August 2025
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A Peek at Peak Picks – September 2025
We’re adding eleven new Peak Picks in September! In nonfiction, Elizabeth Gilbert, who taught millions of readers to live authentically (Eat, Pray, Love) and creatively (Big Magic), shows how to break free with her first nonfiction book in a decade, All the Way to the River; Pulitzer Prize-winner Stephen Greenblatt explores the dangerous times and fatal genius… Continue reading
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The Library’s 2024 Impact, in Numbers and Stories
In 2024, The Seattle Public Library received more than 2.9 million visits to its 27 locations; 300,000 patrons used their Library card, either online or in person; 10.8 million materials were checked out, with digital materials again proving more popular. These are just a few highlights of the Library’s 2024 Impact Report, an annual accounting… Continue reading
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Cool Reads for Summer Heat
Summer might be winding down, but the heat sure isn’t. Take a mental cool down with these summer reads, but reader beware: like the gorgeous, inviting waters of the Puget Sound, these pretty covers hide deep and sometimes dangerous undercurrents. In Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield, not all is fun in the sun for 18-year-old,… Continue reading
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The Seattle Public Library Wants to Hear from You!
How do you feel about The Seattle Public Library’s spaces, collections, programs, and services? Take our brief survey and let us know! Not a Library user? We want to hear from you, too! The Seattle Public Library is conducting a survey from Monday, August 25 through Wednesday, Sept. 24 to hear from the community, including… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2025: Monsters
What makes a monster? Is it feral and visually arresting – a furry creature with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp teeth? Maybe your frame of reference is mythological: Medusa and her snakes, Scylla’s six hideous heads rising from the sea. Do you imagine the uncanny and unnatural – Frankenstein in his lab, foisting life onto… Continue reading
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Why Old Trees Matter: A Conversation with Lynda Mapes
As August draws to a close, our summer book club series with KUOW is wrapping up with a topic relevant to any northwesterner: the connections between trees, salmon, and Indigenous knowledge. On Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m., Lynda Mapes will be at the Central Library auditorium to talk about her recent book, “The Trees… Continue reading
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Travel Through Time With These 4 Historical Fiction Novels
Sometimes we all need to take a break from our current world. A wonderful way to do this is to read historical fiction that transports us to a distant time and place, filled with rich details and fully developed characters. Perhaps this is escapism, but the best historical fiction not only teaches us about a… Continue reading
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Q&A with Vaquero Azul, SPL Artist in Residence | Preguntas y respuestas con Vaquero Azul, artista en residencia de SPL
Shelf Talk recently caught up with SPL Artist in Residence, Vaquero Azul – read on to learn about their art practice, inspiration, and an upcoming public workshop at the Library! [Para leer en español, consulte a continuación.] SPL: How would you describe the work you create? VQ: I would describe it as the years of… Continue reading
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Women in Translation
August is Women in Translation Month, an annual tradition that started in 2014 and seeks to celebrate and promote the work of women writing in languages other than English around the world. Consider reading one of these works of translated fiction by a female author. To Go on Living by Narine Abgaryan was originally written… Continue reading
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U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal Gets an Inside Look at University Branch Renovations
In our blog post last May, we announced that construction had begun at The Seattle Public Library’s University Branch, which is undergoing major renovations to improve the safety, accessibility and usability of the branch while reducing our carbon footprint. On August 11, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) joined Chief Librarian Tom Fay; The Seattle Public… Continue reading
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“Rooted & Rising” Explores the Stories of the African American Collection
A new exhibit at The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library’s Level 8 gallery features artwork inspired by archival materials from the Douglass-Truth Branch’s African American collection. “Rooted & Rising: Stories from the African American Archive” is curated by local interdisciplinary artist Imani Sims of Vivid Matter Collective. Sims brings a personal and innovative lens to the… Continue reading
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Hugo Award 2025 Finalists
Every year, the Hugo Awards celebrate some of the most exciting voices in science fiction and fantasy. This year, the ceremony will be right here in Seattle during Worldcon on August 16. From time travel and resurrected mammoths to graphic novels and YA adventures, the 2025 finalists offer something for every reader. This month, we’ve… Continue reading
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Teen Book Bingo, Round Two
Summer is half over! How easy is it to fill in your card? Here are more suggestions for each of our squares in the Teen Book Bingo, two titles per square. Finding books set in the Pacific Northwest can be a challenge. The easiest way to search for them is to do a keyword search… Continue reading
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The Young Adult Resource Fair (YARF) Brought All the Things
Books, bánh mì, banking, pet care, health care, haircuts, job resources, legal resources, ID cards, tarot cards, clothes, compassion, community. All of these resources and more were in abundance at The Seattle Public Library’s second annual Young Adult Resource Fair (aka YARF) on Wednesday, July 30, at the Central Library. Between 150 and 200 young… Continue reading
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‘My One Happy Place’: The Library That Saved a Life
When Elsa Sjunneson was a teenager, she regularly visited the Central Library. She picked up holds, browsed the stacks, and talked about books with Reader Services librarians David Wright and Misha Stone. In some ways, these were fairly normal interactions between a librarian and patron. After all, helping patrons find books they love is part… Continue reading
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Silent Reading Party, a New Exhibit, and More August 2025 Arts Events
Is a silent reading party the ideal event for an introvert? Find out this Saturday, Aug. 9, at a fun program at the Seattle Center, which includes book swap opps and Book Bingo tips. Other not-to-miss late summer events include the final program in our KUOW Book Club series, an exhibit celebrating the African American… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – August 2025
The last, lazy days of summer are the perfect time to check out some of August’s most notable nonfiction. In science, Bill McKibben embraces solar power as the last chance for the climate and a fresh chance for civilization in Here Comes the Sun while Peter Brannen reveals how carbon dioxide made our world in… Continue reading
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Magic, Music, Movies: Late-Summer Library Programs for Kids
Looking for things to do with the kids in August? Our libraries are hosting dozens of Summer of Learning and other programs for kids and families, from magic shows to music and dance workshops to end-of-summer celebrations. All Library events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required unless noted. Find information… Continue reading