Fulfilling the VisionKing County Library System

2002 Annual Report

If business equals success, then by all accounts 2002 was a very successful year for the King County Library System. The circulation of materials reached nearly 15 million—making KCLS one of the busiest libraries in

the nation. Use of the virtual library continued to be strong with more than 22 million hits to kcls.org. Programs at KCLS libraries were also very popular with record attendance at many events. Every library in the System reported more patrons using meeting rooms, booking computers, studying in groups or just spending time reading and studying.

While maintaining superior levels of services in 2002, KCLS also took important steps to make the Library System even better. A Vision statement created by the Library’s Board of Trustees guided the important developments of 2002 and is defi ned by four components: An Intellectual Adventure for Everyone, The Heart of the Community, We Make it Easy and One System.

To make KCLS libraries “an intellectual adventure for everyone,” substantial improvements were made to the collections and marketing of books and other materials. Pilot projects for Teen Zones, enhanced children’s areas and the wildly successful Library Connection @ Crossroads all pointed the way to the library of the future.

KCLS libraries as “the heart of the community” was demonstrated in the Library Choices community outreach program. Through the plan, KCLS invited patrons to help identify and prioritize library needs for every community. In the process, 10 cities asked that KCLS’ expansion be a major partner in their plans for growth and economic development. At the same time, the System continued to pursue partnerships and collaborations with the 18 different school districts it serves. Training for teachers and resources and services to students was an important focus for each of KCLS’ 42 community libraries.

The remainder of the KCLS Vision statement calls for KCLS to create services convenient to library patrons, and to operate as one System as the way to produce a quality of service not attainable by any single library. In 2002, KCLS technological advances such as an improved Web site, greater use of the fi ber optic network, and new thin client workstations, all support the fulfi llment of the Vision. As technology is becoming more accessible, it is also growing in importance—as many of the Library System’s most important reference resources are now available online in libraries and directly to patrons at home, school and work. Other projects were initiated in 2002, such as the Central Storage Center that will help KCLS preserve an extensive collection while freeing up community library space.

All of KCLS’ accomplishments in 2002 represent strong movement in the direction of the Board’s Vision. The activities of the past year also give evidence of how much better the Library System can become. We at KCLS are as excited by what has been done as we are by what more can still be accomplished.

Bill PtacekDirector

Letter fromthe Director

For more detailed fi nancial and statistical information, call 425.369.3200.

Total Circulation: 14.9 million

Reference Services:• Answered 180,000 quick reference questions through Answer Line • 8,240 via the Ask a Librarian e-mail reference service • 3,205,000 reference questions in community libraries • 663 via a live chat reference service providing homework help 12 hours

a week for students in grades 4-12

Programming: Provided more than 5,000 programs for children and teens with audiences exceeding 138,000 people

