Pierce County Library System Confirms Data Breach Impacting Over 340,000 People

Pierce County Library System reported that a data breach earlier this year compromised the personal information of over 340,000 individuals.

 

The Pierce County Library System (PCLS) serves Pierce County, Washington, offering books, digital resources, technology access, and educational programs that support learning and community engagement for all ages, both in person and online.

 

In a data security incident notice filed with the Office of Maine Attorney General, officials of PCLS said that earlier this year, it was notified of an unauthorised access within its internal network. The library officials immediately launched an investigation, with assistance from external cyber security experts, to determine the nature and scope of the incident.

 

It also took steps to secure the affected systems and notified relevant law enforcement authorities about the same.

 

“The investigation determined our environment was subject to unauthorised access and between April 15 and April 21, 2025 certain files were copied and taken. In response, PCLS undertook a thorough review of the impacted systems to determine what information was present and to whom it relates. PCLS completed this review on October 10, 2025, and determined that information related to you was located within the impacted systems subject to unauthorised access,” officials said.

 

The compromised data included names, Social Security numbers, financial account information, driver’s license numbers, credit card information, passport numbers, health insurance information, medical information and dates of birth.

 

The filing with the Maine state regulator’s office also states that PCLS officials have identified at least 340,101 individuals affected by the incident.

 

“PCLS takes the confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in its care very seriously. Upon discovering the issue, PCLS immediately commenced an investigation to confirm the nature and scope, and to identify what information could have been affected,” the library authorities said in a data security incident notice.

 

PCLS has advised all affected individuals to regularly monitor their credit reports, account and benefit statements and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities, including the police and the state attorney general. 

 

It has also offered one year of complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services through IDX to all affected individuals.