At a time of widespread and increasing misinformation, censorship and low literacy, it is more important than ever that our libraries remain strong, open and welcoming to all.
In Seattle, we understand the immense value of free access to information and education for everyone. The use of our public library underscores that.
The Seattle Public Library has more than 440,000 active users and circulates a whopping 24 items per minute. It ranks in the Top 10 worldwide for digital book checkouts. The iconic Central Library and 26 neighborhood branches are visited millions of times, and host hundreds of thousands of computer sessions and thousands of community meetings, each year.
On March 10, Mayor Katie Wilson proposed a $410 million, seven-year library levy to replace the one that expires at the end of this year. More than 80% of that would simply continue current levy-funded services, adjusted for inflation, and cover recent budget cuts from the city’s general fund.
The remaining funds are insufficient to cover the costs, demands and service challenges that have emerged since the current levy was approved in 2019.
As proposed, the 2026 levy would not provide enough for the system to meet the needs of our growing and diversifying population.
We must invest more in our books, programs and buildings. As the City Council begins the process of amending the proposed levy package, its members have an opportunity to approve a levy that matches what our community needs from its library.
Why do we need more books? Since the pandemic, checkouts of e-books have surged and now surpass borrowing of print books. But due to pricing models employed in the publishing industry, these digital books cost libraries three to five times as much as physical ones.
Because of high demand and high costs, wait times are now far too long for popular titles. To provide enough books to meet Seattle’s changing needs, the library needs at least $10 million more than the proposed 2026 levy provides to reduce wait times for e-books and introduce a digital version of the popular Peak Picks program.
Why do we need more programs? They help solve our growing literacy crisis. Today, only half of Washington students are reading at grade level — a six-percentage-point decline since the pandemic and the lowest literacy proficiency rates since the 1990s.
Thousands of young people across Seattle learn to read and develop a love of learning through programs like Global Reading Challenge, Story Time, Homework Help and Raising A Reader. The levy should expand programming to reach people of all ages at this same level of service. But the proposed levy does not include enough funding to adequately serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors, people who need social service referrals, and many other teens, adults and seniors.
Why do we need to invest in our buildings? Our “newest” branches will turn 20 years old in the next year, and several others are approaching 120. These libraries, including the once-glittering Central Library, are showing the wear and tear that comes from being so well-loved.
The proposed levy includes $29 million in new funding for essential projects like a seismic retrofit of the historic Columbia Branch and basic deferred maintenance work around the system. But the library estimates that it needs at least $75 million more over the coming decade to keep spaces safe, clean and welcoming. Unless the levy is increased, we will only scratch the surface of these needs.
We recognize Seattle’s affordability crisis and that the city is nearing its levy limit, but the library levy would constitute just 6% of that capacity — even if the mayor’s $410 million proposal is increased to $500 million as we recommend. The average homeowner would pay about $15 a month to finance a $500 million levy — less than the cost of a single book. A vibrant library system is the foundation of an affordable city; it is how we guarantee that books and knowledge belong to everyone.
The City Council can significantly improve the 2026 levy before it reaches voters for approval in August. Additional investment ensures the library expands access to books and literacy programs, supports education and enrichment for everyone, and keeps our treasured library spaces safe and inviting.
Walk into any of the library’s 27 buildings and you will see how much Seattle loves this essential institution. We call on the City Council to approve a levy that matches that affection and provides the resources to ensure we remain a city where everyone can read, grow and belong.
