2 Suzzallo and Allen Libraries

Suzzallo Library, on Red Square, opened in 1926 and is a gorgeous example of Collegiate Gothic architecture. Suzzallo and Allen Libraries, the largest libraries in the UW Libraries system, are where you can find millions of books, maps, movies, government documents, and the main humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences collections. There are also group study rooms, many quiet places for individual study, private pods for Zoom calls, computers, printers, scanners, and knowledgeable librarians who are happy to help you with your research. Oh, and there’s a Starbucks too!

At the main entrance, look up and you’ll see three carved stone figures. They are “Thought,” “Inspiration,” and “Mastery.” Just something to think about as you pass through the doors.

Once inside, take the Grand Staircase (yes, it’s really called the “Grand Staircase”) or the elevator up to the third floor. At the top of the stairs is the Suzzallo Reading Room. Shhh… this is one of the few places where you have to be absolutely quiet in the libraries!

Also on the third floor is a reservable family study room equipped with toys and a child-sized table and chairs alongside a standard study desk, computer, and printer.

From the Reading Room, take the stairs or elevator back down to the first floor. In addition to private pods for calls/online classes, the first floor is where you’ll find the Open Scholarship Commons (OSC), a collaboration hub that hosts workshops on topics including web-based project design, publishing tools, working with data and more. This is also where you can find the OSC’s new recording studio!

Keep going down the hall to find the main Circulation Desk, where you can pick up items placed on hold and check out books with your Husky Card. Across from the Circulation Desk, there are hundreds of DVDs of movies and TV series that you can borrow for free! Continue down the hall, and you’ll enter the more modern Allen Library, which was added in 1990.

Take the stairs or elevator down to the ground floor. In the airy, light-filled Allen Library lobby, you’ll see ravens flying overhead—they’re part of an art installation called “Raven Brings Light to this House of Stories,” which is based on a Native American Pacific Northwest Coast story. The title in Lushootseed is:

There is an information desk at the bottom of the stairs where you can check out books and get help with research.

Go out the glass doors, across the Allen Library breezeway, and into Allen Library South. Here you’ll find the Research Commons.

The Research Commons is a great place to collaborate and connect with fellow students and faculty on research projects. It features open study spaces with large display monitors and whiteboards, private study rooms, and many options for group work. The Research Commons consultation center offers in-person research help with things like citation management, design tools, and the Graduate Funding Information Service. It is a venue for workshops and presentations, and all spaces are reservable by UW students, faculty and staff.

Some other cool places to know about in Suzzallo and Allen Libraries are Government Publications, Maps, Microforms, and Newspapers, located on Suzzallo’s ground floor, and Special Collections, located in the basement.

This concludes the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries stop on our tour! Where would you like to explore next?

Have a question or need help? Contact uwlib-ussteam@uw.edu.