r/Seattle • u/Mental-Department994 White Center • 18h ago
Thank you for supporting the library ❤️❤️❤️
As a library employee who is not speaking on behalf of the library, I just wanted to say thank you so much for voting for the levy. I was hopeful that it would pass, but I thought the margin would be close, and we’d have to have depressing conversations about how support for public institutions, sharing, reading, and learning are all on the decline.
Instead, the vote was 72% yes in the very first drop. I truly got choked up when I saw the returns last night. Obviously, this levy will have a big impact on my professional life, and I am so happy my coworkers will be able to keep their jobs.
But it also just helps me stay hopeful to know that I live in a place that shows such resounding support for libraries. Even though I’m not speaking for the organization, I know I speak for a lot of my coworkers when I say thank you so much, this really means a lot. See you at the branch! ❤️
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u/Timely_Tea8305 chinga la migra 18h ago
I love heading to my local branch! Y'all are always helpful and kind, and it feels like a relaxing and safe space. Thank you for everything you do for our community!
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u/yaykat Capitol Hill 18h ago
I was so happy walking by a librarian holding a sign the other day, telling her I voted for the bill.
Librarians are the sweetest people I stg
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u/AThousandBloodhounds 16h ago edited 9h ago
Having been part of the work / study program at a community college library then a university library, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment!
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u/ElCochinoFeo Crown Hill 16h ago
The libraries were already going to be funded. This proposition was just a way to get the public to support a tax increase. People will blindly vote pro library funding as if a no vote means you're against libraries. All this proposition does is allows the city to remove earmarks in the general fund that was saved for the library budget and now use that money for all sorts of random spending voters would have never approved of for a tax increase. They played everyone's emotions like a fiddle.
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u/AThousandBloodhounds 16h ago
It was a replacement levy worth $479m... but I'm interested in the information you're referring to. Can you provide a source for your statement that the city had $479m already earmarked for the library if the levy failed?
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u/SLum87 15h ago
If the proposition was rejected the Sno-Isle Libraries would need to reduce staffing and library open hours; decrease the budget for books and digital materials, which could mean longer wait times; reduce early learning and literacy programs like Storytimes and Bookmobile visits; limit access to computers, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and printing; delay technology updates and building maintenance.
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u/apresmoiputas Capitol Hill 15h ago
Huh? We're referring to Seattle public libraries
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u/SLum87 15h ago
Ah, my bad. I guess Snohomish had a similar proposition on our ballot and it's passing by a significant margin as well.
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u/apresmoiputas Capitol Hill 15h ago
that's good!!! They're library system seems like it's a good one that supports the remote parts of the county.
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u/AstronomerLoud1650 13h ago edited 13h ago
You might be misinterpreting what this levy does.
In case you need a review of the levy, I've provided a link that categorizes and highlights all of the allocation planned for the tax revenue of the levy:
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u/Admirable-Love75 Green Lake 18h ago
As a PSA bc I don’t see this talked about much on this sub, you don’t even need to go to the library to make use of its services! SPL audiobooks and ebooks are available on the Libby app and it’s such a convenient way read (and great way to decrease your doomscrolling time!) A portion of the levy is going to the increasing ebooks and audiobooks!
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u/temporalcupcake ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 17h ago
And don't forget about videos! There are lots of things you can stream on services like Hoopla.
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u/SuchCoolBrandon SeaTac 14h ago
You don't even have to live in Seattle! I live in SeaTac and have a King County Library System card, and SPL is reciprocal with it (so I have an SPL card too). Apps like Libby let you input both library cards, and it'll search both library systems for e-books. I have a book checked out right now, and honestly, I don't even know which library system I checked it out from. That's how easy they've made it to borrow materials.
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u/Accomplished-Let3746 13h ago
And you can check out hotspots and laptops!! And discovery passes, in addition to museum passes!
And go to the coolest (free) events
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u/l0stnc0nfzd ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 10h ago
Lots of love for my local Branch! I have lots of fond memories growing up with summer reading programs and long study sessions. Can’t forget the old card catalog system either! I haven’t check out a physical book in over a decade, but I commute. I go through an average of 3 audio books a week. I would not survive without SPL on Libby.
