History

2021

• We continue our phased Path to Reopening. Patrons have access to all 50 library buildings again by July (775,007 square feet*).
• 1.3 million people have a library card.
• 61,601 people attend virtual programs.
• Patrons check out 16.9 million items.
• Patrons download 7.8 million eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive. We’re the second highest digital circulating library in the U.S.
• People visit our website over 11 million times.
• People visit our catalog 42.2 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 79,417 people.

*Includes Service Center and Materials Distribution Facility

2020

• Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we close all library buildings to the public in March. This is required by state and public health mandates. We begin a phased Path to Reopening in June.
• We offer a suite of new contactless services to address patron needs. These include Curbside to Go, 24/7 external lockers and virtual programming.
• 1.1 million people have a library card. We see a 226% increase in eCard registrations.
• 52,935 people attend virtual programs.
• Patrons check out 14.6 million items.
• Patrons download 7.4 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the second highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• Patrons check out 2.6 million items at 41 Curbside to Go locations.
• People visit our website 12.9 million times.
• People visit our catalog 38.7 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 38,502 people.

2019

• Patrons have access to 50 libraries (775,007 square feet*).
• 632,950 people have a library card.
• 620,509 people attend programs.
• Patrons check out 21.2 million items.
• Patrons download 5.6 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the second highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• People visit our website 15.7 million times.
• People visit our catalog 51.3 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 71,868 people.
• Patrons read for 24.6 million minutes during our Summer Reading Program.
• We finish our 15-year, $172 million Capital Bond Program. We increase our overall footprint by nearly 30%.
• New 5,300 square-foot Kent Panther Lake Library opens.
• Renovated 6,536 square-foot Boulevard Park Library opens.

*Includes Service Center and Materials Distribution Facility

2018

• Patrons have access to 49 libraries (769,707 square feet*).
• 659,049 people have a library card.
• 774,505 people attended programs.
• Patrons check out 21.8 million items.
• Patrons download 4.8 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• People visit our website 17.2 million times.
• People visit our catalog 48.8 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 70,503 people.
• Patrons read for 21.6 million minutes during our Summer Reading Program.

*Includes Service Center and Materials Distribution Facility

2017

• Patrons have access to 49 libraries (769,707 square feet*).
• 756,000 people have a library card.
• 673,551 people attend programs.
• Patrons check out 20.8 million items.
• Patrons download 4.7 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• People visit our website 17.2 million times.
• People visit our catalog 48.8 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 84,774 people.
• New 10,000 square-foot Tukwila Library opens.

*Includes Service Center and Materials Distribution Facility

2016

• Patrons have access to 49 libraries (758,749 square feet*).
• 703,987 people have a library card.
• 623,189 people attend programs.
• Patrons check out nearly 21 million items.
• Patrons download 3.5 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• People visit our website 20 million times.
• People visit our catalog 64 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 73,373 people.
• New 10,000 square-foot White Center Library opens.

*Includes Service Center and Materials Distribution Facility

2015

• Patrons have access to 49 libraries (739,788 square feet).
• 756,000 people have a library card.
• 566,087 people attend programs.
• Patrons check out 20.4 million items.
• Patrons download 3 million eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive. We’re the highest digital circulating library system in the U.S.
• People visit our website 42 million times.
• People visit our catalog 60 million times.
• Mobile Outreach visits 67,247 people.
• Student Library eCard pilot starts. This service provides school-based access to digital materials.
• River-spanning Renton Library opens.

2014

• Patrons have access to 48 libraries.
• Nearly 10 million people visit our libraries.
• Summer Learning programs include STREAM-based content.
• Free summer meals pilot provides nutrition for kids in low-income areas.
• 144% more people participate in Summer Learning.
• New Fairwood and Vashon Libraries open.
• Bellevue Library Parking Garage receives 2014 AIA|WA Civic Design Award.
• Federal Way 320th Library receives 2014 AIA Seattle Award of Merit.
• Newcastle Library receives:
  • 2014 GE Edison Award for Environmental Design Winner
  • 2014 Illuminating Engineering Society, Regional Award of Merit

2013

• Patrons have access to 48 libraries.
• Nearly 10 million people visit our libraries.
• Patrons check out 22 million items.
• People visit our website 47.6 million times.
• Patrons download 1.7 million eBooks and audiobooks.
• Bellevue Library Parking Garage and new Federal Way 320th Library open.
• Newcastle Library receives 2013 AIA|WA Council Civic Design Merit Award.
• Kenmore Library receives AIA| Northwest and Pacific Region Citation Award.

