Find out if you’re eligible for Mobile Library Services

Individuals: Books by Mail and Home Service

Individual service is available to Seattle residents who are unable to travel to the library. This may include individuals who have an illness of a six month duration or longer or are living with a disability. For persons under 70, certification of eligibility by a healthcare professional may be required. Materials are delivered once a month, either through Books by Mail or Home Service delivery.

Residential Facilities and Day Centers

Mobile Services provides monthly library service to retirement homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes, and senior centers when a significant number of residents or clients are unable to visit the library due to age or physical or intellectual disability. Facilities must demonstrate interest in participation in the program on the part of residents and complete an application form.

We offer two types of monthly service:

• Library staff bring carts of materials into the facility, including materials for browsing and items individuals have requested. Library staff check out materials to individuals during the visit.
• We deliver a deposit collection of materials we select based on the facility's requests and preferences.

Mobile Services visits preschools and childcare centers that meet all of the following criteria:

• Are within the Seattle city limits
• Have at least 20 children enrolled
• Are not within easy walking distance to a public library branch (5 blocks, no major obstacles)

And meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Are a free or low-cost early learning program for low income families, including the following:
  • Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)
  • Head Start
  • Seattle Step Ahead
  • Seattle Preschool Program
• Are a full or extended day program that accepts at least one of the following subsidies and has at least 25% of students currently using these subsidies:
  • City of Seattle Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
  • Working Connections Child Care (DSHS)
• Serve primarily students with disabilities.

Priority will be given to programs that serve primarily families at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.

We would love to visit your school at the time that works best for your daily routine, but because of finite resources and the need to plan routes geographically, we have limited scheduling flexibility.