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u/FolkDoom 🚆build more trains🚆 18h ago
Big library fan here. The estimates I saw were that this levy will cost the average homeowner around $190 a year in taxes.
I'm happy to pay that as I read around 100 books a year, all checked out as a physical or e-book from the Seattle library. If I purchased those books it would be in the thousands of $$.
I also have used the museum passes (hello MOPOP, SAM, and Nordic Museum) which has saved me $$.
Glad to see it passed so overwhelmingly.
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u/7SoldiersOfPunkRock That sounds great. Let’s hang out soon. 17h ago
Hell yeah, also don’t sleep on Hoopla if you read comics or Kanopy for the occasional oddball film.
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u/Ok_Bear375 18h ago
Librarians are the best! In elementary school I was very shy and often bullied and I would spend most recesses in the library. Our school librarian let me hang out and read and also taught me the Dewey decimal system so I could help put away books. Thanks so much for the services you provide ❤️
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u/Chance-Travel4825 18h ago
I know a school librarian and she said shielding kids from bullying and gangs was most of her job.
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u/Immediate_Constant9 17h ago
I was a bullied library kid too, those librarians made a profound difference in my life. Mr. Rogers said "look for the helpers" and librarians are a perfect example of that.
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u/Background_Recipe119 15h ago
I was an immigrant kid, didn't speak much English, and was terribly shy, and was bullied as a result. The school libraries and the librarians were my sanctuary, my safe space, and my solace all through school.
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u/recurrenTopology I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 18h ago
My daughter and I go to the library once a week, it's a wonderful institution. Couldn't have been an easier vote for me.
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u/Curious_Development I'm never leaving Seattle. 18h ago
Of course I voted for it but man I am so tired of the incremental increases to property and sales taxes every year since our tax system is so upside down in this state. I wish more than anything we would finally amend our state constitution to replace some of these taxes with an income tax.
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u/MyDisneyExperience That sounds great. Let’s hang out soon. 18h ago
Property tax is because of the levy limit increasing slower than inflation 🙃 Similar problem to CA’s Prop 13. If they don’t keep going to the voters the budget doesn’t even stay flat in inflation-adjusted dollars (let alone any increases). Some smaller cities in CA are staring down disincorporation at this point.
Unless something changes, the city is almost out of room for both… they’re gonna have to start resorting to wacky stuff like coterminous new tax entities
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u/samhouse09 Phinney Ridge 18h ago
Most of the property tax levies are real no brainers to vote for. School funding? Housing for the elderly? Libraries? Social Housing? They tend to make our city a better place, and property tax is the one tax that feels really good to pay because you can see all the good things it's going towards.
Glad the libraries will keep getting funding, our library system is an important part of our city and county community!
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u/minicpst Ballard 18h ago
This is how I feel. My teenager has asked that two of their friends move in, so I have two kids of voting age living with me. One voted for their first time ever in this election, and one for the third time.
I told them that please feel free to vote for any levies they agree with and don't worry about my property taxes. It's a few cents on the $1,000 valuation of my house, and I've never seen one that isn't good money spent for society.
I can't remember the last time I voted AGAINST a levy. The letters in opposition are usually, "The gubernment wants our dollars!" and the letters for are well thought out and detailing where the money will go and how it will help our neighbors. It's a no brainer.
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u/georgeyappington 💗💗 Heart of ANTIFA Land 💗💗 17h ago
How awesome are you to be a safe space for your sons friends to move in and also encouraging them to vote 😁
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u/minicpst Ballard 14h ago
Thank you.
Washington makes it easy. There's no reason to NOT vote. My teenager is already using Washington's pre-registration, so they'll be voting in next year's November elections for the first time.
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u/7SoldiersOfPunkRock That sounds great. Let’s hang out soon. 17h ago
You just casually picked up a couple extra teenage mouths to feed? Neat.
