Pierce County Library System
Information & Imagination

TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System Board of Trustees will discuss technology to support library services, the Library System’s agreement with the Pierce County Library Foundation, accomplishments in 2018, and other issues at the board’s monthly meeting at the Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 3:30 p.m.

At the January meeting, the Board of Trustees will conduct the following business.

• Technology Plan to support library services: Library staff will share a Five Year Technology Roadmap that establishes the Library’s initiatives for technology from 2018-2023. The roadmap identifies the Library’s overall technology goals, activities and projects through 2023. Overall the roadmap puts the Library System on a course to be a best-in-class library that provides innovative, modern and sustainable technology for the public and staff. The plan continues the Library’s investment to provide access to modern technology for all Pierce County residents and to help people in the areas where they have identified needing technology support, including resources to assess job skills and find employment and to improve digital literacy, as well as technology training for staff.
• Pierce County Library Foundation agreement: The Board will review an agreement between the Library System and the Pierce County Library Foundation that directs advocacy and fundraising the Foundation plans to conduct in 2019. In 2018 with generous donations from individuals and organizations, the Foundation provided $350,000 to support library services. The Foundation supports and furthers initiatives outlined in the Library’s Strategic Plan with a focus on learning, enjoyment and community. In 2019, the Foundation projects to provide another $350,000 to extend library services, beyond tax-supported funding. By state law, property taxes fund library services; property taxes fund approximately 95 percent of Pierce County Library’s services.
• 2018 Accomplishments: The Board will review significant accomplishments during 2018, including:
• Informing the public about library funding. Library staff informed the public about its funding, which resulted in voters approving a ballot measure to restore funding to the Library’s full legal amount of 50 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The Library is committed to deliver value with the public’s investment to support residents’ growth and curiosity, offer excellent reading choices, and work to connect and strengthen growing and changing communities.
• E-book/audiobook checkouts increased by 18%. For the second year in a row, Pierce County residents made their Library System part of the prestigious million+ checkout club for e-books and downloadable audiobooks. In 2018 people checked out 1.2 million e-books and audiobooks, an 18% increase over 2017 checkouts.
• Teen Volunteer Corps. Last summer the Library created its first coordinated teenage summer volunteer program. In all 104 teens volunteered more than 1,600 hours.
• Gig Harbor Law Library Pilot. In partnership with the Pierce County Law Library, the Library System established a law library kiosk at Gig Harbor Pierce County Library. The law library provides Peninsula residents with free access to electronic and printed legal resources.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-01092019.pdf

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 603,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, movies and other materials, as well as nearly half a million online/downloadable materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System Board of Trustees will meet to elect 2019 officers at a special board meeting at the Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m.

The Board will elect a board chair and vice-chair for 2019. Currently Rob Allen serves as chair and Daren Jones serves as vice chair. Other members of the board include Donna Albers, Monica Butler and Pat Jenkins.

Volunteer board members serve five-year terms. The Board is responsible for adopting policies and approving annual budgets.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/about-us/board-trustees/Default.htm

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, movies and other materials, as well as nearly half a million online/downloadable materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System Board of Trustees will hold the second and final public hearing on its draft budget for 2019 at the board’s monthly meeting at the Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m. The board will also discuss the results from the recent election that restored funding for the Library as well as elect officers for 2019.

At the December meeting, the Board of Trustees will conduct the following business.

• Final public hearing on 2019 draft budget: The Board of Trustees will take comments from the public on the Library’s 2019 draft budget. Then the Board is expected to pass a resolution to adopt the $36.4 million budget. The budget continues to build on the Library’s Strategic Plan, with a focus on learning, enjoyment and community. Property taxes make up approximately 95 percent of the Library’s revenue.
• Election results: In the Nov. 6 election, voters approved a levy lid lift with a 50.21 percent approval rate, with 106,844 voters casting yes votes to restore funding to the Library System. With the public’s investment the Library System will continue to support residents’ growth and curiosity, offer excellent reading choices, and work to connect and strengthen growing and changing communities. The restored levy will maintain library services and return the Library’s levy rate to its full legal amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This would be an increase of approximately 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. The restored levy takes effect in 2019. The restored levy will maintain services including open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology; and community spaces.
• Officer election: The Board will elect a board chair and vice-chair for 2019. Currently Rob Allen serves as chair and Daren Jones serves as vice chair. Other members of the board include Donna Albers, Monica Butler and Pat Jenkins.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20181212.pdf

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, movies and other materials, as well as nearly half a million online/downloadable materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees will discuss election results from its restored levy, 2019 budget and work plan including the first of two public hearings on the budget, and other issues at the Board’s meeting at Pierce County Library’s Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m.  

