The Seattle Public Library Foundation

All year long, we've been marking the 20th anniversaries of many libraries that were built, expanded, or renovated thanks to the Libraries for All campaign, with the support of thousands of donors like you.

Join us at the High Point Branch on Thursday to celebrate in person! This branch has been a cornerstone of the community for two decades, and we're ready for a fun party. Details here: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D176265231

It was a magical afternoon at The Seattle Public Library NewHolly Branch last week as the community came together for an end-of-summer party, featuring a sleight-of-hand performance by magician Maritess Zurbano!

The Foundation is sponsoring celebrations at libraries across the city, including:

- Douglass-Truth Branch, Tuesday 8/27
- Southwest Branch, Tuesday 8/27
- Fremont Branch, Wednesday 8/28
- Broadview Branch, Thursday 8/29 and Friday 9/6

Join us to to close a fun summer of learning with our community! See all events at https://www.spl.org/event-calendar

This week, the Columbia Branch of The Seattle Public Library celebrated the 20th anniversary of its expansion! Two decades ago, thousands of donors like you supported the Libraries for All campaign that built, renovated, or expanded libraries across Seattle. We dropped by Columbia to talk to patrons about what the branch means to the community:

Photo 1: Marti and daughter Meital, pictured right after Meital read her very first book! "It’s such a kid-friendly space," Marti said of the branch. "It really acts as a center for the community."

Photo 2: Douglas worked on his next book, a history of Seattle's Chinatown-International District. "I do better thinking and writing at the library," he said. "For a city to be world-class, it has to have a very good library system."

Photo 3: Dusty helped Deborah work on retirement planning. "She's earned it!" Dusty said, adding that they valued the quiet privacy of the study room.

Photo 4: Henry and Charlie walk to the branch regularly with their mother, Rebecca. "It’s a treasure you don’t want to lose," she said of the historic library. "We need support for anything that upgrades it without losing its charm.”

Photos by Anthony Martinez

Congratulations to The Seattle Public Library on securing federal funding to keep all of our libraries cool!

We were on hand at the University Branch yesterday to hear the library, Mayor Bruce Harrell, FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, and others announce a groundbreaking $5.8 million grant for air conditioning, FEMA's first cooling center award in our state.

The Foundation has advocated and raised funds for HVAC improvements at library branches, including Northeast and Southwest. This federal award will complete the work at five remaining branches: University, Columbia, Fremont, Queen Anne, and West Seattle.

Read more: https://shelftalkblog.wordpress.com/2024/08/21/cool-news-the-final-5-library-branches-will-get-ac-thanks-to-citys-fema-grant/

Pictured: 1. Mayor Harrell announces the grant; 2. (left to right) Foundation CEO Brian Lawrence, Chief Librarian Tom Fay, and Foundation Board Member David Strauss

Our next chapter starts now! The Board of Directors of The Seattle Public Library Foundation is thrilled to announce that following an extensive national search, Brian Lawrence is our new Chief Executive Officer.

Brian has a track record of success at the Foundation, a stellar reputation in Seattle and beyond, and a clear vision for advancing the mission of The Seattle Public Library. We’re so excited about how he will move the Foundation forward.

Read more: https://supportspl.org/2024/08/foundation-board-announces-brian-lawrence-as-new-ceo/

Calling all volunteers! Foundation donors already support the Homework Help program, but if you're interested in getting more involved, here's a great opportunity to make a difference this school year:

Make a difference as a Homework Help volunteer for the 2024-25 school year! We especially need volunteers at the Columbia, High Point, Lake City, Rainier Beach and South Park branches.

Homework Help is our free after-school tutoring service for K-12 students. Last year our volunteers helped 1,100 students across the city.

⏲ Volunteer shifts are Monday through Thursday between 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Each shift is two hours
✅ Volunteers must be 18 or older
📝 You'll help with homework, play learning games, read together or work on college essays
📚 Speaking another language is a plus! 90% of our students report their parents speak a language other than English at home

To apply, please contact the Library’s Volunteer Services Coordinator at [email protected].

Learn more about Homework Help at www.spl.org/HomeworkHelp.

It's National Book Lovers Day! Today we appreciate how books grow our imagination, pass stories through generations, and enrich our lives.

