Molly Stuen is the secretary of the Pierce County Library System’s Board of Directors. She’s a longtime Gig Harbor resident and patron of the library on Point Fosdick Drive, and she works at Mostly Books.

This is her second year on the library system’s board, and she spoke with the Gateway last week about her background and the work with the Library Foundation.

How did you get involved with the Library Foundation?

I’m a book person, I always have been. Throughout my kids’ education, I volunteered in their schools, doing a variety of things. I’ve always kind of felt like, in one way or another, I’d like to help children learn how to read, because reading is the foundation.

After my children left the house, I was asked to consider being on the board. Part of the job is recruiting new board members. I was asked, and when you’re asked, you go have a tour of the library administrative building out in Puyallup. I was amazed at all the things the library does – way more than anybody knows who just goes in, checks out books and leaves again. I said, yes, I’d like to do it.

What are some of the things the library does that you didn’t know about?

They’re very involved in early learning. The Pierce County Library System has won some awards for its innovation in childhood learning. This year they’re starting a new “block play” program. And they’re doing this because it’s been proven that block play enhances learning in science and math and technology.

This is a program that kids under 5 get involved in, to create some interest before they get to school. And they have the most incredible bookmobile now. It’s huge, with places for computers and all kinds of things. Unfortunately, because of cutbacks to the library, the bookmobile is not in use right now. They’re hoping to bring that back.

There are lots of programs that take place at the library that I didn’t know about – job-search programs at the job and business center, traveling laptops that go to schools so kids can learn how to use them.

What’s been your focus as secretary?

In addition to the usual duties of a secretary, I am one of the on-record signers for all financial accounts. Also, between regular foundation board meetings, the executive committee responds to financial and other issues that arise and makes recommendations to the board.
I’ve taken a fairly active role in fundraising for the summer reading program. Last year, there were 21,000 students who took part in that program.

How has the Library Foundation responded to library cutbacks?

The library system is funded by property taxes, and property taxes are going down, so the library, in the last few years and projected a few years into the future, has huge cutbacks. Millions of dollars every year. So they have just asked the Library Foundation to work harder, because we fund programs that the library can’t fund through tax revenue.

One in particular is the JobNow program, which provides personality and career assessments, resume assistance and interview coaching. This service continues to be invaluable.

What are you working on now?

Right now, we’re working very hard on the summer reading program. We usually start that in December and try to get all the fundraising done by late spring so that we can have everything in place. It’s just individual fundraising – board members meet with people one-on-one, or talk on the phone or get our friends. We go through lists of local businesses.

On the summer reading program, the minimum donation is $500. And it’s a sponsorship, and there’s publicity that goes along with it.

What do you tell people about the library during fundraising efforts?

I talk about the difference between the library system and the foundation, for one thing, so people understand that we fund things that they’re not able to. That’s kind of a basic thing that people need to know.

And then I talk about the importance of literacy, in everyone. Another thing that we help support is Our Own Expressions, which is a program for teens. Kids can paint, take photographs, write poetry or write narrative fiction, and then there’s a contest. It’s just starting now, from Jan. 21 to Feb. 24.
There’s a panel of judges that chooses the best in each category, and then there’s a program at (Pacific Lutheran University) to recognize these students. I went last year; it was great. These young people are doing amazing writing and amazing artwork. It was very inspiring.