Home Page Feature
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New Exhibit Examines Puerto Rico as a “Battle for Paradise”
A new exhibit at The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library examines the tension between Puerto Rico as a marketed paradise and lived reality. Installed this week at the Level 8 Gallery, “Battle for Paradise: Puerto Rico, restrictions apply*” is a photo essay by Library Artist in Residence Jo Cosme. Originally from Borikén, Puerto Rico, Cosme… Continue reading
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3 Ways to Celebrate the Freedom to Read, and a Milestone!
It’s always the right time to celebrate books and reading, but October brings new opportunities. Not only is it National Book Month, but next week (Oct. 4 through 10) is Banned Books Week, which the American Library Association started in 1982 to highlight the value of free and open access to information. Here are three… Continue reading
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Show Your Library Love with 2 New Library Card Designs!
Seattle residents now have two colorful new ways to check out books and show their love for libraries. For the first time in eight years, The Seattle Public Library has launched two new Library card designs, by local artists Diego Fidelis and Ning Wan. The theme for the cards is how the Library fosters different… Continue reading
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Forever – is composed of Nows
Emily Dickinson’s life and her body of work have long fascinated me. Known for rarely leaving her house starting in her 30s, her poetry and letters reflect a life intensely lived and felt. She wrote constantly, but it was only after her death, when her sister discovered nearly 1,800 of her poems hidden away in… Continue reading
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6 Great Books to Read in Translation This Fall
There are many lofty reasons to read translated literature: understanding other cultures, seeking out diversity, bragging to your bookish friends. But at the end of the day, there’s only one reason you really need: These books are good! Read on to discover suggestions from a former bookseller at Third Place Books and a librarian at… Continue reading
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Hot Awards News About SPL-Connected Authors
Over the last three days, the National Book Foundation announced its longlist for the five categories of the National Book Awards — a slow drip of literary celebration. It was super cool, and not surprising, to see some Library-adjacent authors among those selected. First up is Sara Nović, the author of this year’s Seattle Reads… Continue reading
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“Words of Courage,” Featuring 20 Brilliant Young Poets, to Visit 7 Library Locations
Alive with saturated color and a ferocity of emotion, “Over the Meadows, Under the Sun,” opened this month at the Beacon Hill Branch. This year’s “Words of Courage” exhibition features 20 vibrant prints that capture the joy and creativity of 20 brilliant young poets — all pediatric patients at Seattle Children’s hospital. “Words of Courage”… Continue reading
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Read Your Way to Jaipur Literature Festival Seattle 2026
What should you read before JLF Seattle? From the mysteries of the human brain and the legacies of empire to modern India, the Iranian Revolution, artificial intelligence and imaginative new fiction, the books featured at this year’s Jaipur Literature Festival Seattle (JLF Seattle) invite readers to explore some of the most compelling questions of our time. JLF Seattle: A… Continue reading
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A Century of Discoveries: Genealogy at The Seattle Public Library
Every day, visitors ride the elevators to Level 9 of Seattle’s Central Library looking for family stories. Some are tracing immigrant ancestors. Others are searching for military records, newspaper clippings, or clues to a long-standing family mystery. In 2026, The Seattle Public Library’s genealogy collection marks 100 years of helping people uncover their family stories.… Continue reading
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Four Simple Steps to Prepare for Library Service Disruptions this September
As recently announced, the Library is upgrading a major IT system this September. Several of our services will be offline from 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 until Wednesday, Sept. 16. During this period, you will not be able to access your account or place holds on physical materials. Physical book checkouts will require staff assistance.… Continue reading
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Bands, Beats, and Books
Sunburns, poor acoustics, craning to see around someone’s too high lawn chair – outdoor concert season in the PNW is a unique slice of summer. With our place in music history secured thanks to early grunge, various venues across Seattle offering live music year-round, and with summer concerts taking our musical enjoyment to an 11, it’s hard not to have bands on… Continue reading
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Women Beyond the Verge of Collapse
Women are collapsing right and left on the covers of novels. I was first drawn to the trend by the humorous image on the cover of Emily Nemen’s Clutch, wherein a smartly-dressed woman is lying prone, immobile. If you love a women-pushing-forty-behaving-badly romp or you dig novels with rom-com wittiness minus the tropes, this despairing friend group… Continue reading
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In the Weeds
By August, my early season enthusiasm for a tidy garden has waned. Leafy greens have bolted and lean rangily against each other. Vetch curls up potato stems and launches its seeds in tiny explosions. Lemon balm is everywhere. Grasses at the edge of the lawn are tawny and arching, and I pick a couple of blackberries whenever I… Continue reading
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13 Not-to-Miss Author Programs at the Library in Fall 2026
Get out your calendar! The Seattle Public Library has an incredible lineup of book-related events and author talks this fall, from the kickoff of the Jaipur Literature Festival Seattle to Seattle Reads events featuring “True Biz” author Sara Nović to an evening with Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize award-winning author of “John of John.” All Library events… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Myth & Legend
Whether you’re looking for a companion read to Chrisopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of The Odyssey or filling in the Myth & Legend square on your Book Bingo card, this curated selection of recommendations has something for everyone. Dan Jones’ Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend: a Celebration of Gay Gods, Sapphic Saints, and Queerness Through the Ages Hidden in the margins of history books, classical literature,… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Hard-to-Love Protagonist
When it comes to challenging protagonists, I adore an angry, unhinged woman with an ax to grind – sometimes literally! If you support women’s wrongs, these four titles will leave you cackling, wincing in horror, or perhaps wondering, “Good for her?” Please enjoy these hard-to-love heroines for your book bingo square. Best Offer Wins by… Continue reading
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Planned System Upgrade in September: Temporary Service Disruptions to Expect
Last month, The Seattle Public Library announced that we are excited to transition to a new integrated library system (ILS), the behind-the-scenes system that manages collections, circulation, and patron accounts. Our current ILS is outdated and no longer supported by its vendor. We will replace it with a new, more reliable, secure, and efficient system… Continue reading
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7 Page-Turning Nonfiction History Books
It is a truism that we ignore history at our own peril. However, few of us want to page through dusty textbooks, and often what we want is entertainment. Fortunately, enjoyment and learning go hand in hand in these nonfiction history books that are written with the flair of a novel. These titles, a mix… Continue reading