By Katie Rains
Libraries are often thought of as places to borrow books, find a quiet place to study, or use a computer. But anyone who spends time in their local library knows they offer much more than that. They connect people with information, learning opportunities, technology, and resources that can make a real difference in everyday life.
Across King County, the King County Library System helps make those opportunities available to people of all ages and backgrounds. Behind many of the programs and initiatives that extend what local libraries can offer is the King County Library System Foundation. Through fundraising, advocacy, and community partnerships, the Foundation helps bring additional resources to libraries and the people who depend on them.
At Integrity Roofing & Construction, supporting organizations that make a difference in the places where we work is important to us. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the Foundation’s Trivia Night for Libraries, helping support an event that brings people together while raising funds for library programs throughout King County.
More Than Books: The Role of the King County Library System Foundation
The King County Library System Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote literacy, learning, and libraries. It works alongside the King County Library System (KCLS), providing financial support beyond public funding so libraries can offer additional programs, resources, and services that respond to the needs of their communities.
It’s helpful to understand the difference between the two organizations. KCLS operates the public library system, while the Foundation raises funds and awards grants that help make additional initiatives possible. The Foundation supports all 50 KCLS library locations, connecting donations from individuals, businesses, and other supporters with programs that can benefit people throughout the county.
Since its founding in 1991, the Foundation has helped direct more than $28 million toward library programs. Its work focuses on several important areas, including lifelong literacy and learning, library innovation, accessibility and inclusion, and community services and outreach.
Those priorities reach far beyond traditional library services. Funding can support early literacy programs that help young children build reading skills, English language learning opportunities, technology access, and initiatives that connect people with resources they might otherwise have difficulty accessing.
Libraries also serve as places where people can explore new interests, develop practical skills, and connect with others. A library might be where a child discovers a love of reading, an adult learns a new language, or someone gets access to technology needed for school or work. The Foundation helps create more opportunities for those experiences to happen.
How Foundation Support Makes a Difference Across King County
The impact of the King County Library System Foundation becomes easier to understand when you look at the variety of programs it helps support.
Literacy is a major part of its work. Reading skills influence how people learn, communicate, and navigate the world around them. Programs that encourage children to read, give families access to books, and help adults strengthen their literacy skills can create opportunities that extend well beyond the library.
The Foundation also supports programs that help people build skills at different stages of life. English language learning classes, reading challenges, and educational activities give patrons ways to keep learning outside of a traditional classroom. For children and families, access to books and engaging learning experiences can help make reading a regular part of everyday life.
Technology is another important part of modern library services. Not everyone has reliable access to computers, specialized equipment, or the internet at home. Libraries can help bridge that gap. Through Foundation-supported initiatives, patrons may have opportunities to use technology, explore creative tools, and develop skills that are increasingly important in school, work, and daily life.
The Foundation also recognizes that libraries need to be accessible and welcoming to the people they serve. Its funding priorities include programs that support inclusion, community outreach, and services for underserved populations. That can mean helping people find information, access resources, or connect with programs designed around specific community needs.
In 2025, the Foundation granted $1.73 million to KCLS programs. That funding supported work across its major priorities, helping libraries continue to serve people in ways that go beyond lending books.
This is what makes the Foundation’s role so important. Public libraries are valuable community resources, but their ability to respond to changing needs can grow when additional support is available. By bringing together donors, businesses, and community members, the Foundation helps turn that support into programs people can actually use.
Trivia Night for Libraries: Bringing People Together for a Good Cause
One of the ways the King County Library System Foundation brings supporters together is through its special fundraising events. Trivia Night for Libraries is a great example of how a fun evening can support something meaningful.
Trivia Night for Libraries brings people together for team trivia, food, drinks, raffle prizes, and plenty of friendly competition. The fall-themed event gives guests an opportunity to enjoy a night out while supporting library programs and resources throughout King County.
The event is about more than seeing who knows the most random facts. Proceeds support the Foundation’s work to strengthen libraries and the communities they serve. It gives local businesses and individuals an opportunity to contribute to the future of library services while connecting with others who value education, learning, and access to information.
For the Foundation, events like this are also an opportunity to build relationships with the people and organizations that make its work possible. Community support comes in many forms. Some people donate directly, others volunteer their time, and local businesses can help through event sponsorships.
We were proud to be among the sponsors supporting Trivia Night for Libraries. Our sponsorship helped support the event and the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for library programs across King County.
We appreciate the work that goes into organizing an event like this, as well as the purpose behind it. Supporting a fundraiser that benefits libraries means contributing to resources that can reach children, families, students, and adults throughout the area. It’s a way to support learning and opportunity well beyond a single evening.
Investing in the Places We Call Home
At Integrity Roofing & Construction, our work is centered on protecting homes and helping property owners take care of their buildings. But being part of the communities where we work means more than the projects we complete. It also means recognizing the organizations that help those communities grow and supporting the people who make a difference every day.
That’s why partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations matter to us. Every organization has its own mission, and the impact it makes can look different. Some provide essential resources, some create opportunities for children and families, and others help people connect with education, information, and services. The King County Library System Foundation does important work in that last area, helping libraries remain places where people can learn, discover, and find support.
We are glad to support an organization that understands how valuable those opportunities are. A library can have an impact at nearly every stage of life, and the programs made possible through the Foundation help extend that impact to even more people.
We appreciate the King County Library System Foundation for the work it does throughout the region and for creating opportunities for local businesses to get involved. Sponsoring Trivia Night for Libraries was one way for us to contribute, and we look forward to continuing to support organizations that make a positive difference in the communities we serve.
If you are planning a roofing, siding, or other exterior project, Integrity Roofing & Construction is here to help. Our team works throughout the region, and we welcome the opportunity to talk through your project and answer your questions. Call us at 360-900-7663 or fill out our online form to get started.