Web Hits: 22 million, with 1 million hits to more than 65 online databases

Community Groups Use of the Library: 25,338 meeting rooms booked

Financials

Stats

Library Administration

William Ptacek, Director

Bruce Adams, Associate Director Public Services

Kay Johnson, Associate Director Facilities Management Services

Jed Moffi tt, Associate Director Information Technology Services

Bruce Schauer, Associate DirectorCollection Management Services

Denise Siers, Associate Director Public Services

Nancy Smith, Associate Director Public Services

Linda Glenicki, Manager Business and Finance

Charlene Richards, Manager Human Resources

Julie B. Wallace, Manager Community Relations and Graphics

Jeanne Thorsen, Executive Director KCLS Foundation

Board of Trustees

James GraysonPresident 2002

Tobias Washington, Jr.President 2003

Judge Richard Eadie

Wai-Fong T. Lee

Charlotte B. Spitzer

Algona-Pacifi c Library ...................253.833.3554Auburn Library ............................253.931.3018Bellevue Regional Library ..............425.450.1765Black Diamond Library ..................360.886.1105Bothell Regional Library ................425.486.7811Boulevard Park Library ..................206.242.8662Burien Library ............................206.243.3490Carnation Library ........................425.333.4398 TTY 425.333.4398Covington Library ........................253.630.8761Des Moines Library .......................206.824.6066Duvall Library .............................425.788.1173Fairwood Library .........................425.226.0522Fall City Library ..........................425.222.5951Federal Way Regional Library ..........253.838.3668Federal Way 320th Library .............253.839.0257Foster Library .............................206.242.1640Issaquah Library ..........................425.392.5430Kenmore Library .........................425.486.8747Kent Regional Library ...................253.859.3330Kingsgate Library .........................425.821.7686Kirkland Library ..........................425.822.2459Lake Forest Park Library ................206.362.8860Lake Hills Library .........................425.747.3350Library Connection @ Crossroads .....425.644.6203Maple Valley Library .....................425.432.4620Mercer Island Library ....................206.236.3537Muckleshoot Library .....................253.931.6779Newport Way Library ....................425.747.2390North Bend Library ......................425.888.0554Redmond Regional Library .............425.885.1861 TTY 425.895.7951 Richmond Beach Library ................206.546.3522Sammamish Library ......................425.836.8793Shoreline Library .........................206.362.7550Skykomish Library .......................360.677.2660Skyway Library ...........................206.772.5541Snoqualmie Library ......................425.888.1223Tukwila Library ...........................206.244.5140Valley View Library ......................206.242.6044Vashon Library ............................206.463.2069White Center Library ....................206.243.0233Woodinville Library ......................425.788.0733Woodmont Library .......................253.839.0121KCLS Foundation .........................425.369.3448Traveling Library Center ................425.369.3456The Answer Line .........................425.462.9600 outside calling area ............... 1.800.462.9600TTY numbers are for the hearing and speech impaired.

CommunityLibraries

KCLS Leadership

KCLS Sevice Center960 Newport Way NWIssaquah, WA 98027425.369.3200www.kcls.org

Libraries encourage early childhood connections with books, offer homework help for students, and provide collections and services for lifelong learners. These vital programs need fi nancial support beyond available public funds. That’s where the KCLS Foundation comes in.

The Foundation focuses on literacy and supports reading programs, author visits, and much more. With generous support from corporations, foundations and individuals, the Foundation helps KCLS anticipate and respond to the growing needs of our diverse community. More than 25,000 children and adults participated in Foundation-sponsored reading activities in 2002. Here’s a snapshot:

Reading is one of the most effective ways parents can support early brain development and childhood learning—and it’s fun. The Reading Buddy program introduces low-income parents to reading activities and libraries. Establishing the reading habit is vital to academic achievement, and the Ready-Set-Read program challenges kids to reach their goals, enjoy new authors, and earn free books.

StoryFest International showcases tales and tellers from world cultures. The annual festival delights listeners of all ages and celebrates the universal language of story. The Foundation supports KCLS programming, including author visits. The What If All Kids Read the Same Book? series featured Louis Sachar, author of “Holes,” and involved kids in discussion groups and theatrical activities.

The Foundation funds a variety of tutoring resources. Study Zones at 24 community libraries feature volunteer tutors for middle school students. Live Homework Help, an online service available in all libraries, connects K-12 students with tutors for free sessions in Math, English and Social Sciences. And, the Giving Literacy program provides free Adult Basic Education and General Education Diploma workbooks to tutors and adult students.

King County Library System Foundation

FOUNDATION

Honoring Outstanding Commitment In Our Community

The Foundation’s annual Literary Lions Award Dinner raises funds for literacy programs and honors community members for their support of lifelong learning. Verizon Reads received the Literary Lions Award for its leadership in advancing literacy programs at the national and local levels. The gala event featured National Book Award author Charles Johnson and 30 award-winning Pacifi c Northwest authors. Three hundred avid readers and library supporters attended the largest book discussion dinner in the Northwest.

