White Center Library and Boulevard Park Library were scheduled for replaced when a bond for the King County Library System (KCLS) was passed in 2004. Recently KCLS Director Bill Ptacek has said KCLS is considering the possibility of closing both of those libraries and building a new one in a central location.

Ptacek said this is only one of the ideas being looked at, and no decision will be made until a service area analysis can be done on the area.
Burien Council Kathy Keene told Ptacek during last nights Burien Council Meeting to tread very carefully when looking at consolidating the two libraries.

“My concern is while consolidation might be efficient it is not best for the community,” Keene said.
She said where the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries are now they are easily accessible by the community. People can walk, ride their bike, or take public transportation to them. She was afraid if those libraries are consolidated into one it will make it harder for a lot of residents to get to and use.

The possibility of the two libraries becoming one was first brought up when former King County Executive Kurt Triplett offered to sell Puget Sound Park to KCLS to build a regional library there.

This was met with strong opposition from the Burien City Council and City Manager, because the Park is within the part of North Highline being annexed by Burien on April 1 of this year. King County Executive said last month the Park will be among the land annexed into Burien.
Councilmember Jack Block told Ptacek at the Council Meeting since the discussion between the County and KCLS to buy Puget Sound Park without the City of Burien’s knowledge, or input, he has some trust issues with KCLS.
“We have too much to lose as a community to be an experiment,” Block said.

When Block asked Ptacek point blank if KCLS was prepared to honor their commitment to replace the two libraries Ptacek replied they were, but it was unclear at this time what form keeping the commitment is going to take.
“As conditions change the Library Board can make changes to their plan,” Ptacek said. He said the bond gives the KCLS Board the ability to change the plan for Libraries renovations and replacement.
Among other things, the KCLS Board will be looking at when “consolidation of services creates operation efficiencies,” and “assess the best configuration staff and resources to provide more programs to the community.”

At this point it is unknown when the fate of White Center Library and Boulevard Park Library will be known. Ptacek said Renton and Federal Way are first on the list for a service area analysis.

The possibility of the remaining un-annexed portion of North Highline becoming incorporated into Seattle would have an impact on the analysis of the Libraries. Burien City Council Member and KCLS Board of Trustee Member Lucy Krakowiak told the Burien City Council at an earlier meeting nothing would be decided until the question of whether Seattle will annex the northern part of North Highline is resolved.