LIBRARIES: One more nearby branch adds curbside service

| South Park | West Seattle news

For some southeastern West Seattle residents, the nearest Seattle Public Library branch is in South Park (8604 8th Ave. S.), so we’re sharing the news that it’s the latest branch to add curbside service. Starting this weekend, the South Park Branch will offer it, noon-6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. That means you can pick up items you’ve put on hold, if this is set as your “home branch,” and you can use SPL’s curbside-printing service for up to 10 black-and-white pages a day. The branch’s book drop is open daily. The area branches that already offer curbside service are Southwest (9010 35th SW) and High Point (3411 SW Raymond); days and hours are listed here.

onion March 4, 2021 (3:42 pm)

I assume the old-fashioned design of the Admiral branch is the main reason why it doesn’t offer even partial services. It would be nice to know what is holding up library support for the north end of West Seattle.

MS March 4, 2021 (7:41 pm)

Yes!! I’ve asked about that several times. The accidental island needs our library!

Be mama March 4, 2021 (8:41 pm)

Agreed. Doesn’t seem fair that both highland park and SW libraries are “open” as they are so near each other. It’s a 10-15 m drive one way from admiral to get books IF I can remember on the days they are open.

WSB March 4, 2021 (9:05 pm)

I suspect – would have to confirm this with SPL – the problem with both the Admiral and Delridge libraries is that neither has much of a parking area to facilitate curbside setup, unlike High Point and Southwest
- ahs March 5, 2021 (10:09 am)
  
  I believe that is correct, not enough space for people to social distance safely
Auntie March 5, 2021 (10:40 am)

The schedules are posted online. And is a 10-minute drive really that onerous?
- onion March 5, 2021 (11:22 am)
  
  Auntie: I know seniors in the neighborhood who rely on the library and would walk to/from the Admiral Library. So yes, there are members of our community for which the absence of services within walking distance is onerous.
  - AHS March 5, 2021 (4:28 pm)
    
    they should look into books by mail
- Be mama March 5, 2021 (4:31 pm)
  
  Auntie. Actually, taking 45 m out of my day (r/t drive plus wait time) on their very limited hours (during work hours) is not great but I do it because it takes longer if I go on their ONE weekend day they are open – which is much busier. Their hours at high point recently changed… and they didn’t notify us in a meaningful way. I’m glad the library is open, as it should be- but their limited hours and locations are a real barrier for many. My kids schools library also hasn’t been open and I have no doubt there is a huge gap in literacy gains in those kids whose parents aren’t accessing SPL limited availability and can’t buy books. SPL really should have stepped up LONG ago. Shame.

Auntie March 5, 2021 (6:29 pm)

My apologies to those of you who cannot access library services easily. My initial comment was for BeMama’s comment that it would take 10-15 minutes, which apparently is not at all what she meant. As a library patron for almost 70 years, I appreciate having access to libraries and hope that they can all open soon for everyone.

BJ March 7, 2021 (8:23 am)

It is a 7 minute drive between the West Seattle and Highpoint libraries. The two West Seattle locations are open on weekends (one Saturday and one Sunday), in addition to South Park being open both weekend days. Since the days of the week and number of locations have been expanded across the city, there often aren’t lines and when there are, they move pretty quickly. My understanding for the other two West Seattle locations not currently being open is because there are logistical challenges to be able to safely implement. For those that transit is a barrier, the library does offer a free Books By Mail service. Curbside services includes holds pickup, free printing, tax forms, and no holds walk up for Peak Picks (popular new titles) and grab bags – they also are offering all their online/phone reference and referral services (including online reference collections and streaming services, in addition to staff assistance) and virtual programming. We are still actively in a pandemic, so keep in mind some realistic expectations as things are not yet normal.

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