Home Page Feature
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How the Library Preserves and Promotes Seattle’s History
There are more than 100,000 items in The Seattle Public Library’s Special Collections. The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room, on Level 10 of the Central Library, houses extensive collections of photographs, postcards, city documents, news articles, and maps. There are oral histories from Seattle residents, menus from notable restaurants, yearbooks from Seattle schools, works by… Continue reading
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So, You Wanna Join a Cult? A Primer.
Cult stories seem to be having a bit of a moment in our cultural consciousness (go figure), usually the weirder the better. From the ancient Greek Mysteries to Charles Manson to Midsommar, humanity’s cultural landscape is littered with cults. They equally fascinate and repel, highlighting how our deepest longings to belong can so easily be… Continue reading
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Time is Fake!
“Happy” “New” “Year”? Celebrating the passage of time freaks me out. I feel unsettled by the acknowledgement that humans assign numbers and meaning to our spins through space and time. And we don’t even all use the same calendar! Time feels increasingly fake to me. I spent most of my college astronomy class either fighting… Continue reading
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Winter 2026 Author and Community Events at the Library
Soak in creative and cozy winter vibes at Library programs in January and February. Browse zines and make your own on Saturdays at the ZAPP Zine Collection, celebrate the 60th anniversary of “Dark Shadows,” enjoy love poetry on the Central Library’s Red Floor with guest curator Amber Flame, and more. All Library events are free… Continue reading
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Adult Titles with Teen Appeal – January 2026
We are updating our Adult Titles with Teen Allure list for 2026! Here are some of the best new books written for and marketed to adults, but which have a ton of appeal for teens. When disability activist and blogger Melissa Blake was trolled for putting pictures of herself online, she turned the tables on… Continue reading
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6 Books That Take Place in One Day
Stories with compressed timelines of 24 hours, with some flashbacks thrown in, take center stage here to showcase just how much one day can really make a difference. “One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America” by Gene Weingarten starts with the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist choosing dates out of a hat. He… Continue reading
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Whimsigoth – Three Variations on an Aesthetic
The final core we three wish to leave you with this year is the effervescent, highly mutable, slightly dark, yet utterly magical core of whimsigoth. May these suggestions spark warm fizzes of delight amidst the deep dark grey of winter. Meranda: My first taste of whimsigoth came from The Addams Family. The dark aesthetics, the… Continue reading
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While You Wait: Heated Rivalry
Perhaps you are enjoying the new television series Heated Rivalry. Maybe you have watched every episode as it has been released, read this interview with the actors and this one too. You probably found this interview with Chala Hunter, the intimacy coordinator for the series, fascinating. Perchance you even started learning Russian for free with… Continue reading
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No Wait? No Way! Always Available Digital Collections
One of the library’s best kept secrets is our collection of always available digital books and audiobooks. They can be checked out simultaneously, and checkouts are unlimited. Perfect for book groups or reconnecting with a personal favorite, these collections provide 24/7 access to timeless classics alongside brand new releases. The library just added “Mysteries and Thrillers… Continue reading
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Winter Break 2025 Activities at The Seattle Public Library
Looking for family fun and community while the kids are on winter break? Our libraries have planned board game bashes, crafternoons, maker events and early New Year’s parties. We are also hosting regular story times and other family programming. You can also stop by one of The Seattle Public Library’s locations any day we’re open… Continue reading
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Family Drama, Secrets, and Second Chances: 5 Fiction Picks for Fans of Dysfunctional Families
Every family has its cracks – some small enough to laugh about, others deep enough to reshape a life. Fiction has always given us a safe way to explore the relationships that challenge us, comfort us, and occasionally derail the holiday dinner. These five novels from our new Lake City Branch display, Dysfunctional by Design… Continue reading
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2025 Horror Fiction Picks
Explore the world of horror fiction with some of our librarians’ favorites! These titles were chosen as Peak Picks earlier this year and can now be found in our regular collections. They capture a wide range of horror subgenres, from historical to the weird and cosmic. Here you’ll find Gothic tales, witches, carnivals, social and… Continue reading
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2025 Staff Faves: Adult Nonfiction
Each year we ask our staff across the library for their favorite books published in the current year. Featured below are some of the nonfiction books that multiple staff loved! Find the full list of staff faves in our catalog: Seattle Staff Faves 2025: Nonfiction. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by… Continue reading
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2025 Staff Faves: Kids Books
KIDS CHAPTER BOOKS Benny on the Case by Wesley King is a heartfelt character-driven mystery featuring a neurodivergent male protagonist that explores friendship, belonging, and family. [-School Library Journal] In Grace Lin’s The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon, a Stone Lion cub travels from the spirit realm into ours in order to save his… Continue reading
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December 2025 Author and Community Events
Head to the Library in December for stirring author talks, artist tours, a special community celebration at the Douglass-Truth Branch, a screening of “The Librarians” and more! All Library events are free and open to the public. Find information and registration through the event links below or at www.spl.org/Calendar. Registration is not required unless noted.… Continue reading
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Power of Community: Celebrating 50 Years of “Douglass-Truth”
A half-century ago, the Central District came together to rename its library to reflect its community. On Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 5 p.m., all of Seattle is invited to celebrate this milestone at the Douglass-Truth Branch, and honor its rich community histories. The branch library opened in 1914, but it didn’t become the… Continue reading
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Mossback’s Northwest: Early Roots of Seattle’s Libraries
How did Seattle become a literary city? The roots to that accomplishment began “in the muck and mire of the frontier city,” says Cascade PBS host of Mossback’s Northwest, Knute Berger (aka Mossback). Mossback recently aired a fascinating episode on the city’s literary roots, and its connection to Skid Road. It was filmed partly in… Continue reading
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New Fiction Roundup, November 2025
Surreal stories, character studies, family sagas and more await you in November’s new releases. 11/4: Bitter Honey by Lolá Ákínmádé In 1978, Nancy immigrates from Gambia to Sweden; in 2006, Nancy’s daughter Tina is representing Sweden at the Eurovision contest. But long buried secrets and a complicated mother-daughter relationship threaten to upend both their lives. (general fiction) 11/4: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite Eniiyi has grown up with… Continue reading