Foster Library

History of the Foster Library

The Foster Library opened on February 5, 1945 in a room of the Foster Community Club. The library, sponsored by the Foster PTA and King County Library System, had two shelves (one shelf for children and one for adults. Librarian Bea Scoones, worked at Foster Library for 22 years. The Foster Library Board was formed in 1952 and assumed responsibility for maintaining and equipping the library. In one of many moves, the Library moved to a rented house behind Foster High School in 1960.

In 1966, the Foster Community Club was sold to make way for I-5. The Club donated $16,000 for a new library building that would include a community meeting room. Public and private fund-raising collected $46,000 to build a 2,400 square foot building that opened on September 17, 1967. South Central School District leased the land to the library for $1 a year.

Residents of the City of Tukwila voted to annex Foster in 1989 and the King County Library System began plans for a new 5,250 Square foot library. The new library opened February 5, 1996 exactly 51 years after the opening of the first Foster Library.

Return to Top