The Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., will close effective Monday, May 9 for up to two months for refurbishing and interior improvements.

Parking garage hours will be revised to match the hours of the Ballard Neighborhood Service Center and a temporary book drop will be installed between the main entrances of the branch and the NSC. Most of the branch will be fenced off during construction.

The 15,000-square-foot branch opened in May 2005, thanks to the 1998 voter-approved “Libraries for All” bond measure that renewed and revitalized libraries across the city. It is one of the most heavily used branches in the Library system.

After 11 years of use, the branch needs to be recarpeted. While the branch is closed for that work, the Library also will consolidate staff service desks, add comfortable seating, group most public computers in a single area and add a self-checkout kiosk. The changes are based on branch usage and trends in library services.

The changes to the layout are part of City Librarian Marcellus Turner’s vision for The Seattle Public Library. One of his five service priorities is “re-imagined spaces” – adapt Library spaces for new uses in keeping with changing services, programs, interests and needs of Library users and the ways they use Library spaces.
While the branch is closed, patrons may choose any other Library location as a pickup location for items placed on hold and may return materials to any branch.

If patrons don’t select an alternate branch, their holds will be sent to the Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-4086.

Several programs will be temporarily relocated in May and June during the closure and the Library’s new bookmobile will provide limited access to books and other materials on selected days.

Preschool story times, the evening book group and the It’s About Time Writers’ Reading Series will be held at the Greenwood Branch. Baby story times will be held at the Magnolia Branch and the morning book group will meet at the Neighborhood Service Center.

A bookmobile with a small collection of adult, young adult and children’s materials available for checkout will be parked along 22nd Avenue Northwest between Northwest 56th and Northwest 57th streets on select Fridays and Sundays during the closure.

Please check the Ballard Branch calendar of events for the full schedule.
The construction work is expected to be completed within about two months.
For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.