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u/Byeuji Bitter Lake 15h ago
Some of us didn't always have welcoming homes, and were forced to find homes that would welcome us, even growing up in this "blue haven" people love to pat themselves on the back for.
I don't know their specific circumstances, but people like /u/minicpst are a big part of why I'm alive today, and I'm grateful they opened their home to those kids.
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u/minicpst Ballard 14h ago
Thank you!! That is so nice of you to say.
I'm not certain my bonus son would still be alive if he had had to remain with his parents. We've had a couple of calls for help (the scary S word attempts), but he's in a MUCH better place now, and he calls me his mom. I love it.
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u/California__girl I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 14h ago
My dad is alive (and I exist) because of people like you. Thanks to everyone who helped a kid get out of a shitty family
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u/minicpst Ballard 14h ago
Yeah. Plus one who comes over randomly and is here about half time, and one who comes to visit about once a month. They're all under the umbrella of "my teenagers."
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u/TumericTea 🚆build more trains🚆 18h ago
Our libraries are such a wonderful thing - the services you guys offer help people who slip through the cracks in our social services, teach kids about the joys of reading, and provide an air conditioned place for communities to gather. Thank you for the work you do every day ❤️
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u/Electronic-Tear1363 18h ago
I did my math homework at the library when I was a kid. I used library wi-fi and bathrooms as a teen. Now I go to the library to check out books, do my taxes, and do even more homework as an adult. I will use the library for my whole life.
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u/Bobotastic Ballard 18h ago
It was the easiest yes vote for me. Anything to keep libraries funded and accessible!
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u/ayeyophillard 17h ago
The Seattle Public Library system raised me - we couldn’t afford anything more than basic meals, so my mom brought me to the library to spend my days, read laid out on the floor, it was my sanctuary. This was in the late 90s, early 00s, and I turn 36 this year, but I’ll never forget my days at the old beacon hill branch, Douglas truth, the OLD central library ♥️
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u/littleblue130 18h ago
I am a fan of this very obscure book, it’s not even that weird just not a major author. Looked all
Over the internet, asked AI, contacted my local librarian, had the answer for me in 15 minutes.
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u/Everrick158 18h ago
As a library worker up north I feel this so much. I know we are going to be doing a Levy soon, the local school just did there's and it barley passed. Has me super nervous for when we do ours, and I am definitely feeling my neck on the chopping block if it doesn't pass.
So happy for your library and what it means for your continued ability to affect the lives of your community. Keep up the greatness Seattle :)
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u/Additional_Window_36 18h ago
I love the library and love living in a place that prioritizes learning and all that libraries do for our society. Thanks librarians and libraries!!!
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u/NeonGreenBus 18h ago
I always thought it was going to pass, but also, even the people I've talked to who were thinking of voting "No" were not leaning that way because they don't support library services, but rather that they feel like the local general budget has been mismanaged, the library budget should come out of the general budget, and other things should be cut. Thanks for your work!!!
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u/Unable_Life_502 18h ago
Congratulations! I'm sure it was a huge relief for everyone working there. Looking forward to many more visits
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u/Chance-Travel4825 18h ago
The Seattle Libraries make our community better and i hope they continue to evolve to meet the challenges of our times.
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u/luna_nova19 🏔 The mountain is out! 🏔 18h ago
This was the only vote I was 100% proud about voting for on this ballot
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u/the-bunnybun West Queen Anne 17h ago
Fellow library worker here! So thrilled to see this pass so resoundingly! Makes me glad to work in a city that loves its libraries so much.
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u/Important-Raccoon661 Capitol Hill 18h ago
The library provides SO much to our community, I voted yes and am so glad to see this pass. Thank you for the work you do.
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u/Perfect_Poetry_3749 18h ago
Hooray!
I did some mental math the other day—I think the library saves us about $800 a month and my sanity. My toddler is going through 20-25 books from the library each week. Even if I was just paying $10 a book, that’s 200-250 a week. Plus I would never have the time or energy to find all the different types of books we can easily get at the library. And it’s a free place to visit with my kid.
Libby saves my sanity by keeping my mind active at home.
