Dear Neighbor,
At NCW Libraries, we connect the people of North Central Washington to vital resources and opportunities that foster individual growth and strengthen communities.
Our region is rugged, remote, and resilient. In many places, access to technology, learning opportunities, and welcoming public spaces is limited. The library is one of the few trusted public resources available to everyone.
Behind every number in this report is a person – a student discovering a love of reading, a job seeker applying for work, or a family stretching their household budget.
Whether you need a book, internet access, technology assistance, educational resources, or simply a welcoming place, your library is here for you.
Thank you for being a part of NCW Libraries.
Barbara Walters
Executive Director, NCW Libraries
Board of Trustees
Denise Sorom
Chelan County
Jim Mitchell
Chelan County
Nancy Spurgeon
Douglas County
Melva Calloway
Grant County
Kathleen Allstot
Grant County
Sallie Stetson
Okanogan County
Nancy Churchill
Ferry County
Staff
NCW Libraries employs over 200 staff members across North Central Washington. Our staff live and work in the communities NCW Libraries serves, ensuring that our library services are tailored and relevant in each location.
Strengthening Communities Across NCW
Stretching Household Budgets
At the Republic Library in Ferry County, folks stop by for books, movies, programs, and a welcoming place to connect. Now, they can also come for a meal.
Through a partnership with Feeding Ferry County, the library offers free meal kits and snacks during open hours – no questions asked. For many families, meal kits ease pressure at the end of the month while library technology and resources, like free Wi-Fi and printing, extends that support even further.
Our libraries offer consistent, reliable support to rural communities. Patrons can stop in and use our resources to apply for jobs, connect online, read the news, and stay to browse the shelves and enjoy activities with their families.
“We love the library! Library love means meeting new friends, coloring pretty pictures, checking out books and comics, playing with Legos, seeing the fish grow, using the computer lab and accessing the resources with our library card.”
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
One of the Community Bookmobile’s regular stops is the Wenatchee Rescue Mission, where patrons like Susie can return books, browse, borrow new ones, and connect with staff.
On one visit, Susie shared she was having a difficult day. What she needed most wasn’t a book, it was a person to listen. She needed a quiet conversation and a moment of care. Susie left that day with a tangible reminder that she matters, she belongs.
Moments like this happen across NCW Libraries every day.
“Bringing the library to places like the Wenatchee Rescue Mission meets people where they are and fosters a sense of belonging, proving the library is about more than books —it’s about community.”
By the Numbers
Your Library Impact
Learning & Literacy
- 57,630 people attended 3,941 programs including Storytime, book clubs, ukulele lessons, nature walks, writer’s groups, needle felting, citizenship classes, and more.
- 6,909 people participated in the Summer Library Program building reading habits and keeping kids learning and engaged on summer break.
Connection & Technology
- People used library computers 136,737 times to apply for jobs, pay bills, access benefits, complete schoolwork, and stay connected with family and friends.
- Free Wi-Fi was accessed 748,504 times in and around our libraries.
- Online learning and research databases were accessed 84,360 times for homework help, language learning, continued education.
Reading & Discovery
- Patrons saved over 17 million dollars by borrowing 1,220,308 books, eBooks, audiobooks, and movies.
- Mail Order Library sent 37,216 items directly to homes connecting the library with residents unable to visit in person.
Connection & Belonging
- NCW residents walked through our doors 660,437 times.
- 10 meeting rooms and 4 teleservice rooms supported private conversation with caseworkers, job interviews, telehealth appointments, group meetings, workshops, and more.
- 52,123 folks actively used their NCW Libraries card, their key to a world of resources and possibility.
Funding Your Library
NCW Libraries is funded primarily through local property taxes, with 95 cents of every dollar coming directly from the communities we serve. In 2025, our General Fund operating budget was $16.8 million.
Like many households and organizations, NCW Libraries faced rising costs in 2025, including increased insurance, materials, and operational expenses. At the same time, Washington State Law significantly limits property tax revenue growth for public agencies.
In 2025, the property tax revenue budget increased by about $346,000 while operating costs rose by approximately $552,000, a gap of more than $200,000.
Despite these challenges, NCW Libraries remains committed to protecting the services our communities rely on most, including collections, programs, technology access, and welcoming spaces.
| REVENUE | |
|---|---|
| Property taxes | $15,961,550 |
| Charges for Services | $458,565 |
| Intergovernmental Revenue | $210,000 |
| Fines | $18,000 |
| Misc. Revenue | $146,000 |
| Total | $16,794,115 |
| EXPENSES | |
|---|---|
| Personnel Costs | $11,354,719 |
| Public Services | $3,588,675 |
| Facilities | $960,529 |
| Reserve Fund Transfers | $369,503 |
| Organization of Materials | $241,883 |
| Admin | $137,500 |
| Training | $100,520 |
| Total | $16,753,329 |
NCW Libraries manages its budget to be good stewards of public investment, making sure that budgeted expenditures do not exceed revenues.
Thank You!
Libraries belong to all of us.
They are places to learn, connect, find support, and feel welcome.
Thank you for being a part of NCW Libraries.
English