King County Library System to add Sunday hours at Mercer Island; branch reports high local engagement and new children's librarian hire

King County Library System staff told the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission on June 5 that the Mercer Island branch will add Sunday hours this fall, that local usage metrics rose from 2023 to 2024, and that the branch is adding a full‑time children’s librarian to expand outreach to schools and programming.

“KCLS is adding Sunday hours at Mercer Island, this fall,” Brian Candelori, regional manager for the Mercer Island Library, said at the meeting. Candelori said the rollout is already underway and a formal announcement to the city will follow when details are finalized.

John Scheller, KCLS government relations manager, presented financial and usage data the commission requested. He said he could verify the system-reported revenue figure the commission had and provided an estimated retail value for borrowed materials used in the system’s accounting snapshot. Scheller also said Mercer Island cardholders travel to other KCLS branches: “All of the libraries that were visited… these are physical visits,” he said, referring to 2024 circulation data showing Mercer Island cardholders checked items out at other branches.

On library service quality, Scheller reported that while systemwide net promoter scores were in the 80s in 2024, the Mercer Island responses isolated from that survey returned a 100% score: “Isolating Mercer Island, it was actually a 100%,” he said.

Branch staff outlined local programming and staffing changes. Candelori said the branch recently increased children’s services capacity by converting a part‑time role to a full‑time children’s librarian; the hire is completing onboarding and will strengthen school visits and curriculum connections. The branch’s summer reading program has been retooled to emphasize access and excitement for readers of all ages: staff described a book‑bingo format and welcome kits available at summer kickoff events.

Candelori and Scheller also described ongoing services: Mandarin story times, teen programs (including an expanded tech-support and maker offering), cooking and local book clubs, and new events aimed at older adults such as aging-in-place planning sessions. They thanked the Mercer Island Friends of the Library for fundraising and delivery support.

Commissioners asked about the balance between physical and digital collections. Scheller said KCLS continues to buy physical books but that digital collections are leased under publisher terms that limit the number of digital checkouts before materials must be renewed or leave the collection; he encouraged raising such issues during the KCLS 2026 budget process. He also explained the reciprocal relationship with Seattle Public Library: patrons may obtain a Seattle key card but KCLS systems and Seattle’s are not fully linked, so Seattle items returned at Mercer Island require physical transfer and are not tracked in the local KCLS account.

KCLS provided the commission with two data sheets comparing 2023 and 2024 usage and said that, locally, both in‑person visits and digital checkouts increased year over year. Staff offered to share contact information and follow up on specific data requests.