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.
Board of Trustees
- Steve Albers, Chair
- Linda Ishem, Vice-Chair
- Robert Allen
- J.J. McCament
- Allen Rose
Service Area
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 2011: 544,477
Size: 1,773 square miles
Service Outlets
Eighteen libraries, two family bookmobiles and Explorer Kids' Bookmobile, which serves children in low-income neighborhoods.
Library Locations:
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 2012 general fund revenue is estimated at $26,694,758.
- 97 percent of the Library’s revenue comes from a property tax levy at a maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.
- The 2011 tax levy is 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
2011 System Statistics
|
Checkouts In Library/Bookmobile Online/Download |
8,534,808 8,265,818 268,990 |
|
Materials/items in system On shelves Online/Downloads |
1,316,309 1,258,794 57,515 |
|
Computers for public use |
527 |
|
Sessions on computers |
771,056 |
Library visits |
2,631,164 |
|
Open hours/week |
973 |
|
Website visits |
2,926,874 |
|
Number of library card holders |
250,290 |
|
Adult care facilities, child care centers and homebound people served |
183 |
|
Event attendance |
63,536 |
|
Hours kids read during Summer Reading |
66,352 |
|
Volunteer hours |
5,163 |
|
Employees |
346 |
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 audio and e-books.
- Helps children prepare for and achieve in school.
- Supports communities to be successful.
- Saves people money.
Welcoming customer-focused staff:
Help people find and get jobs.
Provide resources to small businesses.
Answer questions.
Help find good books for people to read.
Assist 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.