Friends of The SPL Bookshop Welcomes Georgetown Bookworms

By Julia Thompson

Did you know Georgetown has its very own cozy used bookshop? Run by the Friends of The Seattle Public Library, this small storefront packed with over ten thousand books has been open for over two years in the Orca Business Park on 6th Ave S between Orcas and Findlay (5608 6th Ave S).

The nonprofit Friends of The SPL was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Seattle Public Library back in 1941, and ever since the Friends have sponsored programs, supported facilities and funding for the Library, hosted events that promote literacy, collaborated with other Library and civic groups, and more. The organization’s FriendShop at the Central Library downtown opened in 2004 and sells stationery, fun literary merch, and SPL-themed souvenirs and gifts. The Georgetown Bookshop followed in 2023, in part to fill the void left after many years of the Friends “giant” warehouse used book sales ended in the late 2010s.

The Georgetown Bookshop is filled with used books of all genres, its stock constantly changing, and is open for shopping every Thursday, along with second Saturdays (10 am to 3 pm) to align with beloved neighborhood institution Georgetown Art Attack. The Friends’ Georgetown Shop is well-loved by neighborhood locals and folks who work in nearby office buildings. Weekly regulars browse to find hidden gems in the stacks, most of which cost $1 to $4, while a curated collection of signed volumes and other special editions start at $8.

Purchases at the Bookshop help the Friends advocate for, and raise funds on behalf of, The Seattle Public Library programs—notably Owl Totes, kid-sized book bags for the youngest, newest SPL patrons—plus distribution of tens of thousands of free books to nonprofits and educators every year.

The Friends have been growing and changing in 2026. Earlier this year they opened a brand-new space in Georgetown, just a block south of the Bookshop, called the Workshop. This location hosts monthly Books for Teacher events, community activation, and member meetings. Situated across the street from the Seattle Design Center, the Workshop will serve as an overflow venue for several presentations of the beloved Short Run Comix Festival this November.

Meanwhile, continually high demand at the Bookshop has led the Friends to extend Thursday hours 10–3 to 10–5 PM, starting October 1! To celebrate extended hours, they’re hosting a few special activities on that date from 3–5: Visit the Georgetown Bookshop (5608 6th Ave S) for a bookish scavenger hunt, with prizes, and swing by the Workshop (5700 6th Ave S #110) for silent reading. These are part of 100+ events participating in the Seattle Chamber of Connection's Welcome Week, designed to spur longtime locals and new Seattleites alike to get involved in their neighborhoods during the week of September 26 through October 4.

Join the fun and check out the Friends Bookshop in Georgetown! Become a regular—or a Friends’ member at just $25 annually for special discounts—and open a new chapter in your literary life.

Learn more at www.friendsofspl.org.