The Seattle Public Library has hired a design agency, paid them with funds from the Seattle Public Library Foundation and consulted members of the public…all for a rebranding which sees the library make a very slight name change. According to city librarian Marcellus Turner, “The Seattle Public Library is about books, but we are so much more.” Turner adds, “An updated look and name will better reflect what our library system is today — active community hubs where residents learn, grow and gather throughout their lives.”
The library’s marketing and online services director says that the new approach, from design agency Hornall Anderson, “helps us tell the story of the library as a dynamic resource and its importance and value to the community.” The library has not said how much the name change will cost, but it has a total budget of $65.3 million, with $13.1 million coming from a seven-year library levy. The library budget was approved back in 2012 by voters, who may now be regretting that decision.
After all of this, expectations for the name change are high. Will it be called The Most Eminent Seattle Public Library? Or the Delightfully Dynamic Seattle Public Library? No, the name is being changed from The Seattle Public Library to… Seattle Public Libraries. The extent of the library’s makeover is to drop the ‘the’ and make it plural. The library has also made a questionnaire for members of the public to participate in the “rebranding”, asking them questions like “For you, personally, what is the difference between the two names?” Seems like a waste of taxpayers money but who knows..maybe The New York Public Library is about to follow suit.
If you think this is another example of why big government can’t be trusted to make good decisions, Like & Share this post.
