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Sno-Isle Libraries
Public library system in Washington, US

Sno-Isle Libraries is a public library system serving Island and Snohomish counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The system is among the largest in Washington state and has an annual circulation of 11 million materials. The library's 23 branches and bookmobile services reach every incorporated city in the two counties, with the exception of Everett (which retains its own municipal system) and Woodway. Sno-Isle was formed in 1962, from the merger of two systems serving each county that were established in 1944 and 1962.

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History

While cities in Island and Snohomish counties established their own libraries in the early 20th century, the first inter-city system was created by voters in unincorporated Snohomish County in 1944.1 The system's creation was spurred by the state legislature's approval of rural library districts in 1941.2 The new Snohomish County Library was temporarily headquartered in the basement of the separate Everett Public Library before moving to another building in Everett. The system's first library was in Alderwood Manor;3 the first bookmobile was purchased in 1947.4

The state government sponsored demonstration library and bookmobile projects on Camano and Whidbey islands in 1961, which created interest in establishing an Island County system.5 The Island County Rural Library District was established by voters in November 1962 and merged with the Snohomish County system on December 17,6 forming the Snohomish-Island Inter-County Rural Library District.78

The new library system was named "Sno-Isle" to reflect the two counties.9 A new headquarters building near Marysville was constructed in 1965.10 Initially, the Sno-Isle Regional Library signed contracts with incorporated cities to operate their libraries and join the system for a fixed amount.11 Rural branches would rely on property taxes generated within the district, as well as donations from organizations and members of the community.12 The library system purchased and installed its first computerized catalog system in 1983.13 Incorporated cities began voting to annex themselves into the Sno-Isle district in the late 1980s,14 with promises of new libraries and potential cost savings over the contracted service.15

A major levy lift of 9 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value was approved by voters in May 2018 by a margin of less than 0.5 percent.16 All Sno-Isle branches were closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened with curbside pick-up service three months later.17 In-person services resumed at some branches in early 2021.18

In 2024, the city government of Everett proposed a consolidation of their city libraries with Sno-Isle to address a budget deficit.19 The Everett Public Library's board of trustees opposed the proposal, which would require voter approval.20

Branches

As of 2018, the Sno-Isle Libraries system has 23 branches.21 They serve every city in Island and Snohomish counties, with the exception of two cities: Everett, which has its own system, and Woodway, which had contracted service until 1978.22 The system covers an area of 2,260 square miles (5,900 km2) and a population of over 700,000 residents.23

Two locations, in the Mariner area of Everett and Smokey Point area of Arlington, are "demonstration" libraries that are in leased retail spaces that precede a permanent branch.2425 The Camano Island location was formerly a demonstration library that was replaced by a permanent branch in 2015.26 A permanent library for the Mariner neighborhood is planned to begin construction in 2026 as part of a mixed-use development.27

NameAnnexed28Building opened29Floor space30
sq ftsq m
Arlington19815,000460
Brier19962,800260
Camano Island20154,900460
Clinton20001,300120
Coupeville20106,000560
Darrington200820095,000460
Edmonds2001198220,0001,900
Freeland20064,800450
Granite Falls20016,500600
Lake Stevens200819852,500230
Lakewood/Smokey Point3120184,000370
Langley201219233,500330
Lynnwood199925,9002,410
Mariner (Everett)3220173,700340
Marysville1968199523,0002,100
Mill Creek19927,400690
Monroe1966200220,0001,900
Mountlake Terrace1985198812,8001,190
Mukilteo1996199815,0001,400
Oak Harbor199311,2001,040
Snohomish200323,0002,100
Stanwood19865,400500
Sultan200819994,400410

Operations

The Sno-Isle Libraries system is headquartered at an administration and processing center on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, west of Marysville.33 It is governed by a seven-member board of trustees, of whom two are appointed by Island County and five by Snohomish County.34 The system is overseen by an executive director that is appointed by the board of trustees. Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, a longtime library employee, was appointed as executive director in 2002 and retired in 2018.3536