Restored levy: Today, Nov. 9, the Pierce County Elections Office projects it will have counted and reported 95 percent of the ballots for the Library’s restored levy ballot measure, Proposition No. 1. On election night approximately 92,000 of the 226,294 (as of Nov. 8) ballots had been counted. Proposition No. 1, a levy lid lift, would restore the Library’s levy rate to its full legal amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. To the owner of an average home assessed at $320,000 this would be approximately a $32 increase in 2019.

• The restored levy would maintain services including open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology; and community spaces.
• Without the restored levy, the Library System would further eliminate and reduce services including the hours libraries are open; the number of books, movies and other materials; and classes and events; as well as close two to three libraries.
• The restored levy was on the November ballot because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues.

2019 budget and work plan: With the ballot measure, library leaders created two budgets—one reflecting a restored levy with revenue at 50 cents per $1,000 and one reflecting a reduction in services with revenue at 39 cents per $1,000. If voters give a clear direction in today’s vote count, at the Nov. 14 Board meeting, the Board will conduct a public hearing on only one of the proposed budgets.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile 

More information: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20181114.pdf

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

piercecountylibrary.org             

facebook.com/PierceCoLibrary

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees will discuss its restored levy ballot measure, results from recent services and programs, and other issues at the Board’s meeting at Pierce County Library’s Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m. 

Restored levy: On Nov. 6, Pierce County voters will cast ballots for Proposition No. 1 a levy lid lift to restore the Pierce County Library’s levy rate to its full legal amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. To the owner of an average home assessed at $320,000 this would be approximately a $32 increase in 2019.

At the October Board meeting, Library leaders will update the Board on activities the Library has been conducting to inform people about the ballot measure. Using the Library’s customary communications channels, staff informed thousands of people of the ballot measure at events in libraries and communities.

• The restored levy would maintain services including open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology; and community spaces.
• Without the restored levy, the Library System would further eliminate and reduce services including the hours libraries are open; the number of books, movies and other materials; and classes and events; as well as close two to three libraries.
• In 2006 voters passed a restored levy, and The Library System has met or surpassed all of the levy promises with funding that was projected to maintain services for up to six years. The Library has stretched that funding for 12 years. Since 2006 the Library’s service area population has grown by 16 percent to 602,000 people, and the number of people with library cards has grown by 63 percent to 323,000 people.
• The restored levy is on the November ballot because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues.

Service and program results: At the meeting, the Board will also learn about results from recent services and programs.

• Summer Reading: 19,000 children and adults read 14 million minutes and donated 3,610 pounds of food to the Emergency Food Network.
• Teen Library Corps: this summer the Library launched its first teen summer volunteer program this summer with an impressive response from Pierce County teenagers—113 teenagers gave 1,615 volunteer hours to help serve summer lunches, register children for Summer Reading, perform puppet shows, and conduct other activities.
• Strategic Plan focus on e-books and downloadable audiobooks: June-August 2018, the Library highlighted an area of its Strategic Plan and increased awareness and use of e-books and downloadable audiobooks, which resulted in nearly a 20 percent increase in the number of people checking out those items (June-August 2017: 19,674; June-August 2018: 23,477) and the number of e-books and audiobooks downloaded (June-August 2017: 267,359; June-August 2018: 314,456.)

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20181010.pdf.

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

piercecountylibrary.org                       

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees will learn about services at Gig Harbor Pierce County Library and will discuss its restored levy ballot measure and other issues at the Board’s meeting at Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive NW, Gig Harbor, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 3:30 p.m.

Gig Harbor Library services

Gig Harbor residents are known to say and show “we love our library,” and the Pierce County Library’s Board of Trustees will find out how much this community of readers learns from and enjoys their library. The library boasts the highest checkout rate of any of the 20 Pierce County Libraries with people checking out 705,000 books, movies and other materials from Gig Harbor Library last year. Nearly 30,000 people have active library cards – that is three times more than the population of the city of Gig Harbor. The library is known for its resources and classes for small business owners and technology and other classes it takes to senior living facilities. Recently the Library System partnered with Pierce County Law Library to establish a law library kiosk at Gig Harbor Library. 

Restored levy

Library leaders will update the Board on election documents filed with Pierce and King County Elections Offices for Proposition No. 1, a levy lid lift to restore the Library’s funding to its full legal amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This would be an increase of approximately 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. To the owner of an average home assessed at $320,000 this would be approximately a $32 increase in 2019.