The KCLS Foundation also honors signifi cant contributions to community libraries. Miguel Llanos was selected as “Friend of the Year” for outstanding service to the Redmond Regional Friends of the Library. The “Lifetime Achievement Award” was presented to Tony Cooke, Kingsgate Friends of the Library for her two decades of leadership.

Investing in the Future

The Foundation seeks to ensure a lifetime of learning resources for our community by supporting innovative literacy programs in all our local libraries. Your support brings hope to children, families and neighbors today and in the future.

Financial Summary

KCLS Foundation received $457,360.18 in contributions in 2002. A total of $346,749.99 was distributed for programs and $109,333.88 was spent on management and fundraising costs.

Friends of the Libraries, independent organizations that support local community libraries, provided $275,000 in funding for library programs, collections and artwork in 2002.

KCLS Foundation welcomes gifts to its endowment fund, honor and memorial gifts, appreciated stock and other planned gifts, in-kind donations of goods, and cash contributions. KCLS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization. Financial statements are available by contacting the Foundation offi ce. For more information, visit www.kcls.org and click on Foundation or call 425.369.3448.

Sevilla ClaydonGarvey Schubert Barer

Peter CummingsCommunity Leader

Mary S. FerrisChildren’s Home Society of Washington

Diane GieseStrategy Software, Inc.

Karen E. GloverPreston Gates & Ellis LLP

Susan HempsteadPuget Sound Energy

Mark HulakBEA Systems, Inc.

Michele M. KemperSAFECO

Deborah KuehnerDeloitte & Touche LLP

Marcia KuszmaulMicrosoft Corporation

Rosemary K. NamitBank of America

KCLS FoundationBoard of Directors

Mark W. BerryPresidentDavis Wright Tremaine LLP

Tom BarrVice PresidentStarbucks Coffee Company

Jill FlemingTreasurerBlume Loveridge & Co. PLLC

James WigfallSecretaryThe Boeing Company

Jack BehrensErnst & Young LLP

Kathryn A. BrownCommunity Leader

Raymond ChanAvaya, Inc.

Julia PattersonKing County Council13th District

Bill Ptacek, LiaisonKCLS Director

Laura RudermanState Representative45th District

Berta S. SeltzerCommunity Leader

Julia P. ShawCommunity Leader

Charlotte B. Spitzer, LiaisonKCLS Board of Trustees

Jack J. SpitzerCovenant Mortgage Corporation

Mark H. WatanabeThe Seattle Times

StaffJeanne ThorsenExecutive Director

Claire WilkinsonDevelopment Specialist

Cheryl SmithDevelopment Assistant

Foundation Support

The KCLS Foundation appreciates and acknowledges the generous corporate, foundation, and community support provided through contributions of Board leadership, fi nancial resources, and in-kind goods and services.

Nobel Circle ($20,000+)Verizon SuperPages

Pulitzer Circle ($10,000+)BEA FoundationBill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Newbery Circle ($5,000+)Bellevue Friends of the LibraryKaren GloverMicrosoft Matching Gifts ProgramQuality Food Centers, Inc.Verizon CommunicationsVulcan, Inc.Washington Mutual Bank

Caldecott Circle ($1,000+)AnonymousJoanne and Richard AkeroydNancy and Ellsworth AlvordBank of America SecuritiesBlume Loveridge & Co., PLLCThe Boeing Company Gift Matching ProgramCity of BurienBusiness Interiors NorthwestRaymond ChanCity of AuburnCommunity Foundation for SW WashingtonCovenant Mortgage CorporationDeloitte & Touche LLPErnst & Young LLPFriends of Fairwood LibraryThe Gale GroupLinda GlenickiGottlieb, Fisher & AndrewsThe HarrisMichele and William KemperMarcia KuszmaulMcDonald Insurance Group, Inc.Kathryn and Richard MiyauchiRosemary K. NamitMary PigottPotelco, Inc.Preston Gates & Ellis LLPMargaret and Bill PtacekPuget Sound EnergyRiddell WilliamsCarrie and Chad SchwittersThe Seattle FoundationJulia and John ShawTechnical Furniture SystemsJeanne Thorsen and Tom MayerVashon Friends of the LibraryWal-Mart

