The Seattle Public Library Foundation

06/17/2026

We join the Seattle community in mourning the loss of Paul Dorpat, a historian, photographer, author, and one of the Library's most treasured friends. Paul was best known for "Now & Then," his beloved column in The Seattle Times that ran for nearly four decades, pairing historical photographs of Seattle with contemporary images of the same locations. Over the course of roughly 1,800 articles, he helped generations of Seattleites see their city — its streets, its waterfronts, its neighborhoods — as living documents of a shared past. He also founded Seattle's first underground newspaper, Helix, and was the co-founder of HistoryLink. But to those of us at the Foundation, Paul was something more: a collaborator, a champion, and a generous steward of history.

In 2019, Paul donated a collection of more than 309,000 historical photos, negatives, videos, and related materials to the Library. And, we're grateful that Paul's family has asked that memorial gifts be directed to the Foundation, so that his legacy of connecting people to place and history may live on through the collections and programs he cared so deeply about.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Dorpat, a Seattle historian and author. For over 60 years, Paul tirelessly chronicled our changing city as a founder of Seattle's first underground newspaper Helix, in his "Now & Then" column in The Seattle Times, and as co-founder of HistoryLink.

Our city and its students, librarians, and researchers of history are greatly indebted to Paul's work.

📸: Sunrise and city from Kerry Park, 1975, by Paul Dorpat

05/05/2026

is TODAY – now is the time to show that you support The Seattle Public Library!

Libraries exist to ensure everyone has free access to information and knowledge. And for that, libraries are being targeted more than ever before.

Now is the time to step up and protect libraries. In honor of GiveBIG, all gifts until midnight are DOUBLED up to $20,000!

Donor support is needed to help keep our Library strong and protect everyone's freedom to learn. Make a matched gift: https://www.wagives.org/donate/Seattle-Public-Library-Foundation

05/01/2026

That's right - The Seattle Public Library is more popular than ever!

Foundation donors support most of the 5,800 free programs and about one-third of the 12.7 million book checkouts at SPL each year. We're committed to growing support to match our community's passion for our Library - including more public support through the 2026 Library Levy.

04/23/2026

"The way we combat censorship and book banning is to put more out there than they can ban."

This also marks the third anniversary of The Seattle Public Library's Books Unbanned program, entirely supported by Foundation donors. More than 28,000 young people, from every U.S. state and territory, have signed up for a digital card to read what they want from our Library.

Every gift to support Books Unbanned helps add more digital books and more access for young readers facing censorship. Take action today: https://give.supportspl.org/books-unbanned-4

Read more in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/28k-youths-got-a-seattle-library-card-in-campaign-against-book-bans/

Help us reach our goal! Your support will make a meaningful difference. Every contribution brings us closer to success. Join us today and be part of something impactful.

04/20/2026

In February, the Foundation invited our community to write valentines to The Seattle Public Library.

90 bookstores, breweries and bars, cafes, and community hubs around the city hosted festive boxes and cards. The responses showed just how much affection our city has for our Library and the people who make it work.

As we kick off , you can read every note we received at https://supportspl.org/loveletters/

Thanks for all the love, Seattle!

04/15/2026

It's official - the Seattle City Council has approved a $480 million Library Levy to send to voters!

Yesterday, the Council voted unanimously in favor of an amended Levy that is significantly stronger than initially proposed. This is thanks to the incredible work of library advocates, including our partners at Friends of The Seattle Public Library, who convinced Councilmembers to support $70 million in important additional funding. As a result, the Library is positioned to provide more physical and digital books, more programs for people of all ages, and essential building improvements over the next seven years.

The Foundation appreciates Mayor Katie B. Wilson and Councilmembers for their work to put together a strong Levy. We would like to especially thank the members of the Council's Select Committee on the Library Levy who proposed key amendments to increase funding: Councilmembers Foster, Rinck, Lin, and Strauss. Our thanks as well to Council President Hollingsworth and Councilmembers Juarez and Saka for co-sponsoring funding amendments.

We are excited that Seattle voters now have the chance to consider an inspiring and impactful Library Levy on the August 4th ballot. Sign up for advocacy action alerts to stay informed:

Sign up for the Public Library Action Network (PLAN) to get updates on policy decisions and funding opportunities that impact The Seattle Public Library at the local, state, and federal levels. Learn about how you can take action to help keep your Library strong — get with the PLAN!

04/10/2026

The 2026 Library Levy is movin' on up!

The City Council's Select Committee overwhelmingly passed all 9 amendments to add critical funding to the Levy! This will increase the impact of the Levy significantly, allocating more funding for building maintenance like escalator repair, a digital version of Peak Picks, multilingual programming, and much more.

After dedicated advocacy from the Foundation, Friends, and hundreds of community members who testified and wrote to Councilmembers, we are so grateful that City Council heard loud and clear that our libraries deserve more investments.

Thank you to the Councilmembers who sponsored and voted for Levy amendments! .eddie.lin .amr CM Hollingsworth & CM Juarez

04/06/2026

Another City Council hearing, another room full of Library advocates. 💪📚

Last night 4 board members of the Friends of The SPL and Director Brian Lawrence (pictured at the dais) were among those who testified on behalf of Library Levy amendments sponsored by Councilmembers.

These changes would allocate more funding for books and digital materials, multilingual programming, basic building maintenance like fixing elevators and HVAC, and more.

Thanks to our CMs who have heard what the community needs, but we're not done yet! On April 8, 9:30 AM and April 14, 2 PM there are hearings you can attend to make sure all CMs are on board with the Levy amendments. Plus, submit a letter to City Council via the Public Library Action Network: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/2026-levy-amendments

Let's keep our libraries strong and make them even better!

04/01/2026

It's ! This is an important chance for you to support The Seattle Public Library, a place that offers free access to knowledge and learning for everyone.

Today, your generosity goes twice as far - all gifts are MATCHED until midnight, up to $25,000!

Now is the time to give. Your support is crucial to keep our Library strong for the communities who depend on it.

Please don't delay. Make a gift today! https://give.supportspl.org/give/271991/ #!/donation/checkout

03/25/2026

"As proposed, the 2026 levy would not provide enough for the system to meet the needs of our growing and diversifying population. We must invest more in our books, programs and buildings."

Foundation Board President Matt Hillman, along with Friends of The Seattle Public Library Board President Jennifer Lo and Library Board of Trustees President Yazmin Mehdi, coauthored this new op-ed in The Seattle Times. Over the next few weeks, the City Council can amend the proposed levy to match what our community needs from its library.

You can help! Sign up for advocacy alerts to learn about opportunities to contact City Councilmembers and speak up for the library at City Hall: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/seattle-library-action-alerts

Read the full op-ed:

We ask the City Council to increase the Library Levy so it covers investments in books, programs and buildings in the Seattle Public Library system.