West Seattle, Washington
01 Thursday
West Seattle’s landmark Log House Museum – home to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – has a closure ahead. It’ll be closed to the public June 1-June 10 for interior renovations. SWSHS’s Elizabeth Rudrud explains, “These renovations will allow the museum to host more programs (with greater capacity), highlight the building’s original layout as a Carriage House for the Fir Lodge (Alki Homestead) while still interpreting the structure as a private residence, open the space for an upcoming interactive exhibit, and create new opportunities for private-event rentals, which will provide the museum with unrestricted income to support its mission.”
During the closure – and beyond – you can see three traveling exhibits at local libraries. Here are the three exhibits SWSHS is calling “Community Explorers“:
The exhibits are viewable during the branches’ regular hours; you can find those on the Seattle Public Library website.
Jana emailed us wondering if we knew anything about a “pest” problem that she said had closed the book drop at High Point Library for a while, and led to an early closure of the entire branch on Tuesday. So we asked Seattle Public Library for details. Here’s what we heard back from SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry:
Staff at the High Point Branch discovered a bed bug issue two weeks ago in the book drop and around the computer area, which they believe (but is hard to confirm) to be an isolated situation involving a single patron. Staff locked the book drops, quarantined computers, discarded or quarantined impacted materials as appropriate, sanitized book bins, cleaned the impacted computer area, and have been in conversation with the patron.
After containment and cleaning, staff have not seen additional bedbugs for over a week. The book drop has reopened.
The Library conducted a chemical treatment of the branch on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure. It is considered safe to enter the treated space two hours after chemical treatment, but we let the branch sit overnight as another extra precaution. The pest control company we are working with will return at the end of the month to examine the branch and ensure the issue is fully resolved.
The Library has an integrated pest management program to prevent and contain bed bugs and other pests we might encounter in or around our facilities. Elements of the program include education, good housekeeping, regular inspections, professional custodial practices and immediate response to sightings. These efforts play a vital role in reducing the chance of a major infestation.
Thanks for the question from your reader.
Don’t know much about bed bugs? Read this.
As announced in February, Seattle Public Library branches are expanding their schedules, and that means – among other things – that all branches in our area will be open seven days a week. The new schedules start tomorrow. Here again is the list of what those schedules will be:
Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and ThursdayHigh Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.South Park Branch, 8604 8th Ave. S
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdaySouthwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and WednesdayWest Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
Tomorrow is also when Story Times start returning to SPL branches, as noted here last week – first one will be tomorrow at noon, Baby Story Time at the Southwest Branch.
Thanks to Lauren for the tip, via this photo – those with little ones will be able to take them to local Seattle Public Library branches for in-person Story Times starting next week:
This is so new, it’s not even on the SPL online calendar yet. But we’ll be adding the dates to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar shortly.
Both of these closures later this week are for staff training:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Its facilities will be closed Wednesday (March 22nd), but branch book drops will be open. Details here.
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION: Many of its facilities will be closed Thursday (March 23rd), including community centers and indoor pools. Details here.
The Seattle Public Library is adding more hours/days at many of its branches, using funding from the 2019 “Libraries for All” levy, and that means – among other changes – that once the additions take effect, all SPL branches in this area will be open seven days a week. (Currently, Delridge and West Seattle/Admiral are closed Fridays, while Southwest is closed Saturdays.) SPL’s announcement notes, “With this expansion, Library locations will be open a total of 223 more hours per week than currently and 133 more hours per week than in 2019 when the Levy was overwhelmingly passed by voters.” These are the schedules that will take effect the week of April 3rd.
Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and ThursdayHigh Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St.
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.South Park Branch, 8604 8th Ave. S
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdaySouthwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and WednesdayWest Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW
o 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
To see the full announcement, including all the new schedules for branches citywide, go here.
More Seattle Public Library “Homework Help” is being added at one branch in West Seattle, and the service is expanding to a new location nearby. From the announcement, here are the local highlights:
Homework Help, The Seattle Public Library’s free after school tutoring service (spl.org/HomeworkHelp), will add two locations and increase hours in February.
Starting the week of Feb. 6, the South Park Branch will offer two afternoons of Homework Help a week, and the Columbia, High Point and Rainier Beach branches will increase their weekly Homework Help hours …
At Homework Help, students in kindergarten through grade 12 can get help with their homework, as well as read and play learning enrichment games with trained volunteer tutors.
The new schedule is below; changes start the week of Feb. 6:
High Point Branch: 3411 SW Raymond St., 206-684-7454
o *Mondays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (additional day)
o Tuesdays, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
o Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.South Park Branch: 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688
o Tuesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
o Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.Homework Help will not be offered when Seattle Public Schools is not in session, including midwinter break (Feb. 21 through 24) and spring break (April 10 through 14). Homework Help will also not be offered on Wednesday, March 22, when all Library locations are closed for All-Staff Day. Homework Help’s last day for the 2022-2023 school year will be Thursday, June 22.
SPL also continues to offer free one-on-one online tutoring at all grade levels and in three languages – find out more about that here.
