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We are here to look up information for you, help you with your Library account, offer reading recommendations and more. We also welcome your comments and feedback.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t know or can’t remember my Library card number or barcode. Can you look it up for me?
Yes, we can easily look up your Library card number. Please contact us and provide your full name, street address, and birthdate so that we can confirm your identity. We will then look up your card number for you. If you have not used your Library card for several years, we may have removed your account from the system due to inactivity. We can check that for you as well.
What should I do if I lost my Library card?
It’s important to contact us right away to report a lost Library card so we can deactivate it. You may be responsible for any items checked out on a lost card. When you contact us, please include your full name, street address, and birthdate so we can confirm your identity.
What should I do if I forgot my PIN?
You can reset your PIN online. We can also easily reset your PIN for you. Please contact us and provide your full name, street address, and birthdate so we can look up your account. Please also include the 4-digit number you’d like to use as your PIN so we can reset it. If you have not used your Library card for several years, we may have removed your account from the system due to inactivity. We can check that for you as well.
I returned a book or other item but it’s still showing up on my account. What do I do?
Please contact us and provide your library card number, the title you returned, the branch where you returned the item, and the date you returned it. We will try to locate the item and will not add any late charges for the missing item to your account while we look for it.
What happens if I return a Seattle Public Library item to a King County Library System (KCLS) location (or vice versa)?
KCLS delivers our items that were returned to them once per week, and vice versa. The item will remain checked out to you until it is checked in by the owning library, but the owning library will adjust the return date to reflect the date you returned it.
How do I reserve a Library meeting room or event space?
Visit Branch Meeting Rooms to book a meeting room or study room at a neighborhood branch. Visit Central Library Meeting Rooms to book a meeting room or event space at the Central Library. The meeting rooms and event spaces at the Central library are available to rent for private events for a fee. The meeting rooms in our branches are free to use if your event is free and open to the public.
How can I get free Museum Passes?
You can reserve a free Museum Pass online with your Library card number and PIN. Learn more about the program on the Museum Pass page.
Will you look up an obituary for me?
Yes, if you have a Library card, you can use our online resources. You can find links to online tools to help you locate obituaries and other records on our genealogy page.
If you don’t have a Library card, you can apply for one online. If you don’t qualify, you can ask the Seattle Genealogical Society to look up information for a fee.
Whether or not you have a Library card, you can email us to make a request. Please provide as much information as you can:
- Your library card number (if you have one)
- Full name of deceased (including maiden name)
- Approximate date of death
- Approximate date of birth or age at death
- Location of death
Our genealogy librarians will use our databases and other online resources to assist you. If we cannot find the information for you, we can tell you how to order newspapers on microfilm from other library systems to look up the obituary.
How do I donate books?
You can drop off up to two boxes or bags of books at any Library location during open hours. They will be sent to our partner Better World Books for resale to support the Library.
You can also donate books and magazines to the Friends of the Seattle Public Library. Find out more.