EVERETT — The Everett Public Library has extended borrowing privileges to every resident in Snohomish and Island counties.
The decision by the library’s board of trustees was made at its June meeting.
The change in policy takes effect immediately.
Residents of the county already use other city services such as parks, she said.
“There aren’t other city departments that provide these services that make a distinction between residents and non-residents,” library director Eileen Simmons said.
In addition, the city’s boundaries are somewhat convoluted, with people who attend school in Everett or who have Everett mailing address not living within city limits.
That’s led to somewhat complicated conversations with some patrons that were not within the spirit of a public library, Simmons said.
The decision to open up lending privileges is also in line with an increasing number of city libraries west of the Cascades, including Seattle, Tacoma and Puyallup, which offer reciprocal lending to residents in their respective counties.
Everett residents also already have lending privileges in Sno-Isle Libraries, Simmons said.
The Sno-Isle system allows anyone living in a library taxing district within the two counties to use any of the libraries without a fee, said Julie Titone, the communications and marketing manager for Sno-Isle.
That system has been in place since 2000, Titone said.
Simmons said it’s not clear how much the expanded lending will cost the Everett Public Library.
“We have no idea. That’s one of the things that have been part of the conversation all along,” she said.
When Simmons first joined the library in 1998, 35 percent of its patrons came from outside the city of Everett in Snohomish County. That was the last year county residents could use the Everett library without paying a fee.
Since then, Simmons said, the Sno-Isle system has grown, with more branches and expanded collections, so it’s likely there will a smaller proportion of county residents using the Everett library, she said.
“The only restriction we’ve placed on county residents is they’re only going to be allowed three holds, so we hope that will ensure Everett residents will have good access to the newest items,” Simmons said.
“We will be monitoring it for sure,” she added.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
