It was the spring of 1898 when a small group of local women got together to bring forth the first library in Jefferson County. They generated the official agreement of the Port Townsend Library Association with the purpose of “the dissemination of useful knowledge with circulation and reference and the encouragement and fostering of any literary purpose whatever,” After fundraising, a second-floor room in the Central School (today the Port Townsend Community Center) was outfitted with shelves, furnishings and books and volunteers opened it each Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon. A year later, the library had almost 700 books and circulation was near 2,000 with just over 100 members, each providing a small membership fee. Business had increased to the point that it became time to hire the first paid librarian, Miss Laura Plummer, for $3 per month.
It was only 15 years later that a Library building was created. The Association had the land bought for $400 at Lawrence Street, the wooden sidewalk built by volunteers, the community and city support, and the general plans when they turned to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation for assistance. The self-made man had created a foundation to give his money away to what he deemed as worthwhile causes in the later part of his life and the primary focus of his philanthropy was the building of libraries. He looked for communities that were already helping themselves and willing to maintain continued support for a library building. After a few years of negotiations, construction was approved. Grand staircases were to be added to enter ‘the exalted hall of knowledge’ at what Carnegie called the Palaces for the People, where anyone can be a queen or a king when you have access to information and knowledge. In Port Townsend, the glowing wood floors were finished and polished to a high shine. The brick fireplaces at each end of the room were built, a world globe, book carts and finishing touches were applied in time for the grand opening held October 14, 1913. Around 2,000 Carnegie libraries were built all over the world under his patronage and specifications and our small group of fierce women were part off that.
As time passed, the Port Townsend Library continued to be stewarded by women. No man has ever been a library director in its 125 official years— different from the national pattern where males are usually at the position. Consistently since its inception, it has been well attended. According to the Washington State Library Statistics, in 2022 it had the highest circulation per capita in the state, not an unusual position but a wonderful indicator of how well used and beloved our library is. Today's collection has reached 45,000 physical items. One million digital reads and audiobooks are accessible through apps like Libby.
In a unique program, the Cooperative Libraries of the Eastern Olympics connects all public schools in Jefferson County to the PT and JC libraries ensuring students vast access to their catalog as soon as they enter school and get issued a library card. The community summer reading adds up to 10,000 hours read by adults, teens and kids every year. Unusual items like typewriters, dolls, camping gear and telescopes were added during the pandemic and became a popular and permanent addition to the books, DVDs and CDs.
Moving forward, Melody Sky Weaver, M.L.I.S and Library Director, plans to continue to focus on digital equity as well as making the library a climate resilience center with heat, air conditioning and air filtration to accommodate citizens in times of heat waves, bad air quality and snowstorms.
“We plan to continue to be a place that is welcoming and safe for everyone and to be at the forefront of digital equity with our navigator program,” explains Sky Weaver. “Once a week, anyone can come and learn how to have access to the Affordable Connectivity program, computer skills or any other digital navigation questions. The pandemic shined a light on the digital divide, and we want to make sure that everyone has a good quality approach to information. I think we are still in the age of overcoming an infodemic and we want to be a trusted source to help people get opposing views and make their own decision from all the information they get.”
