MUKILTEO, Wash., December 15, 2023—In 1932, the first library in Mukilteo opened in a modest 400-square-foot space, established on the site of an old post office on second street. Now, 90 years later, the Mukilteo Library, built in 1998 on Harbour Pointe Boulevard, is celebrating its 25th year anniversary in its new location. Held on December 2, the library celebrated this milestone with a small gathering of community members, and a cake.
Behind the shelves and books lies a team of individuals dedicated to making the Mukilteo Library more than just a building full of books.
“No two days are ever the same,” said Danielle, a librarian, discussing the dynamic nature of running a library. “It’s more fun than I’ve ever imagined. You’re providing this welcoming space. That’s our focus. How can we make this the most welcoming space?”
Many librarians have built strong relationships within Mukilteo, with just a few being the children’s Librarian Lindsey, the teen Librarian Mellany, and the adult librarian Shannon, who have all worked with community partners to enhance library programs.
“The whole staff works together as a team. Everyone from a page, someone who shelves the books, to the library manager. The work we do supports each other. This library wouldn’t be this incredible place if not for the entire staff here,” Danielle shared.
Friends of the Library, a nonprofit and volunteer run organization, contributed substantially to the library’s program’s growth over the years. Their continued support allows the library to offer the large number of programs they currently have. The organization played a crucial role in their summer reading program, donating the prize of a ‘free book’ for children who read more than 10 hours.
“Developing literary skills at an early age, even as an infant coming into story time and listening to the singing, and the short books they read, helps foster that thirst for learning,” Danielle shared, referring to their youth programs. “Developing those skills sets them up for success later in life.”
According to the Child Mind Institute, reading to children at a young age before they can communicate verbally lays the “neurological groundwork for effective language use and literacy.”
“I was someone who grew up using the library,” Danielle said. “My first job was with the library. I can’t imagine doing anything else than being a part of a library. Because that quest for knowledge, that love for reading started so early. I hope we can foster that with our young community members.”
The library offers a wide variety of programs for the youth, from Family Storytime and Tails and Tales for young children, to Mukilteo Young Authors Club and Mukilteo Teen Book Group for teens.
“Morgan and Alisa do fantastic story times,” Danielle attested. “They brought in so many families that we had to make an additional story time.”
This year, there has been an influx of teens using the library after school, returning to what it used to look like pre-pandemic times. Danielle believes having a place to go after school, whether to study or be with friends, allows for healthy and emotional growth for teens.
“I don’t think people always know that their library is more than just books,” Danielle told the Lynnwood Times. “People come to sit at the puzzle table for hours and work on a puzzle. They don’t have to come into the library to read a book, there are other things we offer.”
The library is a safe place for everyone. If you need somewhere warm to be during a power outage, the library offers a place where you can curl up with a book beside one of their warm fireplaces. People can look for jobs on one of their computers. It’s a place to study after school, and a place where young children discover a love of reading.
“The library is so important because it’s so many things to so many people,” Danielle notes.
Connecting the community with resources and creating welcoming spaces is the primary goal of the Mukilteo Library. “It seems so small, but it really has a large impact,” Danielle said.
The librarians of Mukilteo plan to continue to look for ways to expand their services beyond the four walls, hoping to reach more community members. With Mukilteo tax dollars funding the library, Danielle encourages residents to provide suggestions on keeping the library delivering the topnotch services for generations to come.
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I anticipate doing this for at least another 20 more,” Danielle said. “They’ll have to drag me kicking and screaming from the library, because this is how I want to spend my days.”
Author: Emily Chu
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