You can spread the joy of books with a gift supporting The Seattle Public Library today. Each year, donors help provide more than 100,000 books for the collection, ensuring access to a robust and diverse selection for everyone.

And the only thing better than enjoying a good book is sharing it! Donate by August 11 and you'll be automatically entered to win a bag of books: https://give.supportspl.org/give/295927/ #!/donation/checkout

🎉🎉🎉Holds are back!! Congratulations to the staff at The Seattle Public Library who are working so hard to safely return services after the cybersecurity event. Learn more:

🙌 Good news: our online catalog is now available! This is an important milestone in our recovery! You are now able to...

💻 Log in to the Library's online catalog
🔍 See your checkouts and holds
📚 Place new holds on physical items

We may receive a lot of hold requests this week, so they may take longer than usual to fill. Please cancel any holds you're no longer interested in, that will help us and help you!

If you are missing holds or have questions, please contact us at www.spl.org/Ask.

Books Unbanned sign-ups are back online!

Since April 2023, more than 10,000 young people nationwide have signed up for free access to The Seattle Public Library's digital collections. Fully funded by Foundation donors, Books Unbanned has provided more than 215,000 book checkouts to young readers facing censorship or lack of access in their communities.

"With the way things have been progressing in Florida it's only getting harder and harder to find the books that I really want to read," said one Books Unbanned cardholder. "It's amazing to have access to such an enormous selection through The Seattle Public Library...not only does it ease my mind to have unrestricted access to so much literature, but it also makes every day more personally fulfilling and enriching just being able to enter into so many different worlds."

Donate now to keep expanding access to books and information for all: https://give.supportspl.org/books-unbanned-4

Sign up for an e-card here: https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/teens/books-unbanned

Coming up on Monday, July 29th! Join the Memory Hub community to kick off the summer season with food, friends, and fun!

Enjoy live music outside in Maude’s Garden together with people living with memory loss, family members, neighbors and professionals.

Mondays 4pm - 6pm

July 29 - Country Western

August 19 Oldies by Goodies

September 30 - Funk, Soul, and Motown

Register: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W9229i_wGkSZoBYqxQYL0pL0ITUa7AFIvgyV16o1JWhURUZORVpFRzFIQktEUkJOVkEyMkNVMU1IOC4u

Just like books, a car can be a ticket to adventure! If you’re ready to part with your vehicle, consider donating it to the Foundation to benefit The Seattle Public Library. Give your vehicle new life by supporting books and programs for those who seek adventure at the library!

https://supportspl.org/ways-to-give/donate-your-car/

The Central Library is full today for the Young Adult Resource Fair (YARF)! With support from Foundation donors and the Library Levy, The Seattle Public Library and community partners put together a fun day with free food and clothes, health check-ups, movie screenings, voter registration, benefits enrollment, and many more resources.

"I love seeing how helpful this is for people," said Luna, a participant in the Youth in Focus photography program running a photo booth for attendees. "People are here for food, health, pet care - anything they need."

Cruz (second picture) brought his two-month-old puppy, coincidentally also named Luna, for free services from One Health Clinic. "It's just given me a ton of resources, and enjoyment too," he said of YARF.

Thank you to all the great organizations providing valuable connections and enriching experiences at the library today! See the full list of partners and resources: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D175747993

The Beacon Hill Branch of The Seattle Public Library turned 20 this month! Two decades ago, thousands of donors like you supported the Libraries for All campaign that built, expanded, or renovated libraries across Seattle. Hear from Beacon Hill patrons about what this library means to the community: https://supportspl.org/2024/07/what-our-library-means-to-us-beacon-hill/

Kids and caregivers enjoyed a special Story Time today at the Southwest Branch with the Seattle Fire Department! Firefighters read stories about fire safety and provided an up-close look at their truck and equipment.

Thank you to Foundation donors for supporting programs like Story Time, and helping fund the new HVAC system at Southwest which will keep this library open for fun all summer. Catch the next Firefighter Story Times at the Queen Anne Branch on July 24 and the High Point Branch on August 7!

It's the hottest day of the year (so far) - and The Seattle Public Library's Northeast Branch is open and busy, thanks to a new HVAC system! The Foundation was proud to raise and advocate for funds to keep the Northeast and Southwest Branches open this summer.

