Pierce County Library System
Encyclopedia
The Pierce County Library System (PCLS) is a library
system serving the residents of Pierce County, Washington
. As of 2011, PCLS has 17 branches (with one soon to open in Fife) and several bookmobiles serving more than 550,000 people in unincorporated Pierce County and 15 cities and towns which have annexed to the system for library service. It circulates more than 8.7 million items annually, hosts seasonal youth story times, teen clubs, events for youth and adults, classes for skills development and computer programs, an active summer reading program, and has expanded into online interaction using social software. PCLS boasted over 2.6 million visitors in 2010; approximately 244,000 library cards are currently issued.
in 1946 as an independent rural library district to serve unincorporated areas of the county as well as towns and cities that annex or contract with PCLS. Over its 60+ years, it has had only three directors: Marion Cromwell, Carolyn Else, and Neel Parikh.
The Pierce County Library System Processing and Administrative Center (headquarters) is in the Summit-Waller area, southeast of Tacoma, Washington
. The busiest libraries are the South Hill Library, Gig Harbor Library, Parkland/Spanaway and Lakewood Library.
Pierce County Library System provides bookmobile service to many areas of Pierce County, including Anderson Island, Ashford, Browns Point, Elbe, Fife, Frederickson, Greenwater and McKenna.
, Fircrest
, Ruston
and Enumclaw
, although residents of Enumclaw are permitted to purchase a library card.
A library is set to open in Fife
in late fall of 2011.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
system serving the residents of Pierce County, Washington
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
. As of 2011, PCLS has 17 branches (with one soon to open in Fife) and several bookmobiles serving more than 550,000 people in unincorporated Pierce County and 15 cities and towns which have annexed to the system for library service. It circulates more than 8.7 million items annually, hosts seasonal youth story times, teen clubs, events for youth and adults, classes for skills development and computer programs, an active summer reading program, and has expanded into online interaction using social software. PCLS boasted over 2.6 million visitors in 2010; approximately 244,000 library cards are currently issued.
History
The Pierce County Library System was established by the Washington State LegislatureWashington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
in 1946 as an independent rural library district to serve unincorporated areas of the county as well as towns and cities that annex or contract with PCLS. Over its 60+ years, it has had only three directors: Marion Cromwell, Carolyn Else, and Neel Parikh.
Libraries
- Bonney LakeBonney Lake, WashingtonBonney Lake is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,374 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonney Lake is located at ....
- BuckleyBuckley, WashingtonBuckley is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,354 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Buckley is located at near the communities of Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, and Wilkeson....
- DuPontDuPont, WashingtonDuPont is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,199 at the 2010 census.-History:The Nisqually tribe arrived in the area at least 5700 years ago, subsisting on shellfish from the beaches and salmon from Sequalitchew Creek...
- EatonvilleEatonville, WashingtonEatonville is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,758 at the 2010 census.-History:For centuries, Indian people roamed the rivers and streams of the Eatonville area. Indian Henry was one of those who, in 1889, guided the town's founder, Thomas C. Van Eaton, from...
- Gig Harbor/PeninsulaGig Harbor, WashingtonGig Harbor is the name of both a bay on Puget Sound and a city on its shore in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,126 at the 2010 census....
- GrahamGraham, WashingtonGraham is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,739 at the 2000 census and grew to 23,491 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Graham is located at ....
- Key Center (Key PeninsulaKey PeninsulaThe Key Peninsula is a finger of land in Puget Sound, Washington, United States . It is approximately long and extends south from the Kitsap Peninsula. It is part of Pierce County, Washington. Some of its towns include:...
) - LakewoodLakewood, WashingtonLakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
- MiltonMilton, WashingtonMilton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
/EdgewoodEdgewood, WashingtonEdgewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,387 at the 2010 census. Neighboring towns include Milton to the northwest, Federal Way to the north, and Puyallup to the south.-History:... - OrtingOrting, WashingtonOrting is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population as of the 2010 census is 6,746, according to the City of Orting.- History :...
- PAC - Processing & Administration Center (TacomaTacoma, WashingtonTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
) - ParklandParkland, WashingtonParkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
/SpanawaySpanaway, WashingtonSpanaway is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 27,227 at the 2010 census. Spanaway is an unincorporated area near Tacoma, and is often identified together with the more urban, less wealthy Parkland.... - South HillSouth Hill, WashingtonSouth Hill is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, south of the city of Puyallup. The population was 52,431 at the 2010 census. The name began as an informal description of the area's proximity to the Puyallup River valley...
- SteilacoomSteilacoom, WashingtonSteilacoom is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,985 at the 2010 census. Steilacoom is on the coast of Puget Sound, on a branch not visible on the map to the right...
- Summit (TacomaTacoma, WashingtonTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
) - SumnerSumner, WashingtonSumner is a city in northern Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,451 at the 2010 census. Nearby cities include Puyallup to the west, Auburn to the north, and Enumclaw to the east.-History:...
- Tillicum (LakewoodLakewood, WashingtonLakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
) - University PlaceUniversity Place, WashingtonUniversity Place is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. Its population was 31,144 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, University Place ranks 81st of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.-History:...
The Pierce County Library System Processing and Administrative Center (headquarters) is in the Summit-Waller area, southeast of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. The busiest libraries are the South Hill Library, Gig Harbor Library, Parkland/Spanaway and Lakewood Library.
Pierce County Library System provides bookmobile service to many areas of Pierce County, including Anderson Island, Ashford, Browns Point, Elbe, Fife, Frederickson, Greenwater and McKenna.
Service area
The Pierce County Library System serves all of rural Pierce County and any of the cities that have annexed into its service area. This includes all of the cities listed above, but does not include CarbonadoCarbonado, Washington
Carbonado is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 610 at the 2010 census.-History:* This history has been condensed. For a more thorough history of Carbonado and the surrounding area read, Carbon River Coal Country.*...
, Fircrest
Fircrest, Washington
Fircrest is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,497 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Fircrest ranks 60th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked....
, Ruston
Ruston, Washington
Ruston is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 749 at the 2010 census.Although it is nearly indistinguishable from the adjacent city of Tacoma, the predominantly residential area still retains its status as a separate municipality long after it ceased to be a...
and Enumclaw
Enumclaw, Washington
Enumclaw is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,669 at the 2010 census.The Enumclaw Plateau, on which the city resides, was formed by a volcanic mudflow from Mount Rainier approximately 5,700 years ago....
, although residents of Enumclaw are permitted to purchase a library card.
A library is set to open in Fife
Fife, Washington
Fife is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,173 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1940, it was described as "Fife...at a valley crossroads in the midst of a thickly settled berry growing and truck-gardening district is represented by a string of markets, taverns,...
in late fall of 2011.