At a time of widespread and growing misinformation, censorship and low literacy, it’s extra necessary than ever that our libraries stay robust, open and welcoming to all.
In Seattle, we perceive the immense worth of free entry to info and training for everybody. Using our public library underscores that.
The Seattle Public Library has greater than 440,000 lively customers and circulates a whopping 24 gadgets per minute. It ranks within the Prime 10 worldwide for digital ebook checkouts. The long-lasting Central Library and 26 neighborhood branches are visited tens of millions of instances, and host a whole bunch of 1000’s of laptop classes and 1000’s of neighborhood conferences, every year.
On March 10, Mayor Katie Wilson proposed a $410 million, seven-year library levy to switch the one which expires on the finish of this 12 months. Greater than 80% of that may merely proceed present levy-funded companies, adjusted for inflation, and canopy current price range cuts from town’s basic fund.
The remaining funds are inadequate to cowl the prices, calls for and repair challenges which have emerged for the reason that present levy was authorised in 2019.
As proposed, the 2026 levy wouldn’t present sufficient for the system to fulfill the wants of our rising and diversifying inhabitants.
We should make investments extra in our books, packages and buildings. Because the Metropolis Council begins the method of amending the proposed levy bundle, its members have a possibility to approve a levy that matches what our neighborhood wants from its library.
Why do we’d like extra books? For the reason that pandemic, checkouts of e-books have surged and now surpass borrowing of print books. However because of pricing fashions employed within the publishing trade, these digital books price libraries three to 5 instances as a lot as bodily ones.
Due to excessive demand and excessive prices, wait instances at the moment are far too lengthy for well-liked titles. To supply sufficient books to fulfill Seattle’s altering wants, the library wants not less than $10 million greater than the proposed 2026 levy gives to scale back wait instances for e-books and introduce a digital model of the favored Peak Picks program.
Why do we’d like extra packages? They assist remedy our rising literacy disaster. Right this moment, solely half of Washington college students are studying at grade stage — a six-percentage-point decline for the reason that pandemic and the bottom literacy proficiency charges for the reason that Nineteen Nineties.
1000’s of younger folks throughout Seattle study to learn and develop a love of studying by packages like International Studying Problem, Story Time, Homework Assist and Elevating A Reader. The levy ought to broaden programming to succeed in folks of all ages at this identical stage of service. However the proposed levy doesn’t embrace sufficient funding to adequately serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors, individuals who want social service referrals, and lots of different teenagers, adults and seniors.
Why do we have to put money into our buildings? Our “latest” branches will flip 20 years outdated within the subsequent 12 months, and a number of other others are approaching 120. These libraries, together with the once-glittering Central Library, are displaying the wear and tear and tear that comes from being so well-loved.
The proposed levy contains $29 million in new funding for important tasks like a seismic retrofit of the historic Columbia Department and primary deferred upkeep work across the system. However the library estimates that it wants not less than $75 million extra over the approaching decade to maintain areas protected, clear and welcoming. Until the levy is elevated, we are going to solely scratch the floor of those wants.
We acknowledge Seattle’s affordability disaster and that town is nearing its levy restrict, however the library levy would represent simply 6% of that capability — even when the mayor’s $410 million proposal is elevated to $500 million as we suggest. The typical house owner would pay about $15 a month to finance a $500 million levy — lower than the price of a single ebook. A vibrant library system is the muse of an inexpensive metropolis; it’s how we assure that books and information belong to everybody.
The Metropolis Council can considerably enhance the 2026 levy earlier than it reaches voters for approval in August. Further funding ensures the library expands entry to books and literacy packages, helps training and enrichment for everybody, and retains our treasured library areas protected and welcoming.
Stroll into any of the library’s 27 buildings and you will note how a lot Seattle loves this important establishment. We name on the Metropolis Council to approve a levy that matches that affection and gives the sources to make sure we stay a metropolis the place everybody can learn, develop and belong.