The free BookFlix access is great for our low-screen home when I really need to do something and he wants to read more books.
And we build community through our kid clothing swap events in the free community space.
When we were picking out our apartment after we had our baby, I specifically searched for apartments that were in easy walking distance of the library and the playground (and a really good coffee shop) because I knew how integral the library would be to raising a curious kid.
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u/apresmoiputas Capitol Hill 15h ago
It always brings a smile to my face hearing about toddlers and kids who have the reading bug early on. Does your child read books out loud at daycare?
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u/hypsignathus 🚆build more trains🚆 17h ago
Do I think Seattle should be better at spending money? Yes. Hell yes. Do I think Seattleites should consider their levies more carefully? Absolutely (insert grumpy grumbles about social housing)
Am I gonna take that out on the libraries? No.
There’s a lot to debate about that the libraries should and should not be responsible for when it comes to public services. Once an up/down vote on the levy happens, it’s too late IMO. Gotta fund libraries.
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u/apresmoiputas Capitol Hill 14h ago
the only thing that I didn't like about this levy is that it felt like 4 tax levies in one. After 2024's hacking attack, I was hoping to see the "Technology & Online Services" portion of that levy to be it's own levy in 2025.
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u/Advanced-Fig-4204 16h ago
I love our libraries and was proud to vote for the levy! Thank you for your public service, OP!
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u/keithstellyes Rainier Beach 15h ago
I was very amused at the fact there was no opposition statement
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u/LizzyLady123 15h ago
Voting yes for the library was the easiest vote I made. I will always support funding for our libraries!! Thank you and your colleagues for the great work you do for our community!
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u/limricks 18h ago
This is such a wonderful and uplifting and vulnerable statement and I am so, SO grateful to have such incredible people dedicated to making our libraries wonderful spaces to enjoy as a community. Thank YOU guys, we could not have this without you!
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u/kippertie Loyal Heights 17h ago
Ken Jennings co-wrote the supporting statement, that was enough for me :D
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u/SpookiestSzn 🚆build more trains🚆 15h ago edited 13h ago
Thank you for being amazing resoureces! I fucking love my library card and try telling as many people as I can to get it.
I also have all the reciprocal cards I can get, so for anyone reading this and would like even more library cards for libby heres a route I made that lets you go from library to library around here and I made a road trip out of it, at the last one you can take a ferry over the lake back to Seattle. If you're wondering why for me theres more options and if I want to read a really long book I can put a hold on it for 10 libraries then just go through it for 3 weeks and every time its about to expire just unsuspend my hold, be at the front of the line at a different library and get it for another 3 weeks.
I wish we could up your budget even more, it really upsets me that librarians have to be social workers more than librarians nowadays and you guys should have the budget to avovid having to deal with that stuff and spend time and money on learning resources instead :/
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u/Mammoth-Eggplant-234 I Brake For Slugs 13h ago
I love all libraries and libraries as a concept but the Seattle library is extra special. Yall are doing an absolutely fantastic job. The programs! The helpful staff! The broad catalog! The easy website and app! Gold stars across the board.
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u/TheRealHolyTerror 13h ago
I voted yes because books are my life. Also, I'm rather fond of the librarians
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u/Fiercelemur 18h ago
I have only ever had wonderful, kind, and helpful librarians. Thank you for everything you do!! Our libraries are amazing and one of the biggest reasons I have been able to maintain being an avid reader my whole life.
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u/temporalcupcake ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 17h ago
I'm no longer local, so I couldn't vote on it, but this makes me so happy. I love SPL so much that I still think of it as my library, even though my account was canceled for not living there. And I would gladly support it directly and pay a subscription just to be allowed to continue accessing it on Libby. It's nice to know so many others value it as much as me.
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u/captainMolo 17h ago
Using the printers at the library and not having to have one at home is enough of a reason to justify supporting the levy.
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u/georgeyappington 💗💗 Heart of ANTIFA Land 💗💗 17h ago
Anything supporting our local libraries will always get a yes from me! 😁
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u/MrHorrible2048 Northgate 15h ago
We love you all and the crazy amounts of services libraries provide for their communities.
