| 1938 |
Voters in Spokane and Pierce Counties establish county library
districts, the first in the state.
|
| 1939 |
Commissioners appoint first Board of Trustees; however, prosecuting
attorney found 1935
enabling legislation “defective” in not providing legal basis for funding,
so no actual service established.
|
| 1942 |
Second successful vote to form District after new legislation
enacted in 1941.
|
| 1943 |
District library services initiated, operating out of Spokane Public
Library through contract and bookmobile; Margaret Grein named County Librarian.
|
| 1947 |
Mildred Brackett named County Librarian. |
| 1948 |
Building on West Riverside in Browne’s Addition purchased for District
offices; services provided through deposit stations and bookmobile,
as well as contract with Spokane Public Library.
|
| 1951 |
Bruce Carrick named County Librarian. |
| 1955 |
Valley Library built as first library and as District offices; service
provided through 10 deposit stations, bookmobiles, and Spokane Public
Library; Deer Park, Fairfield, Medical Lake, Rockford, Spangle,
and Waverly contracting with District for services.
|
| 1960 |
Florence Johnson named County Librarian. |
| 1962-64 |
Millwood, Orchard Avenue, North Spokane libraries open. |
| 1965 |
Susan Barclay named Director. |
| 1966 |
Voters approve full $2 million property tax levy for District operations. |
| 1968 |
First Avenue headquarters building purchased; Valley Library remodeled;
new Fairfield building and Cheney library open; all deposit stations close.
|
| 1972 |
New North Spokane Library building opens; Outreach Services program initiated. |
| 1974 |
Medical Lake Library opened; L. David Devine named Director. |
| 1978 |
Orchard Avenue Library closes combining with Millwood Library. |
| 1979 |
Administrative Offices and support functions move to North Argonne and
Valley Library buildings.
|
| 1980 |
Millwood Library closes and North Argonne Library opens; bookmobile
service ends; Spokane Cooperative Library Information System (SCOLIS)
formed with four area libraries; Michael Wirt named Director.
|
| 1981 |
Automated circulation system implemented; property in Otis Orchards acquired from
East Valley School District for possible future library.
|
| 1982 |
Former headquarters building sold; Latah and Waverly voters approve annexation to
District.
|
| 1983 |
District voters approve lifting 106% levy lid, with additional funds to be used
for facility expansion; Cheney and Medical Lake voters approve annexation to District.
|
| 1984 |
Latah and Waverly annexations effective. |
| 1985 |
Cheney and Medical Lake annexations effective. |
| 1986 |
Valley Library major expansion and remodeling completed, more than doubling
size of building; Cheney voters approve bond issue for new library building.
|
| 1987 |
City of Cheney receives Library Services & Construction Act matching grant
for new library building.
|
| 1988 |
District voters approve $4.975 million bond issue proposal for capital
improvements in March 15 election; new Cheney Community Library building opens;
SCOLIS formed into consortium.
|
| 1989 |
Automated circulation system upgraded and expanded; Eastern Washington University
withdraws from SCOLIS consortium; groundbreaking held for North Spokane Library
expansion; Medical Lake voters approve bond issue for new library building.
|
| 1990 |
North Spokane Library expansion completed, tripling size of building; new
service contract with Airway Heights; Argonne Library/Support Services Center
constructed and opened; North Argonne Library’s name shortened to Argonne Library;
computer catalogs installed at Airway Heights, Valley, and Argonne Libraries;
City of Medical Lake receives Library Services and Construction Act
matching grant for new library building.
|
| 1991 |
Medical Lake Library constructed and opened; new Otis Orchards Library built;
Deer Park Library expands its space in City Hall; computer catalogs installed
in remainder of District libraries.
|
| 1992 |
New Otis Orchards Library opens; voters approve levy lid override proposition
to maintain levy rate in September 15 election.
|
| 1994 |
Spokane Public Library withdraws from SCOLIS consortium. |
| 1995 |
Reciprocal use with Spokane Public Library ends: SPL begins requiring non-resident
library card fee for District residents and District for adult City of Spokane residents;
majority of voters approve $7.66 million bond proposal for capital improvements,
but issue didn’t receive required 60% and validation in September election.
|
| 1996 |
District voters approve $7.66 million bond issue proposal in February 6 election;
Millwood voters approve annexation to the District; book return opens in Moran
Prairie-Glenrose area.
|
| 1997 |
New Airway Heights Library opens; expanded and remodeled Cheney Library opens;
Administrative Offices remodeled; new library automation system installed.
|
| 1998 |
New Deer Park Library opens; Valley library renovated; dial-in catalog
access implemented; SCLD website launches.
|
| 1999 |
Renovated and expanded Fairfield Library opens; SCLD website redesigned and expanded. |
| 2000 |
New Moran Prairie storefront library opens in Cedar Canyon Village; property purchased
for future Moran Prairie library building; 2001-2003 Strategic Plan adopted; dial-in
catalog access discontinued.
|
| 2001 |
Deer Park and Fairfield voters approve annexation to the District; new City of Liberty
Lake approved library service contract with the District; mailing service for requested
materials discontinues; computer booking and time control system, with filtering options
for minors, implemented.
|
| 2002 |
New integrated library system software installed; workstations with office, reference
and educational software installed in all libraries through Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation grant; reciprocal use agreement with Spokane Public Library approved;
first Spokane Is Reading event.
|
| 2003 |
Spokane Public Library reciprocal use agreement takes effect; 2004-2006 Strategic
Plan adopted; Moran & Glenrose Prairie voters approve Library Capital Facility
Area formation and bonds for new library; Valley Library first floor reconfigured;
City of Liberty Lake terminates library services contract for 2004.
|
| 2004 |
SCLD awarded 5-year City of Spokane Valley library services contract in RFP process;
City of Spokane Valley library capital facilities plan developed; began installation
of self-checkout and self-holds pickup; initiated regular adult programming and
information literacy (computer) classes.
|
| 2005 |
City of Spokane Valley voters approve annexation to the District, effective January 1, 2006;
new Moran Prairie Library groundbreaking; website redesigned; Valley Library name changed
to Spokane Valley Library.
|
| 2006 |
New Moran Prairie library opens becoming first of District libraries to feature Wi-Fi;
voters approve a levy lid lift in September election; outreach services moved in library.
|
| 2007 |
Added 61 new hours, including Sundays for five libraries; launched downloadable audiobooks;
significant bandwidth increase; adopted Balanced Scorecard for future strategic planning;
introduced “Look Inside” tagline; purchased Conklin Rd. property (Valley)
|
| 2008 |
Greater Spokane Valley LCFA and bond election not approved; participated in first NEA’s
The Big Read (Maltese Falcon); redesigned library cards; Spangle annexed to District;
Medical Lake Library celebrates 25th anniversary; Deer Park celebrates 10th anniversary
in new building; Cheney celebrates 20th anniversary of new building; purchased Hastings
Rd. property (North).
|
| 2009 |
New services introduced - Tutor.com: provides Live Homework Help and career assistance;
TumbleBooks - animated talking picture books to help teach kids reading in a different format;
and Playaways - downloadable digital content designed for teens; work began on the 20-year
Library Facilities Master Plan.
|
| 2010 |
Maintenance and operations levy lid lift receives 55% voter approval; 2nd participation in
NEA’s The Big Read (To Kill a Mockingbird); Board approves the 20-year Library Facilities
Master Plan; new services introduced – eBooks: - electronic version of a printed book read
on a personal computer or hand-held device; Text a Librarian – customers text a question,
librarians text answers; and Library Thing - catalog personal collections, keep reading lists,
posting book reviews, and chatting with other users who have the same books.
|
