Seattle Public Library

Our Vision for Seattle

A city where imagination and opportunity thrive.

Our Mission

The Seattle Public Library brings people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community.

Guiding Principles

• Support intellectual freedom
  The Seattle Public Library enables all individuals in our community to exercise their right to access constitutionally protected information.
• Promote literacy and a love of reading
  Recognizing the vital importance of reading to open doors and expand horizons, the Library strives to support every patron in becoming a lifelong reader.
• Protect confidentiality of patron records
  The Library respects the confidentiality of our patrons' requests for information, the online sites they access, and their borrowing history.
• Respect and embrace the entire community
  We celebrate Seattle's diversity and strive to ensure that all people feel welcome in the Library. We strive to meet the needs and expectations of every Library patron. The Seattle Public Library actively supports efforts that combat prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination.
• Foster a healthy democracy
  The Library is committed to building an informed community, and providing neutral ground where participation in civic life is open to all.
• Support children and youth
  We strive to join parents, educators and young people in helping to raise thoughtful readers and citizens. We recognize the priority of efforts to close educational achievement gaps.
• Form strong partnerships
  The Library extends its reach and impact in the community through partnerships with individuals, public and nonprofit agencies, community groups, educators and businesses.
• Adapt and innovate
  To stay relevant to patrons' changing needs and interests, we continuously adapt what we do and how we do it. We are a learning organization and invest in our staff, technology, and infrastructure to improve service.

THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION

The Seattle Public Library Foundation was established in 1980 by a group of far-sighted citizens who understood that a great Library wouldn't be possible through public funding alone.

FRIENDS OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Friends of the Seattle Public Library is a non-profit, grassroots membership group dedicated to promoting Seattle's library system, which is an essential institution of our community. Our volunteer members advocate, educate, and raise funds on behalf of the Library, its patrons, and the larger Seattle community. The Friends raise funds to be used by The Seattle Public Library for activities not ordinarily covered under the Library's operating budget since ongoing Library operations are paid for by city of Seattle tax dollars and are the responsibility of our city government. The Friends currently have about 13,000 members.

WASHINGTON CENTER FOR THE BOOK AT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library is devoted to celebrating the written word and to encouraging the exchange of ideas evoked by literature and the humanities.

Through book discussions and other literary and humanities programs, the Center strives to broaden and deepen appreciation for literature that expands the world of the reader. The Center develops programs that appeal to a wide audience - from confirmed book lovers to those who may not yet consider books and reading basic to their lives - and works with other cultural organizations and libraries to realize its goals.

Established in 1989, it is one of 50 state affiliates of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

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