Bringing our community together

The Seattle Public Library is unique in its ability to connect people. Like almost nowhere else, the Library invites neighbors of all backgrounds to interact, learn from, and celebrate each other, with no costs or barriers to entry.

Gatherings at the Library are vital forms of connection at a time when people feel increasingly isolated. They are also a whole lot of fun, spreading joy and building friendships across the city.

Celebrating a proud literary legacy
In the 1960s and ‘70s, Black activists, librarians, and organizations pushed to create the African American Collection at what was then called the Yesler Branch. Their years-long advocacy also renamed the branch, after Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, in 1975.

Last year, the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Douglass-Truth Branch’s renaming. Staff and local elders led tours, highlighting the branch’s unique artwork and the more than 10,000 items housed in the African American Collection. The Garfield Jazz Band performed and attendees enjoyed arts and crafts, food, and good company.

“My favorite part of Team Read is how fun and outgoing people are,”

said one teen reading coach in the program that pairs high school tutors

with younger students learning to read. “That togetherness

and community is something that is unforgettable!”

Interacting with fellow book lovers
The goal of many Library programs is to make reading fun, especially at a time when literacy rates are in decline. Just as the Global Reading Challenge does for thousands of children, Book
Bingo engages adults with programs that connect people around shared reading experiences.

The 2025 edition of Book Bingo saw a 27 percent increase in participation over the previous year. Participants read more than 30,000 books and were encouraged to join communal book events throughout the summer. The Library participated in a large silent reading party at Seattle Center held by Seattle Arts & Lectures. Branches like Green Lake held Book Bingo celebrations as well. And of course, readers who turned in their bingo boards took home Library prizes!

“We had an absolute blast, and it was lovely to provide a place

where the students could get a lot of validation for being their whole selves,”

said a teacher who worked with All Abilities Programming on neurodiverse gaming sessions.

“And oh my gosh did we ever laugh. A LOT.”

Ringing in the new year in a new way
The Library is always a popular place for families during school breaks. And the Greenwood Branch event drew even larger crowds than usual at the end of 2025 thanks to the inaugural “New Year’s at Noon!” event.

The lively gathering included a kid-friendly countdown to 12 pm, along with hands-on activities like a photo booth, Chinese lanterns, and interactive programs. The branch welcomed 175 patrons to celebrate and connect together. “It was hilarious, fun, amazing, and crazy,” said one attendee. “Thank you so very much!”

Sharing the learning experience and more

The Library significantly expanded English language learning classes in 2025 thanks to a major new grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. These classes provide more options for immigrants and
refugees to build language and workplace skills—and to connect with the community and one another.

For example, the NewHolly Branch hosted more than 225 adult students last year. The class visited nearby organizations like Neighborhood House and the Somali Family Task Force to learn about services. They marked the end of their first quarter with a potluck, and one student shared that it was a “day of celebration” for him. Because of the improved English skills he had gained, he had just been able to act as a translator for his wife’s medical appointment.

“It was really cool to be able to affirm our existing experience

while letting the book be a container for us giving each other advice and support,”

said one participant in a mutual aid book club through Civic Engagement Programming.

Reinforcing the need for belonging
The Library is committed to program partnerships. In 2025, many cohosted programs celebrated and affirmed queer communities. Legendary Children, the all-ages party with artists who are queer, trans, and people of color (QTBIPOC), celebrated its 10th anniversary. The rousing event at the Seattle Art Museum drew more than 400 people for a night of “unapologetic queer joy.”

The Library and Charlie’s Queer Books cohosted one of the year’s more popular author events, with Schuyler Bailar at the Fremont Abbey. More than 100 people gathered to discuss ways to build trans community and show up as allies.

As one of 2025’s SPL Artists in Residence, Vaquero Azul produced programs including a trans Meso-American art show at the Central Library. “It empowered me to see my work validated in the impact it had on the community,” Azul said.

Your gift to the Foundation supports enriching experiences for people from all backgrounds at the library. Give today to invite more families to read and discover at the library, and read the rest of our 2025 Annual Report on Donor Impact.