The library system has annual expenditures of $77 million and revenues of $74 million.37 As of 2017, 98 percent of revenue was generated by a property tax levied on all properties within the district.38 The remaining two percent of revenue were sourced from a timber excise tax, a leasehold excise tax, contract fees from municipal governments, and donations.39

In 2022, Sno-Isle had a total circulation of 7.4 million items, placing it third in Washington behind the King County Library System and Seattle Public Library.40 It had the state's fifth-highest turnover rate, at 4.74 checkouts per item.41: 22 

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References

  1. "Sno-Isle Regional Library celebrating anniversaries". The Enterprise. Lynnwood, Washington. April 28, 1965. p. 3. /wiki/The_Enterprise_(Washington) ↩

  2. "Rural Areas Seek Vote On Libraries". The Everett Herald. September 20, 1944. p. 1. ↩

  3. "Sno-Isle Library Plans to Move This Year Into $215,000 Building". The Everett Herald. April 22, 1965. p. A1. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-sno-isle-library-plans/142719543/ ↩

  4. Heath, Susan (March 1, 1965). "Sno-Isle Librarian Emily Wilson 'Never Wavered From Career Choice'". The Everett Herald. p. A10. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-sno-isle-librarian-emil/142719563/ ↩

  5. "50th Anniversary Celebration in 2012". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://sno-isle.org/events/50th-celebration ↩

  6. Establishes an inter-county rural library district (Resolution). Snohomish County Council. December 17, 1962. Retrieved December 24, 2021. https://snohomish.county.codes/SCC/2.28 ↩

  7. Salyer, Sharon (April 12, 2012). "50 years later, Sno-Isle Libraries 'bet' a success". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111924/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120412/NEWS01/704129903 ↩

  8. "Sno-Isle Libraries history". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.sno-isle.org/about/history ↩

  9. "New name for regional library". The Enterprise. Lynnwood, Washington. February 27, 1963. p. 2. ↩

  10. "Sno-Isle Library Plans to Move This Year Into $215,000 Building". The Everett Herald. April 22, 1965. p. A1. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-sno-isle-library-plans/142719543/ ↩

  11. "Lynnwood Civic Center Near". The Seattle Times. December 28, 1969. p. F5. /wiki/The_Seattle_Times ↩

  12. Macdonald, Sally (January 14, 1981). "Friends come to rescue of library". The Seattle Times. p. G4. ↩

  13. Enbysk, Monte (July 6, 1983). "Push a button and get a book in Marysville". The Everett Herald. p. A3. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-push-a-button-and-get-a/157529158/ ↩

  14. Brooks, Diane (August 9, 2006). "No library cards?! Families' petition spurs Sept. 19 vote". The Seattle Times. p. H3. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20060809&slug=woodway09n ↩

  15. Bergsman, Jerry (December 8, 1987). "Sno-Island library system looks for levy help". The Seattle Times. p. D3. ↩

  16. Bray, Kari (May 5, 2018). "Sno-Isle Libraries levy officially passes by less than ½%". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 6, 2025. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/library-levy-squeezes-by-with-less-than-half-a-percentage-point/ ↩

  17. Bruestle, Sara (June 18, 2020). "Curbside service beckons bookworms to downtown Everett library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2021. https://www.heraldnet.com/life/curbside-service-beckons-bookworms-at-downtown-everett-library/ ↩

  18. Dennis, Ellen (March 6, 2021). "Shrinking the 'digital divide,' area libraries slowly reopen". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2021. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/shrinking-the-digital-divide-area-libraries-slowly-reopen/ ↩

  19. Nash, Ashley (January 11, 2024). "Amid deficit, Everett eyes joining fire authority, Sno-Isle libraries". The Everett Herald. Retrieved March 5, 2024. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/amid-deficit-everett-eyes-joining-fire-authority-sno-isle-libraries/ ↩

  20. Nash, Ashley (February 20, 2024). "Everett library trustees 'ideally' don't want to merge with Sno-Isle". The Everett Herald. Retrieved March 5, 2024. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-library-trustees-ideally-dont-want-to-merge-with-sno-isle/ ↩

