For KCLS, it means kicking off fall efforts to support teachers, parents, caregivers and students as they transition from summer to the school year. These efforts are part of the Library System’s ongoing commitment to literacy and to K-12 and continuing education.

Library staff works year-around to secure grant funding, develop partnerships, and innovate programs online and in-person so support is in place by the time classroom bells ring.

Whether you are getting your child ready for preschool or anticipating a teen’s middle- or high school years, KCLS offers a full spectrum of services and resources, from kindergarten readiness programs and Story Times, to help with homework and college preparation.

This academic support has never been more important. Research shows that disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant drops in reading and math test scores nationwide. Research also shows that students lost social skills without classroom interactions with their teachers and peers.

One of the many ways KCLS supports K-12 education is through special accounts that allow students and teachers access to KCLS’ extensive databases, research materials and resources. Last year, 81,826 students and teachers took advantage of the program, which provides access 24/7 all year. For more information, visit our student and teacher accounts webpage. 

Thanks to the KCLS Foundation, early childhood education programs like Ready, Set, Kindergarten! and OTTER/Sasquatch instill a love of reading and learning at the earliest ages. Ready, Set, Kindergarten! offers in-person and online learning activities for children ages four to five years who are not yet in kindergarten. The OTTER (grades 1-3) and Sasquatch (grades 4-6) programs are partnerships with schools that provide books for students throughout King County. 

KCLS’ Study Zone offers K-12 academic and personalized support that includes homework help, Reading Buddies, Math Club and Talk Time. Volunteers offer tutoring, spend time with kids to develop reading skills, and help English language learners practice speaking with others.

Study Zone, in fact, has become so popular that KCLS is currently looking for more volunteers. High school students who volunteer can earn community service points toward graduation. For more information, check out kcls.org/volunteer.

STEM learning also gets a boost from KCLS’ two Makerspaces; one at Bellevue Library and one at Federal Way Library. These spaces teach science, technology, engineering and math skills (STEM) and design through hands-on activities, crafts and exploration.

New this fall is a continuing education program called Career Online High School, which enables patrons to earn an accredited high school diploma as well as a career certificate. You can take classes online with 24/7 access, and get academic support from certified instructors.

For high school students, a special Life After High School online event is being held September 13 to “demystify college application essay questions.”

The fall season also features KCLS activities and events to celebrate Welcoming Week, September 8-17, and National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15 and runs through October 15. Check these links for ways to hear diverse authors, attend community celebrations and more.

Whatever your age, you are welcome in person or online to make your fall season one of learning, fun and empowerment. Be sure to join us!

I also believe libraries are uniquely positioned to help to alleviate loneliness.

A recent U.S. Surgeon General’s report, entitled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, showed not only the prevalence of loneliness nationwide, but its serious individual and social impacts.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy stated that an estimated one in two adults reported experiencing loneliness­ even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further exacerbated loneliness and isolation by cutting off so many people from friends, loved ones and support systems.

The 81-page report describes loneliness as “the distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or unmet need between an individual’s preferred and actual experience.” It can affect people of all ages, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic circumstances.

Unlike solitude, which can be beneficial, loneliness represents “profound threats to our health and well-being,” according to the report. Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death, and increase one’s risk of heart disease and stroke as well as depression, anxiety and dementia. One key finding is that a lack of social connection “can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.” 

While the report is troubling, it is also hopeful. The report states that community-based organizations can play a key role in reducing loneliness and social isolation by “creating opportunities and spaces for inclusive social connection, by building partnerships, and providing education, resources, support programs and volunteer opportunities.”

KCLS has done all this and much more, including hosting community and library events, developing meaningful programs, ensuring equitable outreach, and innovating services. I firmly believe that connection--bringing people together and building community--is the Library System’s superpower.

I know this not only as a long-time librarian, but from personal experience. Years ago, when I was a young mother new to my community and didn’t know anyone, I visited the local library for a Story Time. It provided camaraderie, a chance to meet and talk with other parents and caregivers. We shared, discussed and laughed. I felt connected rather than isolated.

In-person connections are critical. As the report states, “Social connection is a fundamental human need…we human beings are biologically wired for social connection.”

Proof of this came when our libraries reopened post-COVID. Lines formed out the doors. The outpouring of support was remarkable with many patrons telling staff how much they missed us, saying, “We’re so glad to be back!”