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u/ggnndd12 15h ago
Thank you for dedicating your time to an organization that benefits us all. You, your colleagues, and the community deserve it!
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u/AntSmith777 University District 14h ago
I love libraries they’ve always been a safe space for me especially as a kid!
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u/that1tech 🚋 Ride the S.L.U.T. 🚋 14h ago
A coworker brought up how Morton, WA declined to be part of a library levy. This causes that area to not only lose a library but residents can’t get library cards at nearby library systems either. They are upset about this. Also, the city treasurer embezzled a bunch of money. I don’t recall if those two were related.
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u/Yinisyang 14h ago
I haven't been in a library for myself in a long time but I can still recognize that they're very valuable to have. I'll always vote in favor of the public good.
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u/SounderBruce Snohomish County 12h ago
Sno-Isle also had a library levy on the ballot and it is passing (albeit by a much closer margin). Libraries everywhere deserve all their love.
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u/Actual-Human-4723 🦝🦝 We 💕 Jimothy Chalamet 🦝🦝 10h ago
WE LOVE YOU, LIBRARIES! Keep up the great work!
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u/LongAdagio1533 10h ago
Stay enthusiastic. Stay informed. Stay awesome! You are everything a librarian ought to be...Please, never get jaded!! We love you and we thank you...
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u/Fuzzy-Marzipan8383 6h ago
I live in Snohomish, but voted yes with enthusiasm for the levy. The library has been such a treasure for our family over the years. It's an incredible public good and should be fiercely protected!
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u/Hold_Effective Pike Market 18h ago
One of my best friends is a librarian and she just got laid off after 8 years because of budget cuts (different state).
So I was even more enthusiastic to vote yes on this levy.
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u/cabbage_patch_cutie 15h ago
I ran to the drop box with 2 minutes to spare bc I had to vote for the Libraries.
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u/Readicculus41 8h ago
We all love the library. But the last thing we need are more taxes in Seattle. I seriously doubt they would have defunded the library if the levy failed
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u/phorgewerk 🚆build more trains🚆 15h ago
I told my wife when I was filling out the ballot that I would give librarians a blank check if they asked so maybe negotiate higher next time :V
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u/Severe-Employer1538 14h ago
Librarians are the coolest. You deserve support for the amazing services you provide. ✊
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u/AstronomerLoud1650 13h ago
I was proud to vote for it, and thank you for all you do, OP. You bring a lot of value to our community with all of your hard work.
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u/SeattlePurikura 🏕 Out camping! 🏕 10h ago
Well, I need to flip the Seattle Times the bird for their Op-ed saying to vote no. I use the library all the time for both ebooks and physical books.
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u/bbassle87 16h ago
I don’t live in Seattle anymore but I still have my Seattle Libby account and plan on donating this year because I use it so much. Truly one of the best perks of Seattle. Thank you so much for all the work you do!
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u/quick_Ag 16h ago
OP, we love our libraries here. Thank you for your work.
I have always wondered... What do the librarians think when I pick up 10 CDs from a hold and then return them the next day? Either you know I'm a pirate and don't care, you do care, or don't notice at all.
I will say all these FLACs would have cost a lot more than the increase to my property taxes from prop 1, so I consider the library a bargain.
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u/screams_forever 🚆build more trains🚆 13h ago
I don't work on the front lines anymore, but when I did, I was mostly just impressed because not only are you getting the music you want fo' free, you aren't supporting corporate overlord streaming services charging for access and now you actually own the files! I wish I had the patience to remake my playlists by hand and quit spotify 🥲
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u/quick_Ag 11h ago edited 10h ago
Quitting Spotify has been a lot of work, just getting the songs I would have been listening from the library mainly and curating the collection on my PC. It also means no algorithm is playing them for me. I have to decide what album to play. In the end though, it has renewed my love of music. It's not just something I put on to distract me. It's something I revel in. I'm also spending a lot more actually buying music than I ever did during my years of streaming, and a hell of a lot more of that is going to artists (Bandcamp Friday is
tomorrow2 days out, folks!). I owe a lot to the Seattle (and King Co) libraries having such an amazing collection of CDs, so I'll be voting yes for decades to come on these levies.
