Seattle Public Library – Capitol Hill Branch

Nice, cozy, and clean– Everyone is helpful and wi-​fi is fast. This place will get busy most afternoon, but morning things stay pretty quiet.

Been going back a lot because I live close. This library is useless. They hardly stock any books here (everything I search for is at the downtown location, not here). Their scanner does not work. The computers are always crowded. This library sucks. Go to the Central Library.

I finally got a library card!!! It’s a great feeling knowing that you have the ability to go and borrow books, dvds, audiobooks, magazines, etc. for free! It’s also a great feeling knowing there is a nice, quiet place to relax and browse through the shelves.
This branch is impeccably clean, and the customer service I received from a woman at the front desk was warm and informative.
There are computers available for use, and a lot of well lit private areas to do some undisturbed reading. There are even divided little benches outside to read outside. They have self checkouts which is great if maybe you are a little embarrassed about the literature you are borrowing.
Just a tip:
Make an online account, and use this to put whatever you’d like from the catalog on hold. There are not a ton of options from walking into the Library itself, but there is an incredible number of books, dvds, etc. within circulation. It just might take a couple of weeks.

4.5 stars. After 2.5 years in Seattle, I finally got to check out a library while accompanying my friend to pick her library card up. Immediately upon walking in, I was impressed by such a clean modern, look of this cozy and welcoming library. The staff there was very nice and helpful. When I went to get my own library card the next day, a female staff definitely spent time introducing me to the library and its resources. Although the library may be limited in selection (–0.5 stars), you can request for a book from another library inside the Seattle system or download digital copies online and listen to them at your own whim as well… so it’s actually quite convenient. They also have some special programs like movie night and/​or staff selection of books that fit their showcasing theme, etc.
I have always wanted to check out public libraries in Seattle for such a long time. Now that I have checked this one out and am very satisfied with the location, the cleanliness and the service, I will definitely be frequenting this place more often!

Laptop camper here. The Capitol Hill branch is attractive, fairly new and cozy (small). The exterior features an eye catching triangular grid structure covered by climbing vines. It’s especially pretty at night when illuminated.
When you’re sitting inside the library, it feels like you’re in one giant, crowded room. There is an upstairs but it’s mostly filled with group meeting rooms. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to use the upstairs quiet room but it’s limited to a handful of people.
The free wi-​fi draws many laptop campers who sit at long communal tables and type away. They also have a few seats outside for outdoor laptop campers. They have library computers too and they’re usually all taken. It always seems to be busy inside with a loud kid running around or hollering.
Self-​checkout available. Be sure to go online to request materials be delivered to your local branch for pickup.
You know you love me. X0 X0, laptop camper.

The Capitol Hill branch of the SPL has been my neighborhood branch for several years now, and it’s probably my favorite. Generally I tend to be a fan of the more classic, vintage-​looking library buildings, and this location is quite modern, but it fits in with the neighborhood perfectly and still manages to feel cozy and welcoming. It has a lovely living green wall on the façade, which reaches inside and marries the modernity of glass and brick with the natural world.
The librarians have always been extremely friendly and helpful. My visits to the library have generally been brief — I mostly place holds on materials online and go pick them up instead of browsing the shelves or using numerous other library services, but every visit has been pleasant. There’s free parking underneath the building, and it’s located centrally enough that it’s a convenient walk from almost anywhere on the Hill.

Small, but nice, public library. If you can’t find what you need, the library system is happy to trans-​ship your books from one branch to another, which is really awesome. They do have a few computers for Internet here, but they’re usually full — go to the Central Library downtown if you want a computer as they have banks & banks of them and there is usually not a long wait.
I do like the exterior of this library a great deal — the green wall is so cool! Plus the hidden benches seem like a nice place to relax, and I think I’ve seen a couple drug deals go down, which is … entertaining, at a minimum.
Librarians here are nice & patient with the crazies, which is super sweet.

