Engage. Valley View Library 2009 Community Study
Turn to us. The choices will surprise you. CONTENTS
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW Executive Summary ...... 1 History of the Valley View Library Service Area ...... 2 History of the Valley View Library ...... 4 The Valley View Library Service Area Today ...... 5 Geography ...... 5 Demographics ...... 5 Transportation ...... 6 Housing ...... 6 Business, Employment ...... 7 Community Organizations ...... 8 Parks & Recreation ...... 9 Education, Schools & Children ...... 10 The Valley View Library Today & Tomorrow ...... 10 Community Partnerships ...... 10 Current and Future Services for Children ...... 11 Current and Future Services for Teens ...... 13 Current and Future Services for Adults ...... 14 Patron Feedback & Survey Results ...... 15
COMMUNITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 16
BOARD PRESENTATION SLIDES
MAPS • Census Tracts with Schools • Aerial Overview
APPENDICES • Demographic Summary • Population Trends & Growth • School Statistics & Test Scores • Race in Service Area • Age in Service Area • Languages Spoken at Home • Occupational Profile • Home Values in Service Area • Childcare Information • Survey Response Summary • Sources COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The greater SeaTac area is defined by the Highline Ridge, which separates the valley of the Duwamish and other rivers on the east from Puget Sound on the west. Like most of Puget Sound’s eastern ridges, Highline owes its elevation to the clay, sand and gravel left behind by glaciers at the end of the last ice age.
The human history of the area begins with the Muckleshoot and Duwamish Indians who came to the area to camp, hunt and gather food. The first white settlers arrived in the mid-1850s, but settlement of the area increased significantly after Military Road was built in 1860.
In 1928, Pacific Highway South cut its way through the area now known as the City of SeaTac. In addition to increasing access to the area, businesses sprang up to accommodate travelers. In the early 1940s, the population boomed due to the influx of jobs related to the defense industry. The airport also contributed to further growth in the area.
Today, the area's business remains focused on transportation and hospitality. The airport continues to play a major role in the development of the community. The City of SeaTac strives to unite neighborhoods, match human services to needs, and balance business growth with the need to maintain livable neighborhoods.
The area’s residents are becoming increasingly diverse ethnically and have education levels, incomes and home values considerably below the King County average. The City's Comprehensive Plan notes human services needs in the areas of drug and alcohol abuse, family conflict, health care, childcare, mental health and job training.
Although the population has not increased significantly during the past decade, prevailing opinion is that there is great turnover in the population with new families and individuals constantly replacing previous temporary residents.
This is a community proud of its history and its accomplishments. About 13 years ago, the City and the Valley View Library completed the SeaTac Oral History Project. From this came the video "SeaTac Chronicle: Voices from A City."
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HISTORY OF THE VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY SERVICE AREA
Throughout most of the 19th century, the SeaTac area was densely populated with trees. Duwamish Indians camped in the area during the summers to harvest fish from Angle Lake, as well as game, berries and other edible plants which grew naturally. In 1990, a canoe was discovered at the bottom of this lake and both the Duwamish and Muckleshoot tribes claimed it, asserting their people as indigenous to the area.
Military Road, which winds across the ridge overlooking Kent Valley and brushes the east side of Angle Lake, was the first major road in the area. It was built to facilitate travel between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham for soldiers fighting in what is termed "The Indian Wars." Completed in 1860, the road was the first to connect Seattle to Tacoma and literally paved the way for settlers to come to the area.
In 1871, Mike Kelly, a Seattle pioneer and explorer, came to the area looking for inexpensive farmland to homestead. He filed a claim for 160 acres in the area now called Sunnydale and soon built a road connecting his new home and that of his in-laws. Kelly Road was expanded by later settlers, until it eventually reached Des Moines. In 1916, this road was paved with bricks and given the name Des Moines Way Highway, which now defines the western border of the City of SeaTac. In 1922, the road was renamed Des Moines Way Memorial Drive and 1,800 elm trees were planted along the road to commemorate Washington State's World War I dead.
By the early 1900s, many settlers had joined Mike Kelly and his in-laws and the town of Riverton (now a neighborhood in SeaTac) emerged. The land was still inexpensive and people farmed produce and dairy products, many of which were sold at the Pike Place Market.
In 1928, Pacific Highway South cut its way through the area. In addition to increasing access to the area, the highway provided a new source of revenue for the area. Gas stations, hotels, restaurants and taverns were built to accommodate people passing through.
As roads developed, the area became increasingly accessible to residents of Seattle, who built summer homes around Angle Lake. The Reeplog family, who lived at Angle Lake, took advantage of the growing interest in the lake's beauty and built a resort that featured a dance hall and a swimming area. The resort, called "The Angle Lake Plunge," finally burned down in 1957. Very soon afterwards, King County acquired the land and turned it into a public park. Angle Lake Park remains popular for SeaTac residents today.
Population in the area tripled in the 1940s due to the influx of jobs related to the defense industry, particularly at Boeing. In the early 1940s, Seattle recognized the need for a major
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airport in addition to Boeing Field, and soon after, the Port Commission voted to build and operate an airport serving the greater Puget Sound area. The airport underwent a major expansion and transformation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The airport has been the largest contributor to the growth of population in SeaTac. In addition to creating jobs directly related to the airport and airlines, the industry has created additional need for hotels, convention facilities, restaurants, bus shuttles and other transportation companies, and places of entertainment, including — to the dismay of many residents — adult entertainment.
This part of the Interstate 5 freeway also made national headlines in the 1980s as the hunting ground of the Green River Killer, who prowled the area in search of some 48 female victims.
In 1989, residents who once depended on King County for services, decided they were ready to have local control of their government and services, and voted for incorporation. The new city scored early successes through tougher policing, public works and clever public relations. By patrolling and landscaping Highway 99 and changing its name within the city limits to “International Boulevard,” the amount of prostitution and related crimes thus fell dramatically. The City of SeaTac, and the airport it surrounds, is now the terminus for the entire Northwest.
In the mid-1990s, to help foster a sense of community and an understanding of the history of the city and its neighborhoods, the Valley View Library and the City of SeaTac worked together for three years on the SeaTac Oral History Project. That project culminated in the release of a video titled "SeaTac Chronicle: Voices From a City."
By 1995, Highline Times editor Rob Smith noted, “Burien, Des Moines and Federal Way were all a little envious of SeaTac’s wealth.” As Mayor Brennan then put it, “SeaTac can be described as very much a blue collar community with a champagne budget.” SeaTac refused to join its neighbors in opposing the third runway, which was approved in 1996 (and completed in 2008) as the only viable alternative to meet the region’s projected aviation needs. Even now, according to an October 2009 report, “ SeaTac Leads the State for Growth in Retail Sales,” with growth of nearly 20% during the past five years (Washington State Retail Survey).
In 2003, the City of SeaTac could count many civic, social and economic assets. It moved its city hall into a former business building at 4800 South 188th Street and displayed artworks there from its growing permanent collection. The city has also joined with the Highline Historical Society to maintain museum exhibits in the District Court lobby.