KCLS is here to help, support and to connect people through engagement and a wide range of opportunities. You can attend an author talk, book club, teen advisory group, or arts, business or education class for the fun of learning. Find out which experiences suit you on our website, kcls.org. Explore a dedicated webpage for older adults, a Study Zone for students, The Welcoming Center for refugees and newcomers, and Story Times for everyone.

Also, it’s not too late to participate in Summer Reading. It’s for all ages and runs through August 31, featuring programs outdoors as well as online and at libraries. There is still time to track your reading minutes and win prizes.

Join us! Head to your local library, learn something new, make friends­—and know you’re not alone.

Were you unable to finish or go to school? Would you like to officially complete your basic primary and/or secondary education? Now you can learn virtually and it’s free!  

The Plaza Comunitaria is an adult literacy program to complete your basic education in Spanish. This is an official program sanctioned by SEP (Secretary of Public Education) and the INEA (National Institute for Adult Education) government of Mexico. It is specifically designed for Spanish-speaking adults.

Obtain your elementary and/or middle school official diploma from the SEP (Mexican Secretary of Public Education). Individualized program in Spanish.

• Study from home, the library, or any place.
• You can start anytime.

Come to an orientation session to get help with registration in-person at the Bellevue Library (computer lab, second floor) on designated dates and times. Drop-in, no appointment necessary for the orientation session.

You can also watch this video and create your own account and begin learning today!

For more information, call us at (425) 369-3223. (We do not receive text messages). Or, send us an email to espanol@kcls.org.

Books to Grow On are theme kits filled with wonderful books to read aloud, music, videos, and other materials on a variety of curriculum topics.

These theme kits are perfect for early childhood professionals, teachers, and busy parents to use with their toddlers and preschoolers.

Browse the list of available themes in the catalog.  You can also find them listed at the end of this post.

If a theme kit is not available when you need it, ask a library staff person to print out the theme kit curriculum sheet and booklist for you. Check to see if your library has some of the titles listed. If not, place a hold on an individual title.

For more information about BTGO Theme Kits, call the Books to Grow On office at (425) 369-3323 or 1-877-905-2009, extension 3323.

As anyone who has been “lost in a book” can attest, a good book can take you to faraway places, lift your spirits, inspire, teach, inform or entertain.

In my view, reading is not only enjoyable, but has taken on critical significance in the wake of the pandemic. And reading and literacy are among the things KCLS does best.

A mounting body of local and national research has shown COVID-19’s impacts on student learning, socialization, mental health and school attendance. Pre-pandemic gains in reading and math test scores have been wiped out as students were required to study remotely rather than in classrooms. The learning loss ranges from one quarter of an academic year to over a year or more, depending on area, school district and poverty levels. COVID’s impacts on people of color have been even more pronounced.

This academic regression and lost time have enormous long-term consequences for both the students’ and the country’s economic future, researchers say.

But there is post-pandemic hope, thanks to public libraries. Ann Ishimaru, a faculty member at the University of Washington’s College of Education and author of Just Schools: Building Equitable Collaborations with Families and Communities, says libraries are among the critical community organizations needed to aid academic recovery, and to ensure communities of color are represented.

Ishimaru also says it’s not just about raising reading and math test scores, but going beyond school walls to build and support families that have their own learning environments.

KCLS does all this and more. As a long-time librarian and a parent, I know first-hand that reading for enjoyment leads to a child becoming a reader and lifelong learner. Research shows that those who read are more successful in life, and that reading and education help inform and build democracy.

This is why the Library System offers a huge array of programs that support reading and literacy. Currently, our popular Summer Reading Program is in full swing, but throughout the year we encourage people of all ages to read whatever they want through our extensive print and digital collection. We offer Story Times online, in-person and outdoors, and in six world languages. We just added Rainbow Story Times as well. On July 15, the Maple Valley Library will host a Story Walk Read-Along at Lake Wilderness Arboretum, allowing participants to read at a strolling pace. Or join one of our many book groups.

We build reading skills with popular programs such as Reading with Rover and Reading Buddies. Some tips on helping kids­–or adults–get ready to read can be found on our website. KCLS also offers people support through our resources, Mobile Services outreach and Summer Meals at Kingsgate and Shoreline libraries, which brings children into libraries to nurture both their minds and bodies.

KCLS also has many back-to-school programs that build reading skills and support students and families, but I’ll save those for an upcoming blog.

The Library System is a public good, here to help all King County residents to learn, grow and thrive. Come visit, connect with your local library and others through reading!

