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Due to scheduled IT maintenance on Sunday, October 20th, all Tacoma Public Library services, including telephone lines, online My Account management, catalog item availability, eResources, eBooks, and eAudiobooks will be unavailable between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Thank you for your patience!

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Event

Your Future Library: Community Input… Your Future Library: Community Input Sessions

Oct 22nd
TPL is writing its next strategic plan! Help us craft our vision for the future of library services at Tacoma Public Library by joining…
TPL is writing its next strategic plan! Help us craft our vision for the future of library services at Tacoma Public Library by joining us and sharing your feedback. All are welcome! Light refreshments will be served.
Event

Underground Tacoma Presented by Pretty… Underground Tacoma Presented by Pretty Gritty City

Oct 19th | 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Main Branch
Join us in the Olympic Room at the Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library on October 19th at 2 pm for a FREE photo presentation on…
Join us in the Olympic Room at the Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library on October 19th at 2 pm for a FREE photo presentation on Tacoma’s underground. From steam-tunnels to speakeasies, hidden fallout shelters to haunted corridors, we will share photography and history of…
Blogpost

Let it Not Happen Again: Lessons of the… Let it Not Happen Again: Lessons of the Japanese American Exclusion

By TacomaLibrary
Humanities Washington and Tacoma Public Library are pleased to bring Clarence Moriwaki of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community and a founder and former president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, for a special presentation…
Humanities Washington and Tacoma Public Library are pleased to bring Clarence Moriwaki of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American…
Blogpost

Cookie Love: What's Your Favorite… Cookie Love: What's Your Favorite Cookie?

By TacomaLibrary
So many cookies, so little time. Admit it. If you’re like most people, you have a secret (or not-so-secret) favorite cookie. Here’s your chance to show some love to your choice by voting in our poll. Join in the fun! We will reveal the results on National Cookie Day, December 4th....
So many cookies, so little time. Admit it. If you’re like most people, you have a secret (or not-so-secret) favorite cookie. Here’s your…
Blogpost

It's Time for Nanowrimo! It's Time for Nanowrimo!

By TacomaLibrary
Never heard of Nanowrimo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month. Each November, writers across the country and around the world commit to this challenge. All they have to do is write 50,000 words between November 1st and November 30th. If you think it sounds hard, you’re…
Never heard of Nanowrimo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month. Each November, writers across the country and around the world…
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Did You Know

Eastside Microlibrary is now open!

10/08/2019

New Library Cards Are Here!

09/25/2019

TPL launches Our Community Adventure…

09/18/2019

Business Plan Builder (Gale):…

09/10/2019

Thank you Tacoma!

08/22/2019

Catalog Carousels

  • New Fiction

Tacoma Reads

Event

Origins of the Tribal Journey with… Origins of the Tribal Journey with Philip Red Eagle

Various Branches
What we know today as the Tribal Journey had its beginnings in the mid-80s and has more recently become more visible to the average Puget So
What we know today as the Tribal Journey had its beginnings in the mid-80s and has more recently become more visible to the average Puget Sounder, mostly due to the noticeable size of the annual event! The Journey has grown from 50 people and a few canoes in the 90s to around
Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends Tacoma Reads Recommends

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends for Kids &… Tacoma Reads Recommends for Kids & Families

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Kids
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
Staff List

Tacoma Reads Recommends for Teens &… Tacoma Reads Recommends for Teens & Tweens

recommended by TacomaLibrary_Teens
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native American experiences and cultures.
Continue the conversation started by Tacoma Reads 2019. Discover these titles at Tacoma Public Library that explore various Native…
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Local History

Blogpost

Riches of the River Riches of the River

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
On October 21, 1937, Clarence Duncan, superintendent of the state's Puyallup River hatchery at Voight's Creek, lifted a large net filled with salmon out of the water. It was the largest run in years with record numbers of salmon returning to the creek near Orting. It was...
On October 21, 1937, Clarence Duncan, superintendent of the state's Puyallup River hatchery at Voight's Creek, lifted a large net…
Blogpost

Dog and a Tag Dog and a Tag

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
On October 12,1956, Janice Pender, age 8, held up dog tag #1, issued by the Pierce County Humane Society, for her Afghan Hound "Voodoo's" approval. The Pierce County Humane Society, not officially recognized by the city, was offering free licenses to dogs under the...
On October 12,1956, Janice Pender, age 8, held up dog tag #1, issued by the Pierce County Humane Society, for her Afghan Hound…
Blogpost

Pilots-To-Be Pilots-To-Be

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
Girls from the College of Puget Sound interested in participating in the training for pilots offered by the federal government pose in front of a hangar at the Mueller-Harkins Airport in early October of 1939. Nationwide, over 11,000 students would learn to fly under the…
Girls from the College of Puget Sound interested in participating in the training for pilots offered by the federal government pose in…
Blogpost

At Your Service! At Your Service!

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
In October of 1942, Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave., really offered its customers super service. Nine women attendants rushed out to take care of a 1942 De Soto convertible (with hide-away headlights!) that had stopped for gas. The women pumped gas, checked…
In October of 1942, Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave., really offered its customers super service. Nine women attendants…
Blogpost

Salute to Charles Salute to Charles

By TacomaLibrary_NW_History
This photocopy of Battery "D", 10th Field Artillery's 12-gun salute to Charles Lindbergh was made on September 15, 1927, the day after Col. Lindbergh's pass over Fort Lewis's parade grounds occurred. Charles Lindbergh was traveling through the country…
This photocopy of Battery "D", 10th Field Artillery's 12-gun salute to Charles Lindbergh was made on September 15, 1927, the…
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We Recommend

Blogpost

LibraryReads October 2019 LibraryReads October 2019

By TacomaLibrary
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top picks for the month, as voted...
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top picks for the month, as voted...
Staff List

Oktoberfest Oktoberfest

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Whether it's cooking, drinking, or reading, celebrate Oktoberfest with Tacoma Public Library.
Whether it's cooking, drinking, or reading, celebrate Oktoberfest with Tacoma Public Library.
Staff List

Scary Sounds: Monster Mash-Up Scary Sounds: Monster Mash-Up

recommended by TacomaLibrary
Before the trick-or-treaters descend, get yourself into the Halloween groove with music that celebrates the season. From individual tracks…
Before the trick-or-treaters descend, get yourself into the Halloween groove with music that celebrates the season. From individual tracks…
Staff List

Tackle A Century Of Pro Football In 100… Tackle A Century Of Pro Football In 100…

recommended by TacomaLibrary
The 2019 – 2020 season marks the 100th season of play for America's dominant professional sports and cultural juggernaut, the National…
The 2019 – 2020 season marks the 100th season of play for America's dominant professional sports and cultural juggernaut, the National…
Blogpost

Scare Wear: Costume Ideas Inspired by… Scare Wear: Costume Ideas Inspired by…

By TacomaLibrary
Struggling to come up with a Halloween costume idea? Maybe you don’t have a big budget or a professional makeup artist to help but these…
Struggling to come up with a Halloween costume idea? Maybe you don’t have a big budget or a professional makeup artist to help but these…
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