The Seattle Public Library has just announced this year’s plan for free tax help, partnering with United Way of King County and AARP. Trained volunteers will be available to help you prepare personal tax returns and to answer questions. One of the eight branches at which this service will be offered is in West Seattle – the Southwest Branch at 9010 35th SW. It’ll be by appointment on Wednesdays, 1 to 6 pm, starting a week from tomorrow (February 1st). You can make an appointment and find out about other tax-help options by going to spl.org/taxhelp.
Seattle Public Library has weather-related changes again today too. Here’s the West Seattle plan:
*The High Point and Southwest branches will be open noon-6 pm
*The Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), and South Park branches are closed
P.S. The King County Library System‘s White Center branch will be open its regular Wednesday hours, 1-8 pm.
(SPL-provided collage of photos featuring artists who participated in 2018)
This year’s Southwest Artist Showcase is almost here – the art show open to everyone! One week until you can take your creation(s) to Southwest Library, September 28-30, for the October 2-30 show. Anyone who lives in the West/Southwest Seattle area can bring in up to two pieces of art. Library staffers set up the show, and then it’s open all month for everyone to see. After the show ends on October 30th, you have until November 4th to go retrieve your work. This is a non-juried show, no entry fees, in its 30th year at the library. If you want to participate, just bring your art to the library during its regular open hours on those three days. One caveat from the library: “Please note that some works may not be included if their size or construction prevents their effective display in the library.” Questions? Call the library at 206-684-7455.
Another weekend with multiple shootings around the city. What will it take to break the pattern? An event Tuesday at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) seeks to broach that subject. All are welcome to attend – here’s the announcement, if you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
Join us for a panel presentation and conversation about changing the narrative around gun violence.
The impact of gun violence continues to be felt throughout the nation and in Seattle. The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with The Seattle Public Library, is organizing this speaker series to address and combat the effects of gun violence on our communities. This second event in the series will feature Rosette Royale, local journalist and editor, and a panel of local artists: Dalisha Phillips, Bruce Leroy, Chamel Simmons, and Rell Be Free.
The lecture series, comprised of performance, presentation, and discussion, will integrate arts and cultural elements to change the narrative around gun violence. Additional events in the series will be offered at locations across the city with different speakers and activities through October 2022.
Tuesday’s event, titled “Art, Artists, and the Narratives of Loss and Resiliency,” is set to start at 6 pm.
4:05 PM: That’s Seattle’s chief librarian Tom Fay, and he’s at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) for a conversation with whoever shows up. It’s the first in a series of “Community Conversations” around the city with the Seattle Public Library‘s new chief. You have until 5 pm to stop in and speak up. You can also answer an online survey to share your thoughts about SPL’s future.
5:47 PM: A few notes from the conversation, for which about a dozen people showed up: The Southwest Branch, one of two in West Seattle that had closures last week because of the heat, will be fully air conditioned by next summer. The afterschool homework-help program is expected to come back this fall. In a discussion of how libraries and users dealt with the pandemic, an attendee noted that the curbside service was greatly appreciated – as were ebooks.
Something to say about the Seattle Public Library? Tell it to the person in charge, in person, next week. Just announced this morning:
Tom Fay, Seattle’s newest Chief Librarian, will host his first Community Conversation with Library patrons from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4, in the meeting room of the High Point Branch (3411 SW Raymond St.).
Fay will discuss with patrons how the pandemic has impacted current Library services and the patron experience, as well as how the Library is preparing for its long-term future.
“As we prepare to develop a new long-term strategic plan for The Seattle Public Library, we are starting our planning by listening to the needs of our patrons, our neighborhoods and our partners,” said Fay. “I look forward to hearing from community members about what is important to them and how the Library can better serve them now and in the years to come. We know that our patrons, staff, and the broader community are navigating a time of significant change. It’s important that we stay in conversation with the individuals and families we serve so that we can plan our future together.”
The High Point Branch Community Conversation is Fay’s first in a series of conversations with patrons about the future of the Library. The next Community Conversation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the Rainier Beach Branch, and additional conversations will be held at other locations this year and throughout 2023. These events will be added to the Community Conversations page of the Library’s website as their dates and times are determined.
Patrons who would prefer to provide feedback online to the Library about current and future services can also share their thoughts on the Community Conversations page.
The Seattle Public Library is reducing hours at some branches for the rest of the summer. We compared the list of what days/hours branches will be open starting next Tuesday (July 5th) with the current days and hours, and that showed two local branches affected: Southwest will be closed on Saturdays, West Seattle (Admiral) will be closed on Fridays. Here’s the SPL explanation:
In response to ongoing staffing shortages related to COVID-19, The Seattle Public Library will temporarily reduce open hours through the summer at several locations, beginning Tuesday, July 5. The Library is tentatively planning to restore these hours in the fall when schools are back in session. …
Book returns will remain open on days that libraries are scheduled to be closed. Holds are extended during planned closure days and are held for patrons for seven open days.
