What a Community Values
2003 Annual Report
King County Library System

Letter from the Director
2003 Accomplishments
Revenues and Expenditures
Board of Trustees
Library Administration
King County Library System Foundation Annual Report

What a Community Values
For more than 60 years the King County Library System (KCLS) has served area communities, providing lifelong learning opportunities for children, youth, adults and seniors. Our communities value the King County Library System, and expect us to continue to meet their needs over time. KCLS plans to meet the growing demand for library services and exceed patron’s expectations for relevant information resources far into the future.

Defining Community Expectations
We asked you—the residents, homeowners and library users of King County—to tell us your priorities for library services. ?Here’s what we heard from you:

• You believe the Library System plays an important role in the lives of children, youth, adults and seniors.
• You value lifelong learning for everyone.
• You understand the importance of the educational resources KCLS provides to help children succeed.
• You expect high-quality facilities, expanded collections and excellent access to information resources.
• Sustaining the quality of the Library System is an important priority.
• You want the Library System’s collection to continue to grow and technologies to remain current.
• You want us to take good care of the libraries we have now, and to operate a cost-effective and efficient Library System that meets the expectations of children, families and neighborhoods over the long term.

Letter from the Director Over the past year the King County Library System has examined the important role the library plays in the lives of children, youth, adults and seniors in our communities. We’re here because we support what our community values—access to lifelong learning opportunities and information and resources that enrich lives. We do this through a cost-effective system-wide approach that emphasizes the appropriate use of technology, the distribution of a great collection across all 42 libraries, an excellent delivery system, and friendly, accessible staff. In 2003, we served a record number of residents at our 42 locations, expanded education and outreach programs to touch more lives in the community, and enhanced public access to information through 24/7 electronic resources. We continue to fulfill our vision by providing an intellectual adventure for all of our patrons. Serving as the heart of our diverse communities has never been as important as it is now. Our continuing success depends on our ability to meet the needs of the patrons and communities we serve today, while preparing for the growing needs of the future. Through the support of the community, the commitment of our library staff, and our dedication to free and open access, KCLS continues to be one of the finest libraries in the United States. Bill Ptacek

A Wealth of Information
Libraries Provide an Intellectual Adventure
Opening minds, sparking curiosity and building knowledge are key principles of the King County Library System. Our libraries are dedicated to intellectual growth—providing cultural events, reading activities, classroom and life enrichment programs for people across the age spectrum.

Inspiration for Children
Children who read succeed. That’s why the King County Library System is committed to fostering the love of reading in all children, providing both library-based programs and community outreach. More than 30,000 participants in 2003 enjoyed an amazing variety of programs promoting books and reading. The Summer Reading Program alone provided learning-based fun for 12,676 children in 2003.
Accomplishments:

• 2003 saw an 8% increase in the number of Story Time programs, and an 11% increase in Story Time attendance. We also brought Story Times to 2,605 children in preschools and childcare facilities, and 224 toddlers and families enjoyed them in Spanish and Chinese.
• Children’s Librarians helped 4,079 children learn to love reading through 204 visits to ECEAP and Head Start classes.
• 2,098 low-income preschool children received books and finger puppets through the Reading Buddies Program, helping to develop their emerging literacy skills.
• We launched ABC Express—a van stocked with exciting new books, music and movies for children from birth through age five. The van will visit 50 low-income, federally-funded childcare facilities monthly, serving more than 2,700 children throughout King County.

• 135 library programs supported school curricula in 112 area schools.
• Library staff visited 2,100 classrooms during the year, encouraging 117,000 students to find resources at their local library.
• Librarians distributed 20,000 library cards in 822 second-grade classrooms.
• Our Ready-Set-Read program promoted reading in 280 elementary schools.
• Lively reading enrichment programs enhanced 46 elementary school assemblies and online resource demonstrations were provided to nearly 12,000 students.
• Student groups enjoyed 541 library tours during the school day.
• 1,500 students in grades 4 through 12 received 20-minute tutoring sessions in math, science, English and social studies through our live online tutoring service.

