Northwest Room

NOTE: This page now re-directs to the new Northwest Room page.

Tacoma Public Library’s local history, genealogy and special collections are located in the Northwest Room  in the Carnegie Building - 2nd floor (C2) of the Main Branch. The Carnegie building is the original 1903 Carnegie Library and the collections and services are dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and accessible local and regional history information available to the public. Our collections feature Tacoma city directories dating back to 1885, early to current newspapers, record indexes, maps, photos, postcards, manuscript collections, architectural plans, and much more.

The Northwest Room also houses the library’s Genealogy Collection with materials to help anyone interested in doing genealogical research. In addition to a rich selection of local resources, the collection covers all areas of the United States and other countries, with especially strong coverage for New England, the Midwest and Southern states.

Appointments are available for users with research needs that cannot be met remotely. Users will only have access to the Northwest Room space and resources during their scheduled appointment time. Other services in the Main Library building will be unavailable. If you are unsure whether you need to schedule an appointment for your research topic, please contact the Northwest Room at (253) 280-2814 or nwr@tacomalibrary.org.

Local History & Genealogy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Visit our Locations page to see the hours for each of our locations.

  • For Pathway Partnership cards, your PIN is 1234 unless you have changed it after creating your online account.

  • These are the most common types of materials damage we see: 

    • Liquid damage resulting in wavy pages or obstruction of text or discoloration 
    • Stained beyond use 
    • Torn, chewed, and/or missing pages 
    • Stickiness 
    • Missing pieces 
    • Strong odor  
    • Scratched media. 

    • All branches have Lucky Day collections.
    • The books in the Lucky Day Collection are not listed in the catalog. Please stop by your library branch to discover what’s available. 

  • Through a partnership with Tacoma Needle Exchange and the Dave Purchase Project, Tacoma Public Library will be placing a Naloxone (NARCAN) vending machine in the lobby of the Moore Library. The vending machine is intended to provide free access to patrons and community members who have friends, family, or are themselves at risk of an opioid overdose. We anticipate being able to provide this service through March 2023, and possibly longer if additional funding is secured. 

    Additionally, the Tacoma Needle Exchange will stock naloxone in TPL branches and train staff on how to administer it in case of an overdose on TPL premises. Finally, the Tacoma Needle Exchange will provide no-cost peer counseling services to patrons for 2-4 hours per month at up the Moore and South Tacoma libraries for the next year. 

  • Storytime S.T.E.A.M. Backpacks as a fun way to focus on exploring and playing with different mathematical ideas. Each kit features books, toys, and a paper with suggested activities, all inside a backpack you can check out! 

  • Email: nwr@tacomalibrary.org

    Phone: (253) 280-2814

    Mailing Address: Northwest Room - Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma, WA 98402

    Click here for the Northwest Room's hours. Call 253-280-2814 or schedule a research appointment online.

  • The TPL hotspots provide a Wi-Fi Internet connection using the T-Mobile 5G and LTE networks. Devices like laptops and tablets can be connected to access Internet resources.

  • Computers are available when we open until 15 minutes before we close. 

  • Books by Mail (BBM) is a TPL program dedicated to providing service to homebound patrons who are unable to come to the library to choose materials for themselves.    

  • Tacoma Public Libraries are closed on the following holidays each year:

    • New Year’s Day
    • Martin Luther King’s Birthday
    • Presidents’ Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Junteenth
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Eve
    • Christmas Day

    All locations close at 6:00 pm on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and December 31 of each year.

    View all library closures, opens a new window. 

    Check individual location pages for current dates specific to your local library. Holiday and closure information is posted on individual location pages.

  • You can sign up by visiting the Beanstack website, opens a new window, or by downloading the mobile app, opens a new window. Beanstack makes it easy to sign up your whole family for the program. For more information on using Beanstack, visit our Beanstack FAQs, opens a new window.

    If you don’t have access to Beanstack, you can print an activity log, opens a new window, or stop by one of our branches to pick up a paper activity log.

  • No, this is an optional feature. You must enable it if you wish to use it and can disable the feature at any time.

  • All city of Tacoma residents are eligible for a free card, as are those who meet any of the following criteria.

    • You own property or a business within the city of Tacoma (business owners must present a current B&O license)
    • Current employees of the City of Tacoma or Tacoma Public Schools (must present current pay stub or employee ID)
    • You may also be eligible for a card through one of our reciprocal agreements with nearby libraries

    Students and teachers of Tacoma Public Schools may be able to use library services through the Pathway Partnership, opens a new window.

  • There are two main ways to find eBooks:

    • For the most complete listing of our eBook collections, go to Tacoma Library's OverDrive (Libby) website, opens a new window  or to our Hoopla website directly.   You can also browse the Tacoma Public Library collection using those services' Apps, opens a new window.
    • eBooks can also be found in the library catalog by searching the term "ebooks, opens a new window" in the library catalog.  (Please note that at this time the catalog does not list every eBook in our collection, nor does it offer all of the features available through the eBook website.)

