Air Conditioning – Shelf Talk

Air Conditioning Coming to the Fremont and West Seattle Branches

July 9, 2026

Air conditioning is coming to the Fremont and West Seattle branches! This work is part of the Library’s larger Cooling Center Project, which is providing air conditioning and improved ventilation to the Library’s Carnegie buildings, allowing them to serve as shelters from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, preventing unscheduled closures during hot weather, and significantly… Continue reading

Cool News: The Final 5 Library Branches Will Get AC, Thanks to City’s FEMA Grant

August 21, 2024

Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday Aug. 20, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Chief Librarian Tom Fay, and leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gathered at the University Branch to announce a groundbreaking FEMA grant that will bring air conditioning to the last five Library branches without it. The grant is part of Seattle’s climate adaption efforts, expanding… Continue reading

Air Conditioning Comes to The Library’s Northeast and Southwest Branches

October 3, 2023

We have good news: The Seattle Public Library is adding air conditioning to the Northeast and Southwest branches, which will increase our ability to serve as a refuge from heat and wildfire smoke and reduce our carbon footprint. But it does mean that in November, those branches need to close temporarily while their new electric… Continue reading