Pierce County Library System
Information & Imagination

Pierce County Library System has been serving customers for more than 65 years. The Library System has changed a lot in that time.

In 1946 seven libraries served 55,000 people. Today, Pierce County Library is the state's fourth largest library system with 18 libraries serving 555,000 people.

In 1946 Pierce County Library offered 6,385 books and 6,800 from Tacoma Public Library. Today Pierce County Library System offers 1 million books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and more. It also offers computers with high-speed Internet access and free Wi-Fi.

History

1944

• Nov. 7: Residents of Pierce County voted on and passed a ballot measure establishing the Pierce County Rural Library District.

1945

• June 1: Pierce County Commissioners appointed the first Library Board of Trustees.

1946

• January: Marion Cromwell, the appointed librarian, and two assistants began work as the Pierce County Rural Library District, operating for a few weeks in a basement room of the Tacoma Public Library, and then moved to 502 South 11th St. Pierce County Library System and Tacoma Public Library negotiated a contract that allowed county borrowers to check out materials from Tacoma Public Library.
• May: The first library station was opened in Gig Harbor, followed rapidly by American Lake Gardens, Longbranch, National, Parkland and Vaughn.
• August: Milton was the first incorporated town to contract with the library district.

1947

• Stations opened were Anderson Island, Lakewood, Lacamas, Tillicum, Home-Lakebay, Steilacoom, Roy, Weyerhaeuser and Purdy.
• September: The first bookmobile was put into service.

1950

• Parkland's Community Club library committee bought a quonset hut to be used as a library building.

1980

• Orting, Steilacoom and Sumner citizens voted to annex to Library System.
• New libraries opened in Gig Harbor and Key Center.

1982

• Eatonville citizens voted to annex to Library System.
• New libraries opened in Bonney Lake, Orting and South Hill.

1983

• Buckley citizens voted to annexed to Library System.

1984

• Audiobooks on cassettes offered in libraries.
• Computer checkout system started.
• Library services provided to children in child care centers.

1985

• New library opened in Tillicum.

1986

• Voters approved $28.9 million bond issue for system expansion program for 12 construction projects.

1987

• Gig Harbor citizens voted to annex to Library System.
• Friends Connection formed to encourage communication among community library support groups.

1990

• New libraries opened in Eatonville, Gig Harbor, Parkland/Spanaway and South Hill.

1992

• New libraries opened in Graham and Summit.

1996

• Edgewood and Lakewood citizens voted to annex to Library System.

1997

• Library System website created.
• Our Own Words Teen Writing Contest started.

1998

• Library offered e-sources (online databases and subscription magazines) and computers with Intenet access at all libraries.

1999

• DuPont and Milton citizens voted to annex to Library System.

2000

• Audiobooks on CDs offered in libraries.

2001

• Bilingual story times started.

2005

• Express Checkout allowed customers to check out books on their own.
• Downloadable audiobooks offered via the library’s website.

2006

• Voters gave a 56% approval to re-authorize the library’s levy:
• Wider variety of books and other materials
• More open hours.
• Additional services for kids and teenagers.
• Upgraded services and technology for customers.

2007

• Playaways and online school reading lists offered.
• Open hours increased by 20%.
• Online homework help launched.
• 88 computers added for a total of 218 computers.
• Free computer classes offered.

2008

• Downloadable e-books offered.
• Hours children and teenagers read during summer reading increased by 44%.
• 3 early literacy stations with computers to help children prepare to read added.
• 64 computers with high-speed Internet added.
• Pierce County READS involved thousands of people.
• Pierce County Library 2030 planned for library services and buildings to meet future community needs.

2009

• Fife citizens voted with a 69% approval to annex to the Library System.

2010

• Fife residents started library service with the bookmobile.
• Job and Business Centers opened.

2011

• Moved Milton/Edgewood Library to a high-traffic, central location. 1,300 people attended the grand opening.
• Opened University Place Library in new location, in collaboration with the City of University Place’s town center. 4,541 people participated in the grand opening.
• Opened Fife Pierce County Library, the first ever library in the City of Fife. 780 people attended the grand opening.

2012

• Became tobacco free, to increase the Library’s comfortable, accessible and welcoming environment for all people.
• Teen summer reading went online with gamification, and 653 teenagers participated in the successful Teen Summer Challenge.
• Created a website for military personnel and their families: http://military.mypcls.org/.
• During the annual library card drive, the Library System piloted a partnership program with Franklin Pierce Schools, resulting in 5,278 students having new cards. 
• Earned national Distinguished Budget Presentation Award with the highest rating of “outstanding” for its 2012 budget.

More information

Read a more detailed library history, 1946-1965.