Just two Eastside towns lack library service

By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Those two Eastside communities have never joined the King County library district, said district spokeswoman Julie Wallace. There is a measure on the ballot next month for Yarrow Point to join.

All King County residents, other than those who live in Seattle, Renton and Enumclaw, are assessed 49 cents for every $1,000 valuation for King County library services. Residents of the other three cities are excluded because they are taxed for their own library systems, but under a reciprocity agreement their residents can use King County libraries for free.

Wallace said Seattle residents accounted for 11 percent of the 16 million items the library district circulated last year.

Wallace said Yarrow Point has voted four times since 1991 on whether to join the King County Library System, but the measures have failed each time. She said that's not so surprising, given a house valued at $1 million would pay nearly $500 a year for library services.

"These residents obviously have resources for computers and to buy books," she said. "But there are a lot more families with younger children, and they recognize the need to be connected to a library system."

The county library system was established in 1942.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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