Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month book titles against an ornate tiled background. The book titles featured include: The Skin and It's Girl by Sarah Cypher, My Egypt: Cooking from my Roots by Michael Mina, Playing for Freedom by Zarifa Adiba and Anne Chaon, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit by Hayan Charara, The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan by Salma Hussain, and This Arab is Queer by Elias Jahshan.

Autism Awareness Month book titles in front of a light blue background with translucent autism infinity symbols on top of it. The book titles featured include: A Glimmer of Change by Elle McNicoll, All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow, A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond, Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll, Invisible Differences by Julie Dachez, Welcome to AuDHD by Megan Griffith, AfroTistic by Kala Allen Omeiza, and A Little Less Broken by Marian Schembari.

April is also Middle Eastern and North African Heritage Month and Autism Awareness Month! Check out titles written by and about these communities at bit.ly/AprilBooklists.

ASL Story Times Person in a black cape signing during an ASL Story Time for Halloween. Fairwood Library Sunday, April 5 11:15am-12:15pm Person sitting on the ground signing to a child at the library. Kenmore Library Saturday, April 11 11:15am-12:15pm Deaf History Month Booklist Picks Six book covers; Someone to Daydream About by Sydney Landford, All Day by Christine Sun Kim, Dreams Take Flight by Brittany Richman, Articulate by Rachel Kolb, Deaf Poetry Now!! by Raymond Luczak, I Felt the Cheers by Curtis Pride.

Celebrate Deaf History Month with us this April at one of our ASL Story Times! Find more info about ASL Story Times at bit.ly/ASLStoryTimeApril.

Can't make it? Check out titles that honor the rich linguistic diversity of the Deaf community at bit.ly/DeafHistoryKCLS.

Transgender Day of Visibility Reads -- a staff-created list from King County Library System March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility. Find books by and about transgender and non-binary people.

Today is Trans Day of Visibility. We celebrate the lives of transgender people who are able to live authentically, while also acknowledging that not every trans person can or wants to be visible. Find books by and about transgender and non-binary people on our booklist: bit.ly/TDOVKCLS.

Regional Staff Learning Day Closures Wednesday, April 8 (Rainier Region) Algona-Pacific, Auburn, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, and Muckleshoot Libraries Tuesday, April 14 (Lakeview Region) Bellevue, Crossroads, Lake Hills, and Newport Way Libraries Thursday, April 16 (Olympic Region) Boulevard Park, Burien, Greenbridge, Vashon, Tukwila, and White Center Libraries Wednesday, April 22 (Cedar Region) Fairwood, Kent, Kent Panther Lake, Maple Valley, and Southcenter Libraries Thursday, April 23 (Glacier Region) Carnation, Duvall, Kingsgate, Kirkland, Skykomish, and Woodinville Libraries

Tuesday, April 28 (Riverview Region) Issaquah, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Renton, Renton Highlands, and Skyway Libraries Wednesday, April 29 (Alder Region) Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Richmond Beach, and Shoreline Libraries Tuesday, May 5 (Cascade Region) Fall City, North Bend, Redmond, Redmond Ridge, Sammamish, and Snoqualmie Libraries Thursday, May 7 (Soundview Region) Des Moines, Federal Way, Federal Way 320th Valley View, and Woodmont Libraries

This spring, libraries in each KCLS region will have a one-day closure for a staff learning day. During closures, you can return books using the exterior drop. Public Wi-Fi will be available outside the building. For more info, visit kcls.org/news/library-closures-fo...

This is AMAZING! You absolutely get bonus points 🤩

Many KCLS locations are closed or have abbreviated hours today due to inclement weather. Closures will be updated throughout the day on our website: https://bit.ly/KCLSLocations

Tax Help at KCLS! 127 events, 8 libraries and $5 of free printing per week. Bulleted list displays services offered, which are: Free tax help from local organizations, Small Business Help Desk, Property tax exemption information, and Working Families Tax Credit application assistance.

Tax season got you down? We're here to help! Print tax forms, get one-on-one assistance, and find out if you qualify for exemptions, all for free at KCLS. Find resources near you at https://kcls.org/tax-help/

Update: Fall City Library is now open.

Carnation, Fall City, and North Bend Library will be closed today, Thursday, March 12, due to weather-related power outages. For up-to-date information on KCLS locations, visit our website: https://bit.ly/KCLSLocations

We love seeing you love KCLS Rewind! Sign up now: kcls.org/kcls-rewind/.

Honoring the Land: Indigenous Author Panel Conversation Join us for a powerful conversation featuring Indigenous authors and climate specialists sharing perspectives on environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and the role of ancestral knowledge in shaping sustainable futures. A Q&A will follow the pa...

