2023 Stories of Impact
From early learning support to Wi-Fi hot spot loans and Social Services referrals, examples of how the Library served our communities in 2023.
Impact at a glance
- 293,000 active patrons, a record high
- 13.4 million total checkouts
- 7.4 million digital checkouts
- 6 million physical checkouts
- 340,000 public computer sessions
- 3,500 programs with 103,000 attendances
- 90+ more weekly open hours than in 2019
- 930+ referrals to lifeline services such as shelter, food and transportation
- 1,100 K-12 attendees of after-school Homework Help
- 234,000 reference questions answered
- 580 one-on-one business and legal consults
Four years of fine-free borrowing
In January of 2020, the Library eliminated daily overdue fines forever. Funded by the 2019 Library Levy, this change restored Library access for nearly 18,000 patrons whose accounts had been suspended. Four years later, the impact continues. The percentage of patrons with suspended Library accounts has been cut by half, and return rates have not been affected. And if a patron does keep a book for a few more days, they can return it without worrying about fines.
“[No overdue fines] is like winning the lottery! You know, this sounds like a small thing, but it is a BIG thing.” – Library patron
The magic of early learning
In 2023, the Library relaunched one of our most beloved early learning programs: in-person story time. Once again, children gathered with caregivers and librarians to listen to stories, sing, move and build literacy skills. We also worked with community partners to restart another high-impact early learning program, in-person Kaleidoscope Play and Learn. Supported by the 2019 levy and with a focus on underserved communities, Play and Learn is a drop-in, neighborhood-based play group for children from birth through age 5, available in five languages.
"Partnering with the Library allows us to introduce more resources for families. Connecting communities to libraries reinforces that these are their spaces too.” - Xiomara Melgar, South Park Branch Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Facilitator
Connections, care and coffee
The Library's new Social Services Team, partly funded by the 2019 Library Levy, is guided by trauma-informed care principles and the idea that you can’t enjoy full access to library services if your basic needs are not met. In addition to providing referrals to lifeline resources, the Social Services team launched a regular “Coffee and Conversations” event in the Central Library for patrons experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the Team provided 930 referrals; held 14 Coffee & Conversations gatherings; and distributed 950 booklets of bus tickets.
"You have helped me so much. This situation is so difficult, and it is so hard to find anyone who cares.” – Patron who worked with the Social Services team
Expanding the freedom to read
As book challenges across the nation reached an all-time high, The Seattle Public Library launched a Books Unbanned program in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library. More than 7,000 young people across the nation signed up for a Books Unbanned card in 2023, which offers teens and young adults free access to our entire digital collection. Young people signed up because of censorship, safety fears, lack of access, and, simply, because they want to read freely.
““I want to actively engage with the world and new ideas.” - Books Unbanned cardholder, age 17, North Carolina
Homework Help helps
Calculators, games, books, snacks and compassionate, trained volunteers: These are some of the ingredients of the Library’s free after-school tutoring program, Homework Help. More than 560 Homework Help sessions were held at nine branches in 2023, with 90 percent of participants reporting that their parents/caregivers speak a language other than English. The Library also offers free online tutoring seven days a week through Tutor.com, and in 2023, the number of Tutor.com sessions doubled.
“Homework Help provides my two sons a great space to learn and be curious. ... While my boys are learning, I get time to build my job skills. As a busy mom of two, I appreciate this time so much.” – Mother of two Homework Help students
Wi-Fi hot spots connect
An online connection is an essential need, but many people still don’t have access. To help fill this gap, the Library loans Wi-Fi hot spots, which help people connect to the internet from anywhere. Funded primarily by the 2019 Levy, in 2023, the Library loaned 850 hot spots through our general collection, and another 250 through our “outreach collection,” which worked closely with community partners to provide stable internet access to residents of Tiny House villages, immigrants and refugees, and survivors of domestic violence.
“I can't imagine a more useful service in today's age than access to Wi-Fi. Thank you.” – Hot spot patron
Author programs by and for the community
To center racial equity and community voices in our programming, each year the Library invites two community curators to design a program series. Guest curators have full creative control and receive a stipend, budget and administrative and marketing support. In 2023, poet Claudia Castro Luna’s “Creativity Everyday” series and a program curated by Frank Abe celebrating the centennial of “No-No Boy” author John Okada’s birth drew hundreds of attendees.
“I loved the shared insight from the presenters, and I loved that it was presented in both English and Spanish.” – “Creativity Everyday” program attendee