Sultan Library manager drops branch knowledge on council

The Sultan City Council voted to disband the city's library board last month, based on consensus by the board and a request made by Sultan Library branch manager Jackie Personeus.

Several reasons were noted to support the dissolution, including lack of decision-making authority and challenges with board member recruitment. The agenda item coincided with Personeus' annual state-of-the-library address, which included special honors given to the board for its service.

The presentation took place during the council meeting on Thursday, April 28, and included recognition for each board member as they were presented with Certificates of Appreciation signed by Mayor Carolyn Eslick.-á

The Sultan Library is a part of the Sno-Isle Libraries system, a two-county library system that includes Snohomish and Island Counties. The system serves more 700,000 customers through its brick-and-mortar libraries, the Sno-Isle bookmobile, outreach vans and online services.-á -á

Personeus gave councilmembers a historical overview of the Sultan Library, which was founded in 1910 by a local group called the Women's Improvement Club (WIC). The library project was spearheaded by Sultan pioneer Muriel Bayspoole, who was committed to promoting literacy and extremely active in the WIC.

"She exhibited such courage and strength. She was a widow, she had a farm and made a life for herself and her children. She also took in school teachers and she worked tirelessly with the Women's Improvement Club,GÇ¥ Personeus said. "That was our early group of ladies that worked for literacy in our city.GÇ¥

The Sultan Library was the first in east Snohomish County.

It was re-dedicated in 1973 as the "Sultan Muriel Bayspoole Library,GÇ¥ in honor of Bayspoole and her contribution to the community. That was the year the library moved from a corner inside Sultan's town hall to its own standalone facility, Personeus said. It's also when the Sultan Library joined the Sno-Isle Libraries system.

"Who we have to thank for that, in large part, is Mary Lou McCarty,GÇ¥ Personeus said. "She was one of the first people that really reached out to Sno-Isle to explore how Sultan could become a Sno-Isle Library.GÇ¥

Initially from Seattle, McCarty was an educator who moved to Sultan to teach home economics. She served the community as a bluebird and campfire leader, and was the director at a day camp in Monroe. McCarty served as the librarian at the Sultan Library until her retirement in 1989. Sadly, said Personeus, McCarty passed away on March 4.

"Mary Lou leaves a tremendous legacy of so many lives that she has touched, so many young readers that loved her,GÇ¥ Personeus said.

It was McCarty's retirement in 1989 that paved the way for Personeus' arrival at the Sultan Library.

In 2015, Personeus celebrated 30 years with Sno-Isle Libraries, 26 of which have been in Sultan. She began as an entry-level page at the Edmonds Library in 1985, and promoted to public services assistant about a year later. She took on a similar role at the Mill Creek Library before accepting a supervisory position at the Snohomish Library in 1989. Later that year, when the Sultan branch manager position opened up, Personeus was selected for the job.

The Sultan Library is a busy place, Personeus said. The library checked out more than 100,000 items in 2015 and had 82,000 visits, which were tracked by door-counter equipment. The Sultan Library is guided by Sno-Isle's strategic plan, which is meant to help structure and inform library services and programming. The library has three main areas of focus, including workforce readiness, information and communication technologies and early literacy.

Over the years, the world of information services has gone through significant changes, she said, and she's watched Sno-Isle Libraries grow and adapt to accommodate those changes. With the advent of technology and internet-based services, the library has not only had to embrace technological advances; it's had to become expert in them.

The library offers numerous classes and opportunities for its customers to become more tech-savvy, said Personeus, including an Internet for Beginners class and instruction on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Through the library's Book-a-Librarian services, customers can sign up for a one-on-one session with a librarian to receive help in using library databases, browsing the library catalog, downloading e-books and more. Internet newbies can learn how to set up their own email accounts, how to browse the internet and how to search and apply for jobs online.

Job-seekers can take things a step further at the library's free drop-in job clinic, held 2-4 p.m. every Wednesday with WorkSource employment specialist Christina Sivewright. Sivewright can help customers craft their resumes, search for jobs and give career advice.

In addition to its adult opportunities, there are numerous library programs that cater to kids, including preschool story time and Lego Club. The recent Tween STEAM Club offersinteractive ways for youth to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM), featuring activities related to chemistry, physics, electricity, magnetism and dry ice. The library is currently gearing up for its summer youth programming, including the Seattle Bug Safari, Give a Hoot About Owls, Tween Gaming, Lego Robotics, Nail Art for Teens and Wilderness Survival Essentials.

Youth programs are a priority for Sno-Isle libraries. In 2015, the Sultan Library offered 96 programs and had 3,000 attendees.

"Whether you are a job-seeker, a student or just a lifelong learner, Sno-Isle has something for you,GÇ¥ Personeus said.

In addition to the Sultan Library Board and a robust group of volunteers, the library is supported by the Friends of the Sultan Library, a grassroots volunteer organization that raises money to support and enhance library programming. A positive side effect of dissolving the board is that board members can dedicate their efforts to supporting Friends, Personeus said.-á -á

"Our board can continue to participate and give us feedback at our Friends of the Library meetings and their time that might have been spent at a board meeting can be funneled into the Friends' fundraising activities,GÇ¥ Personeus said.-á

Last year, Friends of the Sultan Library contributed more than 700 hours of volunteer time, participating in community events and organizing book and bake sales. They are currently preparing for their spring book and bake sale, which takes place on Saturday, May 21, at Sultan City Hall, directly across from the library. Books from all genres will be available during the sale, and book donations are welcome.

Personeus shared an excerpt from library board meeting minutes during its first meeting in 1973, in which it issued itself the directive: "Do what is required.GÇ¥

"And that's what our board and our Friends and our volunteers do,GÇ¥ Personeus said.

She thanked the board for its service.

"They've been obviously dedicated library supporters,GÇ¥ Personeus said. "They're ambassadors for the library out in this beautiful community.GÇ¥

For more information about the Sultan Library and to stay up to day with upcoming summer programs, visit the Facebook page-á.