Seattle (April 22, 2019) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan released the following statement today following City Council’s 8-0 vote to approve her “Libraries for All” plan:
“When we invest in our public libraries, we invest in education, opportunity, and equity for the whole community. I want to thank the Seattle City Council for passing my Libraries for All legislation so we can maintain the critical investments the Seattle Public Libraries makes in our communities.
“From story time to summer learning programs to adult learning classes, The Seattle Public Library advances equity, education, and opportunity for all who call Seattle home. If we are going to build a city of the future, then we must build the libraries of the future, too.
“While I am mindful that affordability is a challenge in Seattle, this modest increase will expand library hours, bring more digital resources, retrofit our most seismically vulnerable buildings, and invest in equity by eliminating overdue fines. It will help build a better future for all in our great city.”