La Conner Swinomish Library Board Meeting Tuesday, April 16 5:00-6:00 Library Meeting Room

Special Board Meeting to work on Strategic Plan 6:00-7:00

Tech nights are back!

Mondays from 3:00-5:00. Call or stop by or call the library to reserve your 30 minute appointment for help with your tech issues. Starting April 29.

  • Board of Trustees

    Third Tuesday of Each Month at 5:00 p.m.

    The Library Board meeting is open to the public and held every third Tuesday of the month, at 5 p.m. at the library’s meeting room. For more information click here.

  • La Conner Swinomish Library Card

    Card Catalog

    Click here to access our

    Card Catalog

    Check out our book collection, put a book on hold, select a book.

  • meeting room

    Reserve the Meeting Room

    Click on this link to request a meeting room reservation Meeting Room Reservation
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Library Cards Are Free

Signing up for a library card is easy to get and free for those who live in the La Conner School District. Anyone age 5 and up is eligible. All we need to see is proof that you reside within our district.  

Discovery awaits you whether you check out a book in-person or click here to reserve a book online. E-books and audiobooks are a convenient way to read using a device or listening while on-the-go. Click here to reserve an e-book or audio book online.

Want to check out material from a different Skagit County library? A unique agreement between the Skagit County libraries allows you to obtain a free library card from any six libraries in the county if you have a La Conner.

Want a book we don’t have? Talk to one of our helpful staff members, we can search other libraries in the county to find the book you want. Books reserved at other libraries are delivered to our library every Friday. Done with the book you borrowed from the other library? Simply return it to La Conner and we take care of the rest for you. (Applies to Burlington, Sedro Woolley and Upper Skagit Libraries only)

If you live within the La Conner School district, visit the library to sign up for your free card or get one online.

Discovery. Connection. Inspiration.

La Conner Swinomish Library Mission Statement

To realize the Library’s vision by creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming place for:

The History Of Our Library

Located in the historic district of the small, rural town of La Conner, Washington, the library has been a treasured part of the community since the late 1920s when a group of civic-minded individuals from various organizations volunteered to start one for the town’s residents. 

Throughout the years, the La Conner Memorial Library proved to be a valued community resource, and by 1990 it was clear that the library needed a stable source of taxable income to serve the needs of a growing community. 

Since a county-wide library was not an option, the mayor and other citizens of La Conner asked for help to change the law. In 1993, legislation sponsored by then District 10 Senator Mary Margaret Haugen to allow the creation of a rural partial-county library district with taxing ability. It was signed into law, and citizens voted to form the first such library district in the state. On November 26, 1993, the La Conner Regional Library opened its doors in the old Hallmark shop at 614 Morris Street. 

After many years of service in this location, the library’s need for expanded services, including a community meeting room, led to the library board’s approval to buy property for a new building one block west on Morris Street. On October 18, 2022, we opened the doors to realize the new 5,500 square foot La Conner Swinomish Library after 28 years of service in a building about half the size of the new one.

The little library that could – did! 

Many have worked for years to conceive a library designed to be a center for educational, cultural, economic, and social life for everyone in our diverse, multicultural community. Serving the Town of La Conner, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Shelter Bay, and surrounding rural areas of approximately 5,000 people, our library is a place of discovery, connection, and inspiration.  

Features include open, flexible space, expanded reading collections, digital access for your own or on-site computers, dedicated areas for children and teens, a free community meeting room, multi-language signage, and dedicated areas for art exhibits from the Swinomish Tribe, and our three museums in town. 

All are welcome!

Multicultural Resources

The La Conner Swinomish Library is a respectful destination where cultural and individual differences are the foundation to bridge the perceived boundaries of ability, age, race, and other social identities. 

We aim to embrace the living experience of all people, including students, their families, and their communities. Integrating new ways of thinking and doing through reading, art, social programs, and technology help bring together a diverse community of learners. 

Exploring the rich tapestry of perspectives offers valuable insight to all who visit.

Discover Possibilities

Welcoming and friendly, the La Conner Swinomish Library supports all types of learning. Our 2023 programming is filled with in-person and digital resources to research, discover, and curate new and creative ideas that may inspire your best work.  

Our Book Club provides an insightful forum for readers to talk about books and share reading experiences and is an opportunity to meet people in our community.  

Our children’s Summer Reading Program provides continued reading possibilities while school is out of session, and Friday Story Time will inspire young children to concentrate, engage and cooperate with others, and even sing their way through picture books!

