Terrible passport service . Both ladies at front were very rude from the start , attitude was…read moreterrible. I had asked what time they closed and she had said 5 pm. When I got there a little after 4 she said passport services was closed very frustrated with this as I had to take the afternoon off from work to be able to get this done .do not recommend this place .

If you are applying for your passport this is the place to go. They had great customer service and…read morewere speedy. I was expecting a DOL/DMV atmosphere but I was very wrong. There is one line and a few chairs for people to sit. In total we waited for about 20 minutes to complete everything. The place is clean and well organized.

** This is a review for how this branch is handling the pick-up/return process during COVID**…read more I'm so happy that the QA branch is now officially back up and running for both returns AND pick-ups! Check the SPL website for full details--you can pick up your holds on Tuesdays and Thursdays before 6:00 p.m. and there is an easy book return slot outside that I believe is open 24 hours. The process during COVID is very smooth and safe--you give them your ID or library card and they come back with the book holds (which have been " quarantining " inside for a number of days). Masks are provided and so is hand sanitizer. This is a great system for now, until we can once again go inside the library and admire its gorgeous stained glass windows. :) Thanks SPL for being there for us during these tough times!

I have visited at least 6 of the branches. Each with its own character. Peak Picks selections are…read moreoften wonderful

I went here for my biometrics appointment required to renew my green card after 10 years, and I…read morehave to say it was about as painless as it possibly could be. It took far longer to renew my WA state driver's license! The staff are all very helpful, polite and understanding, and seem to at least try to make it as stress free an experience as possible. Anytime you have to deal with the DHS its going to be stressful no matter what, but once through security, the three or four employees I spoke to seemed to be aware of that, and so do what they can to make things as comfortable as possible. So kudos to the staff there, who don't have easy jobs to begin with. I'll jot down my experience for others that have to go through this. I had my appointment for 2pm, but got there about 45 minutes early. Tons of parking is available within about 100 yards of the front door at a flat rate of $7 (CASH ONLY), which I think is the same price I paid 10 years ago so that's cool. I was in and out in about 20 minutes, maybe even a little less. You first go in through the front door and immediately stand and wait in a short line to be put through security which is no different than airport security with the shoes off, etc. I didn't time it, but there was only 1 or 2 people ahead of me, so I got through in a minute or so. I don't believe there were any chairs if standing is difficult, but I only stood in line for a minute, maybe two at most. Security were fine, not intimidating at all and helpful with any questions I had. Then I wasn't sure where to go, but signage directed me off to the right down a lane into a room where the biometrics is done. Once in the room I filled out a short form with my name, weight, height, country of citizenship, etc and an employee who just happened to be walking around offered help and pointed me to the window #11 where a nice gal took my documents. I even gave her the wrong document by accident since they sent me two that looked identical, but it didn't appear to be an issue, and I eventually figured that out and give her the correct one. I asked her if there was a restroom available, and she said down the hall to the right. Can't review the restroom as I didn't use it. I then walked through the door into a large room with chairs lined against the wall, but there was only one person there waiting, and so I was immediately waved to the biometrics area and was greeted by a nice woman who was in a good mood, and that immediately put me at ease. Normally I don't say a word or ask questions of DHS staff just to make sure things go smoothly but she was friendly and laughing so that made things feel much less intimidating. My picture was taken (she said I can smile or not), and fingerprints recorded in about a minute or two, then I was ushered down to a desk 30 yards away for which there was no line, and immediately sat down and filled out a customer review card they wanted me to fill out, which is just three questions. I gave them 5/5 for all three. The fellow there was also friendly and explained to me he was going to put an extension sticker on the back of my old green card, which is good for a year, and then said I'll get a new green card in the mail which is good for 10 years again. I think many of the staff there may have been immigrants themselves at one point, so they have some understanding having gone through the process, and so seem to have empathy for those going through it the first time. The staff likely have to say the same thing to each person which has to get tedious, but there was no sign of boredom or apathy, and everyone happily answered all questions I had. Once I had the extension sticker I was free to leave. Like I mentioned it took a total of around 20 minutes and since it was at 2pm, traffic there and back from north Seattle was minimal. It was about a 30 minute drive on I5 from Northgate. The neighborhood the building is in doesn't have a lot of shops, restaurants, etc, so don't expect a Starbucks next door or anything nearby to wait if you get there early, its a bit of a no man's land, but the appointment time just seems to be a suggestion, not written in stone, so I was received immediately even 45 minutes early, and if I had been late, I don't think there would have been an issue, which was one thing I was worried about since it says if you "miss your appointment", your green card will be assumed to be abandoned. Scary for anyone who has had to go through the time and expense of getting one, but being a few minutes late didn't seem to be a concern. Don't quote me on that, and I suggest being on time or early, but the appointment time seemed more so that they can meter people in without very busy times, then dead times etc. All in all it was a very easy experience, and kudos to the staff there for making it so.

