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Plan Your Visit

Visit a library to browse collections. Return items 24/7. Print from your own device or use a computer. Reserve a meeting or study room.

All libraries are open.

Find out how to use any of these services in the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.

Visit a Library

Browse the collection. Pick up holds. Use computers, copiers, and printers. Attend an event. Get help from staff.

How to visit a library

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Find locations open for visits

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Find events

Pick Up Holds from a 24/7 Locker

Pick up holds anytime at lockers outside the library. We'll call or email you when your items are ready. You'll have three days to pick them up.

How to use lockers

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Find lockers

Return Items

Return items anytime to a book drop or Self-Check-in station.

How to return items

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Find book drops

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Find Self-Check-in stations

Print from Your Own Device

Send a document to a library printer. Then, drop by to print it inside the library. Print for free using your weekly printing allowance.

How to use printing services

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Find printers

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Print a document

Use a Library Computer

Log in to a public computer with your library card. Print for free using your weekly printing allowance. Drop by to check for an available computer. Or, make a reservation.

How to use library computers

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Reserve a computer

Reserve a Room

Request a space to host a meeting or telework at your library. Connect to online meetings using videoconferencing technology equipment in rooms at select libraries. Find a meeting or study room at your library.

Meeting Room Use Policy

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Request a room

Help the library stay open and safe.

Please do not use the library if you:

  • have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or
  • have a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Have a question? Need help?

We're open for phone, email, and chat. 

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Contact Us

 Visiting the Library FAQs

  • We are in the middle of a massive recruitment process. As staff levels continue to increase, hours will gradually expand throughout the summer.

  • What changes do you want to see at your library? How can we better meet your needs? Go to our comment form, opens a new window to share your suggestions. 

  •  King County Library System (KCLS) libraries are closed on the following holidays each year:

    • New Year’s Day
    • Martin Luther King’s Birthday
    • Presidents’ Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Juneteenth
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Native American Heritage Day
    • Christmas Eve
    • Christmas Day

    Check individual location pages, opens a new window for current dates specific to your local library. Holiday and closure information is posted on individual location pages. Look for the "Holidays & Closures" box and select "View all Holidays & Closures" to expand the list.

    How Holidays Impact Services

    You can still use some contactless and online services while we're closed. Find out how the holidays impact services.

    Customer Service

    Ask KCLS staff are unavailable for email, chat, or phone calls on holidays. Staff are unavailable to respond to questions on our social media accounts.
     

    Digital Access

    You will continue to have access to your online account and digital collections. You can download eBooks, stream music and movies, and more. Find digital services that you can use while libraries are closed.
     

    Returns and Locker Holds

    Book drops and Self-Check-in stations are open on holidays. You can return items to book drops while we are closed.
     
    Lockers are available as a hold pickup option at select library locations. Lockers are available 24/7. If your holds are ready to be collected from a locker, you can pick them up on a holiday.
     

    Your Next Library Visit

    Find hours and services offered at your library on your library's location page.

  • Your activities in the space will be open to all library visitors.
    You may not collect fees.
    You may not sell products or services.
    Your reservation may be cancelled if you're more than 30 minutes late.

View more about Visiting the Library

24/7 Locker Pickup FAQs

  • When you place a hold from the online catalog, choose either: 

    Bothell Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    Covington Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    Federal Way 320th Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    Kirkland Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    Normandy Park Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    Woodinville Lockers, 24-hour pickup, holds held 3 days.

    If you have Single-Click holds turned on, you’ll want to turn it off. This will give you the option to choose a locker. 

  • You’ll be notified by phone or email when your item is ready for pickup. You'll have three days to pick it up.

  • You’ll be notified when your item is ready for pickup.

    You have three days to pick up your hold. The lockers are available 24/7.  

    When you arrive, enter your library card number and PIN/password on the screen.

    Once you enter your information, a locker door will open to release your hold. This will open the locker door for all your items. If you sent more than one hold to the locker, you may see several doors open.  

    When the door opens, your items are checked out, so be sure to take all your items. If you find that you don’t want an item anymore, return that item to the library's manual book drop.

  • It depends on the size of the items. The lockers can hold several items.

View more about 24-Hour Lockers

Computer FAQs

View more about Computers

Print from Your Own Device FAQs

View more about Printers

Return FAQs

  • Return items to the manual book drop or Self-Check-in outside. Staff will also take returns in person. You can give items such as kits to staff to check in during your visit.

    Find a book drop.

    Find a library that offers Self-Check-in.

    Why isn't the book return open at my library?

  • Please call the library where you returned your materials.

  • Book drops and Self-Check-in are open on days that libraries are closed. However, we aren't available to assist if book drops are full or if Self-Check-in is out of order while we're closed. If Self-Check-in is out of order after hours, please return items to your library's book drop.

  • Return kits at any library. You will need to go into the library and ask staff where to place the item.

View more about Returns

Wi-Fi FAQs

  • Wi-Fi remains on, during normal library hours, until further notice. Connectivity outside the library building varies by location. Comcast has some low-cost options for people without internet access at home.

