UPDATE: If you or your kids have visited a Seattle Public Library branch since the library system experienced a cyberattack in late May, you know it’s been a slow process to get the library’s many digital services back up and running.
This week’s fix is a big one. You can now take that pile of books you’ve been holding and return them to your local library branch. For months, the library had asked patrons to “hold the books”—that is not return check-outs despite due date passage.
In its July 24 update on X (previously known as Twitter), SPL officials wrote they “are hard at work processing books and restocking our shelves. Bring in your returns, no rush!” The library’s webpage dedicated to recovery efforts elaborated on the return-but-take-your-time invite:
“Now that we are able to process your returns, feel free to bring them back to Library locations, at your convenience,” SPL’s latest update says. “Please don’t rush, as it’s helpful if returns don’t come in all at once. you can bring back items any time and we never charge overdue fines.”
Museum Pass is back
Summertime is a popular time to visit area museums and the library’s Museum Pass makes going a lot more cost-effective with kids. The pass allows patrons to use a library card to get free admission to participating Seattle museums, and as of July 24, it is back in action. Here’s how it works:
Each Library cardholder can reserve one pass every 30 days, but book early as the supply is limited. New passes are available every day after 12 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO SPL’S MUSEUM PASS PAGE
Here’s the list of museums that participate in the program and what the pass does at each:
- Burke Museum: admits up to two people, and children aged 3 and under enter for free.
- Center for Wooden Boats: permits one adult and up to three other people to use one of the Museum’s historic row boats on Lake Union for one hour for free.
- Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum: admits up to two adults and three youths for free.
- Henry Art Gallery: admits up to two adults and children under age 18 enter for free.
- Museum of Flight: admits two adults and two children ages 5-17, and children age 4 and under enter for free.
- Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI): admits up to two people, and children under 14 enter for free.
- Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): admits up to two adults and two children ages 5-17, and children four and under enter for free.
- National Nordic Museum: admits up to two people for free.
- Seattle Aquarium: pass admits up to four people, and children aged 3 and under enter for free.
- Seattle Art Museum: pass admits up to two people, and children under aged 14 enter for free.
- Wing Luke Museum: pass admits up to two people for free.
- Woodland Park Zoo: pass admits up to four people, with children aged 2 and under for free.
Books due Aug. 31 or later
To avoid a mass book drop-off rush, the library has set Sunday, Aug. 31 or later for items that are currently checked out and being held by patrons due to the cyberattack.
Earlier in July, library officials said they expect “most, if not all, remaining offline services will be restored in the next 5-7 weeks.”
At this point, many of the services frequently used by students, kids, and families are back up and running, and the library’s popular “Ask Us!” question service will be ready to take on your queries on Monday, July 14. Through this popular service, librarians stand ready to answer patron questions about just about anything. You can reach the Ask Us phone line at (206) 386-4636) or via email. Or you can do it the old-fashioned way and bring your burning information questions to library staff in person.
What services are back up and running?
Here are the other services that are now back up and running:
- Library open hours have returned
- The library’s events page
- e-book and e-audiobook checkouts through the Libby app and OverDrive
- the ability to place new holds on e-book and e-audiobook through the Libby app and OverDrive
- the library catalog
- Bookmobile, Home Service, and Books by Mail are available through Mobile Library Services, although book availability is stukk limited
- In-branch Wi-Fi and the SPL website
- Online Newspapers and Magazines
- Physical materials: You can check out physical books, CDs, and DVDs. However, SPL cannot check physical materials back in at this point, so please hold onto your books.
- In-person and virtual events: Including story times, author talks, and more.
- Hoopla: Borrow online movies, music, comics, and TV shows.
- Kanopy: Stream movies, including favorites from the Criterion Collection.
- Free access to encyclopedias, articles, databases and K-12 Virtual Tutoring
- Online learning tools, including Adult Tutoring, O’Reilly Complete Library, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and classes to master software programs or new languages
- All online resources
- In-person access to new library cards: Just go to any Seattle Public Library branch to apply for a new library card. SPL also has reciprocal borrowing agreements with several local library systems where you can sign up for a card, giving you borrowing privileges at the library you sign up with and SPL. Here’s the list of reciprocal borrowing partners:
What is the library still working on?
Right now, you can’t get new library cards or access your library account online or place new holds on physical materials, but the library expects both of those services to be available in late July or early August.
As of July 25, in-building catalog stations, Wi-Fi printing, and access to microfilm/microfiche were still down.
While many students and families rely on computers at library branches, computers are not expected to be available until late August. On the good side, library staff hope they will be by the time school resumes in the fall.
Read more:
Waiting for the baby gorilla at Woodland Park Zoo – A Read-Aloud!
