Ultimate Library Road Trip - US

I had a friend of mine recently say to me: “Wouldn’t it be cool to go on a road trip to visit a bunch of awesome libraries?” Why, yes. Yes it would be cool. I started to think about what that would look like and a map started to slowly form in my head. Of course, you would have to miss out on some of them because they take you too far out the way. A few that didn’t make the list simply because of that reason were the Geisel Library in San Diego (UCSD) and the McAllen Public Library in Texas. To go that far south would have taken the road trip way off course without much to see in between.

Before you get offended that you don’t see your library on my list, every library is amazing in its own way. Libraries serve their communities and provide much needed resources in times of need. One example that comes to mind is the Ferguson Public Library. This library did not make my list below either, mostly because it is these community libraries that are too small and too busy to support visitors on a large scale. I have added mostly larger, city center or specialty libraries to this list. Should you wish to make pit stops of other local libraries along the way, that is your prerogative. There are certainly no shortage of options.

I have also added other sights and places to stay along the way. Depending on your driving tolerances, you may want to stop more often on your journey. This is a cross country journey, from sea to shining sea. If you were to take this trip, you would probably fly to one coast or the other to begin and rent a car (or drive there from where you live). Since I live in Seattle, I started the journey itinerary there. If you live in the North East, you may want to start from the bottom and work the other direction. Here it is!

My attempt at a Google Map outline of the trip.

SEATTLE

Seattle Public Library - Central Library

While in town also check out:

Pike Place Market bookshops

There are four or five bookshops in Pike Place. Half the fun is navigating the labyrinthine tunnels of the market to find them. The owner of Lion Heart Books, David, will sing to you upon request and makes excellent recommendations.

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Sorrento

This is a nice, old fashioned hotel near the downtown library. They sometimes host literary events.

PORTLAND

Multnomah County Central Library

Side note: This is where my husband proposed to me.

Also Check Out: Powell’s City of Books

Powell's is a giant bookstore in downtown Portland that takes up several blocks and then some. It boosts 68,000 square feet packed with books. Not to mention the sister stores owned by Powell's in Portland and beyond. 

NEWPORT

STAY THE NIGHT - Sylvia Beach Hotel

This literary themed hotel in the coastal town of Newport, Oregon is amazing. Each room is themed after a different author. Authors include Agatha Christie to Shakespeare. It has a library that looks out over the water and a restaurant. Personally, I would like to stay in the J.K. Rowling suite. 

EUREKA

STAY THE NIGHT - Abigail's Elegant Victorian Mansion

While in town: Check out the Humboldt County Library and take a tour of the Victorian homes and architecture.

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Public Library - Main

Also check out: City Lights Books

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Rex

This classic hotel hosts many literary events and has it's own extensive library. Their Library Bar has many literary-themed cocktails. 

RENO

Reno Downtown Library - Washoe County

This library is pretty fascinating because it brings the great indoors outdoors. There is a large indoor garden complete with a pond.

Also check out: Unrelated to libraries, but could be fun to take a day off and explore nightlife and casinos in Reno.

STAY THE NIGHT - Whitney Peak Hotel

This hotel was selected because it is not a casino hotel. If you are feeling adventurous, there are plenty of casino hotel options.

SALT LAKE

The City Library

The main library is a huge complex that includes shops and other community resources.

Also check out: The King’s English Bookshop

STAY THE NIGHT - Inn on the Hill

DENVER

Denver Public Library - Central Library

Also check out: Tattered Cover Bookstore

STAY THE NIGHT - The Crawford Hotel

This hotel has a LoDo Literary Society Package that includes an autographed book and a gift card to Tattered Cover.

KANSAS CITY

The Kansas City Public Library - Central

This is the library that has the giant books on the building.

Also check out: Prospero’s Books

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Sorella

CHICAGO

Harold Washington Library Center - Chicago Public Library

Also check out: Unabridged Books, The Violet Hour for literary themed cocktails

STAY THE NIGHT - The Drake Hotel

ANN ARBOR

STAY THE NIGHT - The Bell Tower

While in town: Check out the University of Michigan libraries and department of Creative Writing. Cool town with plenty of charm.

PITTSBURGH

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main

Also check out: Caliban Book Shop

This bookshop specializes in rare and first editions. 

