WA State Library News

State librarian Jan Walsh is calling it quits on a long public library career, effective August 31. The Office of the Secretary of State, which has overseen the library since budget cuts earlier in the decade, put out a news release announcing the decision by Walsh, who has worked as a librarian for 38 years.  (The Olympian Online [Olympia], 7.29.10) http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/29/1319557/state-librarian-walsh-putting.html

Library News

The Ritzville Library District No. 2 Board of Directors has chosen to offer a cart of free books, magazines, pamphlets and media on the main floor of the library, shelved on a paperback book spinner and a Free Book Cart. The donated items are the ones the library has decided not to add to the collection.  (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 7.22.10)

Randy West and his daughter, Maggie, embarked on an adventure with book bags in hand.  The duo from Edmonds each checked out several books from the Mukilteo Library before the library opened for the day on July 2.  After all, they had a ferry to catch and a schedule to keep if they wanted to accomplish their goal of visiting all 21 Sno-Isle Library branches and one service center in a single day.  (Photos) (The Herald [Everett], 7.27.10) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100727/NEWS01/707279935

Sarah Stanley raised $55 at a lemonade stand and donated the money to the Omak Public Library. The money will go toward the summer reading program.  Librarian Sharon Reddick said, “We are thrilled that Sarah loves reading and the library.” (Photo) (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, 7.28.10)

Libraries have doubled the size of their movie collections in recent years and the results are impressive: “According to the survey released by the Online Computer Library Center, public libraries in the U.S. lend an average 2.1 million videos/day, which edges out the 2 million discs shipped by Netflix and almost as much as the combined total of DVD rentals at Redbox (1.4 million) and Blockbuster (1.2 million).”  Also helpful: libraries are, like, free and stuff.  (Seattle Weekly Online, 8.3.10) http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/08/more_people_rent_dvds_from_lib.php

Elections

The Langley City Council gave final approval Monday to its intent to annex the city into the Sno-Isle Library District.  The council voted unanimously to join the library district; the issue will go on the November ballot after it’s approved by Island County commissioners. (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 7.21.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/98873839.html

The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to endorse the proposed property tax levy increase for the North Olympic Library System.  The measure will be on the August 17^th primary ballot. Library officials say they are grappling with a projected budget shortfall and the levy increase would raise about an additional $1,316,000 in 2011. (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7.22.10)

Buildings

In 1966, Snohomish residents approved a $150,000 bond issue for a library addition, which was dedicated on a snowy Saturday afternoon two years later.  Today, the historic library building is the responsibility of the city but administered by the nonprofit Snohomish Carnegie Foundation, and this summer a professional planner will be selected to return the site to its 1910 origins.  (Photos) (Everett News Tribune [Snohomish], 7.21.10)

The Milton Edgewood Library is a new library branch being constructed in an existing 1-story retail space located in the Surprise Lake Shopping Mall during the summer of 2010. The purpose of this RFB is to fabricate, deliver and install library furniture fixtures for the new branch library (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 7.27.10)

As the King County Library System moves forward with plans to rebuild Renton’s two libraries, the future of library access in Renton is up for discussion.  Although plans for a new Highlands branch expect to double or triple its current size, after building the two new libraries, it’s possible Renton won’t gain any additional library space, said KCLS Director Bill Ptacek.  (Renton PI Online, 8.2.10) http://blog.seattlepi.com/renton-pi/archives/216720.asp

Letters & Editorials

There are free books at the library! And that is why I smile when I go into the Ocean Shore Library and see kids exploring the children’s books, and when I see the Teen section bursting with young people reading and using computers.  Please vote for the library levy and keep those free books available to everyone.  (Daily World [Aberdeen], 7.21.10)

Ferndale voters chose the library building on its present site. Recently, a majority of the Council over-turned the express wishes of the voters by repossessing the library building in order to remodel it for the police.  First, back-off pushing the library out, and create, generate, and/or decide upon adequate funding for the library.  Second, finally move forward with a serious search for the best way to provide a new, state of the art law and justice center.  (Westside Record-Journal [Ferndale], 7.21.10)

The supervised environment and many free activities offered to children and young adults at the White Salmon Public Library are a vital enhancement to our community.  Students can do research for their projects and request inter-library loans for needed materials – free of charge.  Please safeguard our public libraries.  Vote for the Library Levy Lift on August 17.  (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 7.22.10)

I’m writing in support of the upcoming Fort Vancouver Regional Library levy election on August 17.  The additional cost per household would only be about $20 a year, that’s less than I pay per month for Netflix. Let’s support our libraries.  In today’s economic hard times, libraries are one of the best investments of all for kids and adults alike.  (Columbian [Vancouver], 7.22.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/98873839.html