Today, the City of SeaTac is a comparatively newly defined area incorporating neighborhoods which have existed for many decades: McMicken, Bow Lake, Angle Lake and Riverton. The city
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limits embrace 10.5-square-miles, including the airport and more than 25,000 residents. The community swells with more than 80,000 workers and travelers on an average weekday.
Every year SeaTac is home to several parades, festivals and fairs including the three-day annual International Festival at Angle Lake Park in June. The festival reflects the fact that the percentage of foreign-born residents living in SeaTac is near the top for King County.
Today, the third runway is complete and functioning, the Green River killer has been caught and convicted, and Sound Transit’s new light rail system, running all the way from downtown Seattle to Tukwila, nearly connecting the airport, as it is projected to do by the end of 2009. It just may be true, as the City of Seatac’s new brand puts it, that “Everything’s Possible.”
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY
The Valley View Library, which opened on May 22, 1982, is the result of concern and commitment on the part of local residents. The 6,400-square-foot library replaced two smaller branches (McMicken and Valley Ridge) that were strongly supported for years by two dedicated citizens’ groups: the McMicken Friends of the Library and the Valley Ridge Library Guild.
The 261-square-foot McMicken Library opened its doors for the first time on December 11, 1954 at 3730 South 166th. By 1960 the library had need for space and soon found a 600- square-foot location in the newly-constructed McMicken Community Club. By that time, the library contained 8,000 volumes and circulated 38,605 items during the year. In 1966, McMicken got more space and 4,000 more books by taking over a large room on the west side of the Community Club known as ''the kindergarten." For the next 12 years, McMicken Library operated smoothly, but in cramped quarters.
The Valley Ridge Library at 4646 South 188th came into existence on November 28, 1960. The first building was located at the present site of Tyee High School and in 1963, it was necessary to move the library one block east to property leased from the King County Parks Department. After many fundraising events held by the Valley Ridge Library Guild, the remodeled library opened on March 18, 1963. Even at 950 square feet, Valley Ridge Library soon was crowded.
Scores of local residents became involved with the Valley Ridge Library Guild over the years, lending their constant support to maintain and improve the building, as did their counterparts in the McMicken Friends of the Library.
KCLS staff eventually recommended that the two libraries be combined into one facility that would serve both neighborhoods. In October 1973, KCLS spent $12,500 to purchase a lot at
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the corner of 179th South and Military Road. Passage of a 1980 levy lid lift provided funding for a new library located on top of a hill in the McMicken Heights neighborhood.
Since the Valley View library opened in 1982, it has become a community center featuring a collection of books, media and public computers, as well as a meeting room that hosts regular preschool Story Times, programs for all ages and meetings for community groups. The Valley View Library is an active hub of educational and recreational learning for residents in SeaTac.
There are quite a few barriers getting to the library, including having to cross Interstate 5 for residents on the east side of the city, inadequate bus service, the steep hill between the Southcenter Mall and the library, and Military Road not having consistent sidewalk coverage. In recent years, the library has also survived a flood throughout the building, major construction projects on adjoining Military Road and economic difficulties for the community.
THE VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY SERVICE AREA TODAY
GEOGRAPHY
The City of SeaTac is located in south King County midway between Seattle and Tacoma. It covers 10 square miles that includes the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. SeaTac is bordered by Burien to the west, Boulevard Park (unincorporated King County) to the north, Des Moines to the south, and Tukwila and Kent to the east. Elevation ranges between 25 and 155 meters mean sea level (MSL). Significant topographic features are the hills at McMicken Heights and Riverton Heights which form a steep slope down to the Green River Valley.
There are two significant creeks in the city: Des Moines Creek and Miller Creek is in the north. There are also quite a few lakes in the city: Angle Lake, Bow Lake, Lake Reba, Lora Lake and Tub Lake.
DEMOGRAPHICS
The City of SeaTac has a population of 26,155 (2008). The library’s estimated service area encompasses seven census tracts with a population of 31,054 (2008).
The racial and ethnic breakdown of the service area is as follows: White (54.9%), Asian (16.2%), Hispanic (17.2%), African American (10.4%).
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Statistics for the Valley View service area show that nearly a quarter (24%) of the residents are originally from another country. In addition, the 2000 census recorded that almost 30% of the residents speak a language other than English. More about area demographics can be found in the appendices at the end of this report.
TRANSPORTATION
The main arterials in the area are Des Moines Memorial Drive to the west, Highway 518 running east to west, International Boulevard (Highway 99) running north to south, Interstate 5 to the east and Military Road where the library is located.
Walkways are located on parts of International Boulevard, South 188th Street, South 200th Street, small sections of Military Road South and a few other streets. Walkways are sparse and intermittent, although the City is planning many improvements including building and connecting sidewalks, particularly along International Boulevard. Very few bicycle paths exist.
The area is served by very few buses. Metro recently discontinued or cut back some of the most crucial routes that affect service to the library, stating that the changes are part of a major revision of bus routes in southeast Seattle and southwest King County to connect with light rail service, avoid duplication of transit services and improve bus service in these areas.
The City of SeaTac has identified traffic congestion as a major issue and is in the process of assessing transportation needs and improving facilities throughout the city. Major improvements to International Boulevard have enhanced safety, traffic flow, pedestrian accessibility and the overall image of the Boulevard. Many other transportation improvements are scheduled as part of the City of SeaTac’s six-year Capital Improvement Plan, as well as through commute trip reduction programs and careful review of new development projects.
Several significant road construction projects are forecast for the SeaTac area, including the State Route 509 extension, an Airport South Access thoroughfare and the 28th/24th arterial project. Also, as a result of the multi-county regional transit measure approved in November 1996, a high capacity transit light rail station opened in July 2009. The light rail route currently runs from Tukwila (International Boulevard) to Westlake (downtown Seattle). The route will be extended to SeaTac Airport in late 2009.
HOUSING
Housing in SeaTac includes a variety of household types and sizes, including a range of single family houses, town homes and apartments. Much of SeaTac’s housing stock offers three or four rooms, and almost 20% have five or more rooms.
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SeaTac is made up of several smaller communities or neighborhoods: Angle Lake, Maywood, McMicken Heights, Riverton Heights, Madrona, Mansion Hill, River Ridge, Grandview, Airport Area, West Airport Area and Northwest SeaTac.
The median value of housing reveals that housing is significantly more affordable in SeaTac than in King County. The median price for a single-family home in SeaTac is $284,975 (Redfin, June 2009) versus King County’s median price of $375,000 (Seattle Times, June 2009). Rental units are also more affordable in SeaTac than in many other areas of King County. The relative difference between rents in the City of SeaTac and the County has remained constant (Windermere Property Management, June 2009).
The City of SeaTac Code Enforcement staff has developed a new Neighborhood Grant Program, which will provide resident groups with matching funds for neighborhood improvement projects. The program is intended to encourage neighborhoods to work together towards a common goal. Some examples of potential grant programs include identifying signage for neighborhood entry points, curbside garbage clean-up day and landscaping of traffic islands. The program should result in more attractive neighborhoods and a reduction of crime.
BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT
The City of SeaTac is home to many businesses and industries. The city has more than 900 licensed businesses, government agencies or non-profit groups, of which 80 are “Fortune 1000” companies. The businesses employ 40,000 employees and generate $4.2 billion.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, run by the Port of Seattle, lies completely within the City's borders. Amongst Washington’s cities, SeaTac has the second largest concentration of hotel and motel rooms. The main industries in the city are passenger airlines, air cargo, food service, car rentals and commercial parking. Many of the services are for airport travelers rather than residents. More than 100,000 people work in or travel through the city daily.
The area’s primary employers include: SeaTac International Airport, HMS Host (a provider of food, beverage and retail at the airport), Doubletree, Marriot and Hilton hotels, Lynden Trucking, ABM Janitorial Services, Safeway, Cenveo Commercial Printing and LSG Sky Chefs. In addition, Alaska, Horizon, Southwest, Transgroup, AirServ and US Airways passenger and freight airlines are significant employers. SeaTac also hosts a Federal Detention Center. More people are employed in SeaTac’s city limits than live there.
The 2000 US Census counts 13,522 or 67% residents of SeaTac in the labor force. The number of employees working in SeaTac is forecast to increase 35% by 2020. Employment in 2000
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was estimated at 31,800. By 2020 employment is expected to reach 42,800. While SeaTac expects to see some diversification, including expanded retail, jobs will continue to be weighted heavily toward the airline transportation industry and related services.
A SeaTac Economic Partnership (STEP) was been established between the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Seattle and the City of SeaTac to implement SeaTac’s economic development goals.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Youth Service Agencies
Soccer, basketball and baseball are popular recreational sports in the library service area. Leagues for these sports are operated by private associations. The city's Art and Parks Commission sponsor several children's summer concerts at Angle Lake, in addition to a youth art exhibit and other youth programs.
The North SeaTac Park Community Center is a site for a variety of classes and recreational play. Activities at the center include fitness and dance classes for children, music and art classes, Nintendo tournaments, plus open gym time for basketball.
The nearby Auburn Youth Resources (AYR) provides outreach to youth, a youth shelter and services for homeless youth. In response to problems facing children and families (i.e. divorce, alcohol and drug addiction, child abuse and neglect), AYR provides an emergency shelter for youth 10-17, plus two residential facilities for teens ages 18-22. AYR provides outreach services and community referral services to runaway and homeless youth along International Boulevard and near the airport. The program provides assistance and referrals in an effort to transition homeless young people off of the streets and into safe and stable housing.
Social Services
The City of SeaTac Comprehensive Plan refers to a Human Services Needs Assessment completed in 1990 (updated in 2008) that outlined human services issues in the area. The Needs Assessment revealed that the most serious problems in south King County include abuse, family conflict, health care, childcare, housing, mental health, job training and access to transportation and information/referral to appropriate services. Many residents think the city should be involved in human services and report having used a range of services, including medical care for the uninsured, job training and elderly services.
Community leaders in SeaTac point to drug and alcohol abuse, lack of activities for youth and dysfunctional families among the critical problems facing the city. While service providers exist,
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many people are unable to get the help they need due to long waiting lists, dwindling resources, lack of publicity about services and poor coordination among service providers.
The City of SeaTac has a Human Services Coordinator and a Human Services Commission. As part of this program, the city contracts with local non-profit agencies to provide services to SeaTac citizens. The city also employs a Senior Services Coordinator and a Domestic Violence Advocate, who works specifically on domestic abuse cases. Additionally, the city commits funds to help support Domestic Abuse Women's Network (DAWN).
City Commission City Commissioners work and confer with members of seven Advisory Boards and Commissions, including a Library Advisory Committee.
PARKS & RECREATION
The City of SeaTac has a Parks and Recreation department that oversees the North SeaTac Park Community Center and the parks’ capital improvements. The community center and the parks in SeaTac provide many recreational opportunities.
Angle Lake Park offers summer-time swimming and year-round views. During the summer, the "Music in the Park" concert series is attended by both local residents and visitors to the area. An amphitheater and other improvements are scheduled for Angle Lake Park.
Valley Ridge Park located adjacent to the Tyee Educational Complex on 188th Street, contains tennis courts, soccer and softball fields. There is also a small community center with restrooms, a kitchen and a meeting room. The fields and courts are used by students of Tyee Educational Complex during school days and by league sports teams at other times.
North SeaTac Park contains 165 acres north of the airport that was previously occupied by houses. The Port of Seattle purchased this area in the 1980s as part of their noise mitigation program. This park offers playfields, trails, ballfields and playground equipment, as well as the SeaTac Community Center, Sunset Playfield, an equestrian area and a BMX facility. The SeaTac Community Center offers a full range of activities for youth, adults and seniors, as well as a gymnasium, weight room, showers, game room and meeting rooms. An activities guide is published quarterly, which includes senior programs like games, crafts, book clubs, music, dance classes and a computer lab.
SeaTac also has the Robert Morris Earthworks Park (a terraced sculpture made on reclaimed land that was previously a sand and gravel pit), the Tyee Valley Golf Course (an 18-hole public
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course) and other recreation facilities at the Tyee High School Gym, Valley Ridge Community Center, Bow Lake Elementary SeaTac Activity Room and YMCA.
EDUCATION: SCHOOLS & CHILDREN
The children in the service area predominantly attend the public schools in the Highline School District. The Valley View Library serves two elementary, one middle and, at the high school level, the Tyee Educational Complex, which is broken into three smaller schools (Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment (ACE), Global Connections High School and Odyssey — The Essential School). The library also serves Seattle Christian, a private school with less than 300 students (K-12), within walking distance of the library. In addition, Highline also has the only aviation-themed college prep high school in the nation.
As the Highline School District website puts it, “Highline students have the advantage of living and learning in a community with rich cultural diversity. Our students represent about 80 nationalities and speak 70 different languages.”
The diversity in the student bodies is amongst the highest in the state. The number of students utilizing the Free or Reduced-Price meal program is about 50% at the high school and between 73-75.6% at the middle and elementary schools. Furthermore, the “transitional bilingual” program covers as much as 39.5% of the students at one of these elementary schools.
The WASL scores at these schools are quite low with numbers as low as 14 to 16% passing in math (4th and 5th graders) and less than 5% passing in 5th grade science at McMicken Heights.
Highline Community College (HCC) is the closest post-secondary school and has the largest program for English language learners in Washington State. HCC extends beyond the Des Moines campus and offers satellite classes near Valley View Library.
