Expanded hours in January 2013
For the first time in at least a century, all locations of The Seattle Public Library will be open on Sundays beginning in 2013.
Each branch with new Sunday hours will host a special celebration on a Sunday between Jan. 6 and May 5 that features a family craft activity by the Nature Consortium, refreshments and the opportunity to participate in the Check-Out Sundays Challenge. The kick-off event on Jan. 6 at the Columbia Branch featured a press conference with Mayor Mike McGinn, City Councilman Richard Conlin, City Librarian Marcellus Turner, Library Board President Dan Dixon and teen patrons.
Check-Out Challenge
Patrons can get a free Check-Out Sunday Challenge card in a keepsake sleeve at any Library location. To participate, patrons just need to visit any location of The Seattle Public Library on Sunday and get their card stamped. Patrons with 15 stamps can enter a prize drawing. Patrons who attend Sunday Branch Celebrations also receive commemorative stickers for their check-out card sleeve.
Open seven days a week
Starting in January, the Columbia and Northgate branches will be open seven days a week. Previously both branches were closed on Friday and Sunday.
Library levy background
On Aug. 7, 2012, Seattle voters approved a $122 million Library levy to supplement city funding and preserve the investment in the 1998 "Libraries for All" bond measure, which resulted in new and improved libraries across the city. The levy will provide $17 million annually to stabilize funding and address the four areas identified by the community.
Voters supported the levy after four years of budget cuts that reduced Library services, including closing the entire Library system for one week each year since 2009, closing 15 of 26 branches two days a week, and cutting the budget to buy books and other items by more than 13% since 2009.
In addition, the levy will provide $5 million a year to address the city Budget Office's approximate $5 million cut to the 2013 Library budget.
The plan reflects the priorities of over 39,000 Seattle residents collected over the last two years, who identified four key service areas:
More information about the levy
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