Programs & Services

  • Meet your new City Librarian

    Everyone is invited to an open house to meet new City Librarian Susan Hildreth from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Microsoft Auditorium at the Central Library. Stop by any time during the open house to visit with Hildreth and enjoy refreshments! There will be a brief program at 2:30 p.m.… Continue reading

  • Learn to Use Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage

    Don’t miss an upcoming opportunity to learn about one of our business and investment databases, Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage on Thursday, March 12 at the Central Library. There will be two 90-minute sessions, one from noon-1:30 and one from 6-7:30 pm. Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage is an excellent resource for company, industry, and investment information.… Continue reading

  • Music at the Library in March

    In a previous post we gave you an overview of the many arts programs that take place every month at the Library. Now I would like to tell you about three exciting musical events that are coming up in March.  All these programs take place in the Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium.  Check the Library Calendar… Continue reading

  • Viewing history with a tightly focused lens

    I think I’ve spotted a trend in the History publishing world.  The days of sweeping, sprawling sagas that cover a vast canvas appear to be over.  This is the day of the mono-history (to coin a term), the history of a single invention, food, natural resource or other singular item.  The titles below are in… Continue reading

  • February Question of the Month: an irregular series

    The reference librarians at Seattle Public Library are pretty darn amazing.  They don’t know everything, instead they know where to findeverything.  As part of an irregular series of posts we salute the talented and dedicated reference staff at your local library. Names and other identifying information have been removed from the questions we showcase. Got a… Continue reading

  • Job Search Resources: Career Discovery

    Need work?  Need a career change?  Need help?  The Seattle Public Library has you covered.  We’ve an entire page on our website devoted to resources for job seekers.  And because some of them are a bit intimidating we’ve prepared a series of short videos to help you get the most out of these sites.  Let… Continue reading

  • Northwest Flower & Garden Show, 2009

    It’s that time of year again. Like thousands of other gardeners, I have eagerly awaited the Northwest Flower & Garden Show.  This huge annual February event at the Convention Center is always a welcome chance to experience the joys of gardening while the ground outside is still frozen.  This year’s theme is “Sustainable Spaces. Beautiful… Continue reading

  • Will Work 4 $$$$

    Back in May 2008, we posted an article on how to find a job using resources available at The Seattle Public Library. Well, that was nine months ago, and a lot has changed!  The economy has tanked. Unemployment is at the highest point since the dot com crash. Now, more than ever, the good folks… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reading: Get your recommendations from Scottish mystery author Val McDermid

    Crime fiction fans take note: Val McDermid, author of several popular series (including the Tony Hill series) will be at the Seattle Public Library this Sunday at 2 p.m. to read from—and talk about—her newest book, A Darker Domain. We’re wildly excited to host Val on one of her rare Seattle visits as she reads… Continue reading

  • Maps for Your Reading Pleasure

    I was three chapters into reading Gertrude Bell, Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, when I discovered the maps in the front of the book.  Gertrude Bell, “poet, scholar, historian, mountaineer, photographer, archaeologist, gardener, cartographer, linguist and distinguished servant of the state,” was instrumental in helping define the borders of modern day Iraq.  As I read… Continue reading

  • Getting started with downloadable books – Overdrive’s Adobe format

    Welcome the wonderful world of digital books. Watch this video to learn how to use our Overdrive collection. You’ll be able to download books right to your computer. No driving around to get the books you want. As with any new technology, sometimes there can be a few glitches the first few times you use… Continue reading

  • Music at the Library

    We have a lot of programs here at The Seattle Public Library. Browse through our Calendar of Events and you’ll find very few days where there is not some kind of program happening either at the Central branch or in the many neighborhood branches. I would like to highlight three of our free, ongoing programs… Continue reading

  • Oh Sweet, Sweet, Vacation!

    In general, I would say the life of a Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) student, is pretty great. We get to learn all about an institution as hallowed as the library and we get to spend our class-time with other compulsively organized and readerly people. My only complaint would be a catch-22 that… Continue reading

  • January Question of the Month: An irregular series

    The reference librarians at Seattle Public Library are pretty darn amazing. They don’t know everything, instead they know where to find everything. As part of an irregular series of posts we salute the talented and dedicated reference staff at your local library. Names and other identifying information have been removed from the questions we showcase.… Continue reading

  • Happy New Year: The Year of the Ox

    The lunar New Year is celebrated in many countries in Asia. Not only do the Chinese communities around the world celebrate this, but the Koreans, the Vietnamese, the Mongolians and others consider this festivity one of the most important celebrations of the year.  The lunar New Year starts with the New Moon on the first… Continue reading

  • Homegrown Reading

    Lately instead of just fretting over the health of local bookstores, I’ve started to fret over the local publishing scene, too. I’ve tried to laugh about it, but the bad news just keeps coming.  Will I someday be mourning the loss of Copper Canyon or Sasquatch Books the way I now miss browsing that glorious biblio-mayhem at Shorey’s… Continue reading

  • Fun Things to do When You’re Stuck in the House

    What’s up with this winter weather anyway?  Just in case you are feeling a bit of cabin fever, here are some suggestions for fun things to do. The Ultimate Indoor Games Book: The 200 Best Boredom Busters Ever by Veronika Alice Gunter and Clay Meyer Looking for something to do at home with your 8 to… Continue reading

  • Comixtravaganza Kick-Off with David Lasky at the Ballard Branch

    The library is ringing in the new year with Comixtravaganza, our second annual free, all ages, city-wide comics festival.    Kids, teens, and adults can make their own comics, enter a drawing contest, watch classic cartoons, and lots more. We’ll provide the art supplies, the professional artists, and the free food–you bring the creativity. It all starts… Continue reading