Broadview Branch
🏢 The Seattle Public Library — Seattle, Washington
Broadview Branch
The Broadview Branch is one of Seattle's most architecturally distinctive libraries, with a building inspired by Native American longhouse design — massive vertical support logs and exposed brick honor a tradition that predates the city itself. A 2007 expansion by Miller Hayashi Architects doubled the branch's size while preserving the original longhouse character.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 12755 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: 2066847519
Website: spl.org
📖 About Broadview Branch
The Broadview Branch first opened on December 15, 1975, on land at Greenwood Avenue North and North 130th Street that Seattle voters had approved purchasing back in 1956. The original building by Steinhart, Theriault and Associates drew on the form of the Northwest Coast longhouse, and when Miller Hayashi Architects expanded and reopened the branch on December 8, 2007, they retained the massive vertical support logs and original brick to honor that design legacy. Northwest artist Marvin Oliver of the Haida nation contributed four artworks that returned to the expanded building, and Seattle artist Theresa Batty added a suspended wooden vessel and cast-glass blocks referencing navigation and personal identity.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Architecture inspired by Native American longhouse design, with original vertical support logs preserved through a 2007 expansion
- Artwork by Haida nation artist Marvin Oliver and suspended glass-and-wood installation by Seattle artist Theresa Batty
- World-languages collection in Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, and Tigrinya serving one of Seattle's most diverse north-end communities
- Dedicated quiet room for focused study alongside open meeting and study rooms
- SPL Holds Lockers for 24/7 self-service pickup, plus free parking and bike racks
📱 Free with a Seattle Public Library Card
Any Washington State resident can get an SPL card free and unlock:
📍 More The Seattle Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Broadview Branch have materials in languages other than English?
Yes. The branch maintains collections in Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, and Tigrinya, reflecting the East African and Spanish-speaking communities in the surrounding neighborhood.
What is the significance of the longhouse design at Broadview Branch?
The original 1975 building was deliberately designed with architecture influenced by Northwest Coast Native American longhouse traditions. When the branch expanded in 2007, the architects preserved the massive vertical support logs and original brick to maintain that cultural reference.
Can I pick up holds outside regular Broadview Branch hours?
Yes. Broadview Branch has SPL Holds Lockers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can collect reserved items even when the branch is closed. Book returns via the slot on the west wall are also available around the clock.
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