Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Washington State Library News
LibraryScienceList.com has rated the Washington State Library as one of the most social media-friendly state libraries in the U.S. The website ranks Washington No. 9 out of 46 state libraries that make use of social media. (Bonney Lake/Sumner Courier-Herald, 5.12.13) http://www.blscourierherald.com/news/207134481.html

Library News
So you want to go online but don’t have an Internet connection or maybe even a computer. What to do? If you can get to one of the area libraries, you can get online for free, with a broadband connection. All four libraries in Pend Oreille County – in Ione, Metaline Falls, Cusick and Newport – offer free Internet for their patrons, as well as technical help if you need it. (Photos) (Newport Miner, 4.3.13)

Throughout the Kitsap Regional Library system we are blessed with community branch libraries that offer specialized collections. Little Boston has a special Native American collection; Poulsbo a Scandinavian; and Sylvan Way offers a genealogical center with its own specialized reference works.(Photos) (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 4.7.13) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/06/local-libraries-offer-chance-to-discover-and/#axzz2TZg3zicI

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Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Washington State Library News
For people nostalgic for newspapers of bygone eras, a number of Washington newspapers past have been digitized by the National Digital Newspaper Program and can be searched and viewed on the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America website [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/]. The Washington State Library is helping the project by digitizing another 100,000 pages for the last phase of the project. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 4.1.13) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/03/31/2336650/old-newspapers-including-tri-cities.html

Library News
The Tonasket Library Board held their annual volunteer appreciation luncheon in March. The invitations go to those volunteers who help with the twice yearly book sales put on by the Tonasket Library Board. Proceeds from the winter book sale funded the purchase of a new copier that is used by both staff and library patrons. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune [Oroville], 3.28.13)

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Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Library News
Philip Pledger, a Boy Scout with Troop 1506, kept it local when he chose the Tracyton Community Library as the site for his Eagle Scout project. Library volunteer Bonnie Chrey said Philip installed an improved community bulletin board and revamped the planting bed on the west side of the building. (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 3.22.13)

A janitor, Joaquin Amaya, at the Vashon Island Library, a part of the King County Library System, has been charged with sexual assault, accused of groping a developmentally disable man after luring him inside the building. Amaya has been charged with fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation as well as attempted unlawful imprisonment. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 4.25.13) http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Charge-Library-janitor-molested-disabled-man-4464702.php

What a generous gift Bill and Pat Caldwell have offered to the city of Toledo – a building for a library branch. Shrinking reimbursements from insurance companies left the Caldwell’s struggling to earn a living so, after 23 years, they closed their pharmacy reluctantly. Now the couple … wants the empty pharmacy building turned into a Timberland Regional Library branch. (The Chronicle Online [Centralia], 4.30.13) http://www.chronline.com/opinion/article_c99f564c-b1b3-11e2-ae10-0019bb2963f4.html

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Library News
King County Library System subscribes to Science Online, a database filled with diagrams, conversion calculators, articles and experiments covering topics such as forensics, weather, chemistry, biology and more. The articles are from reputable sources like science encyclopedias and dictionaries. This database is available anytime and anywhere. (Bellevue Reporter [Kent], 3.8.13) http://www.bellevuereporter.com/opinion/195451501.html

Up until last year, South Sound High School’s library consisted of about 600 books that were outdated, and not being read by students. Math para-educator and book lover Terri Evans decided to change that. (Photo) (The Olympian [Olympia], 3.10.13) http://www.theolympian.com/2013/03/10/2455261/library-beefs-up-its-offerings.html#storylink=misearch

A new policy to direct book selections for school libraries could be on the horizon. Vivian Jennings, the district librarian, recently told the Prosser School Board about how she acquires books for the district elementary, middle and high schools. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 3.11.13) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/03/10/2307733/prosser-school-board-questions.html#storylink=misearch

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Washington State representatives attended the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s annual meeting in Atlanta, GA this month.  Pictured above: Meredith Hale, Martha Shinners, Josephine Camarillo, and the little red hen at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Washington State Library News
Julia Batson, a seventh-grader at Woodward Middle School, has been named a state champion in Washington’s Letters About Literature contest. Julia won the state title in the Level 2 (grades 7-8) competition. Julia’s letter was to Randa Abdel-Fattah about her book “Ten Things I Hate About Me.” (Bainbridge Island Review Online, 4.2.13) http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/201131371.html

