Entry No. 3 — the Seattle file — filed under: witchy
Seattle Metaphysical Library
Founded in 1961, this all-volunteer nonprofit lending library holds over 16,000 books plus hundreds of audio recordings, DVDs, and decades of newspaper clippings on astrology, alchemy, parapsychology, the paranormal, and fringe esoterica. Browsing and on-site reading are free, and the deep stacks include out-of-print and controversial titles you won't find in a normal library. Tucked into a Ballard storefront with no exterior sign, it survives entirely on memberships and donations. Open Friday and Sunday afternoons.
The story
Founded in 1961 under the disarmingly cheerful legal name "As You Like It Library," this all-volunteer counter-cultural archive has spent over six decades quietly amassing knowledge that standard municipal libraries refuse to shelf. You won't spot a giant neon sign guiding you off Market Street—you have to know to look for unit L-05 inside the building at 2220 NW Market St in Ballard.
What sits behind the door is a dense, physical fortress against digital erasure: over 16,000 volumes alongside drawer after drawer of vintage audio tapes, DVDs, and binder archives filled with decades of yellowed newspaper clippings. The stacks lean heavily into the obscure and controversial, covering everything from historical alchemy and astrology to parapsychology, UFO phenomena, and rare out-of-print occult texts.
What it's like
Tracking down unit L-05 is half the initiation, but once inside, the atmosphere is resolutely quiet, low-key, and devoid of sales pitches. Anyone can walk in, grab an out-of-print 1970s parapsychology study, and read in silence at zero cost. The catch is the calendar: run entirely by volunteers and funded by donations, the doors are typically only unlocked a couple of afternoons a week—usually Fridays and Sundays between 2 and 6 PM. If you actually want to borrow titles and take them home, you'll need to sign up for a annual membership, which costs around $30 and directly keeps this non-profit sanctuary alive.
The move: Spend a quiet Friday afternoon pulling weird out-of-print titles off the shelves together and reading side by side in the stacks.
📍 Before you go Volunteer-run with very limited hours (typically Fri and Sun afternoons, 2-6pm); check before visiting as hours shift.
- 📍 Ballard, Seattle
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2220 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop — Walk two blocks down to translate your research on fringe phenomena into tangible oddities, cleared specimens, and osteology.
- Phantom Quartz — Head over to nearby Fremont to shift from historical library research to a modern, curated metaphysical boutique stocking contemporary tarot and magical supplies.
- Edge of the Circle Books — If you want to buy your own rare occult volumes to keep after reading the library's archived copies, visit Seattle's long-running pagan bookstore in the U-District.
Good to know
Is there an entry fee to browse the books?
No. Browsing the stacks and reading on-site is completely free and open to the public during operating hours.
How do I borrow books from the collection?
You must become a member to check out materials. Annual memberships run around $30, which funds the non-profit's rent and operating costs.
When is the library open?
Hours are strictly limited, typically running Friday and Sunday afternoons from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Because it is run entirely by volunteers, confirm their schedule before making the trip.
How do I find the entrance?
The library is tucked inside 2220 NW Market Street at Unit L-05 in Ballard. Look for the street address rather than a prominent storefront sign.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · charleston-hub.com · everout.com
last checked: 2026-06-24