King County Library System tells Bothell council library use is rising; new sorter, summer programs highlighted

Alice Darnton, regional manager for the King County Library System, and Katie Boyce, the Bothell librarian and information services manager, told the Bothell City Council on June 10, 2025, that visits and circulation at the Bothell Library have increased since the pandemic and the branch recently received a new automated materials handler to speed check-ins.

The update focused on usage, services and programs that serve families and residents. Darnton said the Bothell Library is open seven days a week and that use of library services is up across visits, checkouts and computer sessions. “We check out nearly half a million physical materials a year,” Darnton said. She described new conveniences at the branch, including outdoor holds lockers and the automated materials handler — “the machine is called an AMH … kind of like a book robot,” she said — that sorts returned items and reduces staff time spent reshelving.

The nut graf: the presentation underscored how the branch combines physical services (books, meeting rooms, study space) and digital resources (Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, Consumer Reports and temporary New York Times access codes) to support residents, including families, teens and adult learners. Staff emphasized programs from weekly story times that draw large crowds to summer reading events and partnerships with local schools.

Councilmembers asked practical questions about access and barriers. Darnton confirmed that KCLS eliminated overdue fines systemwide (exceptions remain for lost items) and described a reduced free printing allowance — currently 10 free pages per week — as an operational decision made by the library system’s board to reflect consumable costs. Boyce described outreach and programming partnerships with the Northshore School District and said summer reading launches and other events (a July 1 launch party with a DJ and family activities) are planned.

Council members also asked about building comparisons and circulation metrics. Darnton said Bothell ranks among the system’s top-circulating branches (alongside Bellevue, Redmond and Sammamish) and attributed high circulation in part to strong children’s programming and a large community of families. Staff said they will continue to provide updates and to coordinate with council on outreach and program planning.

Ending: Staff provided the council members with a handout and said they would return with additional data if council wanted more detail about space use, sponsorships or specific outreach partnerships.