Suzzallo Library, Seattle

A beautiful academic library at the University of Washington. It was built in three successions owing much to Henry Suzzallo. The library is large of Gothic architecture and has three main doorways at the front of the building, accessible after walking through the beautiful open square aptly called Red Square. The library holds various collections, most notably for my interest is the large Near Eastern collection. I am curious to know why it is called Near East, I suspect it is because the collection as well as the academic research and teaching are not limited to the modern Middle East, a term that came into use in the early 20th century, but rather to the ancient Middle East or Near East as well as contemporary events. However, technically speaking Near East usually refers or used to refer to the Balkans as well as the Ottoman Empire, i.e. Turkey and the modern day Arab nation-states of Saudi and the Gulf peninsula, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, etc. and nation-states that were part of the former Yugoslavia. In any case, the library is spectacularly beautiful. It is well laid out, using space and place adequately to make a most efficient library. The reference desks are located in the middle of the first floor, while reference materials are closely located nearby. Upon immediately entering the library one notices on the right a study hall, most filled with undergraduates and on the left an exhibition room which currently has an exhibition on children's literature through the ages (spanning approximately 350 years worth of materials, highly recommended even for those not interested). The real highlight of the library is the Graduate Reading room. It is on par, if not in my humble opinion superior to the infamous Bodlean reading room, both the new and the old. It is spacious, quiet, beautiful and a wonderful environment for reading and studying.
For those interested visit: http://www.lib.washington.edu/
and for enthusiasts of modern means of technology and its value, visit the Digital Collections at http://content.lib.washington.edu/. This collection is spectacular and maintains a few very odd but interesting video clips. Finally, the collection also has a specific link to Middle East materials, all of which are photos spanning different Islamic Empires and periods: http://content.lib.washington.edu/diaweb/