June 2022

  • July Author Events: Daniel James Brown, Fonda Lee, Annalee Newitz and more

    July Author Events: Daniel James Brown, Fonda Lee, Annalee Newitz and more

    Here are a few reasons to be indoors in July: The Seattle Public Library’s lineup of free author programs, including Daniel James Brown (“The Boys in the Boat”) in conversation with Tom Ikeda about his new book “Facing the Mountain;” and two terrific Clarion West events featuring authors Fonda Lee, Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane… Continue reading

  • Seattle Book Clubs Discuss Abortion

    We librarians often witness how life and literature interact, as topics of real world interest to our patrons swiftly show up in requests for reading material, and especially in titles for book clubs. One of the best things about such groups is how the focus on a book can help people to discuss a topic… Continue reading

  • THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO TEMPORARILY REDUCE HOURS STARTING TUESDAY, JULY 5

    In response to ongoing staffing shortages related to COVID-19, The Seattle Public Library will temporarily reduce open hours through the summer at several locations, beginning Tuesday, July 5. The Library is tentatively planning to restore these hours in the fall when schools are back in session. A complete list of updated hours by location is… Continue reading

  • A Peek at Peak Picks for July 2022

    Here’s a sneak peek at the nine new books are joining Peak Picks in July! In fiction, Soviet Ukraine-born and Brooklyn-raised Margarita Montimore (Oona Out of Order) tells the story of a famous magician who disappears, leaving her sister to figure out what happened to her, in Acts of Violet; Natasha Pulley gives readers an… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2022: Non-binary/genderqueer/two-spirit author or character

    Happy Pride and Summer Book Bingo, y’all! Gender can be messy and wonderful and specific and fluid; a source of anxiety for some and self-contentment for others. These authors and their characters, stories, and poems explore the infinite spectrum of human identities and experiences. Maia Kobabe’s cathartic graphic memoir Gender Queer follows eir exploration of… Continue reading

  • Bring Your Senses to an Inclusion Festival and StoryWalk® at the Seattle Sensory Garden

    Bring your five senses to the Seattle Sensory Garden this Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to experience a special milestone: The Seattle Public Library’s first in-person Inclusion Festival in two years. Caregivers and kids of all abilities can explore, enjoy a Braille-enhanced StoryWalk® about bees, an ASL-interpreted story time, a pollinator… Continue reading

  • Growing Wild!

    We recently took our son to visit his grandparents in rural Oregon. Surrounded by acreage and farms, he got to visit goats, sheep, a llama, chickens, and a handful of dogs and cats. He was delighted! On top of that there was running down rolling hills barefoot, digging in dirt, and climbing rock piles. Each… Continue reading

  • Read With Pride: Our favorite LGBTQIA+ fiction of 2022, so far

    Read With Pride: Our favorite LGBTQIA+ fiction of 2022, so far

    Each year, our librarians start a fresh list of some of the best fiction by LGBTQIA+* authors, adding new titles as the year goes along. In commemoration of Pride month, we recently published a list of some of our favorites of 2022, so far. We’ll keep updating this list all year, and you’ll find a… Continue reading

  • For the Dads

    For the Dads

    There are lots of feelings for people around Father’s Day – for me having lost my dad six years ago I can find it a little hard emotionally, but there is also a new way for me to celebrate this day and that’s for my husband and son. Rather then focus too much on dad… Continue reading

  • First Ukrainian Books Added to The Seattle Public Library’s Collections

    First Ukrainian Books Added to The Seattle Public Library’s Collections

    Responding to requests from patrons, The Seattle Public Library has added the first books in Ukrainian to its collection, approximately 120 physical books for adults and children that comprise 95 titles. We will add more titles in Ukrainian this summer. The Ukrainian books include picture books and chapter books for children and a mix of… Continue reading

  • Watch ‘The Legacy of the Soul Pole,’ Converge Media’s New Film

    Watch ‘The Legacy of the Soul Pole,’ Converge Media’s New Film

    The Soul Pole has stood tall outside The Seattle Public Library’s Douglass-Truth Branch for almost 50 years. Now, the 21-foot tall artwork – which the Black Heritage Society of Washington State has called a “beacon of Black pride” in the Central District – is starring in a short documentary produced by Seattle’s Converge Media. In… Continue reading

  • Pride Publisher Spotlight: Bold Strokes Books

    There are many ways to find new books to read, whether it’s by reviews, browsing, asking a librarian, or friend recommendations. What is less common is to choose them simply by publisher. While this isn’t likely to be useful for any of the Big Six Publishers, there are plenty of small press publishers that provide… Continue reading

  • Seismic Retrofit, Air-Conditioning And More Coming To The Green Lake Branch

    In 2019, Seattle voters overwhelming passed The Seattle Public Library’s 2019 Library Levy, which helps us fund major maintenance work on our libraries to make them safer, more accessible, and better able to meet the evolving needs of the community. Among the major maintenance projects funded by the levy are seismic retrofits to our Green… Continue reading

  • COVID-19 Rapid Testing Kits Available at Libraries

    Starting this week, The Seattle Public Library will begin distributing a limited supply of COVID-19 rapid testing kits at all 27 of our locations. Public Health — Seattle & King County is providing these free self-tests to the community to make it easier for those most impacted by COVID-19 to test when they need to… Continue reading

  • New Nonfiction Roundup – June 2022

    Check out some of the best nonfiction books being released in June! Science and nature, historical and current events, and biographies, memoirs and essays figure prominently this month. Biography & MemoirBestselling author Stuart Woods discusses his two loves – writing and sailing – in An Extravagant Life, while the world’s bestselling novelist celebrates his life… Continue reading

  • Happy Pride Month! Read, Watch and Celebrate With the Library

    Happy Pride Month! Read, Watch and Celebrate With the Library

    It’s Pride month and the Library would love to celebrate with you. Enjoy a new Rainbow Story Time, visit with us at PrideFest on June 25 or watch for the Bookmobile at the Seattle Pride Parade on June 26. You can also find some new-to-you LGBTQ+ films, novels and comics to check out, and more.… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup – June 2022

    June delivers some great titles to kick off our summer reading, including a caper, some gothic suspense, immersive historical fiction, and the return of a favorite character. 6/7: Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen Ava Wong looks like she has the perfect life, but it’s secretly crumbling. It’s the perfect moment for her former college roommate to… Continue reading