Sno-Isle Libraries

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Sno-Isle Libraries
Sno-Isle Libraries logo.svg
Marysville, WA public library - 01.jpg
The Marysville branch of Sno-Isle Libraries, opened in 1995
Type Public library
EstablishedDecember 17, 1962
Service area Island and Snohomish counties, Washington
Coordinates 48°03′46″N122°11′09″W / 48.06278°N 122.18583°W / 48.06278; -122.18583 Coordinates: 48°03′46″N122°11′09″W / 48.06278°N 122.18583°W / 48.06278; -122.18583
Branches23
Collection
Size1.2 million items
Access and use
Circulation11.3 million
Population served729,076
Members463,564
Other information
Budget$57 million (2018) [1]
DirectorLois Langer Thompson
Staff504
Website sno-isle.org
Map
Sno-Isle Libraries
References: Washington Public Library Statistical Report, 2016 [2]

Sno-Isle Libraries is a public library system serving Island and Snohomish counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The system is among the largest in Washington state and has an annual circulation of 11 million materials. The library's 23 branches and bookmobile services reach every incorporated city in the two counties, with the exception of Everett (which retains its own municipal system) and Woodway. Sno-Isle was formed in 1962, from the merger of two systems serving each county that were established in 1944 and 1962.

Contents

History

While cities in Island and Snohomish counties established their own libraries in the early 20th century, the first inter-city system was created by voters in unincorporated Snohomish County on April 2, 1944. [3] The state government sponsored demonstration library and bookmobile projects on Camano and Whidbey islands in 1961, spurring interest in establishing an Island County system. [4] The Island County Rural Library District was established by voters in November 1962 and merged with the Snohomish County system on December 17, forming the Snohomish-Island Inter-County Rural Library District. [5] [6] [7]

The new library system was named "Sno-Isle" to reflect the two counties. [8] Initially, the Sno-Isle Regional Library signed contracts with incorporated cities to operate their libraries and join the system for a fixed amount. [9] Rural branches would rely on property taxes generated within the district, as well as donations from organizations and members of the community. [10] Incorporated cities began voting to annex themselves into the Sno-Isle district in the late 1980s, with promises of new libraries and potential cost savings over the contracted service. [11]

All Sno-Isle branches were closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened with curbside pick-up service three months later. [12] In-person services resumed at some branches in early 2021. [13]

Branches

The Mariner demonstration library, which opened in 2016 Mariner demonstration library, Everett, WA.jpg
The Mariner demonstration library, which opened in 2016

As of 2018, the Sno-Isle Libraries system has 23 branches. [14] They serve every city in Island and Snohomish counties, with the exception of two cities: Everett, which has its own system, and Woodway, which had contracted service until 1978. [15] The system covers an area of 2,260 square miles (5,900 km2) and a population of over 700,000 residents. [16] Two of the locations, in the Mariner area of Everett and Smokey Point area of Arlington, are "demonstration" libraries that are in leased retail spaces that precede a permanent branch. [14] [17] The Camano Island location was formerly a demonstration library that was replaced by a permanent branch in 2015. [14]

NameOpened [18] Floor space [18]
sq ftsq m
Arlington 19815,000460
Brier 19962,800260
Camano Island 20154,900460
Clinton 20001,300120
Coupeville 20106,000560
Darrington 20095,000460
Edmonds 198220,0001,900
Freeland 20064,800450
Granite Falls 20016,500600
Lake Stevens 19852,500230
Lakewood/Smokey Point [19] 20184,000370
Langley 19233,500330
Lynnwood 199925,9002,410
Mariner (Everett) [20] 20173,700340
Marysville 199523,0002,100
Mill Creek 19927,400690
Monroe 200220,0001,900
Mountlake Terrace 198812,8001,190
Mukilteo 199815,0001,400
Oak Harbor 199311,2001,040
Snohomish 200323,0002,100
Stanwood 19865,400500
Sultan 19994,400410

