24 Checkouts a Minute: The Seattle Public Library publishes its 2025 Impact Report

In 2025, The Seattle Public Library’s patrons visited its 27 locations more than 3.4 million times, checked out materials 12.7 million times, and attended more than 5,800 programs at libraries and in the community.

These are just a few highlights of the Library’s 2025 Impact Report, an annual accounting of the Library’s performance and impact on the community.

“The 2025 Impact Report shows a record number of active patrons and growing participation in Library programs,” said Chief Librarian Tom Fay. “These numbers are impressive, but it is the stories behind the numbers that show the organization’s true impact. Our patrons tell us that through the Library, they are more empowered, enriched, and connected to their community.”

The Impact Report is published at www.spl.org/impact, and is also available in a one-page printable version online or at Library locations.

Key highlights of the Library’s impact in 2025

• 24 checkouts a minute: Checkouts of digital materials again surpassed physical materials. Our patrons checked out digital materials 7.2 million times (including e-books and services such as Kanopy and Hoopla) and physical materials 5.5 million times, for a total of 12.7 million checkouts in 2025. That’s an average of 24 checkouts a minute!
• 10th in the world: The Seattle Public Library ranked 10th in the world for checkouts of digital books through OverDrive/Libby in 2025. E-books and e-audiobooks were checked out 6.1 million times in 2025.
• 4 million visits: The Library recorded 3.4 million in-person visits in 2025, with visits to the Central Library alone averaging more than 2,000 a day.
• 430,000 active users: More than 430,000 people used their library card at least once in the last three years, and 330,000 at least once in 2025, the highest use in recent years.
• 5,800 programs: The Library hosted more than 5,800 programs in 2025, a 65% increase since 2023, with attendance of 130,000. Events and programs included author events, business help, tax help, English and citizenship classes, digital literacy programs, homework help, adult tutoring, and much more.
• More than 1,300 story times and other early literacy programs in multiple languages drew attendance of 43,000.
• “Like AI but better”: In 2025, over 6,000 students attended after-school Homework Help sessions held at nine branches, including some sessions designed for teens. One student reported: "Teen tutoring was just like AI but better!"
• Robust use of technology services. Library patrons printed 2.1 million pages in 2025, booked public computers for 400,000 hours, and scanned 487,000 pages through our ScanEZ machines. They also checked out wi-fi hot spots through our general collection more than 6,500 times.
• $8.3 million worth of business services: A record 4,100 patrons attended more than 150 business workshops and programs through the Library last year. The Urban Libraries Council’s Business Value Calculator found that the annual value of services, books, tools, and resources that the Library provides to small business owners was worth $8.3 million.

The Library also heard from community members about the impact that the Library made in their lives. In a 2025 Library survey of Seattle residents, 98% of respondents said they believe the Library improves the quality of life in Seattle, and 97% believe the Library is worth the money invested.

Many respondents provided direct comments on the Library’s impact: “The Library helps us feel connected and invested in the local community. [It is] one of the few third-place spots in the city where we can gather without spending money,” wrote one patron.

Read the 2025 Impact Report

• See the 2025 Impact Report online
• Go to the 2025 Statistical & Financial summaries
• Go to 2025 Stories of Impact

 About The Seattle Public Library

The Library believes that the power of knowledge improves people's lives. We promote literacy and a love of reading as we bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and empower community. 

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