The Seattle Public Library to Reopen Meeting Rooms and Expand Hours in May

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 2, 2022

THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO REOPEN MEETING ROOMS, EXPAND HOURS AND UPDATE BORROWING POLICIES IN MAY

Beginning Monday, May 2, meeting rooms and study rooms at The Seattle Public Library will once again be available for public reservation and use. Music practice rooms in the Central Library will reopen will be available for public use on Tuesday, May 24. Members of the public can learn more about these spaces and book available rooms by visiting the Branch Meeting Rooms and Central Library Meeting Rooms pages on spl.org. More information about public use of Library meeting rooms can be found below.

Additionally, beginning the week of May 2, the Central Library Spiral on Levels 6 through 9 will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also in May, four branches of the Library will expand open hours beginning Wednesday, May 11, as part of the Library’s reopening and return to pre-pandemic operations. The Northgate Branch will once again be open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the University Branch will once again be open on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional morning or evening hours will also be added to the Lake City, Northeast and Northgate branches on most weekdays. A complete schedule of library open hours can be found below.

“With all Seattle libraries reopened – most at pre-pandemic hours – and Library meeting rooms and study rooms once again available for public use, we are very encouraged to have reached this phase of our reopening efforts,” said Tom Fay, The Seattle Public Library’s executive director and chief librarian. “I greatly appreciate the patience of our patrons and public throughout our reopening progress, and look forward to beginning public conversation soon to identify our future focus areas as we envision the Library’s work beyond pandemic operations.”

Later in May, the Library will also return to pre-pandemic policies for hold times and account suspensions for unreturned items. Hold times and account suspension timelines were extended during the Library's COVID-19 systemwide reopening to accommodate patrons who needed extra time to retrieve or return items during the pandemic.

Starting Monday, May 23, the Library will return to a maximum hold time of 7 days (from 14 days) for books, CDs, DVDs and other physical items placed on hold. Scheduled Library closures do not count against the 7-day hold limit. The Library will also return to suspending accounts for items that remain overdue after 14 days (from 31 days). Since temporarily extending that timeline, the Library has implemented auto-renewal for most Library items. Materials are automatically renewed up to three times if another patron isn’t waiting for the item. Peak Picks books and items checked out through Inter-Library Loan cannot be renewed. The Seattle Public Library also offers fine-free borrowing, and suspended accounts are reactivated once items are returned.

PUBLIC USE OF LIBRARY MEETING ROOMS

Please note that while most Library meeting and study rooms will be available May 2, some rooms may not be available to accommodate staff use and Library operations. We will continue to make more of these spaces available to the public as we are able.

The Library believes that freedom of expression and access to ideas and information are essential to the health and development of a democratic society. We acknowledge that Library spaces may be used by those who express viewpoints and ideas contrary to the Library’s institutional vision and values. Use of any Library facilities, including meeting rooms, by any group or organization in no way constitutes endorsement of the policies or beliefs of that group or organization by the Library or the City of Seattle.

The Library recognizes that some individuals and groups may strongly disagree with ideas and views expressed within Library spaces and collections. However, in keeping with its Intellectual Freedom policy, the Library will not restrict freedom of expression beyond the limits of U.S. law.

More information can be found in our Intellectual Freedom Policy and Facilities and Meeting Room Use Policy.

OPEN HOURS AS OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

Please note that expanded hours do not take effect until Wednesday, May 11. Visit our website at spl.org/Today to stay up-to-date with our systemwide schedule and to be alerted to any impacts to our schedule. Current schedules may always be found on spl.org/hours.

·       Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.

o   10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E.

o    10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Central Library (Levels 1, 3 & 5), 1000 Fourth Ave.

o   10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

·       Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S.

o   Noon to 8 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way

o   10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       International District/Chinatown Branch, 713 Eighth Ave. S.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Madrona-Sally Goldmark, 1134 33rd Ave.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

·       Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Satrudays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.

o   10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

·       Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.

o   10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W.

o    10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       Wallingford, 1501 N. 45th St.

o   1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

·       West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.

o    10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

UPDATED COVID PRECAUTIONS

Library visitors are strongly encouraged, but no longer required, to wear masks while inside Library buildings. This change follows new state and county public health guidelines.

To protect our most vulnerable patrons and staff, Library staff will continue to wear masks and we will still offer free masks to patrons at dispensers in each Library location.

The Library continues to take many precautions to protect patrons, staff and the community from the spread of COVID-19: We are a fully vaccinated workforce; will continue to use safety protocols such as plexi-glass barriers, increased ventilation and improved air filtration in buildings; and practices such as handwashing and routine cleanings.

Finally, any Library patron can request Curbside service on an individual basis for pickup of their holds: Just call the branch’s phone number – found on signs at your branch or on our Hours & Locations page on spl.org – to let staff know you have arrived and need assistance with your holds pickup.

MORE INFORMATION

Check spl.org/hours for a complete list of current hours and services at each branch. For up-to-date information on unexpected closures and schedule changes, the Library will update http://www.spl.org/Today. The Library’s Road to Reopening page shares the latest updates on our reopening process.

Contact the Library’s Ask Us service by phone at 206-386-4636 or by email or chat at spl.org/Ask. Staff are ready to answer questions and direct you to helpful resources and information.