  • The Thomas Handforth Gallery at Tacoma Public Library’s Main Branch provides an opportunity for local regional and national artists and arts organization to exhibit their work. Additional,Tacoma Library often hosts exhibitions of a historical, cultural or scientific nature.

    The Handforth Gallery can be found at the Main Branch (1102 Tacoma Avenue South), on the first floor of the Carnegie building (C1).

  • Tacoma Public Library sends out courtesy notices by email or phone to:

    • Remind you that materials are coming due
    • Notify you that your holds are ready to pick up
    • Notify you that you have digital materials ready to download (email only)
    • Notify you that your materials are overdue
    • Send a checkout receipt from a self-check station (email only)

     

    To choose how you would like to receive your notices please log into your account settings and review your contact information and contact preferences or speak with a staff member who will help you.

    You can read more detailed directions here.

  • The maximum number of items you can check out varies depending on the type of library card you have. Checkouts can be any combination of formats up to the maximum number of checkouts for your card type.

    Standard card

    eCard

    Unverified card

    Limited card

    Internet card

  • Tacoma Public Library is fine free and no longer charges any overdue fines on late items.

    However, if an item has not been returned by 81 days after the due date, the item will be considered lost and a replacement charge will be added to your account.

  • Any individual aged 16 and older is eligible to volunteer at Tacoma Public Library.

  • Book Club Kits are sets of multiple copies of a title that can be checked out and used for your own book group or group of friends. Kits check out for 56 days. They may not be renewed.

  • The library accepts bequests made through your will or trust. You can make a general donation, or specify which programs and collections you wish your money to support.  For more information, please contact the Finance Office at (253) 280-2870.

  • Yes, the library accepts donations of materials including books, movies, and music in good condition.   

    • Donations of no more than 2 clean boxes per household per week can be accepted at any open branch.   
    • Please do not put donations in outside book returns or leave donations outside the building when we are closed.   
    • Tax deduction slips are available by request, but we cannot assign a value to your items

    If you are interested in donating to the Northwest Room's Local History and Genealogy collection, please review their donation information.

    All donations are subject to approval. We reserve the right to decline a donation that is not consistent with the policies, programs, and interests of the library. 

  • You can print from the library's public computers for $0.10 a page for black and white and $0.20 a page for color. Print up to $5 worth of prints for free weekly with your TPL library card! Prints can be paid for with cash or credit/debit card.

  • TPL Virtual Reference provides access to information and assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is manned by TPL staff all hours the library is open. If you need information or assistance after hours, there are librarians around the state and country ready to help you through this service.

  • Yes! All library locations offer free unlimited WiFi access.

  • The partnership between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Public School District (TPS) allows every TPS student (Pre-K – 12) and teacher to have Tacoma Public Library access using their student or employee ID card.  

  • Yes, we love visitors!

    In order to provide you with the best experience, please fill out our Request a Visit form at least two weeks before the date you are requesting and someone will contact you to arrange the visit.

  • Our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service provides access to materials that are not in our collection by requesting them from other library systems.

    Make an Interlibrary Loan request using our online form, opens a new window. If you are unable to use the online form, the staff at any of our branches can get a paper version for you to fill out.

  • Tacoma Public Library uses the City of Tacoma's Human Resources Department for recruitment and processing applications for open positions. Their main office is located at:

    City of Tacoma
    Human Resources Department
    747 Market St., Room 1336
    Tacoma, WA 98402

    Library employment opportunities are listed at the City of Tacoma's website on the Employment Information page, opens a new window. You may also call the City of Tacoma's Recorded Job Line at (253) 591-5795 for information about current job opportunities at the Library and at the City.

    Job postings listed on the City of Tacoma’s website require the completion of an online application. Click on the job title you are interested in then click on the "Apply" link. There are instructions for establishing an account so that you can build an application by clicking on the "Build Job Application" link. Your application can be saved and used to apply for more than one job opening.

    Employment information, current employment listings, and employment applications are available at any library location by accessing the Job Opportunities page, opens a new window of the City of Tacoma’s website.

    If you wish to receive email notification when a library job announcement is posted for applications, you will need to complete a job interest card, opens a new window, which is available on the Employment Information page of the City of Tacoma’s website.

  • To suggest an item for purchase, please fill out the Suggest for Purchase, opens a new window form online or contact any Tacoma Public Library branch., opens a new window

    Unfortunately, the Library cannot purchase everything that is requested. Suggestions will be evaluated using the Library’s selection criteria as stated in the Collection Development Policy.

     

  • Patrons can use our equipment to:

    • Convert VHS video tape, DVD videos, audio CDs, and audiocassette tapes into digital format.
    • Scan photographs and documents

  • There are varying levels of quality from Amazon and other booksellers as well as other differing publishing years or editions that might not be a 1:1 to replacement for the damaged item. Items purchased by the library arrive partially processed and adding books outside that stream results in increased staff time and cost. 

View more about All FAQs

NOTE: This page now re-directs to the new Northwest Room page.