If voters approve the Nov. 6 ballot measure, the restored levy would maintain services including open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology; and community spaces.

Without the restored levy, the Library System would further eliminate and reduce services including the hours libraries are open; the number of books, movies and other materials; and classes and events; as well as close two to three libraries.

In 2006 voters passed a re-stored levy, and The Library System has met or surpassed all levy promises with funding from the 2006 levy that was projected to maintain services for up to six years. The Library has stretched that funding for 12 years.

The restored levy is on the November ballot because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues. Property taxes make up approximately 94 percent of the Pierce County Library’s revenue. State law limits local governments, including the Pierce County Library, to an increase in property taxes of no more than 1 percent plus property taxes from new construction each year.

More information: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20180912.pdf.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

piercecountylibrary.org                       

facebook.com/PierceCoLibrary

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees plans to discuss its restored levy ballot measure, an improved way to request books, and other issues at the Board’s meeting at Pierce County Library’s Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 3:30 p.m.

Restored levy

At the July Board meeting, the Trustees passed a resolution to place a restored levy, also known as a levy lid lift on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. A restored levy would maintain Pierce County Library’s services and return the Library's levy rate to its full legal amount of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This would be an increase of approximately 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. To the owner of an average home assessed at $320,000 this would be approximately a $32 increase in 2019.

The restored levy would maintain services including open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology; and community spaces.

Without the restored levy, the Library System would further eliminate and reduce services including the hours libraries are open; the number of books, movies and other materials; and classes and events; as well as close two to three libraries.

Since 2009 to manage its budget, the Library System has eliminated, reduced, streamlined or did not offer needed services and deferred maintenance totaling $20 million.

The primary reason the restored levy will be on the November ballot is because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues. State law limits local governments, including Pierce County Library, to an increase in property taxes of no more than 1 percent plus property taxes from new construction each year.

Improved book requests system

In July the Library System launched an improved way for the public to ask for books the Library System doesn’t have in its collection. In the first week people placed more than 500 requests. Librarians review the requests and determine if the recommendations would be an item that many people in our service area might enjoy or whether the item is more specific and primarily for the individual requestor. If it is an item that has broad appeal or meets other selection criteria, a librarian will purchase it for Pierce County Library’s collection. If the item doesn’t meet the Library’s selection criteria, the Library will try to borrow it from another library system through a national interlibrary loan program.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20180808.pdf : 

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

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TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees is expected to take a formal step to ask voters to restore its levy. At the Board of Trustees meeting at Pierce County Library’s Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, July 11, at 3:30 p.m. the Board is expected to pass a resolution that would put the restored levy on the Nov. 6, 2018 general election ballot.

The restored levy, also known as a levy lid lift, would maintain services including convenient open hours at 20 locations and online library resources; 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials; staff to support growth and learning with thousands of classes and events; computers, Wi-Fi and technology offerings; as well as community connector services such as public meeting rooms and community events and forums.

Without the restored levy, the Library System would need to further eliminate and reduce services including the hours libraries are open; the number of books, movies and other materials; and close two to three of its 18 full service libraries.

Since 2009 to manage its budget, the Library System has eliminated, reduced, streamlined or did not offer needed services and deferred maintenance totaling $20 million.

The restored levy is needed primarily because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues. By Washington State law, local governments, including Pierce County Library, are limited to no more than an increase of 1 percent in property taxes plus property taxes from new construction each year.

The only other time the Library asked voters to restore its levy funding was in 2006. Voters approved that levy, which the Library System projected would meet service needs for up to six years. The Library has stretched that funding for 12 years now. Since then, the population in the Library’s service area has grown by 16 percent, and at the same time the number of people with Pierce County Library cards grew by 63 percent.

At the June Board meeting a Community Advisory Committee that had analyzed the Library’s funding and input from the public, recommended that the Board ask voters to restore the Library’s funding to its full authorized amount of 50 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Without a levy lid lift, the Library’s 2019 levy is projected to be 41.5 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20180711.pdf.

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

piercecountylibrary.org                       

facebook.com/PierceCoLibrary

twitter.com/PierceCoLibrary

TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System’s Community Advisory Committee on Library Funding will present its recommendation to the Library System’s Board of Trustees on how the Library System should address its budget deficit. The volunteer citizens committee will share their findings at the Board of Trustee’s meeting at the South Hill Pierce County Library, 15420 Meridian E., South Hill, on Wednesday, June 13, at 3:30 p.m.

The 13-member advisory committee is made up of community leaders from throughout Pierce County, from businesses, local governments and nonprofit organizations. The Library System formed the committee in winter 2018 to evaluate the Library’s funding as well as public comments and input.