• The Page Fellowship career development program provided work experience to a diverse group of youth across King County.
• New Music and New Reads alert services on www.kcls.org helped teens and kids to find interesting new materials appropriate for their age group.
• KCLS expanded participation in Northwest Bookfest by sponsoring a Teen Writing Area. The System’s presence at the two-day literary event promoted KCLS to nearly 15,000 reading enthusiasts.

• Job seekers continued to use our free career and employment resources through unlimited access to information resources and technology, including wireless Web access, computer workstations and on-site job applications.
• 60+ online databases offered a wealth of information to adults and business professionals who accessed them more than one million times in 2003.
• TLC regularly served residents in 148 retirement, assisted living and nursing home locations.
• 100 volunteers and staff brought library materials and friendship to 350 homebound patrons through the Words on Wheels program.
• “Authors in Conversation” programs featured Jacqueline Mitchard, Erik Larson, Harriet Scott Chessman, Bharti Kirschner and Curt Colbert. Author events with Tom Robbins at the Kirkland Performance Center and Mitch Albom at Bellevue Regional Library played to “Standing Room Only” audiences.

Learning Enrichment for Communities

• King County Library System continued to be one of the busiest in the United States, with a 7% increase in circulation.
• 94,091 area residents became new registered borrowers.
• Nearly 2,000 computer classes at KCLS libraries offered a 7% increase in service from 2002. Volunteers now teach more than 75% of the classes at KCLS community libraries.
• KCLS coordinated 49,000 hours of AmeriCorps service to King County residents via Talk Time, ESL and family literacy instruction. ESL students received standardized curriculum materials though 22 Talk Time classes. Nearly 7,000 adult and family learners took part in more than 1,000 literacy events at KCLS, a 31% increase over 2002.
• 14,184 people attended programs celebrating Black History Month, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, Poetry Month, Teen Read Month and Children’s Book Month in community libraries.
• Nearly 6,000 people attended StoryFest, a three-day festival celebrating storytelling from cultures around the world.
• KCLS continued its volunteer partnerships with United Way of King County, Retired and Senior Volunteer Services, Washington Assistive Technology Alliance and Boeing Blue Bills, providing support to these vital services.

• 20+ libraries now have Self-Checkout stations.
• Virtual reference services continued to expand, providing patrons with convenient access to information 24 hours a day, every day.
• Community library staff answered more than 1.3 million reference questions, and regional library staff provided added reference support, answering 1,040 in-depth, research-oriented patron questions.
• Community library staff answered 442,500 reference phone calls, answered 454,100 directional questions and assisted 398,200 patrons with computer questions.

Unity and Innovation
Libraries Operate as One System
Our investments in technology enhance our ability to meet patrons’ needs faster, comprehensively and economically. The entire library collection—more than four million items—is available to any patron in any community library through our online catalog. And new technologies continue to extend access to library resources around the clock. Patron use of our online resources has increased 400% in the last three years. Through www.kcls.org, patrons can use library resources and services to reserve books from home, search databases from school or work, or get immediate answers to questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Linked by Technology
Accomplishments:

• Patrons used library online services a record 24 million times in 2003.
• Patrons placed holds on materials an astounding 3.8 million times.
• KCLS staff received and answered more than 11,800 questions by e-mail.
• With an average of 225 calls per week, KCLS staff answered more than 75% of live chat calls.
• Online reference services expanded with a new after-hours service “Librarian By Request.”
  

Bill Ptacek, Director Bruce Adams, Associate Director Public Services Kay Johnson, Associate Director Facilities Management Services Jed Moffitt, Associate Director Information Technology Services

Bruce Schauer, Associate Director Collection Management Services Denise Siers, Associate Director Public Services Nancy Smith, Associate Director Public Services Charlene Richards, Manager Human Resources Julie B. Wallace, Manager Community Relations and Graphics Jeanne Thorsen, Executive Director KCLS Foundation

Tobias Washington, Jr. President 2003 Judge Richard Eadie President Elect 2004

James Grayson Past President Wai-Fong T. Lee

Charlotte B. Spitzer