Signs are starting to go up around Port Angeles saying “Your Libraries – YES!” I hope that these signs will inspire all the readers in Clallam County to vote to restore the levy rate to its previous rate of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value.  Please think about the present and future and vote for the library proposal on August 17^th. (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7.23.10)

This is in regard to the proposed North Olympic Library System’s August 17 levy. Is it a good idea? In these uncertain economic times, I believe that any and all levies should be deferred for at least a few years until the economy stabilizes. Certainly, some patrons would be inconvenienced, but the savings would be more than worth it.  (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7.23.10)

The North Olympic Library System needs to pass a levy of 50 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. While inflation has become the norm over the years, our libraries have offered more and more services with fewer resources.  Vote yes on the library levy.  (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7.27.10)

As it stands, Yelm Timberland Library is refusing to cover any of the costs for leased space in Yelm, as it does at the current location at Prairie Park.  If the City of Yelm isn’t able to get moving on a plan for whatever reason, perhaps it’s time for citizens to take the lead and launch a grassroots effort to find and fund a new home for the Yelm Library.  (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 7.30.10) http://yelmonline.com/articles/2010/07/30/opinion/editorials/doc4c53559e61f50577013404.txt

People

Last weekend some friends of Spencer Shaw’s got together to remember him.  Shaw retired after 17 years of teaching at the University of Washington, a short time in his 60-year career, but his presence still echoes here.  He died in June at 93. Shaw was a librarian whose specialty was literature for children and young adults.  He was a lover of stories and master storyteller. (Seattle Times, 7.29.10) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2012474589_jdl29.html

Awards

Bob Valen and Lisa Hess display a big check picked up Friday for Grand Coulee Friends of the Library from Walmart.  Hess and Leah Foot, following discussions about the lack of on-site books that address local and Native American histories, wrote the grant, which will allow such books to remain on site, rather than be loaned out around the North Central Regional Library System. (Photo) (The Star [Grand Coulee], 7.21.10) http://grandcoulee.com/articles/2010/07/21/news/doc4c471326a7930840810126.txt

Programs & Displays

Friends of the Library and the Blue Mountain Artisan Guild will sponsor a class by local artist Phil Rider on Thursday, July 22, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., on the Denny Ashby Library lawn.  Phil will provide instruction to children on spray can painting and art.  (East Washingtonian [Pomeroy], 7.21.10)

Once used as a heavy-duty patch-up adhesive found in tool sheds across the country, duct tape is taking on a new “roll” as an inventive way to create everyday objects.  Kids, teens and even adults got a chance to make creations out of duct tape at the Freeland Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, on Friday.  About 25 people of all ages showed up to make wallets, bags and clothes. (Photo) (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 7.21.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/community/98875944.html

The Prosser branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries is hosting “Game Day” on Wednesday, July 21. The event will include several games for both children and adults.  Librarians, who are gearing up for the event, expect that the Nintendo Wii game, “Dance, Dance Revolution,” will be the afternoon’s most popular game.  (Photo) (Record-Bulletin [Prosser], 7.21.10)

The Aberdeen Timberland Regional Library launched its “Libraries in the Park” reading program last month to be held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s free lunch program.  Four days a week, library employees hold a story time session and have a crafts booth at various parks throughout Aberdeen.  After listening to stories, kids can check out book that are brought on wracks to the parks. (Photos) (Daily World [Aberdeen], 7.22.10)

Marti Sanders has seen firsthand the positive impact art can have on people suffering from dementia. Sanders teamed with Brush Prairie artist Pat La Croix to display the art at SWIFT Gallery in the Battle Ground Community Library, a part of Fort Vancouver Regional Library System, in May and June. (Photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 7.26.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/26/showing-arts-healing-powers/

Patrons expecting quiet at the Shadle Library last Thursday were in for a surprise.  The shrill call of bagpipes and the rattle of a drum shattered the soft murmur of muted voices and the rustle of turning pages. Spokane Public Libraries have seen a dramatic increase in attendance. Last week summer reading program attendance was 2,769.  The total attendance for 2009 was 2,480. (Photo) (The Spokesman-Review Online [Spokane], 7.29.10) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jul/29/reading-gets-loud-at-the-library/

The work of portrait artists Allon Buob will be featured at the Mary Kazda Art Space, located in the Quincy Public Library, a part of North Central Regional Library System, until mid-September.  “A Child’s Summer” is the whimsically refreshing name of the exhibit by the Coulee City oil painter.  (Grant County Journal [Ephrata], 7.29.10)

[This summary of library news was created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State.  It represents a selection of newspaper clippings about Washington libraries from all Washington newspapers received in the packets on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or [email protected] ]