Green Lake library in Seattle closing until 2024 for seismic retrofit

The Seattle Public Library’s 113-year-old Green Lake branch will close Wednesday for renovations and won’t reopen until early 2024.

Patrons can’t visit or return books at Green Lake during the closure, and the parking lot won’t be available for parking. The nearest Library branches are Greenwood, Northeast, University and Wallingford.

The multimillion dollar project, mostly funded by a property tax levy Seattle voters approved in 2019, will give the Green Lake branch a seismic retrofit, an accessibility upgrade, air conditioning and a remodeled interior, including new study rooms, lighting and furniture.

The Green Lake branch, located on East Green Lake Drive North across from Green Lake Park, is one of three buildings being renovated as part of the city’s 2019 levy, which is raising $219 million over seven years. The University and Columbia branches will be next, according to the Library’s schedule, with the three projects using about $14 million in levy funds. The Green Lake, University and Columbia branches were each built more than 100 years ago with grants from steel baron and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

… 1.29.23 Seattle Times article