When I was young, I did not live near a public library, and my mom rarely took me since it was not convenient. Luckily, I could visit my elementary school library after school, since I was a walker. Our librarian encouraged us to stop by every day to check out a book, which mattered because we only visited the library once a week during class time. A bookmobile also came through our neighborhood each month, bringing many of our favorite books right to us. At school, there was even a program where we could buy books of our own. I do not remember there being a bookstore in our neighborhood, so the school library became my main source of reading material, other than the local drugstore, where I would pick up the latest Archie or Casper comics for a dime.
When I was older and raising a family, we moved frequently. In each new community, finding the local library was just as important to us as locating the nearest grocery store or bank. My daughter Tracy was an avid reader, and when she was younger, she benefited from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Each month, she would receive a catalog to choose audiobooks, and before long, cassettes would arrive in the mail, always a special treat. We are blessed to have a local NLS presence in Seattle, where Tracy volunteered for a while after moving here. She has also worked at local branch libraries and her college library. So you can see that I consider the library to be an important friend to my family, and I hope it can become one for yours as well!
Here in Wallingford, we have a small branch of the Seattle Public Library, located at 1501 N 45th Street. Of course, you can visit the branch to check out books, but there are many other programs available to library cardholders, online and also in person throughout Seattle.
For example, the Museum Pass program allows you to visit local museums for free, using your library card. Here’s how it works:
Visit the Museum Pass website to book your passes. You can search by museum or by date. Each museum pass includes at least two adult tickets, and some passes include four or more tickets. You may reserve one pass per calendar month. This is based on your visit date, not when you make the reservation. New passes are available every day after 12 pm.
The following museums are currently participating in the Museum Pass program.
- Burke Museum: This pass admits up to two people. Children three and under enter for free.
- Center for Wooden Boats: This pass will permit 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.
- Henry Art Gallery: This pass admits up to two adults. Children 18 and under enter for free.
- Museum of Flight: This pass admits two adults and two children ages 5–17. Children four and under enter for free.
- Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI): This pass admits up to two people. Children 14 and under enter for free.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): This pass admits up to two adults and two children ages 5–17. Children four and under enter for free.- National Nordic Museum: This pass admits up to two people for free.
- Northwest African American Museum: This pass admits up to two adults. Children three and under enter for free.
- Northwest Railway Museum: This pass admits up to four people.
- Pacific Science Center: This pass admits up to two adults, six youth, and two caregivers.
- Seattle Aquarium: This pass admits up to four people. Children three and under enter for free.
Seattle Art Museum: This pass admits up to two people. Children 14 and under enter for free.- Seattle Children’s Museum: This pass admits up to two people for free.
- Seattle Japanese Garden: This pass admits up to two adults. Children 18 and under enter for free.
- Volunteer Park Conservatory: This pass admits up to two adults. Children 18 and under enter for free.
- Wing Luke Museum: This pass admits up to two people for free.
- Woodland Park Zoo: This pass admits up to four people. Children two and under enter for free.
And now, here is some information that our local Wallingford librarian would like to share:
First, we have a Firefighter Story Time coming up at the Wallingford Branch on Thursday, May 21, at 11 am. It’s always a fun community event and a great opportunity for families to connect with local firefighters while building early literacy skills.
Regarding the building itself, the Wallingford Branch is currently located in the Solid Ground building, and our current lease runs through 2029. While there isn’t a specific update about a future space yet, the library continues to evaluate long-term opportunities for the branch as part of broader system planning.
Mayor Katie Wilson recently announced a proposed $410 million Library Levy that would fund The Seattle Public Library from 2027–2033, pending City Council review and voter approval this August. The levy helps sustain open hours, collections, building maintenance, technology, and programming across the system. More details are available here.
Please check out the Wallingford branch of the library! I think it is important to show that we want to continue to have a library branch in our neighborhood—2029 will be here before we know it.
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