THE VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY TODAY & TOMORROW
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The “Look to Your Library” series of programs earlier this year provided impetus for the Valley View Library to extend outreach to relevant agencies to assist us in helping patrons find job opportunities, including YMCA Career Coaching, WorkSource and Airport Jobs. Since that time, Airport Jobs has continued to send a representative to the library once a month to assist patrons searching for jobs. The library is also now spearheading a collaboration with the Deptartment of Social and Health Services (DSHS), to assist patrons signing up for food stamps and similar programs. In addition, the library has investigated offering space and publicity for agencies such as the Legal Clinic of the King County Bar Association (with pro
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bono lawyers), Family Literacy (which offers English-language courses for adults and age- appropriate learning activities for their children) and further resume/cover letter assistance.
The children’s librarian regularly visits the nearby Valley View Early Learning Center and also invites their children in to the library for special Story Times and library tours. The library has also been approached by the “Community Schools Collaboration,” which is extending their nationally-recognized program providing tutoring and other after-school programs from the Tukwila School District to Highline.
The Valley View Library maintains a relationship with the City of SeaTac through a Library Advisory Committee, articles in the SeaTac Report and Friday newsletters and participation in the annual summer parade. In addition, library staff attend Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce events and we have established good connections through these functions.
The Highline Historical Museum will finally be opening soon in nearby Burien and Valley View Staff members have been in touch with archivists there, discussing ways to share the library’s large collection of oral interviews conducted a dozen years ago.
Finally, library staff have begun attending meetings with Tutor Somali Refugee Youth in Tukwila, which is an after-school program supporting children as they learn to improve their skills in reading, writing, and math.
CURRENT AND FUTURE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
The Valley View Library is located within walking distance of two elementary schools and is a popular after-school gathering place for local children. In the afternoon, the library tables and computers are completely full with students. They come for homework help and to socialize, as well as for a place to stay as they wait for their parents to arrive home or pick them up.
Bow Lake and McMicken Heights are the two elementary schools in the Valley View Library’s service area. The children’s librarian generally schedules two school visits during the school year in order to promote “Ready-Set-Read” and the Summer Reading Program (SRP). Children’s programs occur at the library throughout the year and programs are also brought to schools as a special assembly during the school year. Last March, in celebration of Many Voices, One Land, a program called “The Roots of Popular Cuban Music,” was shared with Bow Lake Elementary students. The presentation was educational, interactive and bilingual. The children enjoyed learning about the history of Cuban music and many danced and sang along.
Currently, there are two weekly Story Times conducted at the Valley View Library. Pajamarama Story Times are held on Monday nights at 7pm and Family Story Times are held on Tuesday
11 mornings at 10am. Both are open to all ages, although, predominantly, children ages 3-5 years attend on Monday nights and children ages 2-3 years attend on Tuesday morning. Anywhere from 15-25 people participate each session, but there can be upwards of 50 people present if classes from the Valley View Early Learning Center attend. In addition, the children’s librarian welcomes other local daycares, preschools, homeschoolers and elementary school classes to the library for special Story Times, tours and database demonstrations.
The Valley View Library has established a strong relationship with the Family Resource Center located at the Village at Angle Lake — a community site that provides health care, childcare, family support and other human services. One of the most positive results of this partnership is the annual Back to School Fair in August, which brings together social service agencies to educate parents of school-age children about the resources available to them. Backpacks and basic school supplies, as well as haircuts and health screenings, are given free of charge to children in elementary, middle and high school. This year at least 1,500 attended and more than 600 backpacks were distributed.
The Valley View Library has a booth at the Back to School Fair and provides library information and an opportunity to tour the Techlab or the ABC Express. The children’s and teen librarians have also served on the committee that organizes the Back to School Resource Fair for the past three years. In 2009, the committee obtained several major sponsors, including KCLS’ Diversity Committee, World Vision, Alaska Airlines, Fred Meyer and Jansport.
There are many opportunities to promote or expand children’s services. For example, a new YMCA just opened in October 2009 across from the Village at Angle Lake, Tyee Educational Complex, Chinook Middle School, Valley Ridge Park and SeaTac City Hall. The new facility includes a gym, teaching kitchen, teen center, community meeting spaces and health and wellness facilities. The library plans to work with YMCA staff to coordinate efforts and services.
In the fall of 2010, the Valley View Library will be a designated site for Early Literacy Parties in Spanish (Fiestas de Alfabetización temprana en español). The Fiestas are a series of eight weekly workshops for Spanish-speaking families. Parents that attend learn how to prepare their children for Kindergarten. The program is free and conducted entirely in Spanish.
Within the SeaTac area, there are four licensed center-based childcares with a capacity to serve 306 children and 27 licensed home-based childcares with a capacity to serve 215 children. The Giving Tree and Easter Seals are two licensed center-based childcares that have connected with the Valley View Library for information, tours and Story Times. The 27 licensed home-based childcares are potential sites for the new Library2Go program in 2010.
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The ABC Express makes twice-monthly visits to the Windsor Heights Apartments, which is home to people of many different nationalities and cultures. More than 50 languages are spoken in this 326-unit property managed by the King County Housing Authority.
The Valley View Library has also worked with New Futures, an organization that operates out of the Windsor Heights Apartments. They offer a unique blend of educational programs, support resources and community-building assistance.
CURRENT AND FUTURE SERVICES FOR TEENS
There are three small high schools on the Tyee Educational Complex in the library’s service area are: Odyssey — The Essential School, Global Connections High School and the Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment (ACE). Each school has its own mission, administration and curriculum. Tyee students participate in a full-range of high school sports as one school. Schools share a library, college and career center, fitness and arts facilities.
Community providers at the Tyee complex include Teen Health Center, Neighborhood House, SeaTac Parks and Recreation, Community Health Clinic, Ruth Dykeman Family and Child Services, Asian Pacific Islander Family Safety Center, City of SeaTac Community-Based Learning Partnerships and Upward Bound.
Seattle Christian High School is located on a 13-acre campus within a short walk of the Valley View Library. This private, faith-based high school has an enrollment of about 300 students, 84% of which are Caucasian. Many of those attending the high school live outside of SeaTac.
The library serves Chinook Middle School, which has an enrollment of 480 (May 2009). On the most recent WASL, 40% or fewer of 7th and 8th graders met standards in reading, math, writing and science. Only 20.9% of 8th graders met the standards in science. A high percentage of students need assistance in comprehension, vocabulary and reading scientific/technical text.
Chinook Middle School participates in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. The five AVID classes offered at Chinook during the 2009-2010 school year will provide in-depth opportunities for students to prepare to become college-ready. The philosophy of the AVID program is based in the “belief that all students are capable and should, as a fundamental right, be provided the opportunity to prepare and increase the likelihood of attending institutions of higher learning after middle and high school.”
Staff at the Valley View Library want to support the academic achievement of local students, which has been a priority for delivery of teen services. The challenges are great. The majority of the teens in the SeaTac service area do not have their own laptops or home computers. In
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some cases, if their families do have a computer, they do not have internet access. Students often depend on the library for computer access.
One of the most successful ways to promote teen services to multicultural, multilingual and economically diverse teens in our schools is through programming. Every year the teen librarian takes one or more large programs to Chinook Middle School and to the Tyee Educational Complex. The teen librarian contacts the school librarians to determine which programs will be most relevant and appreciated by their multicultural students. School librarians, in turn, coordinate programming within the school, working with the school program director and faculty.
