The Seattle Public Library Expands Open Hours And Reopens Three Branches In September

release date: August 25, 2021

The Seattle Public Library will significantly expand the open hours of its reopened locations starting on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Also in September, the Library will reopen three additional branches: the Montlake Branch on Wednesday, Sept. 1, the Wallingford Branch on Monday, Sept. 13, and the Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

When the NewHolly Branch reopens later this fall, the Library will have successfully reopened all 27 of its locations. A precise date is not yet determined for the branch.

“We have worked very hard to reach this point, and we are so glad to now be offering a neighborhood library schedule that more closely resembles what we were offering pre-pandemic,” said interim Chief Librarian Tom Fay. “We know patrons of all ages are eager for more access to their home branches to browse collections, use computers, get help from Library staff, and more.”

Beginning Sept. 1, most reopened branches will be open every day of the week. This expansion of hours marks a major step toward full restoration of pre-pandemic Library open hours and is the result of funding provided by the Seattle Rescue Plan to restore Library staffing levels, which were reduced in 2020 and 2021 as part of citywide General Fund budget cuts. The September hours expansion and building reopenings will more than double the total number of Library open hours per week, increasing total weekly open hours from 588 to 1,192.

All reopened libraries will adopt their new schedules on Wednesday, Sept. 1, with the exception of the Central Library, which will expand hours starting Wednesday, Sept. 15 when it will add Sundays and Mondays to its current schedule. It will also be open later on Wednesdays, closing at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Currently, Levels 1, 3 and 5 of the Central Library are available to the public. The Library anticipates opening more floors of the Central Library in coming weeks, but a date is not yet set.

The Montlake Branch (2401 24th Ave. E.) will reopen to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 1 and will provide Library services for the first time since March 2020. The Montlake Branch will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays; from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

A complete list of expanded branch schedules, as well as the initial schedules for the branches reopening in September, is provided below. The Library will continue to restore hours of operation as staffing levels permit, and seeks to return to full, pre-pandemic, 7-day service, including evening hours, by the end of October.

Please note that the expanded schedules and reopening dates outlined here may change in response to future developments related to the pandemic. The Library continues to closely monitor public health data, guidance and mandates as part of reopening planning.

MASKS REQUIRED

To comply with Washington state public health regulations and to protect all patrons and staff, especially those who have not yet been vaccinated and/or are at greater risk from COVID-19, everyone must wear masks while in Library buildings, regardless of vaccination status. All reopened locations are open at 100% capacity and currently do not require physical distancing of patrons.     

COMPLETE LIST OF REOPENED LOCATIONS AND HOURS

Reopened libraries will operate according to the schedules listed below. Visit the Library’s Hours and Locations page (www.spl.org/Hours) for a complete list of locations and services currently available, and visit our Shelter page (www.spl.org/Shelter) for a list of libraries with air conditioning. Branches with air conditioning (A/C) are also noted below.

  • Ballard Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Beacon Hill Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Broadview Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Capitol Hill Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Central Library (Levels 1, 3 & 5) (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 15: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
  • Columbia Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Delridge Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Douglass-Truth Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Fremont Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Green Lake Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
  • Greenwood Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • High Point Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • International District/Chinatown Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Lake City Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Madrona-Sally Goldmark (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 15: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
  • Magnolia Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Montlake (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Northeast Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Northgate Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Queen Anne Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Rainier Beach Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • South Park Branch (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Southwest Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • University Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
  • Wallingford (A/C)
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 13: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
  • West Seattle Branch
    • Operating hours as of Sept. 1: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

MORE INFORMATION

Check spl.org/hours for a complete list of hours and services at each branch. 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.

For more information, Ask Us or call 206-386-4636.

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