Join us for a conversation and Q&A featuring Indigenous authors and climate specialists on Saturday, March 14, at the Muckleshoot Library. This event is co-created with the Muckleshoot Tribal College and Children of the Setting Sun Productions.

For more information, visit bit.ly/HonoringTheLand.

Holi Celebration Books for Kids -- a staff-created list from King County Library System Celebrate Holi with these books. Holi is a Hindu celebration that marks the beginning of spring.

Today is Holi or the "Festival of Colors," a Hindu tradition that marks the beginning of spring. People celebrate Holi with dancing, food, and throwing colored powders called "gulal." Check out our kids' booklist to learn more: bit.ly/HoliReads.

Remember when reading got you free pizza? We're bringing it back! Sign up online at kcls.org/kcls-rewind or in person at your library. A huge thank you to the King County Library System Foundation for making our '90s dreams come true and to Pagliacci Pizza for their generosity!

Women's History Month booklist graphic. The graphic features 9 books from the booklist including: For the Sun After Long Nights by Fatemeh Jamalpour, The Bodyguard Unit by Clément Xavier, Milloo's Mind by Reem Faruqi, A Bookshop of One's Own by Jane Cholmeley, Toni at Random by Dana A. Williams, At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly, The ABCs of Women's History by Rio Cortez, Be the Light by Daria Peoples, and Seeds of Discovery by Lori Alexander.

Happy Women's History Month! This month we reflect on the resilience, achievements, and contributions of the women who have shaped our world. Find stories of women who support both people and the planet in our booklist: bit.ly/WomensHistoryReads.

The Bellevue Library will be closed March 7–8, with limited computer availability on March 6 after 3pm, for the KCLS Foundation's Literary Lions Gala: https://www.kclsfoundation.org/llg2026

Japanese Internment Day of Remembrance Reads -- a staff-created list from King County Library System Read stories commemorating Japanese American internment during World War II. Browse a list of our picks for all ages.

Today is Japanese Internment Day of Remembrance. We honor the Japanese Americans forcibly incarcerated during World War II. Visit Bellevue Library to see the art installation "Emerging Radiance: Honoring the Nikkei Farmers of Bellevue" and check out our booklist: bit.ly/DayOfRemembranceReads.

Graphic showcasing 9 book covers from the KCLS Ramadan booklist. The book covers are [in left to right, top to bottom order]; Desified by Zaynah Din, Ali The Great and the Eid Party Surprise by Saadia Faruqi, Once Upon an Eid by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi, Ramadan on Rahma Road by Razeena Omar Gutta, Rooza by Nadiya Hussain, The Month of Ramadan by Inda Ahmad Zahri, Salaam, With Love by Sara Sharaf Beg, and Sadiq and the Ramadan Gift by Siman Nuurali.

Ramadan starts today at sundown and will last through March 19. Muslims observe this holy month as a time of spiritual growth and self-discipline. Discover the traditions, heritage, and history of Ramadan with our booklist: bit.ly/RamadanBooklist.

Lunar New Year Events at KCLS, organized by date. A horse illustration (for the Year of the Horse) and two paper lanterns in KCLS colors decorate the graphic. On 2/14 there are 3 events; Celebrate Lunar New Year with Mak Fai Lion Dance 2:00–2:30pm Bothell Library Lunar New Year Celebration! 2:00–4:00pm Renton Highlands Library Lunar New Year Chinese Story Time 歡慶春節 中文故事時間 3:00PM–3:45pm Bothell Library On 2/18 there is one event; Mandarin Story Time 中文家庭故事会 1:00PM–2:00pm Shoreline Library On 2/19 there is one event; The Story of the Zodiac Animals (Story Time) 12:00PM–1:00pm Issaquah Library On 2/20 there is one event; Lunar New Year Vietnamese Story Time 11:00–12:00pm Renton Highlands Library

More events listed on this second slide as follows. On 2/21 there are 4 events; Lunar New Year Chinese Story Time 歡慶春節 中文故事時間 11:00–12:00pm Online event (Registration Required) Lunar New Year Story Time with Illustrator Michelle Jing Chan 11:30–12:30pm Newport Way Library Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Ball Desserts) Workshop 11:30–1:00pm Bellevue Library (Registration Required) Saturday Crafterday: Lunar New Year 11:30–12:30pm Valley View Library On 2/23 there is one event; Mandarin Story Time 中文家庭故事会 11:30–12:00pm Sammamish Library On 2/24 there is one event; Celebrating Lunar New Year: Lucky Knot Workshop 5:30–7:30pm Bellevue Library (Registration Required) On 3/1 there is one event; Newcastle's Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 1:00–4:00pm Risdon Middle School

Celebrate the Year of the Horse at one of our many Lunar New Year events! Listen to a story, learn a new craft (or recipe!) or watch a performance. Find all the events on our website at bit.ly/KCLSLunarNewYear.