WiFi Champion! All Seattle Libraries are wifi champions for their plentiful and speedy complimentary web access. I can stop in here, sit down at a table and get some web work done very conveniently.
The architect did a great job with this library. The design is modern and it doesn’t look like the city threw an excessive amount of money at the project. The exterior of the building relies on vines cover huge sections of brick wall, which might normally be a bad thing, but this building does it so effectively it makes the greenery and landscaping seem as much a part of the building as the bricks. The entire East side of the building is covered in climbing vines except for the window bays that reach out from the building wall to connect with the metal grid the vines climb on… a really cool effect!
Also, when you look at the outside it appears there aren’t THAT many windows, but when you go inside there is a surprising amount of natural light in the main room of the library. The windows around the ceiling let light through to sustain a bunch of green viney plants which are somehow planted way up high near the ceiling. The result is an interesting tint to the natural light in the room and comforting environment with bricks, wood, plants and books all around.

This place is conveniently located just off Broadway, is stylishly designed and even offers a little parking garage. I enjoy working at the spacious tables and browsing the surprisingly large DVD and CD sections as well.
I have only two problems with this place. First off, it get crowded really fast due to it’s relatively small size. Second, there always seems to be a crazy person or two wandering around causing trouble. Seriously, it has gotten so bad at times that a security guard has been called in to pull a shift in order to prevent an incident from happening. Maybe it’s because there are halfway houses scattered around, maybe the prime location also brings in the crazies or maybe it’s just Capitol Hill’s personality shining through. Whatever the case, be aware of your surroundings when at this branch.
Remember kids: «Knowing is half the battle!»

I really like this library.
It’s clean, there’s always a place to sit and the wifi is super fast! There’s also free parking underground and they’re open until 8pm.
I like being able to use the library as my Netflix — put a dvd on hold via
and in a few days, it’s ready to get picked up.
I don’t really like the self check out though. You have to place everything on some white scanner thing and then use the computer to accept what you’re checking out, but it doesn’t always work correctly and can be a pain.

I have a goal. It’s not a lofty one by any means… but I’d like to visit every library in our Seattle Public Library system. I haven’t placed an end date on this endeavour so I’m taking my sweet time. And one lazy day, I found myself in the neighbourhood at a prime parking spot so I thought I’d cross this branch off my list.
I’m glad I did. It’s a beautiful structure! I love the plants that wind their way through the building and the huge reading area. It was full of quiet hipsters reading, surfing the net or texting quietly. On the day that I stopped in, there was a plethora of sunshine so the library was awash in warm natural light.
If this is your local branch and you haven’t gone, you should be ashamed! Seattle has some of the prettiest branches I’ve ever seen. Why not take advantage of a resource that is available to all?

I love the library, but why, oh why, does the densest neighborhood in the city have to have what seems to be the tiniest library? This place is NEVER quiet, and it’s always packed. I like a library where I can get lost in a good book or become absorbed in research, or where my kids can roam the children’s section without bumping into each other. Why so tiny and so loud, Capitol Hill Library???

Definitely not the largest library in town, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in many other areas. Size isn’t everything, right? Friendly librarians, cozy sitting areas, lots of light from big windows and the all-​important Quiet Room upstairs that I love to take advantage of for studying. Bonus points for being so close to my apartment.

When boredom sets in, Unilocal and the library keeps me from counting if my bed sheet truly has 400 threads.
I love the convenience of borrowing books, movies and music online. I’ll get an e-​mail when they’re available at my local library for pick up. When I go there, I always end up browsing the magazine section.
Capitol Hill library is clean, light-​filled with soaring ceiling, and enveloped by glass and brick walls. Vine plants creep their way throughout the trellises in and out of the building. The library has rooms available for public meetings. There’s a good number of desktop with Internet access and tables if you bring your own notebook. Free wifi.
There’s a section for LGBT collections on the northeast corner. And for those who breed as a lifestyle choice, the kids section is in the southwest corner. The librarians? They’re friendly and very helpful.
The biggest plus: the Belltown, Downtown or Pioneer Square vagrants who tear up books and wash or shoot in restrooms are nowhere to be found. They’re all in the Tetris-​looking library downtown.

