By Ron Chew
Seattle Public Library trustee
My passion for the craft of storytelling began during my time as a reporter with the UW Daily. Eventually, it led me to multiple careers as a community journalist, historian, museum director and health care advocate. I’m forever grateful for the small Beacon Hill library that nurtured and sustained my intellectual growth since childhood. I now serve on the board of trustees of the Seattle Public Library (SPL) so I can give a little something back to the next generation of readers and learners in our community. Libraries provide free programming for families, a welcoming third place for youth, resources for immigrants and refugees, and a safe, enriching space for seniors. We cannot take these treasures for granted.
This August, Seattle voters will decide the future of the city’s public library system. The Seattle Library Levy will be on the August ballot as Proposition 1, a $479.76 million package that accounts for one third of the SPL’s overall funding for the next seven years. The funding supplied by the Levy will support the SPL’s ability to remain open and accessible for the many people who seek its services. In addition, it funds seismic retrofit projects and ADA improvements to ensure Seattle’s 27 libraries remain safe and welcoming. Beyond the nuts and bolts of this levy, Prop 1 is an opportunity for Seattleites to affirm the values that define our city. A vote for Prop 1 is more than just a check for infrastructure or programming—it is an investment in the stories that define Seattle’s past, and the people who will shape the city’s future.
In 2025 alone, SPL logged 3.4 million in-person visits with an average of 24 check-outs per minute. With over 430,000 active patrons, SPL is a pillar of our community, offering resources and programming for families, teens, immigrants, and seniors. This levy funding will allow SPL to keep pace with rising demand by expanding its offering of both physical and digital materials.
Some have argued we can’t afford to invest in libraries when the cost-of-living is so high, but libraries are an important resource especially when other costs are rising because they offer free resources in the form of wifi hot spots, internet access, books, digital subscriptions, museum passes, and career development tools. And, if approved, the 2026 Library Levy will represent only 7% of the total property tax a homeowner pays.
This levy vote comes at a time when equitable access to information and education are under threat from federal cuts.
The stakes of this election are clear, and for this reason, the Yes Seattle Libraries campaign has garnered support from a diverse array of organizations and individuals. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from a career committed to social justice and community access, it’s that we are the keepers of our own stories. This next chapter in our city’s history will not be written by celebrities or politicians; it will be decided by the people. This August, remember the power you hold in deciding what this next chapter will bring. Vote yes on Prop 1, and invest in the story of Seattle.
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