News & Stories
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For Women’s History Month, 4 Bewitching Pageturners
For centuries, women who claimed their power through medicine and magic, curiosity and intelligence, and a refusal to submit and abide, were persecuted as witches. In honor of Women’s History Month, we offer four fictional titles in several genres — crime, thriller, fantasy, historical Western — that honor witches and their stories of strength and… Continue reading
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March 2025 Author and Community Events at the Library
The Library has many programs that will get you reading, talking and connecting this month, including a silent reading event, an evening with Torrey Peters and a celebration of community stories and Black memory at ARTE NOIR during the First Friday Art Walk. Find more events on our arts and author events calendars. All Library events… Continue reading
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Caring For Each Other Better: Podcast Features the Library’s Social Services team
Over the past several years, The Seattle Public Library has created an in-house Social Services team. Consisting of two community resource specialists and a Social Services librarian, the team is guided by trauma-informed care principles and the knowledge that you can’t enjoy full access to library services if your basic needs are not met. If… Continue reading
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Your Public Library Is an Untapped Resource for Young Entrepreneurs
Guest post by Mason Pashia, GettingSmart.com “Libraries have long supported small businesses. The Seattle Public Library (SPL) is one of the two oldest business-supporting organizations (alongside the Chamber of Commerce) in the city,” said Jay Lyman, librarian with the Community Engagement and Economic Development group at The Seattle Public Library. (Jay directs the Library’s business… Continue reading
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Get Free Tax Help at 12 Library Locations
Do you need help with your 2024 tax returns? The Library can help! We have numerous drop-in events at branches across the city where you can get free, in-person help with your taxes. The Library, United Way of King County (UWKC) and AARP are collaborating to offer free, in-person tax preparation service through mid-April at… Continue reading
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5 Books That Celebrate Nonromantic Love
February is traditionally a month to celebrate romantic love. But while romance novels are easy to find on the shelves of any library near you, we think it’s time to highlight the passion, tenderness and devotion expressed in other types of relationships. These five books focus on love in a variety of settings, from friendship… Continue reading
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6 Ways We’re Expanding Access: Fine-Free Anniversary, Part 2
Last week, in honor of the Library’s five-year anniversary of no longer charging overdue fines, we shared stories from our patrons about what fine-free borrowing has meant to them. We wanted to shares other changes the Library has made to expand access and create a more worry-free, inclusive experience. If you have questions about any… Continue reading
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A Sweet 20th Anniversary for the Greenwood Branch
On Saturday, Feb. 8, Library patrons turned out in force on a bright, brisk Seattle morning to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Greenwood Branch The original Greenwood Branch opened in 1928 and operated out of a small, rented storefront at N. 70th St. and Greenwood Ave. N. In 1954, a new branch was built… Continue reading
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“A Huge Load Off My Shoulders”: 5 Fine-Free Years, Part 1
Five years ago, the Library eliminated overdue fines, a change that was overwhelmingly approved by Seattle voters when they voted in the 2019 levy (thank you!). We also forgave all outstanding fines to give as many people as possible a fresh start. We made this change because decades of research, as well as our daily… Continue reading
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2025 Seattle Reads Selection Celebrates Poetry and the Natural World
We are so excited to share this year’s selection for Seattle Reads, the Library’s citywide book group: Edited by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, “You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World,” celebrates our deep connection with the natural world and the collective power of poetry. For the book, Limón invited 50 American poets to observe… Continue reading
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February 2025 Author and Community Events at the Library
The Library has many programs that will get you reading, talking and connecting this month, including a sweet silent reading program at the Green Lake Branch; an event featuring Jennifer Finney Boylan talking about “Cleavage,” and Omar El Akkad in conversation with Ijeoma Oluo about his new book “One Day Everyone Will Have Been Against… Continue reading
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How to Read More in 2025
“Books are uniquely suited to helping us change our relationship to the rhythms and habits of daily life in this world of endless connectivity. We can’t interrupt them; we can only interrupt ourselves while reading them.” — Will Schwalbe, “Books for Living“ Here’s a secret: Librarians give you permission to read anything you like because… Continue reading
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Impact Story: Digital Inclusion in Action at the Delridge Branch
What does it mean to have computer skills for the first time? On a Saturday afternoon in December at the Delridge Branch’s meeting room, 11 newly minted adult graduates of a 13-week basic digital literacy class organized by Villa Comunitaria, reflected on this question. One student, Abel, said that the class has helped prepare him… Continue reading
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Winter 2025 Arts Events: Pico Iyer, Schuyler Bailar, Jesse Hagopian and More
If your ideal winter night is an evening listening to authors discuss intriguing books and ideas, we’ve got you covered, from Pico Iyer to Schulyer Bailar to T.J. Klune. All library events are free and open to the public. Check the event descriptions at spl.org/Calendar for registration links. Find more upcoming programs at spl.org/Authors. Silent Reading Night at… Continue reading
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The Seattle Public Library Will Expand Open Hours at Nine Locations on Jan. 29
The Seattle Public Library will expand open hours at nine branches starting on Wednesday, Jan. 29. With this increase, all library locations, with the exception of the University Branch, which closes on Jan. 29 for renovations, will be open at least six days a week. Thirteen locations will be open seven days a week. “With… Continue reading
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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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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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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