2012

• Patrons have access to 48 libraries.
• 10.1 million people visit our libraries.
• Patrons check out 22 million items.
• We lead the U.S., Canada and Australia in eBook circulation.
• Duvall and Newcastle Libraries open.

2011

• Patrons have access to 46 libraries.
• 10.3 million people visit our libraries.
• Patrons check out 21.8 million items.
• People visit our website more than 40.3 million times.
• Gale/Library Journal names us “Library of the Year.”
• eBook use increases by 355%. We hold the record for eBook use.
• New Kenmore and Newport Way Libraries open.

2010

• Patrons check out 22.4 million items. We’re the busiest public library in the U.S.
• People visit our website 31 million times.
• People visit our catalog 84.5 million times.
• Voters approve passage of a levy lid lift.
• We replace a proprietary system with an open-source system called Evergreen.
• New Federal Way, Lake Hills and Sammamish Libraries open to record crowds.
• Renton annexes to the library system.

2009

• 10 million people visit our libraries.
• Patrons check out 21.3 million items.
• Award-winning Look to Your Library outreach effort starts. This effort highlights free library and community resources during tough economic times. (John Cotton Dana PR award)
• People visit our website 26.8 million times.
• People visit our catalog 88.6 million times.
• New Library Express @ Redmond Ridge and the expanded Kirkland Library open.

2008

• 9.6 million people visit our libraries.
• Patrons check out more than 20 million items.
• We’re the second busiest library in the U.S.
• New library card registration increases 10%.
• Expanded Covington and Woodmont Libraries open.
• New libraries in Black Diamond, Fall City, Greenbridge and Muckleshoot open.

2007

• Patrons check out 19.3 million items.
• We’re the second busiest library system in the U.S.
• African American Achievement collection opens.
• Diversity outreach to new employees, vendors and contractors expands.
• Tutor.com names us "Innovator of the Month" for a tutorial on Live Homework Help®.
• Black Diamond, Fall City, Greenbridge and Muckleshoot Libraries’ construction begins.
• New Shoreline and Snoqualmie Library parking expansions open.

2006

• Patrons check out 19.1 million items.
• 73% of borrowers use Self-Check-out.
• 14,000 people finish our Summer Reading Program.
• The King County Library System-The Seattle Public Library Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement changes. This is due to $1 million cross-use imbalance. Seattle residents can no longer place holds on items in our collection.
• Snoqualmie Library’s construction begins.

2005

• Patrons check out 18.3 million items.
• People visit our website over 98 million times.
• We earn an award for our 2004 Capital Replacement Bond Information Campaign. (PRSA Silver Anvil Award for Excellence)
• Patron Experience Transformation Project helps us define and deliver our best service.
• Organizational restructure improves staff and management efficiencies and addresses service issues.
• Over 13,000 people finish—and a record number of people take part in—our Summer Reading Program.

2004

• ABC Express, a mobile library, launches to serve childcare facilities throughout King County.
• Library Connection @ Southcenter opens, funded by the King County Library System Foundation.
• Voters pass $172 million bond to fund our libraries for the next decade (63.57% approval).

2003

• Patrons check out over 15 million items.
• People visit our website over 22 million times.
• Self-Check-out opens at several libraries.

2002

• Patrons check out nearly 15 million items.
• People visit our website over 22 million times.
• Voters pass levy lid lift measure on February ballot (64% approval).

2001

• Patrons check out more than 14 million items.
• People visit our website over 19 million times.
• New Issaquah and Richmond Beach Libraries open.
• Library Connection @ Crossroads opens.

2000

• Patrons check out nearly 13 million items.
• People visit our website over 11 million times.
• Library card campaign increases number of cardholders. 90% of residents have a library card.
• Auburn, Maple Valley and Woodmont Libraries open.
• Our headquarters (Service Center) relocates to new facility in Issaquah.

1999

• Patrons check out 12.8 million items.
• People visit our website 5.2 million times.
• Redmond Library opens.
• Kenmore votes to annex to the library system (92% approval).

1998

• Patrons check out 13.1 million items.
• People visit our website 1 million times.
• Sammamish Library opens.
• Lake Forest Park votes to annex to the library system (85% approval).