When possible the library offer programs that support the school curriculum. For example, in the Spring of 2009, the library brough the program “Dance Tunes of the Alaska Gold Rush” to 8th graders who were studying the Klondike Gold Rush. Other examples included “Brazilian Rhythms” for the international music class at Tyee; “Poetry Alive!” for language arts classes at Tyee and Chinook; and “The Right to Dream,” for more than 300 Tyee High School students.
The Valley View Library attempts to have at least one volunteer Study Zone tutor each night, Monday through Thursday, to assist students with their homework. The library currently has a Spanish-speaking tutor two evenings a week. It is not always possible to find volunteer tutors, so the library is continually recruiting volunteers who are capable of helping high school students with advanced math, language arts and science.
In the fall, the Valley View Library offers a free SAT Prep Class to 22 students in grades 10, 11 and 12. The class consists of five Saturday morning sessions taught by Sandweiss Testing. The teen librarian promotes this free class through display and flyers in the library, online and through contact with the school counselors and librarian at the Tyee Educational Complex. The class fills to capacity each year.
The teen librarian sends an electronic newsletter to school librarians and faculty to alert them to services, events, homework help and other library news, as well as relevant information about KCLS services. The teen librarian subscribes to the Highline School District’s electronic newsletter in order to stay informed of current events.
CURRENT AND FUTURE SERVICES FOR ADULTS
The Valley View Library maintains a large collection of fiction and non-fiction materials in a variety of formats that are intended to provide adults the opportunity to explore or improve their vocational needs, leisure interests and life skills. All of the non-fiction books (except basic
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children’s books) are interfiled to allow patrons to select the most appropriate level of reading material. Staff create monthly thematic displays to highlight various parts of the collection.
There are a great number of Valley View Library patrons who speak a language other than or in addition to English. Recognizing this diversity in the community, the library’s world language collection currently includes materials in four different languages, as well as a modest ESL collection, citizenship materials and foreign language movies. The region’s main immigration center in Tukwila attracts many to the library who need to make appointments with the INS, work towards citizenship, etc.
For patrons who want to work on their English language skills, the library has begun hosting Talk Time each week, where volunteers provide an informal environment for non-native speakers to practice their English. After several attempts at different times, the library is now attracting a good number of regular Talk Time students.
Computers are a huge draw for patrons. The library has 16 computers, as well as four laptops that can be used to access the Internet and a variety of software programs. Because many patrons are not proficient at using computers, the library offers computer classes on using the Internet, Microsoft Word and other basic programs. Due to the popularity of these classes and several requests for more, the library plans to offer additional computer classes in the future.
The library also offers additional programs for adults including a monthly book discussion group and other programs relevant to current interests or issues. For many years, the library has regularly hosted a diehard writers group meeting twice a month.
The Valley View Friends of the Library put on a big annual booksale, which always attracts a crowd and makes a small profit. The library is also fortunate to have a number of patrons who volunteer their time each week to assist the library staff with a variety of tasks. The library looks forward to providing additional volunteer opportunities to seniors and others who would like to make a difference in the community.
PATRON FEEDBACK AND SURVEY RESULTS
This community analysis largely relied on the experience and expertise of the staff at Valley View Library; however, it was also important to capture the point of view of the members of the community that the library serves. Towards that end, interviews were held with a variety of community members and a patron survey was conducted. Physical surveys were distributed to patrons in the library over several weeks to capture user groups that might be in the library
15
on various days and times. At least one eager resident even went door-to-door passing out these surveys. A link to the survey was also posted on the Valley View Library’s web page.
The survey had demographic and usage questions, as well as some additional open-ended questions that were meant to solicit suggestions and comments. A total of 161 surveys were returned. The age of the respondents covered the spectrum and nearly 30% indicated they use the library more than once a week. A little more than one third of the respondents were not SeaTac residents. In addition, more than 74% of the respondents said they use other KCLS libraries of which the most frequently named were Burien, Des Moines and Southcenter.
The top reasons patrons said that they visit the library were, overwhelmingly, to borrow books and other library materials and use the library computers. The surveys also indicated that the top three reasons they use KCLS.org was to search for items, place holds and use the databases. There was a nearly even split between those who use the internet at the library more than once a week and those that never do.
One question tried to ascertain factors that might prevent patrons from using the library. About half of the respondents answered this question; the predominant reasons were access and the hours we are open.
One of the ways that libraries reach out to community members who may not typically be in the library is through classes and programs. Through the survey, the most common requests were for more computer classes and an ESL program. Other suggestions included art classes for kids, public speaking skills and even music research.
One of the chief concerns of any library is whether it is meeting its patrons’ needs. Two survey questions solicited responses to address this. While there was the expected chorus of requests for more resources, the respondents were overwhelmingly appreciative of the library’s staff. About 98% who answered this question stated they were satisfied or, overwhelmingly, “very satisfied.” As one patron wrote, “All employees are helpful and respectful! Excellent staff.”
A summary of the survey results can be found in the appendices at the end of this report.
16
VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY COMMUNITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
FACILITATE EARLY LITERACY AND CULTIVATE YOUNG READERS Services and resources for parents, caregivers and their children (age birth to five) that enable children to be ready to learn, read and write.
• Offer Early Literacy Parties in Spanish (at the library or in the community). • Explore offering Spanish language Story Times (at the library or in the community). • Reach out to underserved communities through the new Library2Go! Program, which will promote library programs and services to local childcares and similar community sites. • Promote and offer library resources to community organizations (i.e. Village @ Angle Lake).
ENGAGE AND SUPPORT TEENS AND CHILDREN Services and resources for youth (ages 5 through 18) that support their education and learning, develop information literacy skills, and encourage creativity and the cultivation of interests.
• Explore ways to connect with Highline’s new Community Schools Collaboration. • Work with KCLS’ Study Zone Coordinator to promote and enhance Study Zone, including the launch of Study Zone Online. • Identify ways to involve children and teens in reading using social networking (blogs, podcasts, video casts, etc.). • Get involved with area schools’ Career Days (including promoting page fellowship jobs). • Partner with the Diversity Coordinator to explore partnerships with new YMCA in SeaTac.
ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING Services and resources for patrons to cultivate lifelong learning in a variety of areas.
• Identify or experiment with different types of programs to attract adults. • Schedule TechLab visits to groups at the Village @ Angle Lake and Windsor Heights. • Increase the number and frequency of computer classes offered by Netmasters. • Find ways to engage the senior population in library-related projects and community outreach activities (i.e. book discussion groups, tutoring). • Explore ways to partner with Highline Historical Museum and share the library’s large collection of oral history documentation. • Enhance Reader’s Advisory services by offering training for all staff.
17 PROVIDE PERSONALIZED INFORMATION ACCESS & ASSISTANCE Services and resources that provide all patrons with high quality information and personalized information search strategies, and that proactively respond to patrons’ evolving information needs.
