The Seattle Public Library to Temporarily Reduce Hours Starting Friday, Jan. 21
release date: January 20, 2022
In response to ongoing staffing shortages related to the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the community, The Seattle Public Library will temporarily reduce open hours at most locations starting on Friday, Jan. 21.
“While our community navigates the current surge of COVID cases, we are making these reductions in order to provide a more consistent and reliable schedule for our patrons.” said Tom Fay, Interim Chief Librarian of The Seattle Public Library. “We look forward to expanding hours once again when the COVID outlook improves and staffing levels stabilize. We appreciate our patrons’ patience and support as we continue to navigate ongoing impacts of the pandemic.”
The Library continues to hire and train new staff to build up its capacity to withstand future disruptions once the health outlook in the community improves.
The new, temporary schedule was created based on factors such as geographic spread, staffing availability in the region, and neighborhood use. The Library is scheduling between two to four branches to be closed most days of the week, with additional closures scheduled on Saturdays. Book drops will remain open on days that locations are scheduled to be closed.
Patrons can visit and bookmark spl.org/today to find daily, up-to-date information about unexpected closures and schedule changes.
OPEN HOURS AS OF FRIDAY, JAN. 21
Beginning Jan. 21, 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 Jan. 21 (www.spl.org/Hours).
- Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday
- Closed Friday and Sunday
- Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
- Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S.
- Noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Friday
- Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Friday and Saturday
- Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Saturday
- Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
- Closed Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
- Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.
- Noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Saturday
- High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- International District/Chinatown Branch, 713 Eighth Ave. S.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
- Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Closed Sunday
- Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, 1134 33rd Ave.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
- Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
- Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
- Closed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Saturday
- Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Friday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Closed Monday, Thursday and Saturday
- Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
- Closed Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Closed Sunday
- Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday
- Closed Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45th St.
- 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday
- Closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday
- Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
- Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- 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 requires masks for everyone in the Library, regardless of vaccination status.
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. It requires that staff maintain six feet of distance from patrons and each other in public areas and has increased the 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. For up-to-date information on unexpected closures and schedule changes, the Library will update http://www.spl.org/Today. The Library’s Road to Reopening page shares the latest updates on our reopening process.
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.