In the face of staffing shortages, Seattle Public Library (SPL) announced plans to reduce hours at branches throughout the city from April 14 until June 4.
As with many city departments, SPL saw a wave of staff departures during the pandemic. According to its announcement of the temporary closures, the library system has hired 160 employees in the years since, and either met or exceeded pre-pandemic open hours in 2023.
But SPL also recently increased the minimum number of staff required to operate each library, spurred in part by a growing concern over safety for library staff and patrons. If a branch does not have enough staff on a given day, it leads to closures on short notice.
Librarians’ roles have expanded in recent years as the public institutions have become increasingly significant pieces of the American social safety net. In addition to being a resource and respite for people experiencing homelessness in Seattle, libraries are also becoming important refuges from the extreme weather impacts of climate change, including heat, cold and wildfire smoke.
SPL’s staffing challenges come as Seattle grapples with a projected budget deficit of at least $240 million beginning in 2025. In January, Mayor Bruce Harrell instituted a hiring freeze for all city departments, with an exemption for public safety departments.
The library is not considered an executive department and was therefore not subject to Harrell’s hiring freeze. But Chief Librarian Tom Fay nonetheless instituted a hiring freeze to address the library’s own budget shortfall, with exemptions for hiring on a case-by-case basis.
The rolling closures will take place mostly on weekends and do not affect hours at the Central Library or Ballard, Delridge, Greenwood or University branches.
Here is the full list of closures:
- Beacon Hill Branch: Closed Sunday, April 14, April 28, May 12 and May 26
- Broadview Branch: Closed on Sundays through June 4
- Capitol Hill Branch: Opening at noon on Thursdays and closed on Sundays through June 4
- Columbia Branch: Closed Saturdays through June 4
- Douglass-Truth Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4
- Fremont Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4
- Green Lake Branch: Currently closed for seismic retrofit construction
- High Point Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4
- International District/Chinatown Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4
- Lake City Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4
- Madrona Sally-Goldmark Branch: Closed Wednesdays and Fridays through June 4
- Magnolia Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4
- Montlake Branch: Closed Tuesdays and Fridays through June 4
- New Holly Branch: Closed Mondays through June 4
- Northeast Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4
- Northgate Branch: Closed Saturdays through June 4
- Queen Anne Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4
- Rainier Beach Branch: Closed Sunday, April 21, May 5, May 19 and June 2
- South Park Branch: Closed Mondays through June 4
- Southwest Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4
- Wallingford Branch: Closed Fridays and Saturdays through June 4
- West Seattle Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4
Correction: A previous version of this article referred to Seattle Public Libraries. The correct name is Seattle Public Library.