Because the Seattle City Council and Foundation donors invested in air conditioning, more libraries can serve more patrons as temperatures rise. More than 130 people enjoyed a lively Story Time at Northeast today! Others browsed shelves, read the newspaper, studied, or relaxed in the free, climate-controlled community space.

"For people who don't have AC, this is a beautiful, large building where they can get away for a few hours," said Jessica (first picture), a nanny who visits Northeast each week for Story Time. "Take a nap in a chair, discover new books - whatever you need to do. We're so grateful for the library!"

Libraries are essential community infrastructure. Join our advocacy efforts to increase climate resilience and ensure people across the city have access to safe, welcoming, well-resourced libraries: https://bit.ly/PLANsignup

Tomorrow, Prentis Hemphill and Ijeoma Oluo will discuss healing, on both a personal and collective level, at the Central Library as part of this year's Seattle Reads program around "Parable of the Sower." The event is currently full, but there will be a stand-by line if you haven't registered! Learn more: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D174462944

Thank you to everyone who came out to toast our longtime CEO, Jonna Ward, as she turns the page to her next chapter. It was a special night with so many friends at our beautiful Central Library!

As the Mayor's proclamation of Jonna Ward Day read, "We honor her 23 years of working to ensure the long-term vitality of The Seattle Public Library, access to libraries for all, and the betterment of the quality of life in Seattle."

Cheers to Jonna and the amazing things this community has achieved for our library and our city over the past two-plus decades!

https://give.supportspl.org/give/381412/ #!/donation/checkout

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of The Seattle Public Library's High Point Branch! Two decades ago, thousands of donors like you supported the Libraries for All campaign that built, expanded, or renovated libraries across Seattle.

To celebrate 20 years in a new building, we stopped by High Point to talk to patrons about what the branch means to the community.

Saba (first picture) brings her children Rita and Mokonen to the branch several days each week for Homework Help and drop-in chess. “It is very helpful for me and my kids for reading and writing," she said. "We’re so blessed to have this library so close to us. It’s our second home.”

Stephanie (second picture) and her son William visit every Wednesday for Homework Help and so Stephanie has a place to work. “Sometimes it’s great to have things explained. He gets a lot more done here, and learns a lot," she said. "And I enjoy the environment and having a quiet place to get work done.”

Ann and Gordy (third picture) were visiting from California to take care of their grandchildren. They were very impressed by the branch. "We'll be back on Saturday for Story Time!" Ann said.

Read more about High Point: https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/high-point-branch/high-point-branch-highlights

Photos by Anthony Martinez

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we encourage you to learn about the the new exhibit at the Douglass-Truth Branch of The Seattle Public Library, "Home of Good: A Black Seattle Storyquilt."

At a dedication ceremony last weekend, artist Storme Webber shared how the quilt uplifts narratives from the Black community in the Central District, including the former Home of Good Bar-B-Q on Yesler, and commemorates loss and resilience.

It's a powerful new addition to the branch's African American Collection, one of the largest collections of Black literature and history on the West Coast. Thank you to the artists, donors, and community members who continue to build this vital cultural resource at the library! https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/arts-and-culture/unique-collections/african-american-collection

Library and Foundation leaders met with Seattle's Congressional delegation in Washington, DC last week to discuss how libraries are essential infrastructure for our community.

Public libraries need more federal support for branch upgrades, digital books, cybersecurity, and much more. Thank you to Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Representative Pramila Jayapal, and Rep. Adam Smith for your strong support for libraries!

Click here to send a message to our members of Congress to make sure they know how much our community values our library: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/thank-our-congressional-delegation-for-supporting-libraries

The library can be a space for wonder, joy, and the social cohesion often missing elsewhere. It can attract diverse audiences and make people feel welcome for who they are.

These are the goals of The Seattle Public Library's Artist in Residence program, which last year featured 34 local artists and performers who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or people of color. One artist, Monyee Chau, captured what drew patrons to the library in a zine of portraits (pictured).

Read more about how donor-supported art programs bring people together in our new annual report: https://supportspl.org/2024/05/read-our-2023-annual-report-on-donor-impact/

E-books are back at noon today! We continue to be amazed by The Seattle Public Library staff as they work so hard to bring services back safely. We're so proud to support you!

