It has come to this. The Seahawks have woven themselves so tightly into the fabric of the City of Seattle with this season’s championship-caliber run that the one bastion of intentional quietude in the downtown core has given itself over to the now-ubiquitous roar of the 12th Man. The Seattle Central Library will be showing the Seahawks’ first playoff game in its auditorium for free. Quothe the press release:

“You won’t need to call security,” said City Librarian Marcellus Turner, who acknowledged the Central Library Microsoft Auditorium “may get a little noisy” starting at about 1:35 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, when the Seahawks playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers is televised.

The fact that the Seahawks are actually playing the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, and not the dread 49ers, just makes this invitation from the bookish set to Seattle sports fans all the more charming. The auditorium opens at 1 p.m. and will seat all on a first come, first serve basis. Those who attend will be served “football-shaped cookies” and will not, this press release promises, be sushed for cheering.

“The Library is a great place for information, education and recreation,” Turner said. “We thought it would be fun to have the game on for our patrons, particularly those who don’t have ready access to television. I’m sure there will be patrons working or studying in the building who also will appreciate the opportunity to take a break and watch part of the game.”

After the Seahawks have vanquished the Saints, perhaps the 12th Man will peruse the stacks for a new book. For the 12th Child in your family, I suggest

Let’s Go Seahawks by Aimee Aryal

. More adventurous readers should pick up the classic work of New (Sports) Journalism, Paper Lion by George Plimpton. There is currently

one copy available

.