catalog tips

  • Catalog magic: finding new authors via additional contributors

    At the library, we are always excited to help you find new authors to explore, although our current ability to hang out and talk books is limited by pandemic closures. Fortunately, our catalog has some neat ways to help you slide from one author you like to another, and today I’d like to highlight the… Continue reading

  • Keep track of your reading in 2019

      This week many of us are thinking about how to organize our lives better, and for me that always includes putting a plan in place to track what I’ve read and what I want to read next. The plan usually fails (it’s not my failure, mind you, rather the plan‘s failure). I’ve admired from… Continue reading

  • New BiblioCommons Profile and Subscription Features

    Through the generosity of The Seattle Public Library Foundation, The Seattle Public Library partnered with BiblioCommons – the vendor which supplies our online catalog – to improve information access and delivery for our patrons. In this partnership, the Library and BiblioCommons developed several innovative features for the catalog based on patron feedback and user trends… Continue reading

  • New features in our catalog

    — Posted by Emily  We’ve added some features to our catalog recently—please join us for a tour of what you can do with your library online. Fonts and languages We’ve increased the size and clarity of the fonts to make it easier on everyone’s eyes. We’ve also added a menu on the upper left that… Continue reading

  • Researching the history of your neighborhood (Part One)

    On January 21, I had the pleasure of attending a History Café event about neighborhood history. History Cafés are free, informal events that focus on various local history topics. They are held on the third Thursday of each month, from 7-8 p.m., at Roy Street Coffee and Tea in Capitol Hill. For more information and… Continue reading

  • An unlikely ballerina

    Do you have your Nutcracker tickets yet?  Have you ever wondered how a professional dancer develops the speed and agility to portray the moving magical toys that amaze Nutcracker audiences? The book Olga Preobrazhenskaya: a portrait (by Elvira Roné; tr. Fernau Hall) describes both the hard work and rewards in the life of a young… Continue reading

  • A Day in the Life with the New Catalog

    A staff member’s day with the Library’s new catalog: 12:33 PM: While on a break, I want to do a quick post to my blog about a documentary I watched last night, but can’t remember the name. I type “dogs unconditional” into the new catalog’s search box and the film pops up as the very first result: My… Continue reading

  • Life is more awesome when you use your new Bibliocommons account

    How many times has this happened to you? It’s morning. You’re sitting at the table by the window, dressed in your bathrobe, drinking coffee and eating buttered toast. You’re reading the newspaper. The article mentions a band or a book or a movie. You pull up the library’s catalog, find the thing and try to… Continue reading

  • Top 5 reasons the new Library catalog is amazing

    Let’s face it, the new Library catalog is amazing! With a slick way to log in, the ability to better manage your book lists and a smarter way to search, there’s a lot to talk about. But we’ve managed to narrow down the top 5 reasons the new Library catalog is amazing:  5. Logging in… Continue reading

  • A Library In Your Pocket

    The Seattle Public Library system consists of 27 buildings, including the Central Library and 26 neighborhood branches.  All together, this fair system has a total floor area of approximately 600,000 square feet, or the equivalent of 10 and a half football fields (including the end zones). The latest version of Apple’s iPhone is 4.5 inches… Continue reading

  • Cover art for Hunger Games #3 revealed — and here’s how you’ll know when you can put a hold on it

    Is it mean to tease you with the cover of a book that isn’t available yet? Maybe. But I thought you’d forgive me since now fans of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games can ramp up the anticipation for the August 24 release of Mockingjay. Read all about the trilogy at the Scholastic blog. Now, you know… Continue reading

  • A Digital Bookmobile? Its on the road!

    I remember when audiobooks were on vinyl! Really! (Shorter books and plays, mostly). Imagine listening to a book on a turntable, and having to flip it every 20 minutes. Imagine a part of the story skipping on a scratch …on a scratch …on a scratch. Sure, vinyl’s cool and all, and I won’t argue that… Continue reading

  • Farmers Markets

    With the sun beginning to peek out of the sky a bit more lately, it’s now the time for the seasonal farmer’s markets to be opening. The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance’s calendar lists Magnolia opening this Saturday, May 23, followed by Phinney on Friday, May 29, and Lake City on Thursday, June 4. The Columbia City Farmers Market… Continue reading

  • Yarn Anyone?

    Maybe you have a relative who is a fanatical knitter or a friend who always has a ball of yarn in his or her knapsack? Or, am I describing you?! For more on this passion, let me share some info with you. Just like so many other crafts, there are web sites and blogs all… 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

  • Getting Started with Downloadable Books: Overdrive

    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 waiting in line and better yet, no driving around to get the books you want. As with any new technology, sometimes there can be a few… Continue reading

  • Visiten nuestra página en español!

    La biblioteca pública de Seattle añade páginas en español al Web de la biblioteca. El pasado 19 de noviembre la biblioteca pública de Seattle lanzó la nueva sección en español en el Web de la biblioteca. La nueva sección en español contiene cerca de 30 páginas adicionales de información como: Visite la biblioteca Calendario de… Continue reading

  • For Visual Learners – A short video on our Recent Catalog Enhancements

    If you’d prefer to read about our latest changes to the catalog, we posted that here What’s going on in the library catalog? Continue reading