🎉 E-BOOKS ARE BACK TOMORROW 🥳

On Thursday, June 13 at 12 p.m., you will once again have access to e-books and e-audiobooks through the OverDrive site and Libby app. 🙌 🙌 🙌 📚📚📚📚📚

Read our blog post to learn more. We'll update it tomorrow with additional information to help you place holds and borrow digital materials: https://shelftalkblog.wordpress.com/2024/06/12/ebooks-are-back/

A few things to know:

⚠️ Digital holds: You will be able to place holds and borrow digital books through OverDrive and Libby. Library staff still do not have access to your accounts, so they are unable to help you with placing or reordering digital holds.

📖 Physical items: You cannot place holds on physical books, DVDs, CDs and hot spots at this time. Please keep your physical materials, as we are unable to check them back in. Holds that were not filled before the outage are paused. You will keep your place in line until we can start filling holds again.

We hope this is exciting news! Please remember, we're still working to bring our other systems back online, and will post updates here. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

Adults seek educational opportunities at The Seattle Public Library to help achieve their goals, such as improving English language ability or developing skills for a new career.

The Foundation supports the Adult Education Tutoring program to provide one-on-one, walk-in sessions for adults to work with volunteer tutors. In 2023, program attendees ranged in age from 16 to 77 and came from 18 different home countries. One hundred percent reported that the program built useful skills.

Read more about how donors help people learn at every stage of life in our new annual report: https://supportspl.org/2024/05/read-our-2023-annual-report-on-donor-impact/

(Photo of the program at the Broadview Branch courtesy of Elizabeth Iaukea)

With help from donors, our multilingual collection grew even stronger and more diverse last year. The Seattle Public Library added more titles in 16 languages, including the purchase of enough Spanish titles to furnish a collection in every branch!

The library now has more than 21,000 Spanish books at all 27 locations, with additional funds from the voter-approved Library Levy. Libraries like the Delridge Branch did not have full collections for patrons. Now, “more and more Spanish-speaking families have started coming, and telling others,” said branch manager Karina Reyna (pictured).

Read more about how donors help grow our library's multilingual collection in our new annual report: https://supportspl.org/2024/05/read-our-2023-annual-report-on-donor-impact/

Check out The Genius Conference from Langston Seattle and African-American Writers' Alliance this weekend, including sessions connected to this year's Seattle Reads novel "Parable of the Sower"! Learn more: https://www.aawa-seattle.org/post/the-genius-conference-by-the-african-american-writers-alliance-langston-seattle

The Genius Conference 🧠

If you were thinking of not registering for The Genius Conference 💭think again

Presented by the African-American Writers’ Alliance in partnership with LANGSTON. This two-day arts & science showcase will provide accessible edutainment to all, centering strategic partnerships with underserved communities. We’re offering creative arts workshops, performances, and continuing education opportunities to youth and adults.

June 7-8 | 11AM-6PM
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Donors received our annual report in the mail last week, detailing the incredible impact The Seattle Public Library's programs and collections made last year thanks to your support. Read the full report here to learn how our library provides stories, knowledge, and connections for our neighbors because of you: https://supportspl.org/2024/05/read-our-2023-annual-report-on-donor-impact/

See you on Sunday afternoon at the Central Library! We're looking forward to celebrating Jim Ellis' memoir with HistoryLink.org and hearing from a great panel including Sally Jewell, Gary Locke, Eric Liu, and Councilmember Girmay Zahilay.

Book Launch for 'A Will to Serve' by Jim Ellis HistoryLink and the Seattle Public Library invite you to celebrate the long-awaited publication of Jim Ellis's autobiography

Happy 20th birthday to the world-famous Central Library! Two decades ago, thousands of donors like you supported the Libraries for All campaign that built, expanded, or renovated libraries across Seattle. Our city is so proud of these amazing public spaces - thank you for continuing to visit and invest in The Seattle Public Library!

20 Reasons to Check Out the Central Library at 20 Years 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 k…

Have you visited the Dream Temple for Octavia yet? The exhibit at Office of Arts & Culture Seattle's King Street Station space celebrates Octavia Butler in connection with this year's Seattle Reads novel, "Parable of the Sower." Check out the Dream Temple through May 23, and see more upcoming Seattle Reads events throughout the community: https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/authors-and-books/seattle-reads/seattle-reads-2024