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Seattle ’ 84

Seattle, built on hills between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Washington, is the Metropolis of the Pacific Northwest. The Cascade Mountains are to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. The views of the mountains and water can be spectacular. Ever since the Native Americans arrived hundreds of years ago the residents of this area have been captivated by its beauty.

The population of Seattle is made up of several different ethnic groups, giving the city an international flavor. Different neighborhoods also add to the character of Seattle. The city grew by neighborhoods, and an effort has been made to preserve these areas. From the Fremont District which started with a saw mill, to First Hill, the first residential area, to Ballard with its Scandinavian heritage, Seattle’s history is reflected in its neighborhoods.

Discovering Seattle can be a mixture of exploring over land and over water. There is a tremendous variety of activity in this city, and no matter what your interest might be, you can find something to do. The Puget Sound area offers a beautiful environment combined with a mild climate. Care has been taken to preserve the environment, and as a result Seattle has clean lakes and many parks and green areas. The spring is an especially beautiful time of year with many flowering trees in bloom.

One of the “must” trips in Seattle is a visit to the Pike Place Market. Within walking distance from the downtown hotels, the Market is a mixture of roofed and open-air stalls where fresh produce, flowers, meats and seafood are sold alongside handicrafts. Shoppers can also explore a variety of shops in the various market buildings. Many restaurants are located in the Market, so if viewing all of the wonderful food makes you hungry, you can sit, eat and indulge in another great Market pastime, people-watching. If you want to enjoy fresh crab or salmon at home, you can arrange to have your purchase packed to take home.

The Pike Place Market is near Seattle’s historic waterfront. The Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59 features an underwater dome, sea otters and a salmon ladder. Washington’s ferry system is the largest and most scenic in the country. Ferries cross Puget Sound from Pier 52 all day every day, starting early in the morning and finishing late at night. Round trip rides can vary from 1 to 3 hours. Seattle is one of the world’s great seaports and tours of the busy harbor are also available. A waterfront trolley connects the Pike Place Market/Seattle Aquarium area with Pioneer Square, the center of old Seattle which is today the home of many art galleries. Near Pioneer Square is the International District, the third largest Chinatown in the country. It offers small shops, restaurants and a large Japanese department store.

The downtown hotels are close to the city’s major department stores and many smaller shops. The nearby monorail connects downtown to the Seattle Center, the conference site, by a short five minute ride. The Seattle Center was the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. The Space Needle, built for the Fair, rises 605 feet and offers panoramic views of the city. The Pacific Science Center, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and the Seattle Art Museum Pavilion are also located in Seattle Center. The Seattle Art Museum in Volunteer Park, the Woodland Park Zoo with its gorilla habitat and African Savannah, and the University of Washington are short bus rides from downtown. The Thomas Burke Memorial Museum featuring a unique collection of Northwest Coast Indian artifacts is on campus. Nearby is the Museum of History and Industry, Seattle’s history museum. The University’s Arboretum features a Japanese Tea Garden and over 200 acres of plants from throughout the world.

Evening activities range from theatre to sport events. Seattle is one of the most active theatre communities in the country. With over 40 theatre companies there is year-round theatre which ranges in style from classical to experimentalmodern. If you are a sports fan you may wish to come early for the 1984 NCAA basketball championship which will be held in Seattle’s Kingdome from March 31 through April 2. The Seattle Supersonics (basketball) will be ending their season and the Seattle Mariners (baseball) beginning their season.

The Monorail connects the downtown hotels with the Seattle Center.

Outdoor activities are very popular with Seattleites and range from sailing in local waters to skiing in the nearby mountains. Seattle has over 400 parks which range from the downtown Freeway and Waterfront Parks with their man-made waterfalls to the natural forests and beaches of the 500-acre Discovery Park.

The climate in April is moderate, averaging 48 degrees. Sunny days are warm, with temperatures ranging into the 60’s and low 70’s. It is best to plan to dress in layers. About half the days in April are rainy, so bring an umbrella or a raincoat. Water is an important part of our environment, so don’t let it keep you from enjoying all of the marvelous things there are to do in Seattle. ■ ■

RBMS PRECONFERENCE PAPERS PUBLISHED

The papers presented at the ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section’s Preconference in Boston, June 24-28, 1980, were published in April by R.R. Bowker Company under the title Books and Society in History.

Edited by Kenneth E. Carpenter, the papers investigate different aspects of the impact of printing on society and illustrate the relationship throughout history between the production of the physical book and the larger social, economic, and intellectual issues surrounding and resulting from its production. The conference brought together speakers representing two schools of bibliographic thought: the Anglo-American study of the book as a physical object, and the French study of the role of books in society and culture.

The papers included in the book are:

•Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, “From Scriptoria to Printing Shops: Evolution and Revolution in the Fifteenth-Century Book Trade.”

•Henri-Jean Martin, “Publishing Conditions and Strategies in Ancien Regime France.”

•Katharine F. Pantzer, “Printing the English Statutes, 1484-1640: Some Historical Implications.”

•Bernhard Fabian, “The Beginnings of English-Language Publishing in Germany in the Eighteenth Century.”

•Raymond Birn, “Book Production and Censorship in France, 1700-1715.”

•John P. Feather, “From Censorship to Copyright: Aspects of the Government’s Role in the English Book Trade, 1695-1775.”

•Frederic Barbier, “The Publishing Industry and Printed Output in Nineteenth-Century France.”

•James J. Barnes, “Depression and Innovation in the British and American Book Trade, 1819-1939.”

•Paul Raabe, “Library History and the History of Books: Two Fields of Research for Librarians.” Books and Society in History is not available from the ACRL Office. It may be ordered for $29.95 (plus shipping and handling) from the R.R. Bowker Company, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. ■■