The Fremont Library will temporarily close for nearly three months as crews install a new air conditioning and ventilation system.
The Fremont Library (731 N 35th St) will close beginning Sunday, Aug. 9, with the last day of service on Saturday, Aug. 8. The library expects to reopen in early November following the installation of a modern, electric HVAC system.
During the closure, the branch’s book return will be locked, and its parking lot will be inaccessible.
Library patrons may continue selecting the Fremont Library as a pickup location for new holds through Wednesday, July 29. Beginning Thursday, July 30, the Fremont Library will no longer appear as an option for new holds until it reopens.
On Friday, July 31, all pending holds assigned to the Fremont Library will automatically be transferred to the Ballard Library for pickup.
Patrons who would like their holds sent to a different location can ask a library staff member for assistance, call 206-386-4636, or contact the library through its Ask Us service.
The work is part of The Seattle Public Library’s Cooling Center Project, which is adding air conditioning and improved ventilation to five of the system’s historic Carnegie library buildings. The project is intended to help the buildings serve as cooling centers during extreme heat and provide cleaner indoor air during wildfire smoke events while reducing unscheduled weather-related closures.
The project is funded by a $5.5 million Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant awarded to the City of Seattle in June 2024.
In addition to Fremont, the West Seattle Branch will also close from August through early November for HVAC installation. The University Branch is currently receiving a new HVAC system as part of a larger renovation and seismic retrofit, while work at the Columbia and Queen Anne branches is scheduled for 2027.
The five branches included in the project were built more than 115 years ago with funding from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and are protected historic landmarks. The library says all work is being reviewed by Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board to preserve the buildings’ historic character.
Once the Cooling Center Project is complete, all Seattle Public Library locations will have air conditioning.
The closure comes as work is underway next door to expand A.B. Ernst Park. Seattle Parks and Recreation began construction on the $1.9 million project in July, which will create a new accessible connection between North 35th Street and the Fremont Library’s lower-level meeting room, along with new play features, seating, and additional green space. Construction is expected to continue through spring 2027.
Photo: Seattle Public Library