STAY THE NIGHT - Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center

WASHINGTON D.C.

Library of Congress - Thomas Jefferson Building

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

Also check out: Politics and Prose bookshop

BALTIMORE

Enoch Pratt Free Library - Downtown

The George Peabody Library - Baltimore, Maryland

Also check out: Atomic Books

This is a comic book shop and cafe.

STAY THE NIGHT - Hotel Indigo - Downtown Baltimore

This hotel has a library, literary art in the rooms, and literary inspired cocktails. 

PHILADELPHIA

The Free Library of Philadelphia - Parkway Central Library

Rosenbach Museum & Library

Also check out: The Book Trader

STAY THE NIGHT - Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel

This upscale hotel has a literary design for their lobby. 

NEW YORK

New York Public Library - Main

The Morgan Museum and Library

Also check out: Stand Book Store

This huge bookstore claims it has 18 miles of books. Goodness!

STAY THE NIGHT - The Library Hotel

This hotel is library themed from top to bottom. Each guest floor is organized by the Dewey Decimal System. For instance, the third floor has the 300's or Social Sciences. 

NEW HAVEN

New Haven Free Public Library

Yale University Beinecke Rare Book Library

Also check out: Book Trader Cafe

This is a cute book store and cafe.

STAY THE NIGHT - Farnam Guest House

BOSTON

Boston Public Library - Central Library in Copley Square

Also check out: Brattle Book Shop, Trident Booksellers and Cafe

Brattle sells new and rare books in downtown and Trident has very delicious-looking breakfast items. I WILL HAVE ALL THE BRUNCH!

STAY THE NIGHT - Omni Parker House

This hotel is in the Literary District and hosts literary functions from time to time. 

THE END

Of course, you could always start in San Francisco or alter the trip an any number of ways if you decide to take this epic journey. Someday I hope to hit up some if not all of these amazing landmarks. If you do this trip or any part of it, tweet me your pictures @amandagracehua with the #LibraryRoadTrip.

Best,

Amanda

All pictures found on Flickr creative commons. For credits, click on the image.

Library Profile (plus a bookstore) - Lake Forest Park and Third Place Books

I came across the Lake Forest Park Library (a King County Library in Lake Forest Park, WA) quite on accident. I was visiting the amazing Third Place Books, when I discovered the library downstairs. It occurred to me that it had been a while since I made a post and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Lake Forest Park Library is nestled in the Town Center shopping mall, a curious collection of stores and interconnected passageways. This shopping mall is not like the malls that house Bookmarks (Dallas Public Library branch in NorthPark Center) or even the other KCLS Branch in Southcenter Mall. This is a small, indoor mall this is mostly taken up by Third Place Books. There is also a food court, a Rite Aid, a Gallery, and some other shops.

The library itself is small, but still a good size for the space. There are even designated children and teen spaces.

I loved the attention to detail and the welcoming layout. The clock behind the counter was very eye-catching.

While I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of a library, the real reason I was there was to explore the great Third Place Books. This bookstore is amazing! They have all the new releases and also buy used books to add to their shelves.

They have a pretty amazing children's section. Fun decor and a good selection.

They had a life sized chess board, a common area with lots of seating, and their own press! They will help you self-publish a book and print it.

Wizard's Chess, anyone?

Lastly, they had a store that sold all kinds of tempting goodies.

Yes, this is a Tribble coin purse. 

Such cat. Much amaze.

What an awesome place! I could spend hours and hours here. The whole shopping center is kind of amazing and it makes you think about the future of libraries and bookstores. I love that this community has a centralized location where they can find books as they accomplish their daily errands. You can check out a book from the library, read it, and decided to buy it upstairs. As strange as this sounds, I have lots of books on my bookshelf that I have never read. By this, I mean that I have never read that copy. I buy the book after I fall in love with the library copy and loan mine out to friends and family. It's also just nice to see the book on my shelf should I decide t revisit it. Having these two institutions together in the same place seems to work really well. I imagine that Third Place Press, for instance, facilitates a lot of emerging local authors. And having an established author event can be shared and supported by both agencies. 

In short, I had a fun adventure yesterday. Town Center is a kind of mecca for book nerds. You should go if you find yourself in the Seattle area. As a parting note, please enjoy this random astronaut. 

Best,

Amanda