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August 8 – last day open pre-closure
August 9 – first day of closure
The Seattle Public Library’s West Seattle Branch (2306 42nd Ave. S.W.) will be closed from Sunday, August 9 until early November 2026 for the installation of a modern, electric HVAC system to provide air conditioning and improved ventilation, prevent unscheduled branch closures during hot weather, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Service Impacts
Saturday, August 8 will be the last day of service at the West Seattle Branch before its temporary closure. The branch book return will be locked and its parking lot will be inaccessible for the duration of the project.
You may continue selecting the West Seattle Branch as the pickup location for new holds through July 29. On July 30, the branch will be temporarily removed as an option for new holds. You will be able to select the West Seattle Branch again when it reopens. You may change your preferred pickup location for new holds anytime through your online account.
On July 31, all pending West Seattle Branch holds will be transferred to the High Point Branch. If you have holds pending for the West Seattle Branch and prefer they be transferred to a different branch for pickup, please ask a Library staff member for assistance, call the Library at 206-386-4636, or reach out online through Ask Us.
For access to Library programs and services during the West Seattle Branch closure, please visit one of our other locations, including these nearby neighborhood branches:
Delridge Branch
High Point Branch
South Park Branch
Southwest Branch
We apologize for the inconvenience of this closure and appreciate your patience while we make these necessary improvements for the benefit of patrons and our community.Project Background and Scope
In June 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the City of Seattle a $5.5 million Hazard Mitigation Grant to fund The Seattle Public Library’s Cooling Center Project.
Through this project, the Library’s Columbia, Fremont, Queen Anne, University and West Seattle Branches are being equipped with efficient, electric HVAC systems to provide air conditioning and improved ventilation, allowing them to serve as shelters from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The new HVAC systems will replace old gas-powered furnaces, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 30 metric tons per location annually, and be equipped with energy recovery ventilators to increase their efficiency and longevity.
The five branches within the scope of the Cooling Center Project were built over 115 years ago through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. They are recognized and protected by local, state, and federal law as important historical and cultural landmarks. All project work planned at these five branches is being reviewed in advance by Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board to ensure the protection and preservation of their architectural character.
HVAC installation at the University Branch is happening now, concurrent with its seismic retrofit and other major renovations. The Fremont and West Seattle branches will close from August 2026 through early November 2026 while their HVAC installations are underway. HVAC installations at the Columbia and Queen Anne branches will be complete in 2027. When this project is complete, all locations of The Seattle Public Library will have air conditioning.
August 8 – last day open pre-closure
August 9 – first day of closure
The Seattle Public Library’s West Seattle Branch (2306 42nd Ave. S.W.) will be closed from Sunday, August 9 until early November 2026 for the installation of a modern, electric HVAC system to provide air conditioning and improved ventilation, prevent unscheduled branch closures during hot weather, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Service Impacts
Saturday, August 8 will be the last day of service at the West Seattle Branch before its temporary closure. The branch book return will be locked and its parking lot will be inaccessible for the duration of the project.
You may continue selecting the West Seattle Branch as the pickup location for new holds through July 29. On July 30, the branch will be temporarily removed as an option for new holds. You will be able to select the West Seattle Branch again when it reopens. You may change your preferred pickup location for new holds anytime through your online account.
On July 31, all pending West Seattle Branch holds will be transferred to the High Point Branch. If you have holds pending for the West Seattle Branch and prefer they be transferred to a different branch for pickup, please ask a Library staff member for assistance, call the Library at 206-386-4636, or reach out online through Ask Us.
For access to Library programs and services during the West Seattle Branch closure, please visit one of our other locations, including these nearby neighborhood branches:
Delridge Branch
High Point Branch
South Park Branch
Southwest Branch
We apologize for the inconvenience of this closure and appreciate your patience while we make these necessary improvements for the benefit of patrons and our community.Project Background and Scope
In June 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the City of Seattle a $5.5 million Hazard Mitigation Grant to fund The Seattle Public Library’s Cooling Center Project.
Through this project, the Library’s Columbia, Fremont, Queen Anne, University and West Seattle Branches are being equipped with efficient, electric HVAC systems to provide air conditioning and improved ventilation, allowing them to serve as shelters from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The new HVAC systems will replace old gas-powered furnaces, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 30 metric tons per location annually, and be equipped with energy recovery ventilators to increase their efficiency and longevity.
The five branches within the scope of the Cooling Center Project were built over 115 years ago through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. They are recognized and protected by local, state, and federal law as important historical and cultural landmarks. All project work planned at these five branches is being reviewed in advance by Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board to ensure the protection and preservation of their architectural character.
HVAC installation at the University Branch is happening now, concurrent with its seismic retrofit and other major renovations. The Fremont and West Seattle branches will close from August 2026 through early November 2026 while their HVAC installations are underway. HVAC installations at the Columbia and Queen Anne branches will be complete in 2027. When this project is complete, all locations of The Seattle Public Library will have air conditioning.