The Monday after nationwide protests first broke out decrying the May death of George Floyd, Frank Brasile found that demand for digital books about race at The Seattle Public Library suddenly skyrocketed. The Library tries to keep the holds down to five or fewer people for every book. But Brasile, a selection services librarian, found … Continued

Wi-Fi hotspots are The Seattle Public Library’s most-circulated item, with 675 devices checked out nearly 8,000 times last year, bringing free internet access to people three weeks at a time. But another set of hotspots are intentionally distributed to local organizations and housing communities in need for up to six months at a time to … Continued

The Library purchased 50 new Wi-Fi hotspots to lend to families with children enrolled at Seattle World School, with the help of individual gifts to the Foundation. The Library, in partnership with Kandelia (formerly the Vietnamese Friendship Association), is also supporting these families by distributing learning kits containing books and other resources. The families received … Continued

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