Operations

The Sno-Isle Libraries system is headquartered at an administration and processing center on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, west of Marysville. [21] It is governed by a seven-member board of trustees, of whom two are appointed by Island County and five by Snohomish County. [22] The system is overseen by an executive director that is appointed by the board of trustees. Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, a longtime library employee, was appointed as executive director in 2002 and retired in 2018. [23] [24]

The library system has an annual budget of $57 million, [1] with 98 percent of revenue funded by a property tax levied on all properties within the district. [25] The remaining two percent of revenue comes from a timber excise tax, a leasehold excise tax, contract fees from municipal governments, and donations. [26]

In 2016, Sno-Isle had a total circulation of 11.3 million items, placing it second in the state of Washington behind the King County Library System. It had the state's highest turnover rate, at 9.22 checkouts per item. [2] : 6 

See also

Related Research Articles

Snohomish County, Washington County in Washington, United States

Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. With a population of 827,957 as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous county in Washington, after nearby King and Pierce counties, and the 75th-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Everett. The county forms part of the Seattle metropolitan area, which also includes King and Pierce counties to the south.

Arlington, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Darrington, Washington Town in Washington, United States

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Edmonds, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Granite Falls, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Lake Stevens, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Lynnwood, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Marysville, Washington City in Washington, United States

Marysville is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States, part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The city is located 35 miles (56 km) north of Seattle, adjacent to Everett on the north side of the Snohomish River delta. It is the second-largest city in Snohomish County after Everett, with a population of 60,020 in the 2010 U.S. census. As of 2015, Marysville is also the fastest-growing city in Washington state, growing at an annual rate of 2.5 percent.

Mountlake Terrace, Washington City in Washington, United States

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Stanwood, Washington City in Washington, United States

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References

  1. 1 2 "2017 Budget – Revenue" (PDF). Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "2016 Washington Public Library Statistical Report" (PDF). Washington State Library. October 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Sno-Isle Regional Library celebrating anniversaries". The Enterprise . Lynnwood, Washington. April 28, 1965. p. 3.
  4. ↑ "50th Anniversary Celebration in 2012". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ Salyer, Sharon (April 12, 2012). "50 years later, Sno-Isle Libraries 'bet' a success". The Everett Herald . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Sno-Isle Libraries history". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Establishes an inter-county rural library district". Resolution of December 17, 1962. Snohomish County Council.
  8. ↑ "New name for regional library". The Enterprise. Lynnwood, Washington. February 27, 1963. p. 2.
  9. ↑ "Lynnwood Civic Center Near". The Seattle Times . December 28, 1969. p. F5.
  10. ↑ Macdonald, Sally (January 14, 1981). "Friends come to rescue of library". The Seattle Times. p. G4.
  11. ↑ Bergsman, Jerry (December 8, 1987). "Sno-Island library system looks for levy help". The Seattle Times. p. D3.
  12. ↑ Bruestle, Sara (June 18, 2020). "Curbside service beckons bookworms to downtown Everett library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ Dennis, Ellen (March 6, 2021). "Shrinking the 'digital divide,' area libraries slowly reopen". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Bray, Kari (January 2, 2018). "Sno-Isle library to open in Smokey Point, in leased space". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  15. ↑ Brooks, Diane (August 9, 2006). "No library cards?! Families' petition spurs Sept. 19 vote". The Seattle Times. p. H3. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Sno-Isle Libraries at a glance". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ Bray, Kari (February 9, 2017). "Everett community finally gets long-awaited library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  18. 1 2 Bray, Kari (May 16, 2016). "Sno-Isle Libraries seek input on 10-year growth plan". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  19. ↑ Buell, Douglas (December 13, 2017). "Lakewood/Smokey Point Library to celebrate grand opening in January". Marysville Globe. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Mariner Library - Meeting Rooms and Other Services". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Administrative & Service Center". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Sno-Isle Regional Library Board Of Trustees". Snohomish County. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  23. ↑ Reardon, Kate (March 25, 2002). "Sno-Isle library hires chief". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ Bray, Kari (May 21, 2018). "Sno-Isle Libraries executive director retiring after 33 years". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  25. ↑ Stevick, Eric (December 1, 2017). "Sno-Isle Libraries will have to make cuts or go to voters". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Funding sources". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
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