King County Library System Director

Bill Ptacek

Bill Ptacek became the Director of the King County Library System in 1989. The King County Library System (KCLS) is currently the second busiest library system in the United States with 43 libraries, 1,200 employees and an annual operating budget of more than $72 million.

Bill began his career at the Chicago Public Library and worked as the Director of the Idaho Falls and Louisville Free public libraries before coming to the King County Library System. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois, a Masters Degree in Library Science from the State University of New York and Advanced Degree in Administration from the University of Chicago. He has also served as an adjunct professor and a visiting speaker at the University of Washington’s Information School.

Bill has served as Co-Chair of the Washington Library Association Legislative Planning Committee and has been involved in a number of community activities including more than five years of service on the KCTS Public Television Advisory Board, Chair of the King County Board of Developmental Disabilities, member of the King County Governance Commission and President of the Bellevue Rotary Club 2002-2003. Bill is also an active member of the Public Library Association (PLA), having served on more than a dozen committees, and was the 2000 recipient of the Charles Robinson Award from the Public Library Association, which recognizes a public library director for implementation of innovative change.

Feel free to contact him directly at 425.369.3232 or at billp@kcls.org.

Last Updated: February 29, 2008