The Seattle Public Library to Begin Accepting Book Returns at 9 Locations
release date: July 20, 2020
The Seattle Public Library announced today that it will accept book returns three days a week at nine locations starting Tuesday, July 21. The Library’s 27 locations have been closed since March 14, 2020, and continue to remain closed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Five Library locations have been offering limited public restroom access during the systemwide closure.
“Although the Library has added digital services while our buildings are closed, we know our patrons are very eager to access physical books and materials,” said Andrew Harbison, assistant director of collections and access at The Seattle Public Library. “Processing returns safely is the first step toward checking out books again.” Harbison added that when the Library closed its buildings in mid-March, more than 400,000 items were checked out.
HOW TO RETURN MATERIALS
The following locations will allow returns at outside book drops on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., or until book drops are full. Materials will not be accepted by staff.
- Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98107
- Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133
- Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122
- Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle, WA 98115
- High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., Seattle, WA 98126
- Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98125
- Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
- Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118
- Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA 98126
In accordance with the Library’s new COVID-19 protocols, returned materials will be quarantined for at least 72 hours before being checked in. Materials will remain checked out on your account while being quarantined.
Signage at each location will remind patrons where to return materials, and to maintain social distancing.
Please don’t rush to return materials, especially if these branches are not your home branch. Due dates for all checked-out materials have been extended until Sept. 15, and the Library does not charge overdue fines.
Patrons can help with the reopening process by checking your account for holds placed on physical items and deleting those that are no longer needed. Please note that the Library is not accepting book donations until it has had a chance to process returned materials first. Please hold on to your donations until further notice.
OTHER SERVICES ARE COMING!
The Library tentatively plans to begin no-contact curbside pickup of materials at limited locations by early August. Check the status of all Library services on the Library’s Road to Reopening page, which is regularly updated.
MORE INFORMATION
While all physical locations of The Seattle Public Library have been closed since mid-March in accordance with public health guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Library has transformed many programs into online services and added virtual programs to meet the changing needs of our community during this time, from Summer of Learning to Your Next Job. Find out more about The Seattle Public Library’s digital resources and services at spl.org/StayingHome, and visit spl.org/RoadToReopening for status updates on Library services. For more information, call 206-386-4636 or Ask Us.