Seattle Public Library Capitol Hill Branch, originally uploaded by brewbooks.

The city is flipping a few pages ahead and looking at the future of libraries in Seattle. Below is information about how to give your input to the process. With a junior member on staff now, we’ve been visiting the library a little more often for traditional needs — kids books. But more frequently, Capitol Hill’s library is one of our field offices when CHS is out pounding pavement around north Broadway. We see one part of the future for the city’s libraries related to this ‘community office’ use. Private efforts like CHS sponsor Office Nomads will be part of the equation, too — but more and more, spaces where anybody can find a quite place to learn, work and earn are becoming vital.

City Librarian Susan Hildreth invites you to join a citywide conversation on Library services

What’s one thing you wish the Library could provide, or change?

What’s the role of the Library in our community? 

What should we be doing in five to 10 years?

How should the Library be using new technology?

Please join me and members of the Library Board next month to discuss your hopes and dreams for The Seattle Public Library. Feel free to drop in anytime for a few minutes to share your views. With your help, we will develop a strategic plan to guide our growth and services through 2015.

Later this year we also will conduct surveys, hold focus groups and host two citywide public forums that feature expert panelists on key library issues. 

By September, we hope to complete a draft strategic plan, which we will share at meetings across the city. We hope to have a final plan by December.

You helped develop and complete the 10-year “Libraries for All” program to rebuild our facilities. Now it’s time to make sure the services and resources we provide meet your needs.

Please help us think creatively about the future of Library service. Last year, more than 14 million people visited the Library. We want that number to keep growing.

Sincerely,
Susan Hildreth
City Librarian

 

Citywide Conversations 

Stop by an open house and “think big” to consider new models, services and roles for The Seattle Public Library. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

• Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, March 1: Central  Library – 1000 Fourth Ave. Level 3, Living Room
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 2: Northgate Branch -10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 3: High Point Branch – 3411 S.W. Raymond St.
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 6: Ballard Branch – 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 16: Beacon Hill Branch -2821 Beacon Ave. S.

Feel free to drop in for a few minutes to share your views. 

[email protected]

Strategic Planning Library Web site.