La Conner Swinomish 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!