King County Library System Foundation

TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.

KCLS'S INNOVATION PROGRAMS ARE PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EXPLORATION, HOTSPOT LENDING SERVICES, IDEAX, REMOTE PATRON LAPTOPS AND DIGITAL NAVIGATORS. KCLS STRIVES TO BECOME MORE INTEGRATED INTO EVERYDAY ACTIONS, CREATE NEW IDEAS AND CHANGE PROCESSES THAT SERVE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. KCLS FOUNDATION FUNDING SUPPORTS THE REMOVAL OF BARRIERS THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND ESTABLISHES KCLS AS A VALUED INSTITUTION THAT HELPS PATRONS PARTICIPATE IN OUR SOCIETY, DEMOCRACY, AND ECONOMY.

KCLS PURCHASED TWO LIBRARY LOCKER SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR SAFE, CONTACTLESS PICK UP OF LIBRARY ITEMS AND ACCESS OUTSIDE OF NORMAL LIBRARY OPERATING HOURS. BOTHELL AND COVINGTON WERE CHOSEN VIA A PROCESS THAT CONSIDERED THE EQUITY OF DIGITAL ACCESS AND THE LOCATIONS SUITABILITY FOR OUTDOOR LOCKER INSTALLATION. THE LOCKERS REPRESENT AN EXPANDED SERVICE OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN BENEFIT KCLS BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

KCLS'S EARLY LITERACY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE RAISING A READER, SUPPORTING GRADE LEVEL READING, AND TAKE AND MAKE KITS. RAISING A READER IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND BOOK DELIVERY PROGRAM. KCLS PROVIDES DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AND DIVERSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS EACH WEEK. SUPPORTING GRADE LEVEL READING PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS TO FOSTER A LOVE OF READING HAS PROVEN BENEFICIAL TO PARTICIPANTS AS THEY CONTINUE THROUGH THEIR EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, DURING THE CLOSURE OF LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND SCHOOL REMOTE LEARNING, KCLS PURCHASED TAKE AND MAKE KITS THAT INCLUDED LITERACY AND STEM LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN. THE KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO UNDERSERVED FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING FOOD BANKS.

KCLS' EXTENDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM EXPANDED ITS OUTREACH TO TENT CITIES, PROVIDING ROBUST EMPLOYMENT, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL SERVICES VIA DEDICATED KCLS STAFF UTILIZING THE BOOKMOBILE AND MOBILE COMPUTER LAB TO PROVIDE ONSITE SERVICES AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. SUMMER READING PROGRAM INCENTIVIZES CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS TO TAKE TIME TO READ IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. SUMMER READING MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO KEEP LEARNING OVER THE SUMMER, BUILDS COMMUNITY, AND ESTABLISHES THE LIBRARY AS A VALUED SPACE AND INFORMATION HUB FOR ALL AGES. AUTHORS OF COLOR EVENT SERIES WILL BRING AT LEAST FOUR HIGH-PROFILE AUTHORS REPRESENTING A RANGE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES FOR AN ONLINE EVENT SERIES. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT KCLS'S POSITION IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY BE PREPARED AND RESILIENT IN THIS CHANGING ECONOMIC REALITY.