Say yes to brand new Stanwood library

Libraries are one of the few investments that can be counted on to consistently provide a rich return to communities. In September voters on Camano Island, Stanwood and Warm Beach will have an opportunity to create a funding district and simultaneously approve a bond measure to build a new library.

As a former trustee to the Sno-Isle Regional Library System, I can say that Sno-Isle is an excellent steward of public money. Sno-Isle Regional Library System has the remarkable record of passing an independent audit of its books for more than 19 years. If only every public agency handled our tax dollars so responsibly.

The new library site will help anchor the businesses in downtown Stanwood, if the trend of sustained doubling of foot traffic into the newly built Snohomish and Monroe libraries is any indication. Currently, the little Stanwood library has approximately 11,000 patrons per month passing through its doors. A doubling will be a boom to business in downtown Stanwood area.

Tacking on new rooms and floors to the current library is an inadequate solution. The current structure simply doesn’t meet and will not meet the needs of the approximately 40,000-plus patrons it now serves.

The new library design was carefully chosen to provide for growth and needs of surrounding communities for the next 20 years. The new library will have reading and meeting rooms, an adequate reference center, children’s area, technology center and more. Plus the poor librarians will finally get the needed office space to plan new and meaningful activities.

The fact that you are able to vote for this library project is a direct result of the dedication and efforts of our friends, neighbors and Sno-Isle library staff. Their long hours working on our behalf have made this project a long overdue reality.

Invest in yourself and the community by voting yes for a new Stanwood library.

Denise M. Du Pont

Former Sno-Isle Regional Library

Board Trustee

Stanwood