Judy and Bob WeathersCardinal Media *G.P. Putnam & Sons *

Booker Circle ($500+)AnonymousAvayaBank of America FoundationPeter DurhamDynixClaire and Richard EadieFriends of the Bothell LibraryFriends of the Mercer Island LibraryDiane and John GieseGrand Aerie Fraternal Order of EaglesGSC of the Enological Society of PNWMary Beth HasselquistHarold HillKarla and Herv HodgsonKenmore Library AssociationWai-Fong LeeGretchen and Matthew LoschenNorthwest Council of International ReadingDebra and Mark PerryAndrew PickardSamuel PickardEsther and Ted RickeltonMark ScheerBerta and Richard SeltzerDean SmithAlta SweanyTerranomics Crossroads AssociatesTippins Industries, IncVanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramJennifer and Mark WatanabeMarsha and David WeilGregory Wingo

Hugo Circle ($250+)AnonymousJoanne AbelsonBruce AdamsJeanne and Donald AdamsAllied Building ServicesAman and AssociatesBarbara and Thomas ArchboldJason AtlasRuth BacharachChris and Mark BerryCharles BlondinoJudy BonheurCatherine and Robert BoroughsAlice BravermanChristina BruningShawna and Marc CalhounPhil ChandlerJanice and Gregory ClarkeConner Homes CompanyMike CrandallHilary and John DomeikaJill FlemingMargaret and Lloyd FullerSheryl and Erik Hildebrand

Peggy and Lindon HughenIngram Book CompanyLaura and Mark JenningsEllen and John KnodellDebbie and Michael KuehnerVeronica LawLiteracy CelebrationJane and Roger LowellBeverly and Richard LuceMary Beth MainesMarshall CavendishMichael and Susan MuhmLucille MutschlerNorthwestern TrustSally PorterJ. C. RamakerCharlene RichardsSAFECODorothy and Jack ScheppkeThe Seattle TimesSkyway Friends of the LibraryLandry SladeSandra and Michael TuckerSabina WagnerJulie B. WallaceLouise and John WiegensteinClaire WilkinsonJanet WongHarperCollins *North-South Books *Pantheon Books *Scribner *Simon & Schuster, Children’s Publishing *

Edgar Circle ($100+)Leslie and Jacob AdamsPatricia AndersonSusan and Craig ArnoldClodagh and Robert AshRoxana and Thomas AugusztinySusan BallHeather BallashBenefi ts CorporationRebecca and Robert BentonLucille and Leonard BerkowitzLeif BjorsethPhilis BodleJerald BoeschJonathan BrockBonnie BrownKathryn BrownCrystal and Sidney BullisCarolyn and Edward CalePatricia and Joseph CantuRobin CarnahanSherine and Samuel ChenEleanor ChesterJudy ChristiansonEric ChurchillRobert ClarkEugene CoanSue and Gary CohnNancy ColsonYing and Steven CooperJeff CoopersmithLaurie and William Corrin