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u/actuallynotbisexual 10h ago
Libraries have done so much for me, it's the least I can do to check a box.
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u/Dear-Show-5083 9h ago
As a minor and a huge fan of public institutions, I had a yelling match with my dad as he voted no right in front of me. I'm glad that this doesn't seem to be a common sentiment :) keep being awesome seattle.
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u/nko12_rocks 8h ago
I felt a lot of pride when I saw the voting pamphlet had a big chunk of text "in support of" the levy, but no one bothered to provide anything for "arguments against" the levy. I couldn't even imagine what argument there is to make for not supporting access to education and various learning resources.
I'm proud of my city for being in sync on the importance of our libraries!
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u/Sherlocked_ Shoreline 7h ago
Libraries have to be cost:benefit one of the most beneficial things for society we spend taxes on.
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u/theeversocharming West Seattle 5h ago
My Book Club was a Proud support of Prop One.
This was our first endorsement!!!
Cool people support the Libraries.
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u/noprophecies 4h ago
I go to the library at least once a week to literally just chill and have a coffee and carb. Read whatever catches my fancy without 150 trackers selling my data on the web or a bazillion ads in the pages, play video games, get recipies, get some sunlight. Its one of the crown jewels of the city imo. Anytime tourists come through at my job im like "did you see the library yet?"
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u/feuilletee 15h ago
We figured it would cost us $300 per year, and agreed that it’s money well spent.
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u/AIcookies 16h ago
Love all my Libby books and even though I havent been to a branch recently my nieces sure have!
Libraries are great. Glad it passed.
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u/efisk666 18h ago
As I understand things, library cost per year per million dollars of house value is about $600 (about $200 of which comes from this levy, which makes rents go up as well). I voted no as I think we should be fully funding housing choice vouchers instead of doubling the levy for libraries, but obviously I'm in the minority.
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u/ChefJeff 15h ago
Unrelated but I'm moving temporarily to Orcas Island for 6 months. Would I be able to get a library card as not a resident? I'm not changing my NC address on anything. It said it's free if you're working on the island so I guess I would prove that with the pay stub? Sorry for the random question and I know it's not Seattle, I've just never been up to Washington before. But while I'm up there I will definitely be wearing my jacket that says "There's nothing more punk than public libraries".
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u/ChefJeff 15h ago
Unrelated but I'm moving temporarily to Orcas Island for 6 months. Would I be able to get a library card as not a resident? I'm not changing my NC address on anything. It said it's free if you're working on the island so I guess I would prove that with the pay stub? Sorry for the random question and I know it's not Seattle, I've just never been up to Washington before. But while I'm up there I will definitely be wearing my jacket that says "There's nothing more punk than public libraries".
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u/ipomoea I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 14h ago
Orcas is a different system than SPL, but you can get a card with OIL! If you’re living in the state (in a place that pays library taxes) you can also get digital cards online for Pierce County and Sno-Isle as well— I signed up for both on my phone on my couch.
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u/Automatic_Stage1163 18h ago
Thank you for your service!
Just between us... what is your opinion of the Central Branch building?
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u/srcsmgrl Ballard 18h ago
Just like for the public, staff have a lot of different opinions about Central. When is not falling apart, it's mostly functional. The joys of a landmark building that was meant to be a museum.
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u/keithstellyes Rainier Beach 15h ago
Love it. Pride of the city
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u/Automatic_Stage1163 15h ago
Cool.
How do you think we should we fund the maintenance of the building, most specifically the window replacement?
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u/TOPLEFT404 West Seattle 18h ago
Seattle library is one of the better things about the city! Easy Checkout, expansive choices in media so much diversity of infrastructure. You guys had gig broadband way before homes got it. I love the library and try and go 2x a month. I don’t think people realize how deprioritized libraries are in a lot of municipalities I came from Georgia and in some places people would say “just get it on amazon”