I was a little nervous coming here for any interaction with the federal government with the current…read moreadministration. We got through security pretty quickly. It is like airport security, except you get to keep your shoes. The line to show our documents wasn't too bad. We were able to go in as a family, with an adult accompanying the children. The officers taking our biometrics were reasonably friendly and accommodating of little kids. Overall we were in and out faster than I had expected. The scammy part is the expensive required parking in their private lot. The location is on a big, busy road that you can't safely cross on foot, so the only option is to park in their lot. $8 or whatever it was for 15 minutes of parking. It is like you are at a tourist location in Dow town San Francisco for those prices. What a rip off.

Short line in through security. All of the staff is really nice and friendly.read more

The whole process was simple, fast, and easy. The security line was short, and after the court…read moreproceedings began it was very apparent that Judge Jorgensen respected everyone's time. She handled each case quickly, fairly, and even managed to get several lighthearted laughs throughout the courtroom. As much as I never want to be there for a ticket again, I would enjoy returning to just observe the process again.

We absolutely love our neighborhood library branch. Yes, it's a smaller location, but the people…read morewho work there are truly wonderful- welcoming, helpful, and always excited to connect with kids and families. They do such a great job rotating fun activities and displays for children, so there's always something new to explore. One of our favorite parts is their amazing collection of stuffed animals, including their beloved big dog. It's such a charming touch and makes the space feel extra cozy and kid-friendly. We visit lots of libraries around town, but we always come back to this one with genuine joy. There's just something special about it. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the neighborhood!

The Seattle Public Library - Montlake Branch is truly a neighborhood library. Though its small in…read moresize and the collection isn't extensive, I love that there's a branch for the Montlake area. I visit the Montlake branch for a monthly board committee that I serve on, otherwise I would've never known about this location. But I'm glad to know this library is convenient for those in the neighborhood, as it's easy to get to, with friendly staff. Coming from Bellevue through public transit, the library is next to bus stops and is walking distance, which I find is very important for the placement of libraries. I think it should be accessible for those using public transit, and it indeed is. As mentioned before the space is on the smaller end, especially when compared to other Seattle libraries. But it has all the same services, like using a free community/conference room. There is a parking garage on the lower level of this library; however, the parking lots are tiny! But street parking is easy to find around here.

I've been coming here since 2016 and the owner has always been behind the counter. He rarely closes…read moreshop - I'd say on snow days but everyone stays home around here with all the treacherous hills and icy roads. The owner has a dog on site who chills behind the counter and adds to the friendly atmosphere. I love this location because the parking is always available and if you need lunch or some fresh seafood, you have options! The service here is always quick and efficient. The owner keeps the shop clean, and there are PO Boxes if you are looking for that.

(Opens ~at 10am, give or take.)…read more Chris was tremendously helpful with our company's bulk holiday gift mailing project. I dropped off 150 boxes and an address list with which he created labels then mailed on our behalf over the course of a couple of days. I just gave him our credit card number over the phone and he emailed me the receipt. It was a smooth process and I highly appreciated it! Bonus: deli next door with coffee, sandwiches, and some groceries; beer and burgers around the corner of the building, too.

The Douglass-Truth library is named after Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth and is such a nice…read morepart of the community. I really like the architecture here, the librarians are really nice. It's also spacious, and the library is open and clean. Definitely worth visiting.

This area needs a library location. It provides a hub to avid readers, to community contributors,…read moreand people looking for a place to better their mind and use the internet. When the entire block had its power out, the library was still up and running. The staff are friendly. If you need a book that is not there, just use the online catalog to request a hold to this branch. The only downside is that there are very few closed spaces for group study or calls where you need to speak and disturb the quiet. It looks small on the outside but is way bigger inside.

The Fremont branch of the Seattle Public Library has that old library smell and feel to it. It is…read morelocated in an older building on N 35th, just off Fremont Ave. This library is in a two story building, but it looks like the library is on the top floor only. The selection here is sparse compared to the massive Central Library. It is smaller than the one in Ballard as well. Though the selection is small, you can request library items be sent to this library for pickup. There are a handful of computers to use if you need to look up something. There are a few tables on the right hand side as well as a row of chairs in the center of library for perusing books or using the free wi-fi. The hours at this library are limited. It doesn't open earlier than 11 am on any day and can open as late as 1 pm. As for the vibe, it is incredibly quiet. So much so that I feel like I have to keep quiet at all times. This has more to do with the smallness of the library since noises are more heightened. I like this library because it is in a great location in the center of the universe. Though if you are trying to find reading material, the Central Library downtown is a much better option. However, this would seem to be a good study space if you are looking for a place that is very quiet.

I love the library system and the design of cute neighborhood libraries (like this one)…read more This particular branch is super tiny, however, so there are very few computers to use (about three 90-minute and two 15-minute) and the in-house collection is quite small. The one good thing is that it's in a rather central location (when it comes to Fremont), so it's convenient as a place to pick up holds and drop off returns. I would pick up materials there if this was my closest-to-home (or work) branch, but I would not hang out or wait for a computer unless I absolutely had to.