The committee reviewed the Library’s funding that is limited by state law to not increase funding from property taxes by more than 1 percent more than the previous year. The committee also looked at how the Library has managed its budget deficit of approximately $20 million during the past nine years. Since 2009, the Library System has been reducing or eliminating services, making efficiencies, and deferring or not offering services.

The group reviewed input from thousands of residents in the Library’s service area which noted library services the public needs, wants and values most.

Prison Reentry Program. Also at the meeting, the Board will hear about a new Washington State Library program that Pierce County Library is supporting to help individuals recently released from Washington state prisons successfully return to communities. As part of the prisoner reentry program, Library staff will coordinate registering soon to be released prisoners for library cards. Upon their release from prison, the Library will provide the former inmates with their library cards. Staff will also provide information about services that can best help former prisoners as they reenter communities, such as job and technology resources and referral to local resources for housing, food, transportation and other services. Pierce County receives the second highest number of released prisoners annually.

South Hill Library. The Board will also tour and hear more about the busy South Hill Library which is a large family-oriented hub and boasts the second highest checkout of books and materials out of the 20 libraries in the Library System. In 2017 people checked out 622,000 items from South Hill Library. Gig Harbor Pierce County Library holds the current record with 705,000 checkouts last year. The South Hill Library has strong community partnerships and supports school success and preparing children for kindergarten. It also serves the area’s growing Spanish speaking population with bilingual story times and block play.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-20180613.pdf.

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from 1.5 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

piercecountylibrary.org                       

facebook.com/PierceCoLibrary

twitter.com/PierceCoLibrary

TACOMA – The Pierce County Library System Board of Trustees will discuss funding the top priorities for library services, Summer Reading, progress to implement its 2018 work plan, and other issues, at the board’s meeting at the Administrative Center and Library, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, on Wednesday, May 9, at 3:30 p.m.

At the May meeting, the Board of Trustees will conduct the following business.

• Funding the public’s top priorities for library services: The Nelson Report, a public opinion research firm, will share results from a recent public opinion poll. The poll of nearly 400 adults throughout the Library’s service area provided information about the public’s awareness and perception of the Library System as well as further information about what services people value most.

In addition Library leaders will talk further about the Library’s funding situation that stems from costs to run services being higher than revenues, which come primarily from property taxes. In the past nine years, the Library System has managed a budget deficit of approximately $2 million a year by reducing or eliminating services, making efficiencies, and deferring or not offering services. Leaders will discuss impacts of further reducing services without additional funding.

The Library is working with a Community Advisory Committee to review its funding and input from the public. Options to manage the funding include asking voters to consider a measure that would increase taxes to maintain services or further reducing services.

• Summer Reading: Leaders will give the Board a preview of Summer Reading for children, teenagers and adults. The 2018 Summer Reading theme Libraries Rock will show in the dozens of events and classes throughout the libraries. The Library is the county leader in reading for enjoyment with research-proven outcomes. These outcomes include strengthening community engagement, preventing summer slide (students’ reading and learning skills regressing during the summer months), and providing access to learning opportunities for everyone at every age. Last summer thousands of people participated in the program and reported reading 18 million minutes.

• 2018 Work Plan: Staff continue to make progress on the Library’s work plan, which is based on its Strategic Plan. Leaders will give an overview about a new software system that is giving the public easier access to the Library’s online calendar to learn about events and classes as well as booking meeting rooms online for the public’s use. Also, the city of Orting is replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the Orting Pierce County Library, which has closed the library some in April and May.

Contact: Mary Getchell, Marketing and Communications Director

253-548-3428-office; 253-229-4477-mobile

More information: http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/files/library/board-packet-2018_001_001.pdf

About Pierce County Library System

The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves 602,000 people throughout Pierce County with 20 libraries and online services. The system is the fourth largest in the state and is funded primarily through property taxes. People may choose from nearly 1.3 million books, e-books, audiobooks, movies and other materials. Pierce County Library is committed to directing services in three primary areas: learning, enjoyment and community connection. Its services and programs spark success for Pierce County residents. More than 2 million people visit Pierce County Libraries each year. The Library provides services and programs directly to people in adult care facilities or who are homebound, and to children in child care centers and schools. Pierce County Libraries are located at Anderson Island, Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Graham, Key Center, Lakewood, Milton/Edgewood, Orting, Parkland/Spanaway, Pierce County Library Administrative Center, South Hill, Steilacoom, Summit, Sumner, Tillicum and University Place. Pierce County Library is an independent municipal corporation and operates as a junior taxing district.

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