City proposal would wind down Lake Stevens Library Board; board and residents urged to comment

The Lake Stevens Library Board on Oct. 16 was notified of a city proposal to wind down the local board once the new, independently owned Lake Stevens Library opens, with final approval left to the Lake Stevens City Council and the mayor. "This has not been officially approved by the city," Chair Abe Martinez said, adding that "it is up to the city council and the mayor to vote on this." The board did not vote on the proposal.

Board members were told the proposal frames the change as a response to the new building nearing completion and a shift of duties from a city-appointed advisory board into regular library operations and city oversight. The document circulated to board members recommends that the city council "approve the proposal to wind down the Lake Stevens Library Board effective upon the opening of the new library building in 2026," according to material read into the record.

Why it matters: The change would remove a locally appointed, city-managed board that has advised the library and served as a community accountability mechanism. Several board members and residents said they worry about losing a direct local voice about services and collections.

At the meeting, board member Joanne Van Leuven criticized the local collection and the recent community-read choice, saying the materials often do not reflect local families' preferences and that she sometimes leaves the library without a book for her grandchild. "I don't feel as though that Sno Isle really wants to represent our community," Van Leuven said. She and other speakers were advised that collection decisions are governed by Sno Isle Libraries' system-wide collection development policy and that residents can request specific items through Sno Isle's forms and librarians.

Eric Howard, executive director of Sno Isle Libraries, told the board that collection policy and purchases are the responsibility of Sno Isle trustees and staff, explained how residents may request purchases or interlibrary loans, and invited board members to participate in Sno Isle's strategic planning process beginning in 2026. "Our main goal is to make sure that you have the books that you want," Howard said.

The board discussion made clear that the Lake Stevens Library Board is not the decision-maker on the proposal; the city council must enact any ordinance to change city code. Caitlin Weaver, deputy city clerk, confirmed there was not yet a public council date set and that the change would proceed through ordinance and public notice.

Public next steps and how to comment: Board members and residents were told to address questions or make their views known to the Lake Stevens City Council and mayor. Sno Isle staff also pointed patrons to a collection comment form on the Sno Isle Libraries website that routes requests to collection development staff.

Outcome: The board took no formal action to approve or reject the proposal at the meeting. The proposal remains a city-level recommendation pending a council ordinance and mayoral action.