Amenities Highlights

  • Free Public Computers
  • Wi-Fi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Music Practice Rooms
  • Autograph Collection
  • Aviation Collection
  • Genealogy Collection
  • Map Collection
  • Seattle Room Collections
  • World Languages Collection
  • Zine Collection
  • FriendShop
  • Coffee Cart
  • Paid Parking
  • Single-Occupant All-Gender Restroom
  • Multi-Stall Single-Gender Restrooms
  • Multi-Stall Single-Gender Children’s Restrooms
  • Power Wheelchair Charging Station
  • Book return box is located on the west side of the building, on Fourth Ave., to the left of the entrance

All Central Library amenities & equipment
Seattle Reads 2026

Seattle Reads 2026

This year's selection is "True Biz" by Sara Nović. Unlimited copies of the e-book and audiobook are available now on Libby.

Learn About "True Biz"
Planned System Upgrade in Sept.

Planned System Upgrade in Sept.

We are upgrading our behind-the-scenes system for collections, circulation, and patron accounts in September, and patrons will experience some disruption of services.

See Available Services

Upcoming Events

All Central Library Events

About the Central Library

The new Central Library opened May 23, 2004. The 11-floor building is home to over 1 million books and contains an innovative "Books Spiral," a 275-seat auditorium, nearly 10,000 windows, and open spaces where patrons can meet, study, search the web or read. The Library has centers for children, teens and adult readers, along with expanded collections and a large computer lab. It also has underground parking for about 143 vehicles.

Central Library Highlights

Central Library Photo Gallery

A closer look at the Ann Hamilton floor on level 1 at the Central Library
Patrons in the children’s area at the Central Library
Patrons at speaking engagement in the Microsoft auditorium at the Central Library
Reader’s services librarian with patron in the living room at the Central Library
Mural created by Urban Artworks artist Will Schlough on Level 3 at the Central Library
Patron reading in the living room at the Central Library
Musical performers in the Microsoft auditorium at the Central Library
Staff walkways in the spiral section at the Central Library
Mural created by Urban Artworks artist Will Schlough in the Level 8 spiral at the Central Library
Level 4 hallway with living room lookout at the Central Library
Stairwell on the red floor at the Central Library
A computer classroom for patrons at the Central Library
Musicians performing in the Microsoft auditorium at the Central Library
Patrons on public computers in the mixing chamber at the Central Library
View from the 6th floor at the Central Library
Yellow stairwell in the spiral area of the Central Library
Patrons on the escalator at the Central Library

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