Every summer, branch librarians would give away free donor-supported books at outreach events with community partners and at summer Library events to ensure Seattle kids have access to books in their home. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, kids and families are not convening in person. The book giveaway was almost lost. This … Continued

The Seattle Public Library (SPL) has rolled out a slate of programs designed to inform and engage older adults throughout the year, even as COVID-19 pushed events online. One-fourth of King County residents are projected to be 60 and older by 2040, according to the Age Friendly Seattle Action Plan, making them an important audience … Continued

The South Park Branch underwent a makeover last year. Built in 2006, it was already starting to show its age, given the proliferation of smart phones and laptops since that time. There were only four power outlets for people to connect their devices, limiting patrons’ time to work and play before their batteries ran dry. … Continued

In the past year, 11-year-old Ruman experienced the magic of reading about girls much like herself. There’s Mia, the lead character of “Front Desk,” who helps her Chinese immigrant parents at the reception desk of the hotel they manage – much like Ruman, whose parents immigrated from East Africa and who sometimes helps her family’s … Continued

The Seattle Public Library continues to expand the idea of what it means to be a patron. With Read To Me, librarians brought another part of Seattle’s population into the fold – the inmates of the King County Correctional Facility, just blocks away from Central Library. To many kids in the city, these inmates are … Continued

In this season of social distancing, The Seattle Public Library’s Summer of Learning program underwent a radical shift in order to keep kids engaged this year. Anecdotally, kids have struggled to remain engaged in remote schooling this spring because the curriculum did not evolve with the format of virtual learning and students were removed from … Continued

Success was not handed to 17-year-old Deborah Tesfay and her family. After immigrating to the Seattle from Eritrea when she was 9 years old, Deborah stayed in a homeless shelter with her mother and two siblings, separated from her father because men weren’t allowed. “We had to start from the bottom,” Deborah says. “Starting from … Continued

For the past seven years, the Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship has helped young Seattle-area students pay for college. Early winners of the scholarship are now graduating and entering the professional world, continuing their young lives of achievement. The Seattle Public Library Foundation checked in with a 2015 scholarship recipient this month, Noah Foster-Koth. A … Continued

The Seattle Public Library Foundation is thrilled to announce the three winners of the 2020 Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship. Deborah Tesfay, Evelyn Chen, and Della Floyd have each earned tuition support from this scholarship fund with their essays about local civic leaders. Now supporting students for 7 years, the scholarship honors the legacy of … Continued