Area Navigation

First Newcastle Library Opens!

More than 1,000 people attended the opening of the first Newcastle Library on the morning of December 8. As a flute and cello duo entertained the crowd, people gathered and took seats.

Once the ribbon-cutting started, members of Girl Scout Troop 43193 and Cub Scout Pack 497 presented the colors and invited the audience to participate in the pledge of allegiance. A number of dignitaries then addressed the crowd, including KCLS Board Trustee Jim Wigfall, Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo, Congressman Adam Smith, 41st District Representative Marcie Maxwell, Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett and the President of the Friends of the Newcastle Library, Julia Hunter.

"You couldn't have picked a better place for the library; it's in the heart of Newcastle," said KCLS Board Trustee Jim Wigfall, who resides in Newcastle. "I'm excited to walk down the hill and visit the library."

"This will be the place to go if you want to know what's going on in the city," said Mayor Rich Crispo.

"You've made this happen and it's wonderful to have this library in the community," said Marcie Maxwell.

The project architect, Bill LaPatra, detailed some of the building features and said they aspired to create a community gathering place. The building has several eco-friendly features including a green roof. Other highlights are a brainwave pattern in the glass windows and brick detailing that was inspired by the history of Newcastle's brick production.

Bill Ptacek invited the Scouts, dignitaries and children to help cut the ribbon. Once the doors opened, community members were greeted by Dewey and Sketch and enjoyed refreshments, giveaways and entertainment by musicians with the Parnassus Project.

Expanded and Renovated Auburn Library Reopens!

More than 250 people attended the opening celebration of the expanded and renovated Auburn Library on the morning of Saturday, September 15.

As the crowd gathered, the Take Note Jazz Combo from Auburn Riverside High School entertained the crowd. KCLS Director Bill Ptacek then welcomed the residents to the ribbon-cutting and a number of dignitaries addressed the crowd, including KCLS Board Trustee Jessica Bonebright, Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis, King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer and the Friends of the Auburn Library President, Joan Mason. Read more.

New Duvall Library Opens!

More than 600 people attended the opening celebration for the new 8,000 square foot Duvall Library on the morning of Saturday, August 25.

As the Honky Tonk Sweethearts entertained the crowd with music, people gathered for a book brigade, to help pass books from the old to the new library.

Once the ribbon-cutting started, members of the local Cub Scout Troop 569 presented the colors and invited the audience to participate in the pledge of allegiance. A number of dignitaries then addressed the crowd, including Duvall Mayor Will Ibershof, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Duvall Library Board President Paige Denison and KCLS Board Trustee Robin McClelland. Read more.

New Kenmore Library Opens to the Community!

The residents of Kenmore had a good reason to get up early on the morning of Saturday, July 9: their new library opened! More than 2,000 people gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Kenmore Library.

As community members took seats for the celebration, the music group Los Flacos entertained the crowd. The ribbon-cutting kicked-off with more than 20 Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts presenting the American and City of Kenmore flags, which will fly inside the new library. Read More.

Renovated Newport Way Library Reopens!

The entrance to the Newport Way Library may have been relocated, but that didn't stop residents from finding their way inside the newly renovated facility. More than 350 people gathered on the morning of Saturday, April 30, to celebrate the reopening of the Newport Way Library. Read more

Breaking Ground on a Brand New Library in Newcastle!

One word best describes how Newcastle residents feel about the start of construction for their new community library: excited! More than 300 people gathered for the groundbreaking event on the afternoon of October 20 at the site of the new library, which will be the first library in the Newcastle community.
Read More.

New Lake Hills Library Opens!

Saying that the community turned out for the Lake Hills Library opening event isn’t an exaggeration. More than 1,000 people gathered on the morning of Saturday, September 11, for a ribbon-cutting and open house event at the new library.

As people gathered and took seats, the music group Los Flacos entertained the crowd with several Latin American songs.

Bill Ptacek, KCLS Director, welcomed the community to the new library.

“Many years ago the city started on this redevelopment project,” Bill Ptacek said. “For many of us, this is the end of a long road. “

The new 10,000 square foot library is located in the redeveloped Lake Hills Shopping Center. A community stakeholder group created a redevelopment proposal in 2003, calling for a new library, retail and office space and residential units to be constructed in phases. The new library and neighboring office space are the first phase to be completed. Read More.

Renton Residents Tour New Outreach Vehicles!

To celebrate the five new outreach vehicles that start outreach services in August, a kick-off event was held at Renton Library on Friday, July 23. More than 100 people stopped by to tour the new vehicles and enjoy refreshments and giveaways that were, appropriately enough, license plate frames!

Four of the vehicles, called Library2Go!, are outfitted as mini-bookmobiles and will stop at childcare centers, low-income housing and senior centers each week in KCLS’ service area. The fifth van, the Digital Discovery Zone, is equipped with computers and software for outreach to teens and people of all ages, allowing them to create computer graphics, games and animations. The Digital Discovery Zone will stop at schools, community centers, after-school programs and senior centers. The vehicles will rotate between KCLS’ 46 libraries, with different library staff using the vehicles each week for outreach in their community.

The vehicles are funded by the $172 million library capital bond strongly supported by voters in September 2004. They are being implemented as part of KCLS’ Future Services Strategy, which calls for expanding services outside library buildings.
More information about the Digital Discovery Zone and Library2GO!

Kenmore Library Groundbreaking Draws a Crowd!

More than 150 people gathered at the site of the new Kenmore Library to celebrate the start of construction on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 8, 2010. As community members took seats, the Brass Ensemble from the Romanian Pentecostal Church entertained the crowd.

KCLS Director Bill Ptacek facilitated the program and several dignitaries addressed the crowd, including Deputy Mayor Milton Curtis, King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, KCLS Board Member Jessica Bonebright and City Councilmember Laurie Sperry. More information.

Expanded Federal Way Library Reopens!

Even the sun made an appearance at the Federal Way Library opening celebration on Saturday, June 5, which was attended by more than 600 people.

As community members gathered for the celebration, the Todd Beamer High School Jazz Band entertained the crowd. KCLS Director Bill Ptacek then welcomed everyone to the ribbon cutting and open house.  

“The previous building had a lot of walls,” Ptacek said. “When you go into the library, notice how we brought the outside inside.”

The Federal Way Library was expanded by 9,500 square feet, bringing it to a total of 34,500 square feet. It is now the second largest KCLS Library. Read more

New Sammamish Library Opens!

Even the sun came out to celebrate the opening of the new Sammamish Library on the morning of Saturday, January 9.

As more than 750 people gathered for the celebration, the music group Corey Dansereau and His Hot Four entertained the crowd with several songs. Bill Ptacek, KCLS Director, welcomed the community members to the new library.

“This library is a wonderful expression of the community coming together,” Ptacek said. “This library has the best of what the King County Library System has to offer.”

The new 19,500 square foot library was constructed in a new development adjacent to the Sammamish City Hall, called Sammamish Commons.
“This has been a great Odyssey,” said Sammamish Mayor Don Gerend. “We have a beautiful facility here today.” Read More

Expanded Kirkland Library Opens!

Although it was a cold and icy morning, more than 350 people attended the expanded Kirkland Library opening celebration on Saturday, December 5.

The Kirkland Library was expanded by 4,500 square feet. The additional square footage extends the roof from the original building and culminates in a glass pavilion overlooking the city’s Peter Kirk Park.

Read more.