Bright yellow background with eight book covers from the KCLS Black History Month Booklist. The book covers are as follows (top to bottom, left to right); Black in Blues by Imani Perry, Black Hair Can by Sylvia Rodriguez, Driven by the Movement by JoNina Abron-Ervin, The History of We by Nikkolas Smith, The Afterlife of Malcolm X by Mark Whitaker, This Is Not a Small Voice Poems by Black Poets, Afrofuturism by a History of Black Futures, and How Sweet the Sound by Kwame Alexander.

Happy Black History Month! This year marks the 100th anniversary of celebrating Black history in the United States.

Read about Black and African American history and stories of resistance from our booklist here: bit.ly/KCLSBHMReads.

Current Job Openings | King County Library System Welcome!

Join our facilities team as a Project Manager! KCLS is looking for highly organized, detail-oriented applicants to help guide facilities projects.

Learn more about the position and apply before Thursday, 1/22: bit.ly/facilitiespm.

Celebration Story Time with Artist Bethany Fackrell All ages welcome with an adult. Join us as we unveil our new children's area mural! Be there for stories, to meet the artist, and explore our refreshed children's space. About the Artist Bethany Fackrell, Snoqualmie Tribe member and Veteran - who create...

Celebrate the unveiling of the refreshed Sammamish Library children's area this Thursday, January 8 at 10:30am! Join us for a ribbon-cutting and special Story Time with the artist behind the refresh (and one of our library cards), Bethany Fackrell.

Find more info at bit.ly/sammamishchildrensarea.

2026 Ins and Outs Ins: - Reading instead of doomscrolling - Using your library card for more than just books - Personalized book recommendations as gifts - Cancelling your streaming services (and using Kanopy and Hoopla for FREE instead) - Becoming a regular at your local library Outs: - Feeling bad about not finishing a book - life is too short to read books you're not vibing with! - Expecting to ever fully get through your TBR - Shaming book genres or mediums (we audiobooks and Romantasy here!) - Spoilers - Gatekeeping your favorite reads

Anything we forgot to add? Let us know in the replies. 👇 #2026InsAndOuts #InsAndOuts

Contact Us Need help with your account? Have questions about borrowing? Ask questions or get help. Call, email, or chat with us.

It should be working! Reach out via chat, email or call if you're still experiencing issues: kcls.org/ask/

Kwanzaa Reads -- a staff-created list from King County Library System Learn about the African American tradition of Kwanzaa. It is a time to come together, celebrate culture and remember the past.

Today is the start of Kwanzaa! The African American and Pan-African holiday focuses on seven principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.

Find books about Kwanzaa traditions here: bit.ly/kwanzaareads.

Books to Celebrate Christmas -- a staff-created list from King County Library System Learn about the many ways Christmas can be celebrated. Find stories about holiday traditions and rituals from around the world.

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating this week! Whether you're spending time with family and friends or finding joy in your own way, we hope you experience the love and generosity of the holiday.

Find stories about holiday traditions from around the world: bit.ly/kclschristmasbooklist.

Final Budget 2026 Budget The annual budget keeps our libraries running and thriving, supporting the services our neighbors and community members...

The KCLS Board of Trustees approved our 2026 Budget, which goes into effect January 1, 2026. Check out our finalized strategic priorities, revenue overview and more at kcls.org/budget/.

We just hit 11 million digital loans in 2025! This huge milestone is thanks to all of you who enjoy KCLS's digital resources. Looking forward to millions more in 2026. 🥳 📚

King County Library System Search the library catalog, put holds on books, find homework help for students, parents, and teachers, and look up open hours and…

Link is here! kcls.org/library-cards/

A cycle diagram with a stack of books in the middle. The cycle shows "Returning a book to the library" then "Checking out a new book from the library" then "Returning home to my stack of other library books" and finally "Finishing a book from the library," where the cycle starts again.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs; a triangle signifying "Basic needs" "Psychological needs" and "Self Fulfillment needs," all the categories are covered with the words "Going to the library."

"the only card that never declines," followed by 4 of the KCLS library card designs and text that reads "(a kcls library card)."

The best holiday gift is a KCLS library card! Get one today and find out more at the link in our bio.

Hanukkah Reads -- a staff-created list from King County Library System Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday. Read stories that celebrate culture and the meaning of the “Festival of Lights."

Tonight marks the start of Hannukkah (or Chanukah)! The eight-day Jewish celebration known the "Festival of Lights" is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, food, games and gifts. Explore our holiday booklist here: bit.ly/KCLSHanukkahReads.