The Seattle Public Library

The Seattle Public Library Meet Me at the Library! 📚✨ You visited us 3.4 million times last year 🚶

We bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community 📚

We bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. Visit us at spl.org. SPANISH LANGUAGE FACEBOOK PAGE
Please like our page for Spanish-speakers! https://www.facebook.com/BibliotecaDeSeattle

INTERACTING WITH THE LIBRARY ONLINE
Here are some guidelines for online conduct. https://www.spl.org/about-us/policies/online-privacy-and-terms-of-use

✅ Your to-do list before planned service disruptions start Sept. 6 ✅We are doing a major IT system upgrade in September!...
09/01/2026

✅ Your to-do list before planned service disruptions start Sept. 6 ✅

We are doing a major IT system upgrade in September! Several of our services will be offline from 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 through 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.

Here are four easy things you can do now to get ready.
🪪 Bring your library card to borrow physical books from Sept. 8 through Sept. 15
📚 Hold on to your returns until October. We've extended due dates!
🤳 Download and log into the SPL mobile app, Libby, and other digital services by Sept. 6 (use the app to save your library card to your phone's digital wallet too!)
🔖 Bookmark www.spl.org/Update to see updates about service availability until all our services are back to normal

Thanks for your patience and understanding during this major system upgrade! We hope to see you in person at any of our locations, where you will find books and programs, computers and Wi-Fi, and our staff ready to help you.

Every summer we partner with Reach Out and Read, an early literacy program that operates out of pediatric clinics. At we...
08/26/2026

Every summer we partner with Reach Out and Read, an early literacy program that operates out of pediatric clinics. At well-child checkups for kids from infancy through age 5, Reach Out and Read clinicians offer advice to caregivers about early relationships and literacy and give children a new book to take home to build their home libraries.

Since 2013, together we've provided 80,000 summer reading materials at 32 participating Seattle clinics.

Preventing summer reading loss is essential. One way we address this issue is through our partnership with Reach Out and Read and their clinics!

We are in the homestretch for . 🥳 Celebrate and share your reading discoveries at our Book Bingo Party this Thursday, A...
08/25/2026

We are in the homestretch for .

🥳 Celebrate and share your reading discoveries at our Book Bingo Party this Thursday, August 27. Register at https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D204514718

🗳️ Turn in your completed cards by September 8 at 6 p.m. to be entered to win prizes!

Bravo to everyone who played and shared their reads this year! And a huge thanks to our partners King County Library System and Seattle Arts & Lectures, and this year's artist Vivian Li!

✍️Writing workshop on Saturday, Aug. 22Join us for Heart Space, an interactive and introspective writing workshop with p...
08/19/2026

✍️Writing workshop on Saturday, Aug. 22

Join us for Heart Space, an interactive and introspective writing workshop with poet Joy Muhammad. With the help of writing prompts, poetry examples, and literary devices participants will use writing as a tool for expression.

🗓️ Saturday, August 22, 2 - 4 p.m.
📍Central Library

Learn more and register: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D204554582

08/14/2026

📝 How to Manage End-of-Life Planning with Ill or Reluctant Loved Ones

Having conversations about end-of-life wishes can be difficult—especially when a loved one is ill, experiencing cognitive changes, or living with disease. But planning ahead can make an enormous difference for caregivers and families.

Join us for a practical workshop with our partner Known Wishes to learn tools and approaches for navigating these sensitive conversations, gathering important information, and helping ensure your loved one’s wishes are known and documented.

📅 Wednesday, August 19, 2026
🕔 5–6:30 p.m.
💻 Online
📌 Registration required

Register: https://www.trumba.com/eareg.aspx?ea=Rsvp&invite=guepyc4c0fxkr96brhs759hyrp3mn91b49jp487ndwpx243jaz3e

Adiós, El Vez 👋Join us Sunday, August 16 for "Seattle I love you, Adios - El Vez." Musician, playwright, actor, activist...
08/13/2026

Adiós, El Vez 👋

Join us Sunday, August 16 for "Seattle I love you, Adios - El Vez." Musician, playwright, actor, activist, advocate and socio-political comedian and artist Robert Lopez aka El Vez the Mexican Elvis will tell his tales of living and creating in Seattle for over 25 years.

🗓️Sunday, August 16 at 2 p.m.
📍The Central Library

Learn more: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=eventid%3D205390370%26seotitle%3DSeattle-I-love-you-Adios-El-Vez%26view%3Devent%26-childview%3D

📖 Our Book for Seattle Reads 2026 is... 📖⭐ "True Biz" by Sara Nović ⭐Join Seattle's city-wide book group and read the be...
08/12/2026

📖 Our Book for Seattle Reads 2026 is... 📖

⭐ "True Biz" by Sara Nović ⭐

Join Seattle's city-wide book group and read the bestselling novel about a seismic year at the River Valley School for the Deaf. Unlimited copies of the e-book will be available to borrow on Libby starting August 15!

Sara Nović will join us to discuss the book on Sept. 25-26:

📕Sept. 25, 11 a.m. at Ballard Branch
📗Sept. 25, 7 p.m. at Hugo House, Lapis Theater
📘Sept. 26, 11 a.m. at SouthEast Seattle Senior Center
📙Sept. 26, 3 p.m. at the Central Library

Register for these events and learn more about Seattle Reads at www.spl.org/SeattleReads.

Thanks to our partners Deaf Spotlight. Sponsored by donors of The Seattle Public Library Foundation and The Wallace Foundation. Additional media support provided by The Seattle Times.
Free and reduced access is supported by 4Culture.

The International District/Chinatown Branch is back open! Join us later this month to commemorate the first-ever Japanes...
08/07/2026

The International District/Chinatown Branch is back open! Join us later this month to commemorate the first-ever Japanese American Day of Remembrance in 1978.

will install a mini-exhibit featuring a poster from the first Day of Remembrance where Japanese Americans made the pilgrimage from Seattle to the Puyallup Fairgrounds, where many of the participants and their families were incarcerated during World War II. Author will share more about this movement rooted in memory.

This event is connected to the state-wide "Out of Many, One" initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Learn more at

https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/international-district-chinatown-branch/international-district-chinatown-branch-events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D205264384

Address

Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA
98104

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+12063864636

Website

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