December 2024
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The Library’s Most Popular Books of 2024
What was the story of 2024 in books? It’s always intriguing to look back and see which titles captured the interest of Seattle’s insatiable readers over the course of the year, and one way to do that is through library checkout data. James McBride’s 2023 bestseller “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” was the most… Continue reading
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Digital Book Bonanza
Are you an ebook reader? An audiobook convert? The Library’s collection of digital books (OverDrive if you’re on the web, or Libby if you’re using the app) just grew by the thousands in December. Here are a few highlights: Nearly 300 new audiobooks have been added to our Always Available Audio collection – no holds,… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Children’s Books
Each year, we enjoy asking staff from across the library system to share their favorite kids’ books of the year. From picture books to chapter books, and from graphic novels to nonfiction – here are just a few of the children’s books published in 2024 that our SPL staff loved! (Annotations are by enthusiastic staff… Continue reading
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University Branch To Close On January 29, 2025, For Major Renovations
The Seattle Public Library’s historically landmarked University Branch (5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.) will temporarily close from Wednesday, January 29, until late 2026 for major renovations, including a seismic retrofit to make the building safer in the event of an earthquake. When the branch reopens in late 2026, patrons will be able to enjoy several significant… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Adult Fiction
At the end of each year, Library staff weigh in on their favorite reads published that year and boy, did they deliver for adult fiction! With nearly 120 titles, we had to create two lists to fit all of the books that most moved SPL workers this year. Check out the lists in full or… Continue reading
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4 Cozy Books to Accompany Long, Cold Nights
As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, one activity perfectly matches the mood of winter: reading a cozy book. Though any book can be made cozy by the addition of a hot beverage or a warm blanket, some instantly evoke a sense of comfort. For this roundup, we looked beyond the well-known… Continue reading
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Our New Horror Section . . . It’s Alive!
On Friday the 13th, the Central Library is hosting an exciting after-hours launch party from 6:30pm – 8:30pm for our new adult horror fiction collection, and we hope you join us! Register here. Local authors Tara Campbell and Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann will treat us to an adult horror Story Time and lead us in… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Teen Fiction and Graphic Novels
Every fall, we ask staff members around the library system to share their favorite reads published in this year. 2024 is no different, and we have a stellar lineup of fiction and graphic novels. Aisle Nine, a graphic novel by Ian X. Cho, follows Jasper, whose amnesia may have something to do with his dead-end… Continue reading
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“Crash Course in College Life”: UW Magazine Covers Library Internship
We were thrilled to see a recent article in UW Magazine that told the story of a program for high school students that the Library has been involved in since the beginning. The UW Libraries High School Internship serves a small number of teens — 10 a year — but as writer Dan Parry documented,… Continue reading
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Museum Pass Program Currently Paused
June 11, 2025 update: As of today, our Museum Pass program has restarted! Go to www.spl.org/MuseumPass to find out more and to make your reservation. The Seattle Public Library’s popular Museum Pass program, which offers Library cardholders free admission to participating museums and cultural organizations, is paused temporarily. In December 2024, the vendor we used… Continue reading
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Museum Pass Program Will Pause Starting Tuesday, Dec. 31
The Seattle Public Library’s popular Museum Pass program, which offers Library cardholders free admission to participating museums and cultural organizations, will be paused temporarily beginning Tuesday, Dec 31. The vendor we currently use to manage the reservations is discontinuing their service on short notice. We apologize for the short notice and the inconvenience of this… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Adult Nonfiction
Library staff across the city weighed in on their favorite nonfiction books published in 2024 — and what a great list we created together! Read on for highlights of the excellent nonfiction included (these are books loved by multiple staff members) or jump right into the full 63 item list. And stay tuned this week… Continue reading