Seattle Public Library reports levy-funded gains, flags future maintenance and digital-cost pressures

Seattle Public Library Chief Librarian Tom Fay updated the Seattle City Council Education and Neighborhoods Committee on Feb. 27 about programs and capital work supported by the 2019 library levy and outlined planning for a proposed future levy in 2026.

Fay told the committee the seven-year 2019 levy — a $219,000,000 renewal that runs through 2026 — supplied more than one-third of the library’s revised 2024 budget and funds collections, children’s programs, open hours, technology and building maintenance. “To do this, we know we need sustainable long term funding and that we are operating in uncertain times when it comes to federal funding availability,” Fay said.

The update detailed usage and service metrics for 2024 and raised several forward-looking challenges. The library reported a 160% increase in ebook and eaudiobook checkouts since 2019, from 3,400,000 checkouts in 2019 to 5,400,000 in 2024, and said digital and physical collections together now total about 2,900,000 items. Levy dollars fund roughly 40% of open hours, about 20% of collections, about 17% of building maintenance and 9–10% of technology. The levy also funds roughly one-quarter of the library’s staffing and about 35% of children and teen services librarians.

Fay and Kirsten Nelson, government relations manager for the Seattle Public Library,…