Libraries are cathedrals for our imagination. They are magical places where stories, knowledge, and connections are freely accessible to all. During this era of significant challenges for public libraries, ours stands strong. 2023 was a banner year for The Seattle Public Library and Foundation thanks to your support. We’re so grateful for your generosity to … Continued

Apply online here. See the full prospectus for the position, including the job functions, requirements, and salary, in the embedded scrollable PDF. Click the button below to download the file. After the Foundation’s longtime CEO Jonna Ward announced her departure earlier this year, the Board of Directors partnered with Lindauer, a global search and talent … Continued

Book bans are on the rise across America. Last year, The Seattle Public Library took a stand with the Books Unbanned e-card program. Young people nationwide can now access the library’s full digital collection. Books Unbanned is entirely funded by donors to the Foundation’s Equity & Access Fund (click to give!). As of this month, more than 8,000 young … Continued

There was cake at the Ballard Branch a few weeks ago. “We’re celebrating a year of talking to each other,” said librarian Lynn Miller. Miller helps lead a weekly gathering called Coffee & Conversations. The branch serves many patrons experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, and the program started in early 2023 as a way to … Continued

The West Seattle Branch reopened on April 3, 2004, after a Libraries For All renovation updated the historic building. The branch originally opened in 1910 as one of Seattle’s first public libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie. To celebrate 20 years in the updated branch and Seattle’s ongoing support for libraries for all, we visited West … Continued

Art can serve as an outlet, an inspiration, and a source of strength – as demonstrated by the work in the Winter Visions exhibition from Path with Art, on display in the Level 8 gallery at the Central Library. Path with Art is a Seattle-based nonprofit that offers free classes, materials, and showcases for people recovering … Continued

Foundation CEO Jonna Ward, who joined the organization in 2001 and became its executive director in 2008, will depart her role this summer. She said the timing is ideal for a transition at the helm of the library’s nonprofit partner. “The Foundation’s team, board, finances, and leadership position in our sector are incredibly strong, thanks … Continued

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of several Seattle libraries built, expanded, or renovated thanks to the Libraries For All campaign that so many Foundation donors supported – including the world-famous Central Library. The Rainier Beach Branch reopened on January 17, 2004, after a Libraries For All expansion added room for books and materials, more natural light and … Continued

Started by Brooklyn Public Library in 2022, Books Unbanned offers teens and young adults across the country free access to digital books and audiobooks. The program counters the increasing attempts to censor what young people read — and is powered by a growing network of foundations and donors. The Seattle Public Library joined Brooklyn earlier … Continued