Due to a cybersecurity event, several Library services are not available. Our buildings remain open. Learn more about what is impacted and what services are available at www.spl.org/Update. Keep up-to-date on any building schedule changes at www.spl.org/Today.
(September 14, 2023) Did you know that there are two solar eclipses happening over the next year? The first will occur October 14, 2023 and the second on April 8, 2024. Each will be viewed as partial eclipses in Seattle.
View this page
(February 01, 2023) The Seattle Public Library’s author programs and community events in February 2023 feature Lambda Award-winning novelist Annalee Newitz; Bonnie Garmus, author of the bestselling novel “Lessons in Chemistry”; and a Fifth Avenue Theatre show talk on the genius of Stephen Sondheim.
View this page
(February 02, 2023) Homework Help, The Seattle Public Library’s free after school tutoring service (spl.org/HomeworkHelp), will add two locations and increase hours in February.
View this page
(March 31, 2023) The Seattle Public Library’s author programs and community events in April 2023 include a reading with Mircea Cărtărescu, the Romanian author of “Solenoid;” a conversation between Nicole Chung and Angela Garbes; and Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest and guests at a program titled “I Sing the Salmon Home.”
View this page
(June 24, 2024) School is out and it’s time for the 2024 Summer of Learning! Now in its 105th year, The Seattle Public Library’s annual Summer of Learning encourages kids and families to read, do activities and explore what “free to read” means for them.
View this page
(May 03, 2024) When The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library opened its doors on May 23, 2004, more than 25,000 people lined up in the course of the day to experience Seattle’s striking new public space for knowledge and learning. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, it was called “the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review” by the New York Times’ late architectural critic Herbert Muschamp.
View this page
(April 30, 2024) May at the Library brings events with authors Amy Tan and Zoe Schlanger, an event with Satsuki Ina about her memoir about Japanese American incarceration and resistance, a BIPOC Book Fair, and events celebrating Seattle Reads selection “Parable of the Sower.”
View this page
(September 12, 2023) Do you know a child or teen who can use academic help this year? Starting the week of Sept. 11, The Seattle Public Library’s free afterschool K-12 tutoring service, Homework Help (spl.org/HomeworkHelp), will be available at nine branches: the Broadview, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, High Point, Lake City, Northgate, NewHolly, Rainier Beach and South Park branches. New this fall is Homework Help at the Broadview Branch.
View this page
(June 28, 2023) Part of a series of EVOKE UPROAR events around the U.S., “Banking On You” brings together speakers and workshops that will share effective strategies for achieving financial freedom and moving your project forward, as well as networking opportunities and surprise entertainment (“disruptions”) throughout the day.
View this page
(May 19, 2023) Want to learn how to access new funding for your business and improve your business or personal credit? Join The Seattle Public Library for two free virtual workshops with Tierra Bonds, CEO of Take Charge Credit Consulting, who will share her expertise on accessing capital and building credit.
View this page
(May 01, 2024) In recognition of Older Americans Month, the Library is hosting a series of programs in May with a theme of “Powered by Connection.” They include social events, end-of-life planning (with free individual consults), a civic coffee, and Medicare workshops.
View this page
(January 11, 2024) The Seattle Public Library, United Way of King County (UWKC) and AARP are collaborating to offer free, in-person tax preparation service from January through April at 11 Library locations. The Library will offer free drop-in tax help with UWKC starting on Jan. 13 at two locations and with AARP starting on Feb. 1 at nine more locations. AARP also offers facilitated self-assistance at three locations.
View this page
(November 30, 2023) The Seattle Public Library’s spaces will light up in December with a silent reading party, a “White Christmas” Show Talk from the Fifth Avenue Theatre, a showcase of our very talented writers in residence and more.
View this page
(September 29, 2023) Join The Seattle Public Library in October for a range of exceptional events, including discussions with local author Peter Bacho (“Uncle Rico’s Encore”); bestselling author Lauren Groff (“The Vaster Wilds”); and author-illustrators Jillian and Mariko Tamaki (“Roaming); as well as the annual A. Scott Bullitt lecture with historian Blair L.M. Kelly, author of “The Roots of the Black Working Class.”
View this page
(May 24, 2023) From a discussion with Abraham Verghese about his long-awaited novel “The Covenant of Water” to an event with Cheon Myeong-Kwan about the English translation of his debut novel “Whale,” The Seattle Public Library’s June schedule is packed with opportunities to learn, listen, laugh and read.
View this page
(June 11, 2024) It’s almost summer, and a great time to attend an author or community event with The Seattle Public Library. Join us for a Seattle Reads celebration of Octavia Butler’s birthday on June 22; an exhibit celebrating 50 years of Seattle Gay News starting on June 24; a conversation with bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones on July 24, as well as talks with award-winning authors in fantasy, science fiction and more.
View this page
(March 29, 2024) Celebrate April and National Poetry Month with The Seattle Public Library by visiting a citywide poetry installation, writing poetry that celebrates trees, exploring the influence of legendary science fiction writer Octavia Butler with Seattle Reads, hearing bestselling author Karl Marlantes read from his latest book “Cold Victory,” and more!