Library News
Wired or Wireless was recently honored during a reception at the Malden Library, a part of Whitman County Libraries, to celebrate the conclusion of their two year grant that provided 60 hours per week access to Malden’s library and computer center. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.7.13)

The book drop in front of the Daily Sun News office on Sixth Street in Sunnyside has new signs, but that’s all that’s changed, according to Sandra Linde, who operates the donation box. Books donated at the book drop are passed along to schools, the library, and hospital, as well as given out at Sunshine Days. (Photo) (Daily News [Sunnyside], 3.7.13)

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Washington State Library News
Just 2 ½ months after taking office, Republic Secretary of State Kim Wyman is following the footsteps of her predecessor, Sam Reed, in fighting against a proposed fund reduction for the library’s operations. (The Olympian [Olympia], 4.7.13) http://www.theolympian.com/2013/04/07/2495373/wyman-picks-up-torch-to-save-wash.html#storylink=misearch

Library News
The state Public Disclosure Commission has informed Renton residents that staff won’t take any action on complaints residents filed against the King County Library System and Renton Mayor Denis Law concerning the Aug. 7 election. (Renton Reporter, 3.1.13) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/192318631.html

Kitsap Regional Library patrons will now have unlimited access to more than 100 digital magazine titles, cover to cover with no waiting. Popular titles such as Newsweek, Consumer Reports, National Geographic and Popular Photography are being provided through KRL’s subscription to Zinio. (The Kitsap Sun, [Bremerton] 3.3.13) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/mar/02/krl-now-offering-unlimited-access-to-digital/#axzz2Q5xociQ0

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Library News
Banned Books Week is slated for September 22nd-28th and is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. The week highlights the value of free and open access to information, according to the American Library Association (ALA). (Federal Way Mirror, 2.22.13)

The City of Monroe is seeking dedicated residents of the Monroe Library Capital Facility Area interested in serving on the City of Monroe Library Board. The Library Board serves as an advisory board to the Monroe City Council and acts as liaison between the city council and the Sno-Isle Libraries. (Monroe Monitor & Valley News, 2.26.13) http://www.monroemonitor.com/2013/02/25/monroe-library-board-seeks-member-2/

At its February 7th meeting, the board of directors of the North Olympic Library Foundation (NOLF) welcomed a contribution of $4,000 from Sequim residents Jo Anne and Jim Roberts. The funds will support NOLF’s summer reading program and other programs designed to encourage children to read. (The Sequim Gazette, 2.27.13)

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Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Washington State Library News
Spokane voters have again proved they strongly support city libraries. Take notice, Olympia. The Washington State Library and the Washington State Archives have about filled up the space available for housing the state’s most important documents and artifacts. In 2007, the Legislature authorized construction of a Washington Heritage Center that would house the archives and library. With the state committed, private dollars might follow, and finally move the project forward. (The Spokesman Review [Spokane], 2.15.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/15/editorial-restore-momentum-for-heritage-center/

Library News
More than 10,000 postcards have been sent to e-book publishers by library users who agree with Pierce County Library System that a blockade on e-books for libraries is unfair. The result: At least two publishers have agreed to start selling e-books to the libraries again. (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 2.13.13)

Sno-Isle Libraries have a simple, streamlined option for checking out and reading eBooks, thanks to the 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service and the Polaris Integrated Library System. The service combines digital content, in-library hardware, and apps for borrowing and reading eBooks, all within the library’s own online catalog, creating an unrivaled patron experience. (The Whidbey Examiner [Coupeville], 2.14.13)

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Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Library News
The Pierce County Library system has chosen “The Paris Wife” as the book for this year’s Pierce County Reads program. The program includes a swag of April events themed around 1920s Paris and a May visit by author Paula McClain of Cleveland. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 3.19.23)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/03/18/2518647/author-found-a-friend-in-1st-mrs.html

The Spokane Public Library will get new leadership just as its funding stabilizes after years of uncertainty. Pat Partovi, who has led the library since 2003, will retire May 10. The Library Board of Trustees will choose among three finalists on Wednesday. The public can ask the candidates questions at an event on Saturday. (The Spokesman-Review, [Spokane] 3.21.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/mar/22/library-getting-new-chief/

Elections
Spokane voters resoundingly approved a city charter amendment granting the police ombudsman more authority and a tax to ensure that branch libraries won’t close. The four-year library tax plan, called a levy lid lift, had wide support from the city’s elected leadership. The proposal will increase taxes by $7 a year on a property assessed at $100,000. (Photo) (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 2.13.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/13/voters-pass-library-police-measures/

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