Seattle Public Library
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| Established | 1890 |
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| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Branches | Central Library, 26 neighborhood branches, and Mobile Services |
| Collection | |
| Size | 2,446,355 items |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 594,210 (Seattle) 1,835,300 (Metropolitan King County) |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $50,191,745 |
| Director | Marcellus Turner |
| Staff | 711 (564.05 full-time equivalents) |
| Website | www |
The Seattle Public Library (SPL) is the public library system serving Seattle, Washington. It was officially established by the city in 1890, though there had been efforts to start a Seattle library as early as 1868. There are 26 branches in the system, most of them named after the neighborhoods in which they are located. Also included are Mobile Services and the Central Library (opened 2004, designed by Rem Koolhaas). The Seattle Public Library also founded, and until July 2008 administered, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL).
All but one of Seattle's early purpose-built libraries were Carnegie libraries. Although the central Carnegie library has now twice been replaced, all the early 20th century purpose-built branches survive, although some have been subject to significant alterations. Ballard's former Carnegie library has held a number of restaurants, antique stores, etc., but the others (such as the Fremont Branch and Green Lake Branch) have been modernized, and remain in use as libraries.
The Seattle Public Library system consists of the Central Library and 26 branches and a mobile library system.
As of 2011 the Central Location of the library contained about 930,000 books. Its special collections include an oral history collection, the state document depository, the federal document depository, an aviation history collection, genealogy records, and historical documents about Seattle. The 26 branches have roughly one million cataloged physical items including Books, CDs, DVDs. In addition all locations have uncatalogued collections of books that can be borrowed without a library card.
Seattle's first attempt to start a library association occurred at a meeting of 50 residents on July 30, 1868, but produced only minimal success over the next two decades. The Ladies' Library Association began a more focused attempt to put together a public library in 1888. They had raised some funds and had even obtained a pledge of land from Henry Yesler, but their efforts were cut short by the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Nonetheless, encouraged by their ideas, the revised October 1890 city charter formally established the Public Library as a branch of the city government. The ladies' influence can be seen in that the charter required that at least two of the five library commissioners be women. The library was funded by a 10% share of city fines, penalties, and licenses.
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