  21. Bray, Kari (January 2, 2018). "Sno-Isle library to open in Smokey Point, in leased space". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/demonstration-library-set-to-open-in-smokey-point/ ↩

  22. Brooks, Diane (August 9, 2006). "No library cards?! Families' petition spurs Sept. 19 vote". The Seattle Times. p. H3. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20060809&slug=woodway09n ↩

  23. "Sno-Isle Libraries at a glance". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.sno-isle.org/?pg=at-a-glance ↩

  24. Bray, Kari (January 2, 2018). "Sno-Isle library to open in Smokey Point, in leased space". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/demonstration-library-set-to-open-in-smokey-point/ ↩

  25. Bray, Kari (February 9, 2017). "Everett community finally gets long-awaited library". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. http://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-community-finally-gets-long-awaited-library/ ↩

  26. Bray, Kari (January 2, 2018). "Sno-Isle library to open in Smokey Point, in leased space". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/demonstration-library-set-to-open-in-smokey-point/ ↩

  27. Gates, Sophia (June 5, 2024). "Coming soon: A Sno-Isle library on the ground floor, with housing above". The Everett Herald. Retrieved June 5, 2024. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/coming-soon-a-sno-isle-library-on-the-ground-floor-with-housing-above/ ↩

  28. "Library Service Providers Listed by County". Municipal Research and Services Center. Retrieved March 12, 2022. https://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Governance/Forms-of-Government-and-Organization/Special-Purpose-Districts-in-Washington/Library-Service-Providers-Listed-by-County.aspx ↩

  29. Bray, Kari (May 16, 2016). "Sno-Isle Libraries seek input on 10-year growth plan". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160517101502/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160516/NEWS01/160519361 ↩

  30. Bray, Kari (May 16, 2016). "Sno-Isle Libraries seek input on 10-year growth plan". The Everett Herald. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160517101502/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160516/NEWS01/160519361 ↩

  31. Buell, Douglas (December 13, 2017). "Lakewood/Smokey Point Library to celebrate grand opening in January". Marysville Globe. Retrieved January 5, 2018. http://www.marysvilleglobe.com/news/lakewoodsmokey-point-library-to-celebrate-grand-opening-in-january/ ↩

  32. "Mariner Library - Meeting Rooms and Other Services". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://sno-isle.org/locations/mariner/about ↩

  33. "Administrative & Service Center". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://sno-isle.org/about/servicecenter/ ↩

  34. "Sno-Isle Regional Library Board Of Trustees". Snohomish County. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://snohomishcountywa.gov/167/Sno-Isle-Regional-Library-Board-Of-Trust ↩

  35. Reardon, Kate (March 25, 2002). "Sno-Isle library hires chief". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. http://www.heraldnet.com/news/sno-isle-library-hires-chief/ ↩

  36. Bray, Kari (May 21, 2018). "Sno-Isle Libraries executive director retiring after 33 years". The Everett Herald. Retrieved February 16, 2019. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sno-isle-libraries-executive-director-retiring-after-33-years/ ↩

  37. "2023 Adopted Budget" (PDF). Sno-Isle Libraries. November 21, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2024. https://www.sno-isle.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2022/12/2023-Adopted-Budget.pdf ↩

  38. Stevick, Eric (December 1, 2017). "Sno-Isle Libraries will have to make cuts or go to voters". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2018. http://www.heraldnet.com/news/sno-isle-libraries-will-have-to-make-cuts-or-go-to-voters/ ↩

  39. "Funding sources". Sno-Isle Libraries. Retrieved January 5, 2018. https://www.sno-isle.org/funding/sources ↩

  40. "2022 Washington Public Library Statistical Report" (PDF). Washington State Library. September 2023. pp. 64–66, 70, 74. Retrieved March 5, 2024. https://apps.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/libdev/2022stats.pdf ↩

  41. "2022 Washington Public Library Statistical Report" (PDF). Washington State Library. September 2023. pp. 64–66, 70, 74. Retrieved March 5, 2024. https://apps.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/libdev/2022stats.pdf ↩