Letter: KCLS, Please Preserve Our Iconic Library Entrance Over the Cedar River

Editor:

(Here is) what I will say to King County Library System Trustees this evening:

Most of you KCLS Trustee members were not raised in our region. This does not mean you aren’t qualified to serve in your role. But it does mean you lack perspective when we talk to you about how special and unique our Cedar River library is. So I will try help you understand…

Like each of you, I did not grow up in Renton; I didn’t know the beauty and special experience that was waiting at the Cedar River Library. In 1991, my wife Geri and I bought our one and only home in Renton.  Since our marriage, we have been blessed with five children. One day we came to check out the Cedar River Library—the experience blew us away!

The library Entrance was over the Cedar River—and it was breath-taking! The magnificent Cedar River flowed underneath and the library was next to Liberty Park with its playfields and picnic areas. We lived up in the Renton Highlands, but unless we wanted something simple or were just picking up materials we ordered, we wanted to enjoy the experience of the Library Entrance over the Cedar River and browse through the spacious materials inside to seek what treasures we might find and attend special library programs. Oh, and in the fall--witness the beautiful Salmon swimming upstream every time we went in that Library Entrance Over the River.

You have probably been to Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It’s Seattle’s pride and joy. There our stalls of fish and seafood of all kinds—fish flying through the air, fresh produce that is pleasing to the eye and an abundant array of spectacular flowers and multi-sensory delights. It’s an experience unlike any other in Seattle.

Now imagine some outside group came in and said we are going tear down 31% of the Market Space. We’re not going to let you have as much fish stalls, produce stands and lovely flowers.  Oh, and by the way, the Market’s Icon Entrance is going to be moved to an indistinguishable side street and we’re going to demolish a good part of the walkway. People would be upset—and rightfully so!

This is how my family and most residents of our community feel about our Cedar River Library. It is our icon place.

We are not against reasonable facility improvements. We are not against digital materials— two of our kids are in college and we consume digital content. But we don’t want to lose what special about this place. In the library campaign an overwhelming 76% of people voted to keep this icon library. Official campaign signs said: Vote Cedar River library….50% bigger…100% better. At all the public meetings in Renton on library design since last fall attendees overwhelmingly said: Don’t Eliminate our Library Entrance & Don’t Shrink our Space.

A trustee is supposed to be a steward. There is nothing about the current design that stewards and cares for this beloved Icon library. If KCLS destroys our Cedar River library, Renton’s motto—“Ahead of the Curve”—will lose much of its meaning.

So I hope this gives you some perspective. Trustee members, it’s said that a Good business listens and responds to its customers—will you listen to us?

Richard Bray,
Renton, WA