• Create a program series, offering services such as pro bono lawyers, assistance with DSHS issues, Airport Jobs opportunities and a resume/cover letter editing service. • Offer “Book a Librarian” one-on-one librarian reference assistance. • Coordinate scheduling of adult and children’s programming to accommodate family needs. • Promote the library’s volunteer opportunities in the local business community. • Accommodate growing patron laptop use by adding a cyber bar. • Provide Ready Reference and database training for all library assistants.
REACH & ENGAGE THE COUNTY’S CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS Services and resources that reflect and celebrate the County’s culturally diverse population and ensure open access to information for patrons facing cultural and language barriers.
• Offer citizenship classes. • Promote Talk Time classes to schools and community organizations. • Explore the feasibility of offering computer classes in Spanish. • Work with the Diversity Committee to identify cultural ambassadors in the community. • Look for opportunities to connect with local diverse business owners. • Promote library programs and services to diverse populations via the religious institutions they frequent. • Expand, update and promote the library’s ESL and citizenship collections. • Improve staff’s ability to communicate with the area’s Spanish speaking community by offering a Spanish language “boot camp.” • Evaluate the need to update the world language collection.
REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY The ways in which services are delivered reflect a fundamental shift in the role of the library. This shift involves becoming a more proactive organization, reaching out and engaging with the community.
• Revitalize the Friends of the Valley View Library. • Identify training and other activities to engage the Library Advisory Board. • Work with Highline School District and SeaTac Police to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on library grounds. • Partner with the City of SeaTac to explore the feasibility of relocating the Valley View Library to a more visible and accessible location. • Connect with the community by attending City Council meetings, chamber activities and community gatherings (i.e. Annual International SeaTac Parade, Back to School fair). • With urban changes and possible annexations, explore the reconfiguration of area library clusters.
18 Community Study Valley View Library
August 2009
Community Study Valley View Library ABOUT THE LIBRARY • The 6,400-square-foot libraryyp opened in May 1982, rep lacing two smaller community branches (McMicken and Valley Ridge).
• The library circulated more than 150,000 items and had more than 110,000 visitors in 2008.
• Listen to “What the Library Means to Me,” part of The Library Project: Book Bench. Community Study Valley View Library HISTORY
1860 Militaryyp Road completed 1916 Des Moines Way Highway paved 1928 Pacific Highway South cuts through area 1940 Port Commission votes to construct airport 1944 Sea-Tac Airport built 1954 McMicken Library opens 1960 Valley Ridge Library opens 1973 KCLS purchases site on Military Road 1982 Current Valley View Library opens
Community Study Valley View Library DEMOGRAPHICS • Foreign-born population (2000) – Library Service Area: 18.6% – SeaTac Zip Code: 24.0% – King County: 15.4%
• 29.6% of children (5 years and older) have a language other than English spoken at home (2000).
• Largest minority populations (2008): – Hispanic (14.82%) – Asian (16.35%) – African American (11.40%)
• Median age: 39.8
• SeaTac has an estimated senior population of 10.27% (2008). Community Study Valley View Library COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT
• SeaTac has more than 900 licensed businesses, government agencies or non-profit groups, which employ 40,000 and generate $4.2 billion.
• SeaTac has the second largest concentration of hotel and motel rooms in the State.
• The main idtiindustries are passenger airlines, air cargo, food service, car rentals and commercial parking.
• More than 100,000 people work in or travel through the city daily.
Community Study Valley View Library COMMUNITY INCOME/HOUSING
• Median home value (2008): – SeaTac Zip Code: $266,478
– King County: $345,300
• Median income (2008):
– STSeaTac Zip CdCode: $48,810
– King County: $53,157
• Owner Occupied: 47% • Renter Occupied: 53% Community Study Valley View Library COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SERVICES • North SeaTac Park Community Center offers a variety of classes and recreation • SeaTac’s Art and Parks Commission sponsor several children's summer concerts at Angle Lake, in addition to a youth art exhibit and other programs. • The City of SeaTac has a Human Services Coordinator and a Human Services Commission, a Senior Services Coordinator and a Domestic Violence Advocate.
Community Study Valley View Library COMMUNITY EDUCATION/SCHOOLS
• The Valley View Library serves the Highline School District including 2 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school.
• The Tyee Educational Complex includes:
– Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment (ACE) – Global Connections High School – Odyssey — The Essential School
• Educational attainment (2008):
– High School Graduate (28.3%) – Associate Degree or Higher (7.7%) – Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (14.2%) – Graduate Degree or Higher (4.8%) Community Study Valley View Library RECOMMENDATIONS
Community Study Valley View Library
FACILITATE EARLY LITERACY AND CULTIVATE YOUNG READERS
• Offer Early Literacy Parties in Spanish (at the library or in the community). • Explore offering Spanish language Story Times (at the library or in the community). • Reach out to underserved communities through the new Library2Go! Program, which will promote programs & services to local childcares and similar sites. • Promote and offer library resources to community organizations such as Village @ Angle Lake. Community Study Valley View Library
ENGAGE AND SUPPORT TEENS & CHILDREN
• Explore ways to connect with Highline’s new Community Schools Collaboration. • Work with KCLS’ Study Zone Coordinator to promote and enhance Study Zone, including the launch of Study Zone Online. • Identify ways to involve children and teens in reading using social networking. • Get involved with area schools’ Career Days. • Explore partnerships with new YMCA in SeaTac.
Community Study Valley View Library
ENCOURAGE LIFELONG LEARNING
• Identify or experiment with different types of programs to attract adults. • Schedule TechLab visits to the Village @ Angle Lake and Windsor Heights. • Increase the number and frequency of computer classes offered by Netmasters. • Find ways to engage the senior population in library-related projects and community outreach activities (i.e. book discussion groups, tutoring). • Explore ways to partner with Highline Historical Museum and share the library’s large collection of oral history documentation. Community Study Valley View Library
PROVIDE PERSONALIZED INFORMATION ACCESS & ASSISTANCE
• Create a program series, offering services such as pro bono lawyers, assistance with DSHS issues, Airport Jobs and a resume/cover letter editing service. • Coordinate schedules of adult & children’s programs to accommodate families. • Promote the library’s volunteer opportunities in the local business community. • Accommodate growing patron laptop use by adding a cyber bar.
