<p>The new Seattle Public Library houses the library's main collection of books, government publications, periodicals, audio visual materials and the technology to access and distribute information from the physical collection online.
</p><p>The building is divided into eight horizontal layers, each varying in size to fit its function.  A structural steel and glass skin unifies the multifaceted form and defines the public spaces in-between.
</p><p>Situated on a sloping site between 4th and 5th street the new library will have entrances on both street levels.
The entrance level on 4th Street,  one of Seattle's main thoroughfares, houses the Children's Library and foreign-language resources.  
Rows of escalators lead to the 5th Street "Living Room" lobby located under a 50-foot-high sloping glass wall.  The lobby can also be reached directly from a covered walkway than runs the length of the 5th Avenue facade.
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.arcspace.com/architects/koolhaas/Seattle/">Rem Koolhaas OMA - Seattle Public Library</a>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/18882069@N00">Ricardo Martins</a> from Gent, Belgium
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/18882069@N00/210782656/">Seattle Public Library</a>