The children’s space in the Capitol Hill Library (Image: Seattle Public Library)
The branches of the Seattle Public Library system including Capitol Hill’s Harvard Ave location will operate under reduced hours due to ongoing staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new schedules began last week. SPL says the temporary changes were necessary as it responds “to ongoing staffing shortages related to COVID-19” and were planned “based on staffing availability and geographic spread to ensure Library access throughout the city of Seattle.”
Chief librarian Tom Fay hopes to return to full hours if staffing is available “in the fall when schools are back in session.”
The continued spread of COVID-19 has shifted many habits of society including how we work and how we deal with health and wellness in the workplace. SPL says it plans to add “additional staff to support open hours” and that “low staffing levels are primarily due to increased use of employee leave, including sick leave, COVID-19 leave, and Family Medical Leave.”
SPL describes its staff as “a fully vaccinated workforce” and says library staff wear masks while working in public areas.
Library patrons are “strongly encouraged, but not required to wear masks,” SPL says.
Patrons can also request curbside service to pick up held books.
In addition to access to books, reading material, media, and the internet, libraries also provide a comfortable place to hang out in the summer months. 19 of the system’s 27 locations have air conditioning — including Capitol Hill.
The full roster of temporary summer hours is below.
LIBRARY OPEN HOURS BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 5
Beginning Tuesday, July 5, Library locations will operate according to the schedules listed below. This new schedule will be posted at the Library’s Hours and Locations page, starting on July 5, at spl.org/Hours. Visit and bookmark spl.org/Today to find daily, up-to-date information about unexpected schedule changes. For patrons seeking refuge from summer heat, nineteen of the Library’s 27 locations have air conditioning; you can see the list of air-conditioned locations at www.spl.org/Shelter, and they are marked with an asterisk (*) below. .
- *Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
o Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
- Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S.
o Noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
- *Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
- Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
- *Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *International District/Chinatown Branch, 713 Eighth Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Closed Sunday
- *Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, 1134 33rd Ave.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
- *Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday and Saturday
- *Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Closed Friday and Sunday
- *NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
o Closed Friday and Sunday
- *Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
o 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Saturday
- University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
- *Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45th St.
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
- West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday
o Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
o Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
o Closed Friday
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FYI Capitol Hill Branch hours remain the same as last few months. We were unable to add more open hours yet – but at least we are not dropping our hours at this time.