King County’s Library System Offers Online Resources for Ten Trails Residents

Staying at home does not mean you no longer have access to all the great free resources offered by the King County library system! Ten Trails residents can access e-books, audiobooks, tabletop gaming resources, adult e-learning certifications and services for grade and high school at-home learning – all through the internet!

Rhyme on Poetry Events

Expressing yourself through poetry can be a great way to be creative and get your emotions out in a healthy and productive way! The King County Library System (KCLS) is now offering ongoing Rhyme on Poetry Events. April’s events included a poetry contest, sidewalk Haiku project and Facebook live poetry breaks. Stay tuned for announcements of future poetry contests and activities through KCLS for the upcoming weeks!

Get Certified from Home

Use extra time at home to improve your skills at work or at school with online e-certifications through KCLS! Get certified as a  Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), or become an Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) through online programs that guide you through program requirements and test prep. Other online certification programs through KCLS include Quickbooks Online Certification and Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification.

Temporary Services for At-Home Learning

Perhaps one of the most useful free tools offered by the library system are their resources to help parents assist children with at-home learning! Search online reference services, take free online classes in technology, core skills, reading and math, and get resources to help with homework.

Tabletop Gaming Resources

Connect with friends and family who live remotely through KCLS’s tabletop gaming resources! If you are new to tabletop gaming, the library has videos and tutorials to help you and family members learn the rules of play so you can get started with remote family game nights soon!

E-Books and Audiobooks

Keep literacy in the forefront of your child’s education with free e-books and audiobook downloads from KCLS! The library’s informative website even has a list of suggested titles for various age groups, making it easy for Ten Trails parents to choose appropriate books for their child to read. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Visit the Nearby Black Diamond Library

The Black Diamond Library is a wonderful local resource for residents of Ten Trails, and is located within walking or biking distance from the community via the new Roberts Drive Rock Creek Bridge. The library provides programs for children and families, art workshops, and Family Story Time events on select Mondays throughout the year.

Origin of the Black Diamond Library

The City of Black Diamond has had a library in one form or another since 1917, when volunteers gathered book donations and began a library in a small room in the old Pacific Coast Hotel. As the donations increased and space became limited, the library had to be moved to the nearby former railroad depot which today is known as the Black Diamond Historical Museum Depot.

Historical Timeline for the Black Diamond Library

During WWII, the library had to shut down due to lack of volunteers available to run it. To help ensure the residents of Black Diamond still had access to books, the King County Rural Library District (known today as the King County Library System) began offering mobile book lending services twice a month to residents. The library reopened in June of 1945 in the old depot building with new books and was designated as a branch of the King County Rural Library District. The library remained at the depot for 12 more years until it was relocated to a small cottage on Lawson Street. There it remained until 1968 when it was moved to the city’s new municipal building. The library was fully annexed into the King County Library System in 1990 and operated out of a leased space from 1991 until the new building that exists today was opened in 2008.

Black Diamond Library Today 

Today, the Black Diamond library is located at 24707 Roberts Drive, just shy of one mile from the Willow Avenue entrance to Ten Trails. The beautiful new building was designed by architects at the Miller Hull Partnership to reflect the late 19^th century architecture that is predominant in the city. On a clear day, the library offers stunning views of Mount Rainier from the main reading area.

Friends of the Black Diamond Library 

Residents of Ten Trails are encouraged to get involved with their local library. The Friends of the Black Diamond Library group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 5pm in the library’s conference room. Dues are $5, and the group holds fundraisers throughout the year to benefit the library including the annual book sale and an annual plant sale held on the first Saturday each May. The library is having a book sale this Thursday, October 17^th from 10 am to 6 pm. Purchase used books, videos and CDs at bargain prices to help support library programming throughout the year. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

The Black Diamond Library: A Great Local Resource for Ten Trails Families 

Black Diamond has been committed to providing library services to residents since the first library opened in a city hotel in 1917. The current Black Diamond Library is just a one-mile walk or bike ride from Ten Trails at 24707 Roberts Drive, and is a wonderful resource for the whole family! The library, which is affiliated with the King County Library System, is dedicated to supporting families in the area with activities for kids like arts and crafts, Lego creative play, story time, and a family book club in Spanish.

Summer Reading Program

Kids of all ages are invited to participate in the Summer Reading Program at the Black Diamond Library. This year’s activities, story time, and performances are all about the wonders of space. Designed to keep kids reading during summer break, the schedule is packed full of space-related crafts, music, puppet shows and more. See the schedule listed below for each Summer Reading Program activity.

Friends of the Black Diamond Library

Friends of the Black Diamond Library is an organization that supports library programming by raising funds with an annual book sale and an annual plant sale. This volunteer organization is an invaluable part of the success of the library and the activities provided for the community! Anyone interested in membership should contact the library at (360) 886-1105.

Library Amenities 

Visitors will find the library well-equipped with computers, printers, Wi-Fi, photocopier/scanner, and a 24-hour book drop, as well as a large selection of books for check out with a KCLS library card.

Schedule of Events for Summer Reading Program at the Black Diamond Library

There’s always something going on at the Black Diamond Library! Ten Trails residents have plenty of local, family-friendly library activities to choose from this summer. June 1^st, 11am-12:30pm Galaxy Coaster Art (Ages 15 and older) Learn how to make a colorful galaxy coaster. Pre-registration is required. June 24^th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) June 24^th, 2-4pm Summer Reading Kickoff (All ages welcome) The Destination Space Show Music, dance, and mystery! Stay after the show for treats and fun! July 1st, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 2nd, 2-3 pm (ages 5-11) Blast It: Rocket Fuel Reactions Science Workshop, presented by KidsQuest Museum experiment with chemical reactions and design and build a ready-to-launch rocket. July 8th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 11th, 2-3:30 pm (Ages 5 and up) How to Paint a Planet Art Workshop Solar system watercolor painting July 15, 10:30-11:30 am Star’s Big Dream Puppet Show (All ages welcome) Presented by Penny’s Puppet Productions. July 17th, 2-3 pm The Wonders of Space Show (All ages welcome) Comedy/Variety Show July 22nd, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) July 25^th, 2-3 pm Alien Invasion Concert (All ages welcome) Music, comedy, and puppets July 29th, 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) August 5^th 10:30-11:30 am Story Time with Stay & Play (All ages welcome with adult/caregiver) August 6^th, 2-3pm Suited for Space Science Workshop (Ages 8 and up) Presented by Museum of Flight August 10, 11am-noon Multicultural Moon Tales (All ages welcome) Moon stories and craft project August 12^th, 2-3:30 pm Shooting Stars Workshop (Ages 8 and up) Learn about shooting stars and create a craft project www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043