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| Burlington Public Library History |  |
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1910
In early January, the Alpha Club of Burlington was organized to establish a library.
1911
Beginning February 1, two rooms rented by the City Council in the Knutzen Building were set up as a reading room with donated books. Members of the Alpha Club served as librarian/janitor two afternoons a week. To enlarge the book collection, the Alpha Club gave entertainments, held paper drives and sought book and cash donations. [Knutzen Bldg photograph courtesy of the Skagit County Historical Museum D-8-175]
1912
In September, a "Reading and Rest Room Association" was formed and operated the library. Subsequently the library was moved into the frame structure – the Kate Burns Building – at the corner of Fairhaven and Cherry streets.
1914
Washington State legislature passed a law empowering towns of the fourth class to establish and maintain libraries, and create a library board.
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1916
 The City Council assumed the responsibility in order to meet Carnegie Foundation requirements for a building fund. At the time of the grant, Burlington was the smallest city to receive a Carnegie grant. The Carnegie grant required the city of Burlington to pay $500 per year towards the upkeep of the library and engage a librarian.
Read about a passport tour of Washington's Carnegie libraries.
In late May, the cornerstone was laid. "The cornerstone of Burlington's Carnegie public library was laid last Saturday at one o'clock under Masonic auspices, the imposing ceremonies being carried out by Mt. Baker Lodge No. 36, of Mt. Vernon," reported the local newspaper.
Under the cornerstone the following articles of more or less historic community value were deposited in a sealed japanned box: two copies of the Burlington Journal, two copies of the Informer, a copy of the Burlington Journal containing the library ordinance; a history of the library and reading room; a history of the funding of the Carnegie library; an Alpha Club year book; a Monday Civic Club year book; the ordinance which established the library board; and a list of city and school district officers. These documents were placed in a japanned tin box, in large manila envelopes that were heavily boated with paraffine wax; the packages were all wrapped into one securely sealed package that was also dipped into paraffine wax.
On June 21, the Town Council of Burlington duly passed and approved Ordinance 1236, establishing a public library. The Mayor appointed the first Library Board of Trustees: A. W. Bush, President; Mrs. J.M. Garlick, Vice President; E.L. Wilson, Secretary. Additional Library Board members included Harvey Beal and Mrs. M.C. Callahan.
In September 1916, the building, which cost $5000, was dedicated and opened. Doris Bailey Joyce became librarian and janitor (for $27.00 a month). The library was open four days a week. For many years the library was used as the school library, until they had one of their own.
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 1976
By 1976, the Burlington Carnegie Library is one of only 13 left in the state. In a fall election the voters approved plans to build a new City Hall building, which would also house the library.
1978
The new City Hall/Library building opened, providing just under 4000 square feet of modern library space.
2005
The Burlington City Council voted unanimously to build a new library at the Old Catholic Church site at the corner of Holly and Washington streets. The library is working with Lewis Architects of Bellevue to design the new 20,000 square foot building.
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Librarians
Doris Bailey Joyce as Burlington's first librarian.
Mrs. M. E. Gannon (1929 - 1939)
Miss Grace Norris (1939 - 1942)
Dovie Samuelson (1943- 1948)
Mrs. Elva Cain (1948 -1949)
Mrs. Leona Ethington (1949 - 1950; 1954 - 1973)
Raene France worked for about a year and a half.
Mrs. Darlene Maloy served from 1973-2002
Christine Perkins served as library director from 2003 through early 2007.
Maggie Buckholz is the current director of the Burlington Public Library.
Friends of the Library
The volunteers who were helping at the library organized as Friends of the Burlington Public Library in 1954. The Friends incorporated with the State of Washington in 1995.
Sources of this information include: - April 23, 1976 report by Marjorie Russo published as newsarticle in the Skagit Valley Herald.
- Undated report by Mrs. M.E. Gannon, Librarian.
- Burlington Journal, "Seek Proposals For City's Carnegie Library," February 11, 1916.
- Burlington Journal, "Plans and Specifications for Library to be Open to Bidders by February 15," February 11, 1916.
- Burlington Journal, "Carnegie Approves Library Site Contract Let To Bellingham Firm," May 5, 1916.
- Burlington Journal, "Burlington Library Cornerstone is Laid," June 2, 1916.
- Burlington Journal, "Public Library Dedicated Able Address by Dr. Bryan," September 8, 1916.
- "Burlington, Washington One of the Live Centers of Skagit County by Louis R. Flowers, Skagit County, Washington, Mount Vernon Herald [Publisher], 1921, pp, 56-62 [photograph of Carnegie building].
- Skagit Valley Herald, "Sites OK'd for Burlington City Hall, library," February 25, 2005, p. A3.
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