Community Study Valley View Library
REACH & ENGAGE THE COUNTY’S CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS • Promote Talk Time classes to schools and community organizations. • Explore the feasibility of offering computer classes in Spanish. • Work to identify cultural ambassadors in the community. • Offer citizenship classes. • Look for opportunities to connect with local diverse business owners. • Expand, update and promote the library’s ESL and citizenship collections. • Improve staff’s ability to communicate with the area’s Spanish speaking community by offering a Spanish language “boot camp.” Community Study Valley View Library
REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
• Identify training and other activities to engage the Library Advisory Board. • Connect with the community by attending City Council meetings, chamber activities and community gatherings. • Revitalize the Friends of the Valley View Library. • Work with Highline School District and SeaTac Police to maintain a safe & welcoming library environment. • Partner with the City of SeaTac to explore relocating the Valley View Library to a more visible and accessible location. • With urban changes and possible annexations, explore the reconfiguration of area library clusters. 7TH CT S S 160TH ST
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Schools October 20, 2009 //gisnas1/projects/kcgis/client_services/kc_library/kc_library_09027/ValleyView.mxd 7TH CT S S 160TH ST
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Schools October 20, 2009 //gisnas1/projects/kcgis/client_services/kc_library/kc_library_09027/ValleyViewOrtho.mxd Valley View Library Community Study Demographic Summary
Valley View Valley View SeaTac Zip SeaTac Zip King County Library Library City of SeaTac City of SeaTac King County Census Data Code (98188) Code (98188) (2007 American Service Area Service Area (2000) (2008) (2000 Census) (2000) (2008) Community Study) (2000) (2008) Population 31,007 31,054 22,143 22,765 25,496 26,155 1,737,034 1,859,284 Average household size 2.50 2.33 2.53 2.39 2.39 Median age 35.9 38.8 34.3 37.6 33.9 35.7 38.5 Birth to 5 Years 8.43% 8.40% 8.94% 7.61% 17 years and younger 23.31% 22.80% 24.39% 22.5% 21.6% 18 years and older 76.69% 77.20% 75.61% 77.5% 78.4% 65 years and older 10.27% 9.05% 8.66% 10.5% 10.6% 85 years and older 1.25% 0.94% 0.99% White 69.4% 62.7% 61.1% 54.9% 62.9% 54.9% 75.7% 73.2% African American 7.8% 8.8% 11.0% 11.4% 9.2% 10.4% 5.4% 5.9% Asian 9.2% 13.3% 11.8% 16.4% 11.1% 16.2% 10.8% 13.8% Hispanic 10.6% 13.8% 11.7% 14.8% 13.0% 17.2% 5.5% 7.4% American Indian and Alaskan Native 1.3% 1.2% 1.5% 0.9% 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1.9% 2.3% 2.7% 0.5% 0.6% Owner occupied housing 59.9% 47.7% 54.4% 59.8% 62.3% Renter occupied housing 40.1% 52.3% 45.6% 40.2% 37.1% Median household income $ 54,095 $ 55,828 $ 50,534 $ 48,810 $ 49,579 $ 48,595 $ 53,157 $ 65,580 Median home value $ 151,114 $ 146,100 $ 266,478 $ 236,900 $ 433,300 Educational attainment - High School Graduate 28.3% 28.7% 29.1% 90.3% 91.6% Educational attainment - Associate Degree 7.7% 8.5% 7.7% 40.0% 41.3% Educational attainment - Bachelor's Degree 14.2% 15.6% 12.0% 40.0% 41.3% Educational attainment - Graduate Degree 4.8% 4.7% 4.1% Foreign born 18.6% 24.0% 22.6% 15.4% 19.0% Language other than English 23.2% 29.6% 28.6% 16.9% 23.1% Valley View Library Community Study Population Growth Trends
CENSUS POPULATION COUNT Valley View Library 2007 Change in % Change in 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Service Area 2000 (Provisional Population Population (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (by census tract) Estimate) 2000-2007 2000-2007 283.00 3,175 3,190 3,208 3,184 3,180 3,254 3,365 3,516 341 10.73% 284.02 4,628 4,629 4,553 4,508 4,525 4,486 4,423 4,458 -170 ( 3.68%) 284.03 4,852 4,869 4,774 4,736 4,720 4,814 4,867 4,905 53 1.10% 285.00 3,587 3,585 3,587 3,545 3,525 3,519 3,534 3,556 -31 ( 0.86%) 287.00 5,075 5,059 5,046 5,003 5,002 4,945 4,955 4,990 -85 ( 1.68%) 288.01 3,693 3,601 3,642 3,551 3,594 3,517 3,572 3,714 21 0.58% 288.02 5,997 5,991 6,019 6,001 6,000 5,959 5,894 5,797 -200 ( 3.34%) Total 31,007 30,923 30,827 30,528 30,546 30,494 30,610 30,936 (71) -0.23%
Change in % Change in 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2000 Population Population (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) (Estimate) 2000-2007 2000-2007 City of SeaTac 25,496 25,380 25,320 25,100 25,130 25,140 25,230 25,530 25,720 224 0.88%
Source: WA State Office of Financial Management Small Area Estimates Program (SAEP) version September 13, 2007 Valley View Library Community Study Projected Population Growth
Change in % Change 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Population Population 2000-2040 2000-2040 SeaTac Area (3705) Total Population 30,393 31,597 33,515 34,946 35,752 5,359 17.6% Total Households 11,798 12,450 13,612 14,630 15,392 3,594 30.5% Single Family Households 6,159 6,366 6,627 6,676 6,617 458 7.4% Multi Family Households 5,639 6,084 6,985 7,954 8,774 3,135 55.6%
Source: Puget Sound Regional Council, 2006 Forecasts of Population, Households, and Employment Note: Although the FAZ's are labeled with place names, most do not match official definitions of these places. FAZs are composed of Census tracts, which are not required to follow city or neighborhood boundaries. Valley View Library Community Study School Statistics
Ethnicity
2008-09 School Year School District Black* White* Lunch* Grades Learner* Islander* Hispanic* Enrollment* Free/Reduced Asian or Pacific Pacific or Asian American Indian American Indian English Language English or Alaska Native* Elementary School Bow Lake Highline 634 PK-6 74.0% 34.2% 22.2% 22.9% 1.9% 30.0% 23.0% McMicken Heights Highline 430 PK-6 73.0% 39.5% 17.9% 24.3% 1.1% 30.5% 26.1%
Middle/Jr. High School Chinook Middle Highline 480 7-8 75.6% 24.8% 19.9% 24.4% 1.8% 35.5% 18.4%
High School Tyee Educational Complex Highline Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment ( Highline 261 9-12 74.3% 26.8% 30.1% 18.4% 0.4% 30.9% 20.2% Global Connections High School Highline 324 9-12 65.7% 20.1% 23.6% 22.7% 1.2% 28.9% 23.6% Odyssey — The Essential School Highline 255 9-12 68.2% 23.5% 26.6% 26.6% 1.4% 29.4% 16.1%
Private Schools Seattle Christian School Private 744
Total Enrollment in Library Service Area 3,128
*Source: OSPI Internet site
Middle/Jr. High Grade Reading Math Writing Science 7th 30.1% 24.9% 37.7% Chinook Highline 8th 40.5% 27.5% 20.9%
High School Grade Reading Math Writing Science
Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment (ACE) Highline 10th 68.80% 17.70% 77.50% 11.30%
Global Connections High School Highline 10th 68.0% 32.4% 76.0% 21.9%
Odyssey — The Essential School Highline 10th 58.9% 7.3% 91.4% 4.7%
*Source: OSPI Internet site
