Arts & Culture
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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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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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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
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You Can Do It! Book Bingo Tips and Recs for the Final Stretch
It’s almost August – how’s your Book Bingo card coming along? If you need inspiration and recommendations for filling up those final (or first!) squares, we’ve got you. We asked a few veteran Book Bingo players for their favorite reads, and how they keep Book Bingo motivation strong through August. Tips included poetry, sticky notes,… Continue reading
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Ai, Rebel The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei at Seattle Art Museum
Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei is on display at the Seattle Art Museum until September 7, 2025. As an artist, Ai Weiwei uses humor and provocation across artistic mediums, prompting viewers to think deeply about history, society, and culture. To enhance your experience of the exhibit, librarians at the Seattle Public… Continue reading
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StoryWalk® in Magnolia: Growing Connections
We’re so excited to celebrate the 5th year of our StoryWalk® partnership with Daybreak Star Preschool teachers! Over the years, this program has become a beautiful bridge connecting the urban Native community with our neighbors here in Magnolia. We’re also thrilled to continue working with the Magnolia Farmers Market, which has been an amazing partner.… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2025: Hope
Besides being the Thing with Feathers, what is hope? How do we hold onto it and why? And if we have it, what do we do with it (or, what does it do for us)? The answers to these questions may be different for each person, but here are some reading suggestions to help fill… Continue reading
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Nonfiction for Women’s History Month
Celebrate Women’s History Month with this selection of recently published memoirs and history highlighting women in the United States, and find more in our booklist Women’s History Month 2025. The Movement: How Women’s Liberation Transformed America, 1963-1973 by Clara Bingham Weaving together over 100 oral histories, Bingham brings to life the first ten years of… Continue reading
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Black History Month 2025
Each February we observe Black History Month, but why limit your enjoyment of Black writers, illustrators, thinkers, and creators to just one month? Librarians at the Seattle Public Library have put together several booklists to help keep you reading throughout the year, and highlighted a few titles from each list below: Black American Nonfiction Black… Continue reading
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10 Surprising Things that You Can Do Through The Seattle Public Library
You probably know that you can borrow books, use public computers and even reserve meeting rooms, all for free, through the Seattle Public Library. But did you also know that you can access digital newspapers and magazines, streaming services, job resources and personal tutoring in three languages? In honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month this… Continue reading
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T.A.M.I. and T.N.T., the G.O.A.T?
In the mid-60’s, highschoolers were released early with free tickets to Teenage Awards Music International (TAMI) – a showcase of artists & culture teens were purported to be into at the time. A year later, the same was done for the Big TNT (Tune & Talent) show. Both got it right, to an extent. Could… Continue reading
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Seattle Gay News Celebrates 50 Years!
As we know, Pride celebrations don’t end when June is over – and a great way to keep celebrating is with the Seattle Gay News Celebrates 50 Years Exhibit, currently on view at the Central Library’s Level 8 Gallery through August 25th! On view are excerpts from and commentary on the paper focusing on such… Continue reading
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These Books Became 2024 Oscar-Nominated Film Adaptations
The Seattle Public Library’s Reader Services team recently debuted a new monthly column in the Seattle Times. Read the article by Reader Services librarian Misha Stone on the Seattle Times website or below, where it’s republished with permission. The Seattle Public Library loves to promote books and reading. This column, submitted by the library,… Continue reading
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Blu-Ray Bruce!
Did you know we recently added Blu-Rays? And that compared even to streaming HD, Blu-Ray offers better stability (vs. Wi-Fi), picture, and audio (especially when considering beautifully curated prints)? Enter Bruce Lee! Where legends collide, your library’s box set, Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits contains seven painstakingly restored Blu-Rays featuring most of the local legend’s best work.… Continue reading
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Happy Black History Month 2024: Celebrating African Americans and the Arts
Though we celebrate the accomplishments of the people of the African and Black Diaspora all year, every February provides an opportunity to focus on and highlight the history and contributions of African Americans. Black History Month has a different theme each year, and 2024’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. There is not enough… Continue reading
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“Art Saves Me Daily”: Path with Art Exhibit at the Central Library
An extraordinary new exhibit is lighting up the Central Library’s Level 8 gallery. “Winter Visions,” on view until March 17, features artists involved with Path with Art, an organization that creates space for individual and community healing and growing through art. “Winter Visions” features works in a variety of media by Path with Art participants and… Continue reading
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More Music Documentaries, Please!
Let’s continue our dive into music documentaries, snapshots of musical process and lasting impact from notable musicians. On deck today: Little Richard and 90s band Morphine. Little Richard: I amEverything is well-titled. Gay. Black. Visionary. Check. Check. Check. But was Richard the king of rock? More on that later. The film explores his career chronologically… Continue reading
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Thrills and Chills for Winter Movie Nights
When the sun goes down at 4pm and the weather report says ten solid days of rain, there is nothing I like more than a hot cup of tea, a blanket, a cat on my lap…and watching something scary. For horror fans, there is nothing better. Like listening to moody music when you’re feeling down,… Continue reading