About Us
- About Us - Overview
- Administration
- 2011 Annual Report to the Community
- Board of Trustees
- Community Partner Links
- Contact Us
- Customer Satisfaction Survey
- Employment
- E-newsletter
- FAQ
- Pierce County Library Foundation
- Friends of the Library
- National Medal for Museum and Library Service
- News Releases
- Pierce County Library 2030 - Facilities Master Plan
- Policies
- Re-authorized Levy
- Social Media
- Volunteering
Fast Facts
Library's Governing Body - Board of Trustees
- According to state law, a five-member volunteer board of trustees is responsible for policy decisions and budget approval.
- The county executive appoints trustees, and the county council approves appointments.
- Linda Ishem, Chair
- Allen P. Rose, Vice-Chair
- Donna Albers
- Robert Allen
- J.J. McCament
Pierce County Library System serves all of unincorporated Pierce County and the annexed cities and towns of Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place and Wilkeson.
Population of service area in 2012: 555,285
Size: 1,773 square miles
Service Outlets
Library Locations:
- Bonney Lake
- Buckley
- DuPont
- Eatonville
- Fife
- Gig Harbor
- Graham
- Key Center
- Lakewood
- Milton/Edgewood
- Orting
- Parkland/Spanaway
- South Hill
- Steilacoom
- Summit
- Sumner
- Tillicum
- University Place
Agreements with other libraries allow Pierce County residents to use neighboring libraries.
Authority
- Pierce County Library System is an independent municipal corporation established under the Revised Code of Washington 27.12.
- The Library is a junior taxing district funded from a separate property tax levy.
Operating Revenue
- Total 2013 general fund revenue is estimated at $24,616,725.
- 96 percent of the Library’s revenue comes from a property tax levy at a maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.
- The 2013 tax levy is 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
2012 System Statistics
|
Checkouts |
8,161,990 |
|
Materials/items in system |
1,269,709 |
|
Computers for public use |
567 |
|
Hours on computers |
504,780 |
|
Hours on Wi-Fi |
946,971 |
|
Library visits |
2,507,764 |
|
973 |
|
|
Website visits |
2,644,376 |
|
Number of card holders |
251,034 |
|
Adult care facilities, child care centers and homebound people served |
274 |
|
Event attendance |
56,610 |
|
Hours kids read during Summer Reading |
75,450 |
|
Volunteer hours |
5,941 |
|
Employees (Full Time Equivalents) |
268 |
Services
Pierce County Library System’s 18 libraries and online services bring people together and provide children and adults with opportunities to learn and enrich their lives.
Pierce County Library is the largest provider of free books and information in Pierce County.
- Champions reading and offers kids, teens and adults, fun, learning and free access to more than a million books, movies, and downloadable e-bookds and audiobooks.
- Helps children prepare for and achieve in school.
- Supports communities to be successful.
- Saves people money.
Welcoming customer-focused staff:
- Helps people find and get jobs.
- Provides resources to small businesses.
- Answers questions.
- Helps people find great books.
- Assists with using the Library’s many resources, including books, magazines, music, movies, audiobooks, computers and online resources.
Computers for the public and Wi-Fi.
Credible, reliable online e-sources, subscription magazines, personal investment information, car repair manuals and other resources that would cost an individual thousands of dollars to access.
The Library puts the taxpayer first in making decisions, particularly in tough economic times. The Library continues to evaluate community needs and set priorities based on the public’s needs and interests.
