In-Library and Contactless Services
Visit a library to browse collections. Print or use a computer. Or you can pick up library materials outdoors in a variety of contactless ways.
Several libraries have reopened with modified in-building services. New health rules are in place. Other libraries will be added in the coming weeks.
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. Use computers, copiers, and printers. Get help from staff. Stop by to use modified services inside some library buildings.
Pick Up Holds at Curbside to Go
Pick up holds or surprise bags by appointment outside of the library. We'll email you when your items are ready. You'll have seven days to pick them up.
Pick Up Holds from a 24/7 Locker
Pick up holds anytime at exterior lockers. We'll call or email you when your items are ready. You'll have three days to pick them up.
Return Items
Return all items through the manual book drop. Items will be quarantined – and stay on your account – for at least 24 hours before we check them in.
Print from Your Own Device
Print for free using your weekly printing allowance. Print from your device, pick up your prints by appointment at Curbside to Go.
Connect to Wi-Fi
Use free Wi-Fi outside of any library with our expanded signals.
Help the library stay open and safe.
Please do not use the library if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Wear a mask at all times. Mask must cover your nose and mouth. Vented masks, bandanas, and neck gaiters are not acceptable.

Stay at least 6 feet from anyone else in the area.

Have a question? Need help?
We're open for phone, email, and chat.
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Yes. You can place new holds, activate suspended holds, and pick up holds. You will get an email notification when your holds are available.
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There are several ways to schedule a contactless hold pickup for any locations offering Curbside.
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- Download and use the myLIBRO app, opens a new window.
- Log in with your library card number and PIN/password on our myLIBRO site, opens a new window.
- Call your local Curbside to Go library, opens a new window.
- Go to your local Curbside to Go library during Curbside hours and ask staff for help.
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When a new hold arrives, there is a 3-hour window where it is in "reserved/pending" status. This gives staff time to perform work to get it ready. After 3-hours, the status changes to "ready to pickup" and then you can schedule in the myLIBRO app.
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Surprise bags are bags selected by librarians and library staff by age and interest. Surprise bags are available at Curbside to Go locations. Surprise Bags are five items each, and there is a three bag per patron limit.
myLIBRO app users can request a bag when picking up holds at most locations without having items ready for pickup. If you don’t see the option to add a Surprise Bag at your location, you can ask for a bag in the “Arrival Notes” field when you arrive.Walk-up patrons can ask when making their appointment.
myLIBRO website users can request a bag when making an appointment.
Related FAQs:
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You’ll be notified by phone or email when your item is ready for pickup. You'll have three days to pick it up.
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Library lockers are available 24/7.
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No, due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, we are not accepting returns through the locker. Please use the manual book drop.
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You can return them to the manual book drop at your pickup, or any other King County Library System library.
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We're adding locations as we have capacity to add printing pickup along with holds pickup. Capacity to offer these services varies by location.
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You have a limit of $1.50 for printed pages each week. Preview your print job carefully before you upload it. If you do not have enough credit for your entire print job staff are unable to print it. The maximum print job is 10 black and white pages or 3 color pages.
Letter, 8 1/2" x 11"
A black and white page is $0.15.
A color page is $0.50. -
No, there is not a limit to the number of print jobs. There is a limit to the number of pages. Preview your print job before you upload it. If you do not have enough credit for your entire print job staff are unable to print it.
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Call your print pickup library, they can check for you.
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All returns must be made through the manual book drop outside.
Staff will not take returns in person. Self check-in machines will not be available. This allows us to quarantine items for 24 hours before we check them in.
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Most of them are open 24/7. If your local library is not please see if another location would work better for you. Find the list of libraries and their book drop hours on our locations page.
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Please don't worry about returning kits right now. We would prefer that you hang on to them until we are able to invite library users back into library buildings.
We've extended the loan periods for Books to Grow On boxes.
Books To Grow On kits checked out before the library closed are now due December 31.
Books to Grow On kits checked out since July have a 90 day loan period.
All due dates and renewal limits are currently in effect. However, we aren't charging fines until further notice, opens a new window.
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Returned items will be quarantined – and remain on your account – for a minimum of 24 hours before we check them in.
If you return items by closing on Tuesday, they will be checked in on Thursday.
If you return items on a Saturday, they will likely remain on your account until Tuesday or Wednesday. This is because the library is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Have concerns about your returns? Please call the library where you returned your materials.
Visit our blog to learn more about what's different during the pandemic. How COVID-19 Changes Your Library Experience.
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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.
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As of August 1, 2017, Wi-Fi hotspots are no longer available for checkout.
The hotspot checkout service that was available at select libraries for 15 months was designed as a pilot; a one time-limited opportunity to try something new and learn as much as possible with the support of grant funding. At this time, we are unable to adopt this service system-wide.
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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.
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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.
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You may browse the collection and use computers, copiers, and printers. Socially-distanced chairs and tables may be available. Get help from staff. Services may vary by location.
At locations that have in-library service you can:
- Check out holds.
