As Kitsap Regional Library's 80th anniversary year draws to a close, we can't help but reflect and celebrate the Library's incredible experiences of 2025.
The celebration kicked off in January with a journey through the archive, opens a new window of eight decades of library work. We examined the election when Kitsap County residents overwhelmingly voted to establish a rural library district, a moment of hope even as World War II loomed in newspaper headlines. A look at those early libraries revealed a community that worked with what they had—a fire department loft, a cafeteria, a chicken coop, or a small Army surplus building.
Patrons of those small, early branches couldn't have envisioned what was to come for Kitsap Regional Library: becoming the second library in the state to launch a digital catalog, hosting a free tutoring program on the World Wide Web (the modern version of that program now just one part of a suite of free, online Library resources, opens a new window), or the transformation of a small summer reading program into the community cornerstone that Summer Learning is today.
On Valentine's Day, we launched Passport to Explore—an invitation to discover the Library in an entirely new way. Thousands took up the challenge to visit all nine branches in the system, collecting stamps and learning what makes each location so special along the way.
In April, lines formed outside the branches for the much-anticipated Mug Hunt, opens a new window when special, 80-year edition mugs were hidden throughout the system. For fifteen days, intrepid mug hunters took to the shelves in search of tokens that would earn them a mug featuring their favorite branch's design. (Later, in response to popular demand, the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation was able to make the mugs, along with other 80-year swag, available for purchase, opens a new window in support of the Library. The mugs are still available for purchase at the Kitsap History Museum, opens a new window.)
The big party kicked off on May 9, when more than 200 community members came to the Silverdale branch to celebrate. Laughter, the swish of pom poms, and the smell of sweet treats came together to create the most festive of anniversaries. As the summer began, stories of completed passports started pouring in. While some sought stamps one weekend after another, making day trips to visit each branch, others created a route to obtain all nine stamps in a single day, with at least one ambitious traveler going so far as to bike to all nine branches.
And the fun didn't end with Summer Learning! As the weather turned cold and wet, Library enthusiasts have gathered for film screenings, storytelling, game nights, trivia, and museum visits. Josh Farley hosted a special History Uncorked event at the Kitsap History Museum, and Silver City Brewery developed the "Biblio Brew Lager" that was featured at several Library events. "80 Years of Community, Connection & Change," a Kitsap History Museum exhibit featuring Library history, opens a new window, will remain open through the end of 2025. Featuring a dynamic timeline, the exhibit invites visitors to listen to favorite checkouts from the last eight decades, dig through a vintage card catalog for surprising discoveries, and lean into nostalgia while playing the classic computer game "Oregon Trail."
As the year winds down, it's not too late to celebrate this special anniversary. You can pick up a Passport to Explore at any branch, collect the stamps from all nine branches, and show your completed passport to a staff member to win a prize, such as a set of illustrated note cards. Complete side quests at the end of the passport to receive an additional stamp and a unique bookmark.
In addition to passports, our special, limited-edition library cards, featuring a unique design for each branch, are still available. You can swap out your current card for a new design or sign up for a library card if you don't yet have an account!
We are so grateful for how the communities of Kitsap County showed up to celebrate the Library all throughout 2025. Hearing stories about what the Library means to each community member, and seeing everyone's excitement, curiosity, and enthusiasm, has been truly inspiring. As Kitsap changes and grows, the Library will continue to support present and future generations, striving to be "A Library For All" and focusing on its mission to inspire curiosity and connection...for every year to come.
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