AGE Valley View SeaTac Zip 2008 Age Distribution in Library Code King County Valley View Library Service Area (2008 Estimates) Service Area (98188) 6,000
0-5 2,619 1,914 142,218 5,000 6-11 2,312 1,645 138,689 4,000 12-17 2,309 1,632 141,735 3,000 18-24 3,268 2,526 183,506 25-34 5,055 4,021 302,004 2,000 35-44 4,802 3,574 297,410 1,000 45-54 4,457 3,179 292,910 55-64 3,043 2,214 181,899 0 1,603 1,088 86,841 65-74 0-5 85+ 6-11
75-84 1,199 759 71,714 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+ 387 214 30,337 Age in Years Valley View Library Community Study Race of Service Area
Valley View SeaTac Zip City of 2008 Census Library King County Code (98188) SeaTac Service Area
White 62.50% 54.86% 54.85% 71.53% African American 8.77% 11.40% 10.43% 5.67% Asian 13.30% 16.35% 16.15% 13.29% Hispanic or Latino 13.83% 14.82% 17.20% 7.07% Other Races 15.28% 17.38% 18.57% 9.51%
Race (other than white) of Population in Valley View Library Service Area (2008)
African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
Other Races Valley View Library Community Study Languages Spoken at Home
Valley View Valley View City of 2000 Census Library Zip Code King County SeaTac Service Area (98188) Language other than English 6,754 6,182 6,859 299,620 % 23.2% 29.6% 28.6% 18.4% Spanish 2,458 2,159 2,539 69,351 % 8.4% 10.3% 10.6% 4.2% Other Indo-European Languages 1,501 1,353 1,390 75,204 %5.2%6.5%5.8%4.6% Asian and Pacific Island Languages 2,119 2,087 2,281 137,921 % 7.3% 10.0% 9.5% 8.4%
Top Langauges (non-English) spoken in the Valley View Library Service Area (2000)
Korean Hindi Russian Mon-Khmer, Cambodian Japanese German Serbo Croatian Chinese Other Pacific Island Languages Other Indic Languages Vietnamese African Languages Tagalog Spanish or Spanish Creole
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 Valley View Library Community Study Home Values in the Service Area The Seattle Times: Business & Technology:gy Home Values
SeaTac (#15)
Number of Homes 6,310
Percent New 2.30%2.30%
Median Year Built 1955
Median Square Feet 1,470
Median Price 2006 $296,150$,
Median Price per Square Foot 2006 $209
Percent Sold in 2006 5.50%
Homes Sold in 2006 for less than $300,000 185
Homes Sold in 2006 $300,000-$400,000 118
Homes Sold in 2006 $400,000-$600,000 42
Homes Sold in 2006 for more than $600,000 4
Average Price Change 2005-2006 18.50%
Average Annual 5-year Change 9.80% VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY CHILDCARE INFORMATION
Licensed Childcare (Based on data received from Child Care Resources for 98188)
4 licensed center-based childcares with a capacity to serve 306 children 27 licensed home-based childcares with a capacity to serve 215 children
Preschools
Preschools are difficult to identify because they are usually private and not required to be licensed, but this list includes those identified by Child Care Resources in the library service area. Capacity is in parentheses () when it was available.
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Preschool (30)
Head Start/ECEAP Sites
There are two ECEAP sites in the Valley View Library Service Area.
Highline-Valley View Elementary – ECEAP Highline School District
Tukwila – Thorndyke Elementary – ECEAP Tukwila School District
KidReach Service (after school and summer programs receiving books)
There is one (1) KidReach site in the Valley View Library service area. It is operated by the North SeaTac Park Community Center and located at Bow Lake Elementary which serves about 50 children year round.
StoryTrain Service
The KCLS/Literacy AmeriCorps program has visited the Valley View area five times and trained 10 licensed providers serving 75 children.
VALLEY VIEW LIBRARY SURVEY RESPONSE SUMMARY
Age of Survey Takers 70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 <14 15-19 20-24 25-44 45-64 65+
Household Size of Respondents 45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 One Two Three Four Five or more
Reasons for Visiting the Library To use the library computers 16% To attend a class, program or event 5% To borrow and return books To read or study 33% in the library 8% To borrow and To ask a return other question or do types of research materials (DVDs, 9% CDs, magazines) 29%
Frequency of Library Visits
Less than once a month 4%
1-3 times per month 24% More than once a week 44%
Once a week 28%
Internet use at the Library
More than once a week 32% Never 33%
Once a week 10% Less than once a month 16% 1-3 times a month 9%
Factors Preventing Library Use
Classes and programs aren't I can't easily get relevant to the library 15% 24% Classes and programs aren't held at times I can attend 10% Library hours don't fit my Library doesn't schedule have what I'm 39% looking for 12%
Source: 2009 Valley View Library Patron Surveys SOURCES
Anderson, Ross "County Tucks 2 New Cities Under Its Belt," The Seattle Times, March 15, 1989, p. A-1.
Balzarini, Esther, Our Burien (Seattle, 1972)
Childcare Resources website [www.childcare.org/]
City of SeaTac Comprehensive Plan [www.ci.seatac.wa.us/services/seataccompfullcode_1208.pdf]
City of SeaTac website http://www.ci.seatac.wa.us/
City of SeaTac Parks & Recreation site [www.ci.seatac.wa.us/park/index.htm]
Clausen, Chet and Ray O. Bishop, “Seattle-Tacoma International Airport History, 1942-1962,” typescript, 1962, Port of Seattle Archives
Diversity in the Classroom, New York Times, May 1, 2009 [http://projects.nytimes.com/immigration/enrollment/washington/king/highline-sch-dist-401]
Eyler, Melba & Evelyn Yeager, The Many Roads to Highline (Highline:Highline Publishing Co., 1972)
Highline Community College website [www.highline.edu]
Highline School District website [www.hsd401.org]
The Highline Times
HistoryLink.org Essay 4181, By Paul Dorpat and Walt Crowley, May 31, 2003
Hsu Hua, Judy Chia, English courses reshaping lives for adults and their families Seattle Times, Aug 6, 2007. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003823385_esl06m.html]
Paul Dorpat conversations with Cyndi Upthegrove, Burien Historical Society; Gene Pugh, Highline Historian; Eric Mathison, editor of The Highline Times; Catherine Lord, Librarian with King County; Gerry VanNotric, SeaTac resident, March 2003
Port of Seattle Archives
Public School Review [www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/86549]
Redfin, June 2009 [www.redfin.com/home]
Robert Morris Earthwork [www.4culture.org/publicart/project_profile.asp?locID=16]
The SeaTac Chronicles – a video by Daniel Patterson
Seattle Christian Schools [http://www.seattlechristian.com/docs/SCSHSprofile2008.pdf]
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Times
Thomas Guide King County 2009
US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics [www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm; www.bls.gov/lau/lamtrk08.htm]
Valley View Library Community Study, 1996
Wikipedia entry on the City of SeaTac and SeaTac Parks
Windermere Property Management, June 2009 [www.wpmnorthwest.com/]