I might even use the L-​O-​V-​E word here.
I like the selection of movies I can browse through for free, and discreetly checkout comics and cookbooks in the self check out. Staff is friendly.
And it’s cozy. I can count on a pretty relaxing and quiet atmosphere.
Often if I’m on my way home from the QFC I stop by and see if there’s any new books because it’s just too easy.
And as a bonus, this branch is open until 8.

my sweet CH lib, why did i move so far away? how i miss you.
remember the good times we had? hawking the newly restocked dvd section for abstract documentaries was great until i got passive-​aggressively overrun by scenester hipsters looking for coffee table conversation pieces. i even memorized my entire library card ID number just so i could look cool typing the whole damn thing in when i checked out. and the yoga class i went to upstairs? too bad that got shut down. sure, i thought all those old eccentric fogeys didn’t exactly make it a see-​and-​be-​seen place yet but i never lost hope.
i still love you, my dear, despite the $ 500 worth of damage one of the poles in the garage caused to my car. and i’ve forgiven you, even if i can’t seem to forget that one time my car was locked in there overnight.

I’ve mostly used this library when I’ve needed to use the Internet or print something but every experience has been great!
When I first moved to the area I went in to get a library card and the woman at the information desk was extremely helpful. She even told me, «Welcome to Seattle.» AWW!
The library itself is in a great location and it’s very modern in design. I love how clean and quiet and welcoming it feels. Each time I’ve been there other visitors are quiet and respectful as well. Good experiences all around.

I’m totally weirded out by the bathroom system here. You climb the stairs (or take the elevator, whatever) and walk along an open balcony above the rest of the library and then ring a doorbell. Something at the front desk beeps; a library staffer looks up and sees you and then pushes a button to let you in.
Oh, the library? You want I should review the rest of it? It’s a library! You check crap out for free and then bring it back later. Same old same old. This branch is one of the smaller ones but it’s clean enough, well lit enough, has good enough hours. I can’t get over that bathroom setup though.

I love how easy it was to get a library card here. I didn’t have to show a WA ID, which is good because I’m not relinquishing my CA license until I absolutely have to – there was a written test to get it – ’nuff said. I also didn’t need to show proof of residence. Easy peasy.
The library system here is Netflix-​esque, which I dig for the most part. You look up books online, request them from other branches, and then pick them up in a week or so (or a year if it’s something popular). The librarians put them out for you, alphabetically organized, so you can swoop in and check them out yourself. Yay! I do miss the instant gratification though; they really don’t have many books at this branch, and I have about a 30% success rate for finding something just on the shelf.
This branch is also reaaallly crowded at all hours of the day. I dig the window seats and the tables scattered about, but the chances of being able to sit where you want (or anywhere) are kind of slim. Apparently there are some conference rooms and whatnot upstairs, but no one ever seems to be using them. I wish the architect had designed a loft area for seating, because there is more demand than supply.
Despite some negatives, there are many positives, and I’m glad this is only a few blocks from my apartment.

I was — and still am, to be honest — really excited to get a library card after many library-​less years of actually buying books off the internet. I love that there is a free parking garage, I love that I can use the website to put books on hold and have them sent to the Capitol Hill library for me to pick up. I don’t love the rather small selection of books (which, I suppose, is made less of an issue by the ability to put books on hold…), but I am usually willing to deal with it.
However, some of the people working there… I really don’t love them. I stopped in on Saturday morning to pick up some books I’d put on hold, and, since there were a few, I had to pick them up at the desk. I gave my «pick the books up at the desk» thing to the woman behind the counter, who grunted and wordlessly took it from me. Then she found my books, all but threw them onto the counter in front of me, and walked away. I was actually kind of offended. I am obviously still going to use this library, but I was pretty put off by this, especially because it was one of the only interactions I’ve had thus far with the staff.