The Pierce County Library System serves almost six hundred thousand residents in Tacoma, the county seat of Pierce County, Washington. The library maintains one million volumes and circulates 8.5 million items per year. Founded in 1946, Dade City, New Port Richey, and Zephyrhills were the first three cities where PCLS began as municipally owned and operated libraries. The number of libraries has since grown to nine, and they continue to offer the most up-to-date services, resources, programs, educational classes, and informational events to the populations they serve.