| Sno-Isle Libraries | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The Marysville branch of Sno-Isle Libraries, opened in 1995 | |
 | |
| 48°03′46″N122°11′09″W / 48.06278°N 122.18583°W /48.06278; -122.18583 | |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | December 17, 1962 |
| Service area | Island andSnohomish counties,Washington |
| Branches | 23 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 1.56 million items |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 7.4 million |
| Population served | 800,969 |
| Members | 431,010 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $77 million (2023)[1] |
| Director | Eric Howard |
| Employees | 363 |
| Website | sno-isle.org |
| References: Washington Public Library Statistical Report, 2022[2] | |
Sno-Isle Libraries is apublic library system servingIsland andSnohomish counties in theU.S. state ofWashington. The system is among the largest in Washington state and has an annual circulation of 11 million materials. The library's 23 branches andbookmobile services reach every incorporated city in the two counties, with the exception ofEverett (which retains its own municipal system) andWoodway. Sno-Isle was formed in 1962, from the merger of two systems serving each county that were established in 1944 and 1962.
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.[3] The system's creation was spurred by the state legislature's approval of rural library districts in 1941.[4] The new Snohomish County Library was temporarily headquartered in the basement of the separateEverett Public Library before moving to another building in Everett. The system's first library was inAlderwood Manor;[5] the firstbookmobile was purchased in 1947.[6]
The state government sponsored demonstration library andbookmobile projects on Camano and Whidbey islands in 1961, which created interest in establishing an Island County system.[7] The Island County Rural Library District was established by voters in November 1962 and merged with the Snohomish County system on December 17,[8] forming the Snohomish-Island Inter-County Rural Library District.[9][10]
The new library system was named "Sno-Isle" to reflect the two counties.[11] A new headquarters building near Marysville was constructed in 1965.[5] Initially, the Sno-Isle Regional Library signed contracts with incorporated cities to operate their libraries and join the system for a fixed amount.[12] Rural branches would rely on property taxes generated within the district, as well as donations from organizations and members of the community.[13] The library system purchased and installed its first computerized catalog system in 1983.[14] Incorporated cities began voting to annex themselves into the Sno-Isle district in the late 1980s,[15] with promises of new libraries and potential cost savings over the contracted service.[16]
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.[17] All Sno-Isle branches were closed in March 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, but reopened with curbside pick-up service three months later.[18] In-person services resumed at some branches in early 2021.[19]
In 2024, the city government of Everett proposed a consolidation of theircity libraries with Sno-Isle to address a budget deficit.[20] The Everett Public Library's board of trustees opposed the proposal, which would require voter approval.[21]
As of 2018[update], the Sno-Isle Libraries system has 23 branches.[22] They serve every city in Island and Snohomish counties, with the exception of two cities: Everett, which has itsown system, and Woodway, which had contracted service until 1978.[15] 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 andSmokey Point area of Arlington, are "demonstration" libraries that are in leased retail spaces that precede a permanent branch.[22][24] TheCamano Island location was formerly a demonstration library that was replaced by a permanent branch in 2015.[22] A permanent library for the Mariner neighborhood is planned to begin construction in 2026 as part of amixed-use development.[25]
| Name | Annexed[26] | Building opened[27] | Floor space[27] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sq ft | sq m | |||
| Arlington | 1981 | 5,000 | 460 | |
| Brier | 1996 | 2,800 | 260 | |
| Camano Island | 2015 | 4,900 | 460 | |
| Clinton | 2000 | 1,300 | 120 | |
| Coupeville | 2010 | 6,000 | 560 | |
| Darrington | 2008 | 2009 | 5,000 | 460 |
| Edmonds | 2001 | 1982 | 20,000 | 1,900 |
| Freeland | 2006 | 4,800 | 450 | |
| Granite Falls | 2001 | 6,500 | 600 | |
| Lake Stevens | 2008 | 1985 | 2,500 | 230 |
| Lakewood/Smokey Point[28] | 2018 | 4,000 | 370 | |
| Langley | 2012 | 1923 | 3,500 | 330 |
| Lynnwood | 1999 | 25,900 | 2,410 | |
| Mariner (Everett)[29] | 2017 | 3,700 | 340 | |
| Marysville | 1968 | 1995 | 23,000 | 2,100 |
| Mill Creek | 1992 | 7,400 | 690 | |
| Monroe | 1966 | 2002 | 20,000 | 1,900 |
| Mountlake Terrace | 1985 | 1988 | 12,800 | 1,190 |
| Mukilteo | 1996 | 1998 | 15,000 | 1,400 |
| Oak Harbor | 1993 | 11,200 | 1,040 | |
| Snohomish | 2003 | 23,000 | 2,100 | |
| Stanwood | 1986 | 5,400 | 500 | |
| Sultan | 2008 | 1999 | 4,400 | 410 |
The Sno-Isle Libraries system is headquartered at an administration and processing center on theTulalip Indian Reservation, west ofMarysville.[30] It is governed by a seven-member board of trustees, of whom two are appointed by Island County and five by Snohomish County.[31] 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.[32][33]
The library system has annual expenditures of $77 million and revenues of $74 million.[1] As of 2017[update], 98 percent of revenue was generated by aproperty tax levied on all properties within the district.[34] The remaining two percent of revenue were sourced from atimber excise tax, a leasehold excise tax, contract fees from municipal governments, and donations.[35]
In 2022, Sno-Isle had a total circulation of 7.4 million items, placing it third in Washington behind theKing County Library System andSeattle Public Library.[2] It had the state's fifth-highest turnover rate, at 4.74 checkouts per item.[2]: 22