The new, temporary schedule was created based on staffing availability and geographic spread to ensure Library access throughout the city of Seattle. While the Library continues to hire additional staff to support open hours, low staffing levels are primarily due to increased use of employee leave, including sick leave, COVID-19 leave, and Family Medical Leave.
It’s been less than four months since SPL restored some days/hours leading to the current schedule.
Thanks for the tip! Two of the peninsula’s Seattle Public Library branches are closed for the rest of the day because of the hot weather: West Seattle (Admiral), which is not air-conditioned, and Southwest, which is partly without A/C. The SPL announcement notes, “Book returns remain open and holds will be extended.” Both are expected to reopen tomorrow, since the heat is supposed to subside by then, with Tuesday’s high expected to be around 70.
Pre-pandemic, Seattle Public Library meeting rooms were popular places for community groups to gather. Now, after more than two years, they’re available for booking again, as announced by SPL this morning. You can book online, starting here; basic rules are that the meeting has to be non-commercial and open to the public, as well as during the branch’s hours of operation. SPL also announced today that it’s changing hold-time and suspension policies as of May 23rd – details here.
The Seattle Public Library plans to add back more hours/days of operation, starting two weeks from today, on March 30th. From the announcement, here’s what the new days/hours will be at the four branches in West Seattle:
Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW
-1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. SundaysHigh Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St.
-1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. SundaysSouthwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW
-10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. SundaysWest Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW
-10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
You can compare to current hours/days by going here.
Announced today by the Seattle Public Library: The system’s Board of Trustees has chosen Tom Fay as Chief Librarian. He’s been in the role on an interim basis since Marcellus Turner left a year ago. Before that, he spent five years as SPL’s director of library programs and services. Here’s the official news release. Fay was one of two finalists for the job. According to the detailed job listing, the “mid-range salary” for his new job is $203,700. The system he’ll be running has four branches in West Seattle – in Admiral, North Delridge, High Point, and Westwood.
After a series of spot closures, the Seattle Public Library system is now moving to a reduced schedule citywide because of “ongoing staffing shortages related to the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the community.” We’ve compared the new hours for local branches with the current hours – two local branches will have no changes, three will each be closed one day a week. Here are the West Seattle/South Park schedules from the list that SPL says will take effect tomorrow (Friday, January 21st):
Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW – adding Saturday closure
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 SaturdayHigh Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St. – no change
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
o Noon to 5 p.m. SundaySouth Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S. – adding Sunday closure
o 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
o 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
o Closed SundaySouthwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW – no change
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. SundayWest Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. SW – adding Friday closure
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
The SPL announcement says the “new, temporary schedule was created based on factors such as geographic spread, staffing availability in the region, and neighborhood use.” Book drops will remain open on days that branches are closed.
(Sign on door of West Seattle branch Sunday, photographed by Gina)
Today was the first day in four days that West Seattle didn’t have a Seattle Public Library branch closed for what the system called “staffing shortages.” Several branches around the city were closed on each of three days – Friday, including the Southwest branch; Saturday, including the Delridge branch; and Sunday, including the West Seattle (Admiral) branch. We followed up as promised, to ask if the shortages were the result of COVID, or something else. Here’s what SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry told WSB:
The Library has experienced low staffing numbers recently due to an increase in sick calls, an increase in vacation leaves around the holidays, and an increase in usage of family medical leave.
We do have an ongoing hiring effort to staff back up after receiving restored funding to do so. However, our first round of hiring resulted in several internal promotions, which has led to another round of hiring that requires additional orientation and training time. Even as we do become more fully staffed, it’s difficult to predict the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on our staff.
We do try to rotate which branches are closed due to low staffing in order to not impact certain neighborhoods more often than others. However, we also try to keep certain high-use branches open every day, if possible. These branches are often located near major transit lines and are geographically spread throughout the city to ensure coverage in all areas of Seattle.
We are currently taking a closer look at this approach to see if there is a way we can create more consistency for our patrons while we are in this situation.
West Seattle has four SPL branches, mapped here.
Thanks to Gina for the tip. Seattle Public Library‘s rotating closures continue – today the West Seattle (Admiral) branch is closed. SPL cites a staffing shortage. The book drop, however, is open.
The Seattle Public Library has been closing some branches on a day-to-day basis because of staffing shortages. In West Seattle, the Delridge branch will be closed today. The Southwest branch was closed yesterday. If you need to use the Delridge branch’s book drop, that IS still open today.
Last month, the Seattle Public Library asked for your thoughts on its search for a new Chief Librarian. Tonight, a new survey – this time, about the basics. What hours should your local libraries be open? What services should they offer? How did the pandemic change the way you used libraries? The focus is on priorities for the levy that Seattle voters passed two years ago, now that all libraries have reopened and the mayor’s budget proposes restoring full general-fund support for SPL. The survey is here, available in eight languages – Amharic, Chinese, English, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. You also can answer it at any library location, either on paper or via a library computer. If you don’t have time now, it’s open until November 8th.
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