Barbara and Peter CummingsEdie and Keith CutlerMarcia DanneGregory DavisSandra and Paul DehmerXueping DengPrentis DrewSheryl ErezExxonMobil FoundationDeborah FarringtonMarlene and Andrew FernandezMary FerrisDavid FischbachHarold FogelquistFriends of Kirkland LibraryFriends of the Fall City LibraryWendy GelbartKerrin GibbonsRobert GitnerGlaxo Smith Kline FoundationMarilynn and Daniel GottliebMadelyn and Jim GraysonBetty Rae and James GreenPatty and Jerry GroppCharles HafenbrackHarco Ribbon XchangeJulia and Robert HardingAlice and James HarrisLisa HillCarol and Tom HoganNorma and Albert HolmesLinda HoseaMichael HoweCallaghan and Edwin HustonRosalie and Paul IcenhowerAnn and Leslie IrishJewish Community FoundationKathleen JohansonKay JohnsonKaren JonesDon JulienPamela and Kim KaiserHarry KatzPatricia and Kerry KerstonRuth KishJudy and Henry KleinKenneth KlimaJudith and Paul KreftingArdell KuchenbeckerLouise KurabiWinifred and Phillip LakeLinda and Michael LaneBobette LeeCathy and Frank LenningJeanine LevackK. M. LewisLing Shen Ching Tze TempleChristine LivingstonFrances LloydCatherine LordJo LowreySusan Lowrey-HinojosaJennifer LucasGeorgia and Stuart LuiWilliam ManisJocelyn MarchisioDorothy Mason

Suzanne MatsenSteven and Kristine McBrideLeah McColloughOlga McEwingEleanor McFarlandDonna McMillenSusan McQuarrieJanis MerckerMark MestelMarie MetskerIrene and John MeulemansMarilyn MichalakJulie MillerLaurabelle MillerRenee MillerPatrice MinerPatty and Richard MorrowHenry MustinLensey and Isaac NamiokaVenkataramanan NarayananSarah NavarreElva and Paul NibbelinkJudith and Stephen NiverCarrie NoessArleen NomuraRosalie and Leland OldsTeruko and Charles PaceCraig PealDarlene PearsallPEOJuliann and William PhillipsCarolyne and Lothar PietzBarbara and Arthur PoznerMary Jane and John PuttJane Veal ReadWalter RectorBarbara and George ReichShelley ReynoldsRachael and David RobinettSusan and David RosenblumMr. and Mrs. Charles RothRobin and Harvey RothschildMichelle and Ian RubeschMike RussellBruce SchauerIsobel and Gregg SchillerMarilyn and Bruce ShafferJennifer ShawSusan ShinnDavid and Danita ShneidmanDenise and Richard SiersPrakash and Sonali SikchiCheryl and Ron SmithSusan and Alan SmithJoanne Stark-StiegRuth StotterCharlotte and Earl SutherlandRoger SwannRita SwenssonMarcie and Christopher TaylorJanet and Richard ThayerKathy and John TheissenSue TroutnerNancy and Andrew ValaasVashon Island Women’s ClubDavid and Joyce WagarCandy and Richard Ward

Sherada and Toby WashingtonWednesday WalkersNancy WhittakerNancy and Michael WindusLynn and David WoodsJoy WorcesterScott YasuiJudith ZelterAlbert Whitman & Company *Amistad *August House *Ballantine Books *Candlewick Press *Counterpoint Press *Crown Publishers/Random House, Inc. *Del Rey Books *Farrar Straus Giroux *Robert Gordon *Harcourt Children’s Books *HarperBusiness *Henry Holt and Company *Perseus Publishing *Random House Children’s Books *Sasquatch Books *Tom Douglas Restaurants *Tor/Forge *University of Chicago Press *Van West & Company *

Reader’s Circle (up to $99)Hundreds of generous individuals and corporations.

Memorial and Special FundsKen CarnahanMarjorie Connolly OvermyerKatherine JoAnn Coyle-DeWittEd DoolittleLori DunbabinMichelle HillyerCharlotte KirkpatrickMargaret LowreyMargaret Read MacDonald International Storyteller FundMarion Grace McCartyHerb Mutschler Scholarship FundEvna RoseDick SimsDorothy WilsonDonations were also made to honor numerous birthdays and anniversaries.

Matching GiftsNumerous organizations, including Avaya, Bank of America, BEA Systems, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, and SAFECO generously match their employees’ donations. We greatly appreciate this community support of literacy and lifelong learning.

* Denotes In-Kind Donation

We apologize for any omissions or misspelled names. Please notify the Foundation offi ce of any corrections. Thank you.