June marks the start of our Summer Reading Program, as well as a time to celebrate and honor our mission of inclusion. In the month of June, we will celebrate diversity with Pride Month, World Refugee Day, and Juneteenth (June 19) events.

We are excited about Summer Reading this year, kicking off amid our recently expanded hours of operation. Our signature Summer Reading Program engages people of all ages and helps to bridge the academic gap between the end of the school year and students’ fall return to classrooms. It also addresses a nationwide concern about COVID’s impact on learning loss and lower test scores, especially in math and reading. Research shows that reading helps offset learning loss by building literacy and communication skills and prepares students for the coming academic year.

Summer Reading, which began June 1 and runs through August 31, invites everyone to read for pleasure and to track and to log the minutes read online or at one of our 50 libraries in King County. Participants are encouraged to read at least 20 minutes a day, whether individually, reading to others, listening to an audiobook or attending programs like Story Times. Check out kcls.org/summer for booklists, events, and instructions on how to win special prizes.

In June, we are celebrating diversity in multiple ways. Libraries will be closed June 19 in honor of the federal holiday Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery. KCLS is celebrating African American freedom and heritage with special events, including a SilverKite Community Arts celebration on June 21. The online program features speakers, storytelling, music, movement, and reflection on Juneteenth’s significance. On June 10, Federal Way Library hosts a Juneteenth celebration, including activities in its new Makerspace. The event also will feature exhibits from the American Traveling History Museum: The Unspoken Truths, including Mother Africa and Black inventors. Founder and curator Delbert Richardson will share information.

KCLS staff also has compiled an impressive Juneteenth booklist for perspective on the day’s importance.

KCLS celebrates Pride Month with events and programs, including a Pride Celebration June 30 at the Renton Library and a Rainbow Read-Out June 17 at the Bellevue Library. Libraries host year-round Rainbow Story Times. An LGBTQIA+ booklist also has been created by staff.

KCLS honors the many refugees and immigrants who now call King County home.

The theme for World Refugee Day (June 20) is compassion. The day aims to create more awareness of refugee and immigrant experiences and our common humanity. KCLS is partnering with the Refugee Congress and International Rescue Committee on June 24 for a World Refugee Day Global Village event at Foster High School in Tukwila from 12-5pm. Patrons can enjoy a marketplace with international food, kids’ activities, booths, and performances.

There is a lot going on this month at KCLS. Attend our programs, check out staff recommendations and the 10 to Try challenge, and engage with your local library!

First, the King County Library System’s Board of Trustees has voted to eliminate late fines—a new policy many of our patrons have been urging us to implement.

On May 9, KCLS will stop charging late fines, and will clear all current late fines from accounts. Late fines generate little revenue, making up less than one percent of our budget. Yet they can be a barrier to library access, discouraging library use. Because KCLS strives to increase access for all King County residents, our goal for fines-free is not only to get books back, but to get readers back.

The resolution we presented to the Board, which passed unanimously, was based on six months of data, including how libraries around the country have fared with fines-free polices. Research showed that fines undermine equity; people most impacted by fines are those already facing economic, transportation, technology and other challenges. A data analysis also showed that eliminating fines leads to a higher rate of return of collection materials.

State law still requires the Library System to charge for lost or damaged materials.

For more information about the fines-free policy, visit our website.  

As a fines-free library system, libraries can become a bigger part of everyone's future. We hope the new policy will have a profound and positive effect on people who need us most.

This month also features the launch of expanded hours—another eagerly awaited development. KCLS has been working steadily to get the needed and budgeted staffing levels in place to ensure a successful transition and enhanced access to programs, services and our collection.

Starting May 14, we will roll out the expanded hours in 17 of our community libraries. The expansion will occur in phases. These libraries will be open a minimum of 6 days a week, with some open seven days a week.

The first libraries to expand hours will be Vashon, Bothell, Shoreline, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Richmond Beach.
On May 21, Auburn, Enumclaw, Algona-Pacific, Black Diamond, Covington and Muckleshoot will add hours to their schedules. Fairwood, Kent, Kent-Panther Lake, Maple Valley and Southcenter will expand hours beginning May 30.

In other positive news, KCLS’ Kraken watch parties have been a hit with fans. May is Older Americans Month, featuring both special events and year-around programs honoring all those 50 and older (who also make up 35 percent of KCLS cardholders). For more information, see kcls.org/older-adults. 