- Browse the collection.
- Use a computer for up to 50 minutes.
- Use the copier/printer/scanner.
- Return items to the manual book drops outside.
- Apply for or activate a library card.
- Use the restroom.
You won't be able to:
- Use a water fountain, eat, or drink.
- Use a meeting or study room.
- Attend events.
- Buy books from or donate books to Friends Book Sales.
- Give items to staff at the desk to check in.
- Browse newspapers or magazines. Magazines and newspapers will not be available for browsing at in-library locations. Try using our digital magazine collections through the Libby app and PressReader.
- Pick up a surprise bag unless the location is also offering Curbside.
At locations that only have in-library services, you won't be able to:
- Schedule a contactless hold, surprise bag, or printing pickup.
- Walk up for a contactless hold, surprise bag, or printing pickup. Curbside pickup ended at these locations on February 20.
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There are several ways to schedule a contactless hold pickup for any locations offering Curbside.
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- Download and use the myLIBRO app, opens a new window.
- Log in with your library card number and PIN/password on our myLIBRO site, opens a new window.
- Call your local Curbside to Go library, opens a new window.
- Go to your local Curbside to Go library during Curbside hours and ask staff for help.
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You will not be able to make an appointment to guarantee admission. Visitors will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.
- When you arrive, you will line up outside.
- Please make sure your mask is on.
- Each member of your group will be counted, including babies. Staff will let in up to 25% of the building occupancy at a time. The number of people we can admit depends on each building's size. If there isn't enough space for your full group, you will need to wait for the next open hour.
For safety, libraries will be open for one hour at a time, followed by an hour of cleaning. The library will be closed during cleaning. Libraries will be open at specific times for entry. Libraries will be closed at specific times throughout the day for cleaning. Be sure to check your library's location page for up-to-date information.
Here’s an example of how this works:
- When you arrive, line up for entry.
- If you arrived at 1:15pm and there is room for you to enter, you will be able to stay for 45 minutes, until the session ends at 2pm.
- If we do not have the capacity, you will need to wait until 3pm, the next available time slot.
- From 2-3pm, staff will be cleaning the library. Check the library location page for up-to-date in-library hours.
Do you need accessibility accommodations?
Find out who to talk to about an accommodation.
Send your holds to a library that offers contactless services.
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Yes. Check your library's location page.
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Apply online.
Or, apply in person at a location that is open for Curbside to Go or in-library service.
- Stop by during Curbside to Go or in-library visit hours.
- Bring photo ID and proof of your address.
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Yes. We are temporarily unblocking cards even as libraries start to reopen.
For the safety of our staff, patrons and community during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have:
- Suspended all collections agency activity. No account will be sent to collections while we are closed to the public.
- Lifted the block on any card which had a fee preventing a user from accessing materials.
Those borrowers now have access to the online library. When we returns to normal operations patrons will be responsible for these fees at a later date.
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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 needs to be activated in person. Apply online for an all-access card. You can activate your card in person at one of our libraries during Curbside to Go or In-library service hours. 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.
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Library cards are available to anyone who lives or owns property in:
- An area served by the King County Library System.*
- The service area of another library system that has a Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement with us.
Temporary residents staying longer than one month but less than six months may get a Visitor Card with a two-item checkout limit.
*Our service area includes all of King County except for Seattle, Yarrow Point, and Hunts Point.
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Yes. You can place new holds, activate suspended holds, and pick up holds. You will get an email notification when your holds are available.
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Some borrowing limits have changed while libraries are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit our blog to find out what's different during the closure.
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, downloadable audiobooks, and video 25 items OverDrive magazines No checkout limits hoopla digital music, movies, TV, and comics 10 items per month Kanopy streaming movies 5 items per month. No holds. 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 login or borrow items from OverDrive or hoopla.
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Books, CDs, cassettes, CD-ROMs, LPs, kits, players, DVD sets with runtime of 5 hours and label 28 days OverDrive: - eBooks
- downloadable audiobooks
- magazines
hoopla digital comics
21 days Magazines, DVDs with runtime of less than 5 hours, video cassettes, hoopla digital music, OverDrive video 7 days hoopla digital video 3 days (72 hours) Most Media Equipment (use in library only) 1 day Reusable KCLS bags 1 year, 2 renewals -
Checkout and holds limits vary by service. Please visit How many items may I check out?, opens a new window
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We are not charging late fees until further notice, even as libraries reopen. All late fees accrued since March 1, 2020 are currently waived until further notice.
All due dates and renewal limits are currently in effect.
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Yes. At libraries that are reopening, you can use cash at the register to pay for fines, copies, and printing. Staff will assist you.
We are not charging late fees until further notice, even as libraries reopen.
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At libraries open for in-building services:
You will be able to pay fines at the cash register.
At libraries open for Contactless curbside services:
We are not able to take payment for fines.
We are not charging late fees until further notice, even as libraries reopen.
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View your payment history here.
Log in with your library card number and PIN, then click on the payment button.