Jump to content

Sno-Isle Libraries

Add links
Coordinates: 48°03′46″N 122°11′09″W / 48.06278°N 122.18583°W / 48.06278; -122.18583
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sno-Isle Libraries
The Marysville branch of Sno-Isle Libraries, opened in 1995
Map
48°03′46″N 122°11′09″W / 48.06278°N 122.18583°W / 48.06278; -122.18583
TypePublic library
EstablishedDecember 17, 1962
Service areaIsland and Snohomish counties, Washington
Branches23
Collection
Size906,489 items
Access and use
Circulation10.9 million
Population served819,554
Members516,489
Other information
Budget$80.9 million (2026)[1]
DirectorEric Howard
Employees394 (2026)[1]
Websitesno-isle.org
References: Washington Public Library Statistical Report, 2024[2]

The Sno-Isle Regional Library, doing business as Sno-Isle Libraries[a], 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.

History

[edit]

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 in 1944.[5] The system's creation was spurred by the state legislature's approval of rural library districts in 1941.[6] The new Snohomish County Library was temporarily headquartered in the basement of the separate Everett Public Library before moving to another building in Everett. The system's first library was in Alderwood Manor;[7] the first bookmobile was purchased in 1947.[8]

The state government sponsored demonstration library and bookmobile projects on Camano and Whidbey islands in 1961, which created interest in establishing an Island County system.[9] The Island County Rural Library District was established by voters in November 1962 and merged with the Snohomish County system on December 17,[10] forming the Snohomish-Island Inter-County Rural Library District.[11][12]

The board of trustees for the new library system was formed during a meeting on January 11, 1963; after the board members were appointed, they decided to name the system the Sno-Isle Regional Library.[13] A new headquarters building near Marysville was constructed in 1965.[7] Initially, the Sno-Isle Regional Library signed contracts with incorporated cities to operate their libraries and join the system for a fixed amount.[14] Rural branches would rely on property taxes generated within the district, as well as donations from organizations and members of the community.[15] The library system purchased and installed its first computerized catalog system in 1983.[16] Incorporated cities began voting to annex themselves into the Sno-Isle district in the late 1980s,[17] with promises of new libraries and potential cost savings over the contracted service.[18]

Former logo of Sno-Isle Libraries

A major levy lift of 9 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value was approved by voters in May 2018 by a margin of less than 0.5 percent.[19] 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.[20] In-person services resumed at some branches in early 2021.[21]

In 2024, the city government of Everett proposed a consolidation of their city libraries with Sno-Isle to address a budget deficit.[22] The Everett Public Library's board of trustees opposed the proposal, which would require voter approval.[23]

Branches

[edit]
The Mariner demonstration library, which opened in 2016

The Sno-Isle Libraries system has 23 branches.[2][24] 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.[17] The system covers an area of 2,260 square miles (5,900 km2) and a population of over 800,000 residents.[2][25] The largest library is the Lynnwood branch, which covers 26,000 square feet (2,400 m2) and has over 111,000 physical items in its collection.[2][26]

Two 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.[24][27] The Camano Island location was formerly a demonstration library that was replaced by a permanent branch in 2015.[24] A permanent library for the Mariner neighborhood is planned to begin construction in 2026 as part of a mixed-use development.[28]

Sno-Isle Libraries branches
Name Annexed[29] Opened[30] Floor space[2] Items (2024)[2] Circulation (2024)[2]
sq ft sq m
Arlington 1981 5,055 470 25,259 194,389
Brier 1996 2,840 264 15,241 88,965
Camano Island 2015 5,429 504 14,197 152,311
Clinton 2000 1,296 120 4,806 49,974
Coupeville 2010 6,000 557 15,727 117,497
Darrington 2008 2009 3,372 313 7,943 46,969
Edmonds 2001 1982 16,726 1,554 44,656 394,637
Freeland 2006 4,854 451 21,205 171,950
Granite Falls 2001 6,534 607 25,137 104,749
Lake Stevens 2008 1985 5,000 465 14,360 188,410
Lakewood/Smokey Point[31] 2018 4,163 387 13,077 79,307
Langley 2012 1923 4,985 463 10,408 66,981
Lynnwood 1999 25,920 2,408 111,420 734,293
Mariner (Everett)[32] 2017 3,850 358 16,488 119,461
Marysville 1968 1995 23,000 2,137 94,936 530,168
Mill Creek 1992 7,400 687 43,095 484,195
Monroe 1966 2002 20,000 1,858 52,929 293,515
Mountlake Terrace 1985 1988 12,842 1,193 42,388 238,761
Mukilteo 1996 1998 15,268 1,418 52,548 398,999
Oak Harbor 1993 11,200 1,041 52,753 282,998
Snohomish 2003 23,500 2,183 95,059 607,445
Stanwood 1986 5,400 502 26,638 177,827
Sultan 2008 1999 4,400 409 22,577 79,139

Operations

[edit]

The Sno-Isle Libraries system is headquartered at an administration and processing center on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, west of Marysville, that opened in 1966.[33] The library system is governed by a seven-member board of trustees, of whom two are appointed by Island County and five by Snohomish County.[34] It is overseen by an executive director that is appointed by the board of trustees.[35] Eric Howard has been the executive director since 2024.[36] Sno-Isle had 394 full-time equivalent employees in 2026.[1]

