KRL - Overview

Overview Image

Overview

Established in 1955 under RCW 87.12 as a Rural Library District to provide county-wide library services. Today, the City of Port Orchard is the only area of the county not annexed into the Library District; a direct payment arrangement between the city and the District at the annual District property levy rate applied to assessed value of property within the city, extends Library services to city residents.

Kitsap Regional Library

Provides Library services for the current Kitsap County population of 240,400 people, forecast to be 326,076 by 2025.
Currently serves over 175,360 active Library card holders (71% of the population).

A separate “regular property tax levy” funds the Library District, which is 95% of its funding source. The Library’s levy authority is stated in RCW 84.52.063 and limits the Library District tax levy amount to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. This authority is also restricted by a state law, established in 2002, that limits property tax increases on existing property to no more than 1% more than the amount collected the previous year, plus new construction.

The Library District owns and maintains only two of the nine Libraries in the system (Silverdale & Sylvan Way). Each of the remaining seven communities own, operate and maintain their Library facility under different arrangements. The Library District provides library services, staffing, materials, and technology.

Library Facility	How Built/Renovated	Owner	Maintenance & Utiilities
Bainbridge Island Library	Private fundraising	Bainbridge Public Library non-profit	Private donations, fundraising
Downtown Bremerton Library	WPA Project, city renovation	City of Bremerton	City of Bremerton
Kingston Library	KRL capital funds renovation	Kitsap County	Kitsap County
Little Boston Library	LSCA Grant and Tribe	Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe	Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
Manchester Library	Fundraising, land owned by Port of Manchester	Friends of the Manchester Library	Fundraising
Port Orchard Library	City renovated post office	City of Port Orchard	City of Port Orchard
Poulsbo Library	Library Capital Facilities Area Bond	City of Poulsbo	City of Poulsbo
Silverdale Library	Federal Trident Impact Funds	Kitsap Regional Library	Kitsap Regional Library
Sylvan Way Library	County-wide bond	Kitsap Regional Library	Kitsap Regional Library
Bookmobile	KRL Foundation fundraising, 2007 arrival	Kitsap Regional Library	Kitsap Regional Library

Current Library Services:

24-hour online Library services at www.KRL.org (Library catalog, electronic databases, reference support, local information, events calendar, room reservations, employment & volunteer postings, etc.)
Educational and entertaining events and programs
Reference services in-person, by phone or e-mail
Live Homework Help online tutoring
Storytimes and early learning activities
Book Discussion Group collection and services
Inter-Library Loan services with over 8,000 U.S. and Canadian Libraries
Summer Reading and other literacy programs
Public meeting rooms

Outreach:

Bookmobile service to outlying communities
Services for the homebound and senior living/care facilities
Daycare deposit collection and services
Community and school support

Technology:

Public access computers with Internet access (filtered access for minors)

Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) access on hi-speed lines at all locations
Basic computer training classes and individual instruction (both using volunteer trainers)
Word processing computer stations and copy machines

KRL Mission Statement: Kitsap Regional Library serves the community as a center for lifelong learning and a steward of access to stories, information and knowledge

Board of Trustees: Jackie Aitchison, North Kitsap Representative (President); Teresa McDermott, Central Kitsap Representative (Vice President);

Anna Laurie, Bremerton Representative; Gail Mathison, South Kitsap Representaive; Althea Paulson, Bainbridge Island Representative