Facts About the King County Library System

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. KCLS, with 43 libraries throughout the county, is a network linking users to a broad range of information, services and technologies.

Serving the Community

• KCLS is one of the busiest libraries in the nation.
  
  
• Over 90% of King County residents have and regularly use their library card.
  
  
• Library usage has increased more than 40% during the past decade.
  
  
• KCLS libraries are a gathering place for the community with space for meetings, programs, discussion and studying.
  
  
• KCLS provides multilingual programs and services tailored to meet the needs of the many different people who live in our community.

Serving Students

• KCLS meets the academic needs of 230,000 students and educators in 438 public and private schools, grades K 12 and several thousand home schooling families each year.
  
  

• KCLS provides a variety of services to preschools, childcare facilities and other early learning programs including: Books to Grow On, ABC Express and a variety of materials and training to support the development of reading skills for King County’s youngest residents.
  
  

• KCLS has designated space for youth group projects and quiet study rooms for homework.

Serving Adults

• KCLS meets the needs of the homebound and seniors through the Traveling Library Center.
  
  

• KCLS makes job-finding easier, with Emloyment resources, computer workstations, resumé software and Internet access.
  
  

• The Library System’s online databases (more than 70 available through www.kcls.org) and references services are a trusted resource for the business and professional community.

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