As of 2026, the library system has annual expenditures of $80.9 million and revenues of $75.5 million.[1] A property tax levied on all properties within the district generates 91 percent of its revenue.[37][38] In 2024, the assessed value of all properties in the district was $202.1 billion.[2] The remaining two percent of revenue was sourced from a timber excise tax, a leasehold excise tax, contract fees from municipal governments, and donations.[39]

In 2024, Sno-Isle had a total circulation of 10.9 million items, placing it third in Washington behind the King County Library System and Seattle Public Library.[2] The system also ranked third in the size of its physical collection, at over 906,000 items, and second in the turnover rate at 6.27 checkouts per item. Sno-Isle had 516,489 registered members in 2024 and nearly 2.45 million visits at its 23 branches.[2] The system had 725 public computers that were used 313,483 total times in 2024.[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The library system is referred to as the Sno-Isle Intercounty Rural Library District in legal contracts and referendums.[3][4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "2026 Budget" (PDF). Sno-Isle Libraries. November 24, 2025. pp. 4–8, 11. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2024 Washington Public Library Statistical Report" (PDF). Washington State Library. September 2025. pp. 5–7, 22, 46–52, 62, 96, 102, 114, 134. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  3. ^ "Library Facility Ownership Policy". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  4. ^ Alexander, Brian (October 18, 2006). "Two cities to vote on library taxes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "Sno-Isle Regional Library celebrating anniversaries". The Enterprise. Lynnwood, Washington. April 28, 1965. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Rural Areas Seek Vote On Libraries". The Everett Herald. September 20, 1944. p. 1.
  7. ^ a b "Sno-Isle Library Plans to Move This Year Into $215,000 Building". The Everett Herald. April 22, 1965. p. A1. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Heath, Susan (March 1, 1965). "Sno-Isle Librarian Emily Wilson 'Never Wavered From Career Choice'". The Everett Herald. p. A10. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "50th Anniversary Celebration in 2012". Sno-Isle Libraries. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  10. ^ Establishes an inter-county rural library district (Resolution). Snohomish County Council. December 17, 1962. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Sno-Isle Libraries history". Sno-Isle Libraries. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Regional Library Organizes". The Everett Herald. January 17, 1963. p. 25. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Lynnwood Civic Center Near". The Seattle Times. December 28, 1969. p. F5.
  15. ^ Macdonald, Sally (January 14, 1981). "Friends come to rescue of library". The Seattle Times. p. G4.
  16. ^ Enbysk, Monte (July 6, 1983). "Push a button and get a book in Marysville". The Everett Herald. p. A3. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b Brooks, Diane (August 9, 2006). "No library cards?! Families' petition spurs Sept. 19 vote". The Seattle Times. p. H3. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  18. ^ Bergsman, Jerry (December 8, 1987). "Sno-Island library system looks for levy help". The Seattle Times. p. D3.
  19. ^ Bray, Kari (May 5, 2018). "Sno-Isle Libraries levy officially passes by less than ½%". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  20. ^ Bruestle, Sara (June 18, 2020). "Curbside service beckons bookworms to downtown Everett library". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  21. ^ Dennis, Ellen (March 6, 2021). "Shrinking the 'digital divide,' area libraries slowly reopen". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  22. ^ Nash, Ashley (January 11, 2024). "Amid deficit, Everett eyes joining fire authority, Sno-Isle libraries". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Nash, Ashley (February 20, 2024). "Everett library trustees 'ideally' don't want to merge with Sno-Isle". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Bray, Kari (January 2, 2018). "Sno-Isle library to open in Smokey Point, in leased space". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  25. ^ "Sno-Isle Libraries at a glance". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  26. ^ Sheets, Bill (May 12, 2006). "Lynnwood pictures a larger library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  27. ^ Bray, Kari (February 9, 2017). "Everett community finally gets long-awaited library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  28. ^ Gates, Sophia (June 5, 2024). "Coming soon: A Sno-Isle library on the ground floor, with housing above". The Everett Herald. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "Library Service Providers Listed by County". Municipal Research and Services Center. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ Buell, Douglas (December 13, 2017). "Lakewood/Smokey Point Library to celebrate grand opening in January". Marysville Globe. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  32. ^ "Mariner Library - Meeting Rooms and Other Services". Sno-Isle Libraries. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  33. ^ "Administrative & Service Center". Sno-Isle Libraries. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  34. ^ "Sno-Isle Regional Library Board Of Trustees". Snohomish County. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  35. ^ Bray, Kari (May 21, 2018). "Sno-Isle Libraries executive director retiring after 33 years". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  36. ^ "Eric Howard announced as Sno-Isle Libraries new executive director" (Press release). Sno-Isle Libraries. September 5, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  37. ^ "Sno-Isle Libraries Budget & Funding Information". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  38. ^ Stevick, Eric (December 1, 2017). "Sno-Isle Libraries will have to make cuts or go to voters". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  39. ^ "Funding sources". Sno-Isle Libraries. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sno-Isle Libraries.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sno-Isle_Libraries&oldid=1353768951"