View this page
(March 28, 2024) On Monday, April 8, 2024, the Seattle area will experience a partial solar eclipse starting at around 10:39 a.m. and ending at 12:21 p.m., with the maximum coverage of the sun (20%) at 11:29 a.m.
View this page
(March 15, 2024) Join The Seattle Public Library this spring for an author series curated by Seattle writer and editor Nisi Shawl called “Reading and Writing the ‘Other:’ Diversity and Inclusion in Our Worlds.”
View this page
(February 13, 2024) From Susan Lieu’s “The Manicurist’s Daughter” to Shaun Scott’s chronicle of Seattle sports history, “Heartbreak City,” the Library is spotlighting much-anticipated new books by local authors and more in the next two months.
View this page
(February 01, 2024) Today, Path with Art, an organization that creates space for individual and community healing and growing through art, opens an exhibit called “Winter Visions” at the Level 8 gallery at The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library (1000 Fourth Avenue).
View this page
(January 19, 2024) Kicking off Black History Month, the fifth annual Black-Owned Business Excellence (BOBE) Symposium will take place from Wednesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The kick-off event is a virtual watch party of the NEW! Documentary - The Cost of Inheritance. The symposium itself starts on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Watson Signature Event Center (11521 Bridgeport Way Southwest Lakewood) as well as online. The Seattle Public Library is co-sponsoring this event.
View this page
(November 01, 2023) Cozy up with a new fall read, then head to The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library to see the author discuss their book in person. Highlights include Bryan Washington, author of “Family Meal;” Seattle author Jonathan Evison, who will be in conversation with Seattle Times art critic Moira Macdonald; and the final program in a guest-curated series celebrating the centennial of “No-No Boy” author John Okada’s birth.
View this page
(June 29, 2023) Join The Seattle Public Library in July for StoryWalks® featuring books by Indigenous authors around Magnolia; a night of spoken word, dance and choir with Path With Art; and readings from award-winning authors including Karen Lord, Silvia Moreno-García and Tobi Ogundiran.
View this page
(March 14, 2023) Filmed on the elegant stage of Pier 62 on Seattle’s waterfront, Reflections Dance Festival 2023 returns as another stunning love letter to the city of Seattle.
View this page
(January 17, 2023) Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 18, The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library will stay open two hours later on Wednesday and Thursday nights, until 8 p.m. The Faye G. Allen Children’s Center located on Level 1 will continue to close at 6 p.m. each evening.
View this page
(June 18, 2024) Opening on Monday, June 24, a new exhibit at the Central Library celebrates the 50-year history of the SGN (Seattle Gay News), one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ newspapers in the world.
View this page
(February 05, 2024) Join The Seattle Public Library and Langston Seattle from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 for an in-depth discussion with acclaimed Seattle author Ijeoma Oluo about her new book "Be a Revolution: How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World — and How You Can, Too."
View this page
(October 25, 2023) On Thursday, Seattle-area residents have a rare chance to hear from the person responsible for overseeing the billions of records contained in the National Archives, including the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and the 19th Amendment.
View this page
(October 18, 2023) Join The Seattle Public Library for two upcoming A. Scott Bullitt Lectures in American History with exceptional authors. On Wednesday, Oct. 25, historian Blair LM Kelley will speak about “The Roots of the Black Working Class” at the Northwest African American Museum. On Thursday, Nov. 2, Seattle journalist and author Timothy Egan will discuss his book “A Fever in the Heartland” at the Central Library’s Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium.
View this page
(October 12, 2023) Gracetown, Florida, June 1950. Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.
View this page
(October 11, 2023) Kick off the Short Run Comix & Arts Festival two weeks early with a much-anticipated event at The Seattle Public Library.
View this page
(August 28, 2023) Join The Seattle Public Library this fall for a special series that celebrates the centennial of the birth of Seattle native John Okada, author of the seminal Japanese American novel, “No-No Boy.” Okada was born at the Merchants Hotel in Pioneer Square on September 22, 1923. To honor him, Okada biographer and Library guest curator Frank Abe has arranged three programs that explore Okada’s life, place, and work, including the reading of scenes from his new stage adaptation of “No-No Boy” that is now in development.
View this page
(July 07, 2023) Join The Seattle Public Library and Path with Art for “Voices of Belonging,” a performance showcase of Path with Art artists from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 14 at the Central Library in downtown Seattle (1000 Fourth Avenue).
View this page
(June 01, 2023) Celebrate Pride month with The Seattle Public Library, where everyone belongs! Enjoy a Pride dance party, visit with us at PrideFest or wave at us in the Seattle Pride Parade. Find some new-to-you LGBTQ+ films, novels and poets to check out, and more.
View this page
(April 21, 2023) Seattle residents can dive more deeply into their experience of reading this year’s Seattle Reads selection, “The Swimmers” by Julie Otsuka, at four programs with the author on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20. Seattle Reads programs also include an exhibit at the Central Library and a Thursday, May 4 gallery walk at the Frye Museum.
View this page
(March 15, 2023) Join award-winning poet Claudia Castro Luna for a bilingual spring program series at The Seattle Public Library that explores how we can keep creativity alive. The former Washington State Poet Laureate Castro Luna guest-curated the series, which kicks off with a program called “Creativity Everyday / Creatividad Cotidiana,” which explores cultural practices around creativity.
View this page