maffei is the former president of the Library Board and served as a trustee from 1998 - 2007. He is the president and chief executive officer of Liberty Media Corp., and previously was the chairman and chief executive officer of 360networks, and chief financial officer of Microsoft.
Barry A. Ackerley Business Collection
Books Spiral 7
A Seattle business and civic leader, Barry Ackerley leveraged his entrepreneurial spirit and skills to build The Ackerley Group Inc. into one of the nation's premier media and entertainment companies. From its founding in 1975 as a small regional outdoor media concern, the company rapidly expanded into a leading media giant with 27 operating properties nationwide. From coast to coast, the company had a major influence on its service areas through its operations in outdoor media, television and radio broadcasting, as well as its ownership of the Seattle Supersonics (NBA) and Seattle Storm (WNBA). The late Barry Ackerley and his wife, Ginger, are icons in the Seattle philanthropic community. Today, through the Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation, the Ackerley family continues a long legacy of supporting dozens of organizations, including ArtsFund, Islandwood School, Pacific Science Center, Lakeside School and the University of Washington.
Peter F. Donnelly Arts and Literature Collection
Books Spiral 8
Over nearly four decades, Peter Donnelly has had a significant hand in developing this region's cultural life. He joined the fledgling Seattle Repertory Theater in 1964 and led it over the next 21 years to a position of financial health and national recognition. After a three-year break from Seattle leading the Dallas Theater Center, he returned in 1989 to head ArtsFund, a funding agency that supports arts organizations in King and Pierce counties. Under his leadership, this united arts fund has more than doubled funds raised, tripled the number of groups funded and has become a forceful advocate on many arts-related issues in the public and private sectors. A group of major donors recognized Donnelly's contributions to the arts community by naming the Arts and Literature Collection in his honor.
A. Scott Bullitt History and Biography Collection
Books Spiral 9
A. Scott Bullitt was a member of a prominent Kentucky family, a graduate of Princeton University, and a lawyer who came to live in Seattle after marrying Dorothy Stimson, the daughter of an influential lumberman. He was passionate about politics and was a staunch Democrat. A. Scott Bullitt organized the Democratic party in Washington state and ran for both senator and governor. Elected Washington State Democratic National Committeeman in 1929, he saw a kindred spirit in presidential hopeful Franklin D. Roosevelt. A. Scott Bullitt became an early supporter of FDR and helped unite the state behind him. He was scheduled to stand before the delegates in Chicago at the 1932 National Convention and place FDR's name in nomination but died of cancer in April of that year. The Bullitt family has gone on to make enormous contributions to the community.
Eulalie and Carlo Scandiuzzi Writers' Room
Books Spiral 9
Eulalie M. Scandiuzzi is the founder and creator of Moonjar, a company whose line of products include the Moonjar moneybox, a tool that helps children learn to save, spend and share. She is executive director of a family foundation and past managing director of Coyote Junior High. She is a former board member of The Seattle Public Library Foundation, the University Medical Visiting Committee, Jumpstart Washington, and the Arbor Fund. A native of Switzerland, Carlo Scandiuzzi came to Seattle in 1978 and quickly became part of the arts scene. As a producer, actor and businessman, he possesses a rare combination of talents and serves on several boards, including Humanities Washington, On the Boards, and the Seattle International Children's Festival.
Maritz Map Room
Books Spiral 9
The Maritz Map Room collection, located on Level 9 of the Central Library, contains over 50,000 circulating and reference sheet maps, and more than 100 current and historical atlases.
Albert Balch Autograph Collection
Level 10
Betty Jane Narver Reading Room
Level 10
Well-known civic activist Betty Jane Narver was a tireless advocate for the Library. Narver helped found The Seattle Public Library Foundation Board in 1980 and also served as president from 1986 to 1987. In 1992, then-mayor Norm Rice appointed her to The Seattle Public Library board of trustees. She was reappointed to a second, five-year term in 1997 and served as board president in 1997 and 1998. Narver was a senior research fellow at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington and director of the university's Institute for Public Policy and Management. She also served as chairwoman of the board of the Seattle-King County Municipal League and was on the boards of the national Urban Libraries Council and the National Civic League. As a Library Board member, Narver helped oversee the implementation of the voter-approved $196.4 million "Libraries for All" bond measure, which funded the new Central Library and improvements to branch libraries throughout the city. Narver died Dec. 9, 2001.
Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room
Level 10
The Fergusons were longtime supporters of The Seattle Public Library whose interests included local history, collecting books on Northwest history, and helping others learn more about our region. The collections in the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room include the Seattle Collection, the Seattle Public Library Art Collection, the Library's photograph collections, Special Collections of rare and fragile materials, and the Albert Balch Autograph Collection.
Virginia Burnside Board Room
Level 11
A former president of Library board of trustees, Virginia Burnside was the impetus behind the formation of The Seattle Public Library Foundation in 1980. It was the first library foundation to be established on the West Coast. She had a long career in journalism at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, hosted a political talk show in the 1950s called "Question before the House," wrote speeches for politicians and promoted the Seattle World's Fair.
Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Plaza
Fourth Avenue entrance
The Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation seeks to promote and improve international understanding, knowledge and equality of relations between Japan and the United States. This grant reflects the foundation's appreciation for the important role libraries play in raising the international consciousness of their communities. The plaza bearing their name is the home to the fountain designed by the well-known Japanese-American artist George Tsutakawa. Ina Goodwin Tateuchi received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Washington and completed her master's degree in library science at Pratt Institute School of Library and Information Science in New York. Ina Goodwin Tateuchi is a former board member of The Seattle Public Library Foundation.
Joshua Green Foundation Arcade
Outside Fifth Avenue entrance
Joshua Green began his business career with a partnership in a sternwheeler steamer, became an innovative leader in the Puget Sound shipping and ferries industries, and, changing course in his early 50s, became one of the region's leading bankers. He was active in business until he retired at age 102 and passed away in 1975 at 105.