  • By their very nature, public Wi-Fi networks are not secure.

    If security is important to you, we suggest connecting to a VPN or limiting your Wi-Fi use to non-critical email and basic web surfing.

    To increase security, use firewall and antivirus software, keep your operating system up to date, turn file sharing off, and encrypt sensitive files.

  • Free Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) is available at all of our libraries. No password is needed to connect.

    Using your computer's network utilities, look for the Wi-Fi network named "kcls.org Wireless."

    Due to the variety of computer systems, library staff may not be able to help visitors configure their own equipment.

View more about Wi-Fi

Account FAQs

  • If your application was within the 60 days, call Ask KCLS or any library for help. You will need to provide:  

    • your confirmation code from the letter we sent you 
    • your full name 
    • the address from your application, and  
    • your phone number.  

    Staff will be able to confirm your account. Every time you use your eCard, your account will be renewed for two years. 

    The letter takes a week to 10 days to arrive. If you don’t receive the letter within 14 days, please contact Ask KCLS or any KCLS library for help.  

    If you waited more than 60 days to confirm your eCard account, you must reapply. You will receive a new account number and a new confirmation number. We cannot recover your old number or activate your old holds associated with your old library card number. 

  • Apply online.

    Or, apply in person at the library. Bring photo ID and proof of your address. 

    What documents do I need to show to get a library account?

    Find locations and open hours. 

    Versión en español: ¿Cómo obtengo una tarjeta de la biblioteca?

  • Try the last four digits of your phone number. If you haven't set up a PIN/password, it defaults to the last four digits of the phone number in your library account.

    If that doesn't work, reset your PIN/password using your library card number. Or, show photo ID to staff at the library.

  • eCards are available to King County residents and property owners, outside of Seattle, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point. 

    Residents of reciprocal library systems can get a card that normally needs to be activated in person. Apply online for an all-access card. You can activate your card in person at any of our libraries. You will need proof of address and photo ID that shows your date of birth. You'll receive instructions to complete the process when you get your card in the mail.

    If you are unable to access a community library in person, you may email images of your

    • photo ID,
    • proof of address, and
    • a photo of yourself holding at least one of the documents.

    Please reach out to your preferred library for details.

View more about Library Cards

Checkout FAQs

  • A full-access King County Library System (KCLS) library card in good standing may borrow:

    All items except downloads Maximum of 100 items
    OverDrive eBooks and downloadable audiobooks 25 items
    OverDrive magazines No checkout limits
    hoopla digital music, movies, TV, and comics 10 items per month
    Kanopy streaming movies 10 tickets per month. No holds. Learn more about Kanopy tickets.

    KCLS is not responsible for damage to equipment that occurs while using library-owned material.

    Patrons who have reached the maximum number of physical checkouts are not able to log in or borrow items from OverDrive or hoopla.

    Versión en español:¿Cuántos artículos me puedo llevar prestados?

  •  

    Books        

    CDs

    CD-ROMs

    LPs

    Kits

    Players

    Most videodiscs (DVDs and Blu-rays), except feature films 

    		 28 days
    OverDrive:                         
    • eBooks
    • downloadable audiobooks
    • magazines

    hoopla digital comics

    		21 days
    Magazines
    Feature film videodiscs (DVDs and Blu-rays)
    hoopla digital music    		 7 days
    hoopla digital video 3 days (72 hours)
    Kanopy digital video
    		 3-7 days (72-168 hours), depending on the film
    Most Media Equipment (use in library only)  1 day

    Versión en español ¿Cuánto tiempo puedo conservar los préstamos?

  • Yes, you can. You'll need to check out your items at Self-Check-Out and choose the email receipt option.

    At the moment, emailed receipts are only available at Self-Check-Out. If staff check out items for you at the Check Out desk, you'll get a printed receipt. An emailed receipt will be available at the Check Out desk soon.

  • No. Magazines do not count toward checkout limits.

View more about Checkouts

Fines FAQs

  • Fines-free means that we won't charge you late fines on materials that we own.

    You may get late fines for interlibrary loan items. When you borrow an interlibrary loan, you're borrowing items that we don't own. The library system that owns the materials may charge you late fines.

  • Yes, materials have due dates. We still expect you to return or renew materials on time as others are often waiting to enjoy those items too. We send several due date reminders to borrowers.  

    Please make sure your contact information in your account is current so you don’t miss these alerts. 

    Find out what kinds of due date alerts are available and how to manage them. 

  • We will notify you if you have overdue items. If you don't return the items within 60 days of the due date, we will charge you a replacement cost for the items.  

    Replacement fees vary depending on the item. You will not be able to borrow physical items if you owe more than $75 in lost fees. You will need to pay that balance down to $75 or less before you can check out physical items again. 

  • Studies have shown that late fines are not effective. Fines can actually stop people from using or returning items to the library. Libraries with fines-free policies have reported few problems and increased use.

View more about Fines
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