Budget and Operations

We receive funding from a mix of public and private sources. Every year, the City Council approves an annual budget appropriation that covers many of our basic expenses. In 2012, Seattle voters approved a seven-year, $123 million Library levy to improve access to critical educational and literacy resources and increase economic opportunity for every city resident.

The Library Board adopts an annual operations plan in December after the City Council approves the Library's operating and capital budget appropriations. On November 19, 2018, the Council approved the City’s 2019 budget including $80.9 million operating and $3.2 million capital budget appropriations for the Library.

The Seattle Public Library produces an annual report and usage statistics.

Two organizations, The Seattle Public Library Foundation and The Friends of the Seattle Public Library, raise money to help fund activities, services and special projects not covered by our operating budget.