King County Library System Foundation

Programs: Launched in 2016 as a pilot, idea x allows patrons of all ages to play, learn, and imagine via steam programs inside and outside the library reaching families throughout the service area. Initially designed with materials and curriculum that could be transported to remote locations such as day camps and apartment complexes, the king county library system foundation made it possible for king county library system to bring idea x in to at least one library per region. Funding in 2016 also supported the build out of the idea x makerspace which opened in april, 2017 at the bellevue regional library.

king county library system summer reading program provides incentives for children, teens, and adults to take time to read in the summer months. Nearly 50,000 children, teens, and adults participated and reported a total of 21. 6 million minutes of reading from june to august. As part of this program, transportation was provided for summer school students to library programs.

early learning and literacy programs include raising a reader, fiestas! , barbershop books, and quick reads shelves. All of these efforts promote caregiver-child bonding through reading activities, regular library usage through education and promotion of library services, and the development of early literacy skills.

genealogy pilot program - "know your history". Eighty-eight programs were held in the series in all kcls regions, and 1,469 patrons attended. In addition to new programs, we also highlighted existing partnerships with local genealogical societies in conjunction with the series. The intended outcome of the series was to strengthen partnerships with local history/genealogy organizations, increase awareness of library resources (including new technology), and appeal to a segment of library users who consistently express an interest in this type of programming. Spanish literacy programs includes tres reyes (three wise men), dia, fiestas! , national hispanic heritage month, plaza comunitaria, and family book club. In total, these programs engaged more than 2,200 participants and community partners such as univision news, seattle latino film festival, renton technical college, and the seattle goodwill. Also included in this grant is the kcls foundation's support of literacy for citizenship which funds the materials for the program.