1997

• Auburn votes to annex to the library system (70% approval).
• Two new cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Covington (92% approval)
  • Maple Valley (93% approval)

1996

• Foster Library opens.
• Lake Forest Park Library opens new location in the mall.
• Voters pass measures to establish Library Capital Facility Areas:
  • Issaquah (71% approval)
  • Redmond (68% approval)
• Voters approve bonds to pay for new buildings:
  • Issaquah (65% approval)
  • Redmond (64% approval)

1995

• Bothell and Kirkland Libraries open.
• Shoreline votes to annex to the library system (91% approval).

1994

• Patrons check out over 12 million items.
• We celebrate our 50th anniversary.
• The internet comes to the library system.
• Algona-Pacific and North Bend Libraries open.
• Two cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Des Moines (87% approval)
  • Newport Hills/Newcastle (93% approval)

1993

• Bellevue, Burien, Covington, Shoreline, Skykomish and Woodinville Libraries open.
• Five cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Burien (91% approval)
  • Duvall (73% approval)
  • Kent (71% approval)
  • Mercer Island (78% approval)
  • Woodinville (96% approval)
• InfoNet launches. InfoNet is an online service featuring our catalog and other information services.

1992

• Patrons check out more than 10 million items.
• Four cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Carnation (67% approval)
  • Clyde Hill (61% approval)
  • Normandy Park (75% approval)
  • Tukwila (82% approval)

1991

• Answer Line opens.
• We renovate 15 libraries.
• King County Library System Foundation forms to provide support beyond public funding.
• Two cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Beaux Arts Village (58% approval)
  • Medina (56% approval)
• Federal Way and Kent Libraries open.

1990

• Ten cities vote to annex to the library system:
  • Algona (75% approval)
  • Black Diamond (83% approval)
  • Federal Way (90% approval)
  • Issaquah (75% approval)
  • Kirkland (79% approval)
  • Pacific (75% approval)
  • Redmond (85% approval)
  • SeaTac (87% approval)
  • Skykomish (88% approval)
  • Snoqualmie (80% approval)
• We install Dynix Automated Library System software for the online catalog.

1989

• Mercer Island votes to approve a city bond issue for a new library (66% approval).

1988

• Patrons check out more than 9 million items.
• Voters approve a $67 million bond issue for capital improvements (63.9% approval).
• North Bend votes to annex to the library system (84% approval).

1987

• Patrons check out 8.4 million items—double that of 10 years earlier.
• We develop the Capital Plan, "Looking to the Year 2000."
• We pay capital improvement bonds from 1966 in full.

1986

• Patrons check out 7.86 million items.
• Communities county-wide request more library services. Many seek new or expanded facilities.
• Bothell votes to annex to the library system (84% approval).
• Des Moines voters pass a city bond issue for a new library (72% approval).
• Fairwood Library opens.

1985

• Bellevue votes to annex to the library system (83% approval).

1982

• Patrons check out more than 4.7 million items.
• We install an ULISYS automated circulation system.
• Valley View Library opens.

1980

• Patrons check out 4.15 million items.
• 67% of voters approve a second levy lid lift. This funds new libraries for Fairwood, Issaquah, Valley View and Vashon.
• We install a new computerized circulation system.

1977

• Patrons check out more than 4 million items.
• 67.8% of voters approve a levy lid lift.

1966

• 63% of voters pass a $6-million bond issue. We receive federal funds to build the following 18 new libraries over the next 10 years. Funds come from the Library Services and Construction Act grant. We also get matching funds from some cities.
  • Bellevue
  • Bothell
  • Boulevard Park
  • Burien
  • Carnation
  • Fall City
  • Federal Way
  • Foster
  • Kingsgate
  • Lake Hills
  • Maple Valley
  • Newport Way
  • Redmond
  • Shoreline
  • Skyway
  • Snoqualmie
  • Vista
  • White Center
• We remodel the former United Parcel Services building in Seattle. The new space becomes our Service Center (administration building).
• We buy four potential library sites.

1960-1966

• We offer full or partial library service at 39 libraries. We rent many of the spaces and none are more than 5,000 square feet.
• We identify a need for new and expanded buildings, and a larger collection.

1942

• Voters establish the King County Rural Library District.
• We provide library services to people in rural areas with no easy access to libraries.
• Boulevard Park and Richmond Beach Libraries are the first to join the system. These are small community libraries run by volunteers.
• Funding comes from two sources:
  1. Property tax base of unincorporated areas ($.50 per $1,000 assessed valuation).
  2. Contracts with cities and towns for the provision of library services.