This month is a great time to visit your local library, taking advantage of new hours and programs, no fines, great staff and a fabulous collection. We hope to see you soon!

The King County Library System’s Ready to Read program focuses on five simple but powerful ways to help children get ready to succeed in school. These practices are: reading, talking, singing, writing, and playing.

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers. They are in the best position to help their children develop early literacy skills beginning at birth.

Incorporate early learning into your daily routine by including these 5 simple practices.

Read
Reading together is the single most effective way to help children get ready to read.

Read with your child in any language. When children enjoy books and reading, this helps them become readers themselves. You can find book suggestions in our catalog. You can also ask your children’s librarian for suggestions.

Talk
Talk with your child in any language. Talking with children helps them learn spoken language, a critical early literacy skill. Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining the conversation. Talking is one of the best ways to teach new words and concepts.

When we talk to children and ask them questions they learn about language and how to tell stories. Books are wonderful conversation starters!

Sing
Sing with your child in any language. Singing and rhyming help children hear the smaller sounds in words. Songs and rhymes also teach new vocabulary and introduce new ideas and concepts. Sing songs from your childhood and/or make up songs together.

The KCLS Tell Me A Story webpage offers suggestions of rhymes and songs to share with young children.

Play
Play with your child. Through play, children learn about the world. Children also learn about language through play. Play helps children put their thoughts into words and think symbolically. They learn the meaning of words and how to express themselves.

See play in action at one of our Story Times sessions.

Write
Writing and reading go together. Writing helps children learn that written words stand for spoken language. Writing activities help children learn letter names and sound out new words.

For more information on early learning, please see the Washington State Early Learning and Development Guidelines.

KCLS last week was named a finalist for the library world’s most prestigious award, the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, which recognizes exemplary service and overall excellence. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the highest federal agency representing all libraries across the nation, notified KCLS that it was one of 30 finalists--libraries and museums--for “demonstrating extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service.”

I’m thrilled that KCLS is being recognized as one of the nation’s top libraries. In May, ten National Medal award winners will be announced. Regardless of the outcome, being a finalist amid outstanding competition is like being nominated for an Academy Award; it is a high honor in itself. It reflects the positive engagement and impact KCLS has had on its communities, and the staff’s hard work and commitment to address public needs in ways that transform lives.

This is the first time KCLS has been named a finalist for the IMLS award, and we are the only library system in Washington State to be so honored this year. KCLS also was named the Library of the Year in 2011 by Gale/Library Journal – another prestigious award.

KCLS is dedicated to offering our patrons the necessary resources, information, and services to build critical skills, navigate life's challenges, and flourish in their communities. This IMLS recognition only strengthens our commitment to these goals, and we look forward to continuing to serve our patrons with excellence.

This welcome news comes at a time when we celebrate the importance of all public libraries. National Library Week is April 23-29, and National Library Workers Day is April 25. These dates give us all a chance to honor the hard work done by librarians and other staff, both locally and across the U.S., to serve the public. On April 24, King County Council Chair Dave Upthegrove will present KCLS with a document proclaiming Washington State Library Week and Library Workers Day 2023. I’ll be heading to the Woodmont Library to receive the proclamation.

Other important celebrations this month include National Volunteer Week, National Poetry Month, and the nationwide multicultural celebration, Dia.

National Volunteer Week, April 16-22 honors the thousands of people nationwide who give their time and talents to provide value-added benefits for library patrons. KCLS is strengthened by the commitments of more than 500 volunteers. They provide homework help to students and teach subjects ranging from English language to technology. They also support the Library System through advisory groups, fundraising and book sales. Simply put, KCLS could not meaningfully reach and serve as many people without volunteers.

From April 22-30, KCLS will host special programs and events to celebrate Dia, also known as Children’s Day/Book Day (El Día del niño y del libro), which emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.   

This is the 27th year that KCLS has celebrated this multilingual initiative, connecting children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures through activities at libraries and schools. A special event, featuring multilingual Story Times, author talks and music programs, will be held April 29 at the Renton Library. You can find more information at kcls.org/dia.

Also tied in with literacy is April’s National Poetry Month, which has become one of the largest literary celebrations in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, teachers, librarians, booksellers and others marking the importance of poetry for all cultures.

KCLS has a number of events celebrating poets and the written word, including a poetry contest from April 1-30.  The winner in each of three age groups will receive a $25 gift card, courtesy of the KCLS Foundation. For more information, see kcls.org/poetry.

Please join us for any or all of these celebrations!