Friends of The Seattle Public Library

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Friends of The Seattle Public Library

The Friends of the Seattle Public Library is a non-profit, grassroots organization.

The Friends support the Seattle Public Library through advocacy and program grants. The Friends raise money for program grants through memberships and by sponsoring book sales and other fundraising events. The Friends help finance programs and projects such as the Summer Reading program and Homework Help that the Library otherwise could not afford. We also represent the interests of patrons and pr

ovide a voice for their concerns and needs, serving as an important link between the Library and the public.

08/22/2026

"Folklore is the boiled-down juice of human living."
-Zora Neale Hurston, "Folklore and Music"*

August 22 is International Folklore Day. The date marks the first recorded use of the word "folklore" when it appeared in a British magazine.

What is folklore to you? Is it stories, myth, and fables? Customs, foods, and intangible culture? Music, dance, and artistic practices?

*Written by Hurston in 1939 but not published until 1991 in Frontiers: A Journal of Women's Studies

08/21/2026

"Kai and Mommy took the bus from West Seattle to the downtown The Seattle Public Library to make an adventure out of getting his first library card! Everyone was nice to him giving him stickers and including him in the Spanish-hour play. The first book he checked out was Llama Llama Home with Mama." -Loraine

🦉Want to support new SPL patrons like Kai? Donate to the Friends of The SPL's Owl Tote program, in which kids 6 and under receive a special book bag to honor the milestone of their first library card. $25 = 25 owl totes!

Donate today: https://tr.ee/x6BnGhp8TS

08/19/2026

It's official! King County results for the August 4 election have been certified, and Proposition 1, which replaces the existing Library Levy, passed with over 75% of the vote!

The voters of Seattle spoke loud and clear: They want The Library and its people, programs, materials, and resources to be funded and supported from 2027–2033.

The Friends of The SPL are so grateful for the all the community members, donors, elected officials, endorsers, advocates who volunteered tirelessly to get the vote out and helped Prop. 1 succeed. THANK YOU!

08/17/2026

Just some new Punchkins hangin’ around the FriendShop for New Merch Monday...

Let us introduce you to the bag charm versions of the ever-popular book plushies! These cute keychains are small enough to clip onto your backpack or purse and share your love of books with the world.

As an in-store exclusive, the plushies are not available online, so visit us downtown for these and tons of other fun literary merch.

FriendShop at Central Library: 1000 4th Ave (Level 3), Seattle WA 98104
Mon.–Sat. 10–5 | Sun. 10–3

08/14/2026

😎The Friends have fun!

Just reminiscing about our board member social hour during The Seattle Public Library Foundation's super-fun Books and Brews event last month. The beers were cold, the sun was hot, and the chat about library advocacy and summer reading was on fire. 🔥

Want to stay up to date with all Friends of The SPL goings-on and bookish community events? Get our newsletter: https://tr.ee/i-dWgV5WPY

08/12/2026

A little under a month left for your boards!

Enter the Friends’ Book Bingo bundle giveaway for a chance to win a set of four books for the WATER category.

🌊These maritime reads are:💧
-The Riddle of the Sands, Erskine Childers
-The Navigator II, Steve Coleman
-Before the Fall, Noah Hawley
-North By Northwestern, Captain Sig Hansen & Mark Sundeen

To enter the giveaway:
-follow the Friends on IG or FB
-tag 2 friends in the comments
-share to your story for an extra entry!
-must be 18+
-must be able to pick up at the FriendShop at Central Library

Giveaway closes WEDNESDAY, August 19 at 2 PM. A winner will be randomly chosen from the entrants. Good luck!

08/10/2026

🌞 Bookend your summer! Browse the Friends' curated collection of pre-loved books and select merch while enjoying Seattle's best views at Overlook Walk.

Plus, get free tote bags and bookmarks, yap about all things books and The SPL, and learn how you can advocate for libraries.

Pricing: Children's books: $2 | Paperbacks: $3 | Hardcovers: $4

Proceeds go toward Friends' programs like Books for Teachers, free books for community orgs, and tote bags for young SPL cardholders.

This pop-up is in partnership with Friends of Waterfront Park, the 501c3 nonprofit responsible for fundraising, stewarding, and programming at Waterfront Park bringing people and local communities together. 🧡🩷

08/08/2026

Both Friends of The Seattle Public Library locations are now check-in venues!

ViewPoints is a rewards system for Seattle arts and culture that's tailor-made for locals.

Download the app and accrue points while visiting the museums, galleries, and attractions you already frequent, like the FriendShop and the Georgetown Bookshop. Then, redeem your points for fun rewards.

Look for the ViewPoints posters at both of the Friends' brick-and-mortars and scan the QR code to check in digitally.

Thanks to Shunpike for sponsoring this program.

08/02/2026

What do you love about The Library?

More patron voices share why our libraries are special to them.

There are just 2 days left to vote YES on Seattle’s Proposition 1! Return your ballot to a drop box before 8 PM on Tuesday, 8/4.

📹: jen

07/31/2026

How do YOU use The Library? No wrong answers! 📚

Library resources, staff, and programs deserve our support. Remember to vote YES on Prop. 1 before August 4. 🩵

📹: jen

Address

1000 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA
98104

Telephone

+12067339015

Website

http://www.friendsofspl.org/

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