For more than 100 years in Kitsap County, the public library has been a place that transforms lives. Kitsap Regional Library is announcing a transformation of our own as it unveils a new brand.

With infinite access points to information and inspiration, the library has moved far beyond the world of books, noted Marketing Manager Jeannie Allen.

“We needed something that communicates the unity, value and strength of our people, places and resources,” Allen said. “Our new brand gives us a way to tell the whole story. Along with a new look, we are embracing a new, more proactive, mission: Inspiring our community to dream more, learn more, do more and be more.”

Kitsap Regional Library’s new logo is intended as a visual representation of that mission.

Emphasizing the word “library” was key, said Jeff Brody, director of community relations for the library.

“People don’t talk about going to Kitsap Regional Library. They go to the library. Whichever location you choose to visit, it’s your library,” Brody said.

The graphic element of the logo is called the Volume Bar, Brody said.

“We want to turn up the volume on your perception of the library. The library is a vibrant place where people can connect and collaborate. Sure, we want there to be some quiet places, but we don’t want you to think of the library as a place where people shush you.”

The five shapes in the Volume Bar represent the variety of ways the library connects, from books to technology (the narrow shape is a book spine; the square represents a pixel). The colors create an evolutionary sequence as they intensify from yellow to red. The final color, teal, represents the spark of inspiration.

Kitsap Regional Library includes nine locations, a digital library, bookmobile and an outreach team that serves more than 200 homebound patrons. To the 260,000 people across Kitsap, it means access to nearly a half-million books, DVDs and CDs and millions of eBook titles, audiobooks, downloadable songs and magazines, available online anytime.

With the launch of the new brand, library patrons will start to see something new: a presentation all of library events, classes and programs in a new quarterly booklet called “Inspire.”

“We wanted to make it easier to follow your interests,” Brody said.

Also, new signage will be installed at all nine Kitsap Regional Library locations.

The new brand evolved as part of the Vision 2020 strategic planning process. To develop its new strategic plan, the library re-imagined its mission, values and vision and in doing so recognized the need to express the mission more clearly to the community, Brody said.

“The two overarching goals of the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan are to improve the user experience and raise the level of satisfaction of existing library patrons while also raising the profile and visibility of the library for area residents who have not used the library,” Brody said. “Our new brand is a tool to help us address those goals.”

Patron Appreciation Open Houses: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 18

Kitsap residents are welcome to help celebrate the rich history of the Library during open houses at all Kitsap Regional Library locations on April 18, the Saturday of National Library Week.