The Library to Temporarily Reduce Hours Starting Tuesday, July 5
release date: June 28, 2022
In response to ongoing staffing shortages related to COVID-19, The Seattle Public Library will temporarily reduce open hours through the summer at several locations, beginning Tuesday, July 5. The Library is tentatively planning to restore these hours in the fall when schools are back in session. A complete list of updated hours by location is below.
Of the Library's 27 locations, the majority of libraries will continue to offer seven-day-a-week service, including the Central Library and 14 neighborhood branches. Most other branches will provide five or six days of service per week and offer at least one weekend day of service.
“The Library has worked diligently over the last year to increase staffing levels and open hours. However, similar to the experiences of other workplaces, the ongoing surges and challenges of COVID-19 have taken a toll on Library workers and are impacting the Library’s ability to consistently staff each building at pre-pandemic levels,” said Andrew Harbison, interim director of Library Programs & Services. “We believe this temporary modification in hours will bring more stability to Library operations. We look forward to restoring these hours as soon as possible.”
Book returns will remain open on days that libraries are scheduled to be closed. Holds are extended during planned closure days and are held for patrons for seven open days.
The new, temporary schedule was created based on staffing availability and geographic spread to ensure Library access throughout the city of Seattle. While the Library continues to hire additional staff to support open hours, low staffing levels are primarily due to increased use of employee leave, including sick leave, COVID-19 leave, and Family Medical Leave.
THURSDAY HOURS ADDED TO CENTRAL LIBRARY BOOK SPIRAL AND READING ROOM
Beginning Thursday, July 7, the Central Library’s nonfiction Book Spiral, located on Levels 6-9, as well as the Level 10 Betty Jane Narver Reading Room, will add an additional day of service on Thursdays. Levels 6 through 10 of the Central Library will now be open Tuesdays through Thursdays during Central Library open hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This includes the two music practice rooms on Central Library’s Level 8.
LIBRARY OPEN HOURS BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 5
Beginning Tuesday, July 5, Library locations will operate according to the schedules listed below. This new schedule will be posted at the Library’s Hours and Locations page, starting on July 5, at spl.org/Hours. Visit and bookmark spl.org/Today to find daily, up-to-date information about unexpected schedule changes. For patrons seeking refuge from summer heat, nineteen of the Library’s 27 locations have air conditioning; you can see the list of air-conditioned locations at www.spl.org/shelter, and they are marked with an asterisk (*) below.
*Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
o Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S.
o Noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
*Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
*Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*International District/Chinatown Branch, 713 Eighth Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Closed Sunday
*Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, 1134 33rd Ave.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
*Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
*Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Closed Friday and Sunday
*NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
o Closed Friday and Sunday
*Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Saturday
University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
*Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45th St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
COVID PRECAUTIONS
The Library continues to take many precautions to protect patrons, staff and the community from the spread of COVID-19. It is a fully vaccinated workforce, and Library staff wear masks while working in public areas. Library patrons are strongly encouraged, but not required to wear masks, as well.
The Library provides high-quality masks free of charge to patrons and visitors at all locations and provides a variety of masks, shields and other protective equipment to staff. The Library has also increased ventilation in buildings.
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 hours and services at each branch.
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.