The new meeting room is available for non-profit or community group gatherings. Make your reservations directly on our new room reservation app and be sure to download Meeting Room guidelines (PDF) to understand reservation details.

View seasonal rotating art exhibits hung or placed on display throughout the library by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Museum of Northwest Art, Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, and Skagit County Historical Museum.

Ask A Staff Member

La Conner Swinomish Library’s vision is to be a place of discovery, connection and inspiration for our community.

We have hundreds of books with inspiring subjects that may spur you toward a keen idea! Explore the aisles for intriguing titles or ask a staff member to help find a specific one.

Our staff can also assist you with many tasks including ordering a new book, and supporting individual questions regarding devices, phones, and laptops.

Stop by the library during open hours and ask for assistance. The La Conner Swinomish Staff is available Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Story Time For Children

Join us every Friday at 11 :00 a.m. for stories, games, and fun!

Fantastic Children’s Books Online!

Featuring a wide selection of reading for Young Adults, Teens, and Children.

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Meet Our Staff

Jean Markert, Library Director

Char Langendorfer, Administrative Assistant

Susan Macek, Board Chair

Katryna Barber, Youth Services

Sarah Rabel, Foundation Director

Make A Donation

Spread gratitude and create a meaningful birthday, anniversary, or legacy gift by donating to the library foundation. Your gift will go toward the incredible programs, services, and resources provided by La Conner Swinomish Library.

Just click below to donate the way you want.

The La Conner Swinomish Library Story Pole

The 18-foot-tall, old growth red cedar Story Pole at the library’s Morris Street entrance represents a shared commitment between the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Library to create a safe, supportive, and welcoming place for everyone.  

“This story pole has three traditional figures: at the base is a Salish person wearing a cedar bark hat with hands outstretched in a welcoming position; in the middle are two circling salmon which represent sharing of resources; and at the top is an eagle which represents guidance and wisdom,” Swinomish elder and master carver Kevin Paul explained. “So, the story pole shows that the library is a place for people to come together, to find guidance and knowledge, and everyone is welcome.” 

Kevin, who has served as a trustee of the library board, selected the wood, and transformed it into this unique work of art with Coast Salish iconography. He was assisted by Camas Logue. 

What better place than La Conner Swinomish Library to feature a Story Pole that welcomes everyone to learn and discover?

A Note of Thanks

Many have worked for years to realize a library designed to be an educational, cultural, economic, and social center for our diverse, multicultural community. We are honored and grateful to all who invested in this place of discovery, connection, and inspiration. 

  • For more than 7 years, Friends of La Conner Regional Library took on the challenge of opening and operating the La Conner Library Thrift Shop with the help of our local Kiwanis Club.

    We are grateful to the Friends, individual community members, private foundations, Rotary Club of La Conner, Soroptimist International, the La Conner business community and Chamber of Commerce, Library and Foundation board members, volunteers, and staff. Over the past 10 years local contributions to the new library project totaled $1.5 million.

  • The Swinomish Tribe’s financial contribution of $850,000 is part of our valuable partnership to create a library and community resource center to meet the educational needs of our communities, encourage cross-cultural learning, and prepare our young people to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing world. This project would not have been possible without the Swinomish Tribe.

  • Members of the 10th Legislative District for the State of Washington worked collaboratively since 2017 to secure three grants totaling $1.825 million for the new building. We are grateful to all of our current and past representatives and senators for their commitment and for the State's investment in the new library project.

  • The Town of La Conner led a successful Skagit County economic development grant request of $500,000 for the new library and partnered with the Library and Foundation to secure state funding. We appreciate our Town’s leadership and the County Commissioners’ vote of confidence in awarding these critical funds to our project.

  • A team of creative, committed, experienced professionals delivered on our promise to design and build a 21st Century library that respects and acknowledges the history of this area.

    Building Work

    Matt Aalfs, Principal, Kate Weiland, Project Manager Jake La Barre, Project Architect

    http://www.buildingwork.design/

    Underwood Associates

    Jeremy McNett, Project Manager

    https://www.underwoodarchitecture.com/

    Tiger Construction

    Sean Burkhardt, Project Manager, and Brent Petersen, Site Superintendent

    https://tiger-pearson.com/

    Vaagen Timbers

    Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) production

    https://vaagentimbers.com/

    Sierra Pacific Industries

    In-kind donation of locally grown, harvested, and milled fir trees used for cross-laminated timber (CLT) production

    https://www.spi-ind.com/

    BSR Branding

    Ken Barnes, La Conner Swinomish Library brand development

    https://bsrbranding.com/