Message from Chief Librarian and Library Board President
Welcome to The Seattle Public Library’s story of 2022. It was a year of rebuilding and recovery as we restored open hours, brought back core in-person programs, and added equity-focused services, such as a new Social Services Team that connects patrons in need with important lifeline resources.
2022 Accomplishments
Dear patron,
Welcome to The Seattle Public Library’s story of 2022. It was a year of rebuilding and recovery as we restored open hours, brought back core in-person programs, and added equity-focused services, such as a new Social Services Team that connects patrons in need with important lifeline resources.
Here are a few more highlights of how the Library, with your support, served our community in 2022:
-Checkouts of our physical materials rebounded as our hours increased and patrons began visiting libraries more regularly again, with a 35% increase in circulation compared to 2021. Our patrons also continued to check out digital materials at a high rate.
-We celebrated the fifth anniversary of Peak Picks, a beloved Library Levy-funded program that allows patrons to check out popular physical books with no wait. Peak Picks has circulated more than 800,000 titles since it launched in 2017.
- We restarted our free, in-person Homework Help program at six locations, focusing on branches that serve students furthest from educational and social justice. 290 students attended Homework Help sessions in the fall of 2022.
- We installed 22 ScanEZ stations for patrons to make free scans and copies, send faxes and translate scanned text to 100 different languages. We also loaned 1,270 Wi-Fi hot spots in the community, including 465 for long-term access.
- Despite pandemic-related challenges, we restored open hours to 90% of pre-pandemic levels and prepared for the expansion of Levy-funded open hours in 2023.
- We evaluated the impact of eliminating overdue fines, a policy change we made in 2020, thanks to voters who approved the 2019 Library Levy. Two years after going fine-free, we found that 18,000 patron accounts had been restored and that people’s access to the collection had not been affected: Patrons are returning physical materials at the same rate they were when we charged fines.
- We began a multi-year process to build a new strategic plan that represents our collective vision for the future. You can see the results of our work to date on this page, and you can also be a part of the process. We will soon launch a survey to gather public input to guide our planning.
We must also acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our staff in driving these accomplishments. They’ve launched and restarted programs and services, managed complex change, forged partnerships and provided extraordinary, compassionate service to our patrons every day.
Perhaps this patron says it best: “I live on around $500 a month and the Library is my go-to place. Staff are unfailingly friendly and if the person I'm talking to can't help me, they'll try to connect me with someone who can. Always."
Finally, thank you, our patrons, for your support, generosity and patronage of the Seattle Public Library.
With appreciation,
Tom Fay, Chief Librarian
Carmen Bendixen, Library board president