Washington State Library

The Office of the Secretary of State and Washington State Archives announce the addition of an interactive online resource titled “Public Officials and Public Records.”  It is intended to introduce newly elected and newly appointed public officials to the new world of public records and their new responsibilities.  The online guide can be access by going to this link:  http://bit.ly/gr8z02.   (Northern Kittitas County Tribune [Cle Elum], 1.20.11)

Library News

Joanna Bailey, temporary library services manager for Neill Public Library shared that a donation to your local library is indeed a gift the entire community can enjoy.  And, unlike gifts of stocks or bonds, the value of your investment to your library multiplies even in sparse economic times.  Neill Public Library has four new library donation plans geared to help make the most of your monetary investments and supplement the library budget as the library navigates turbulent economic seas.  (Daily News, (Moscow ID/Pullman WA) 1.8.11)

The Walla Walla Public Library knows that getting through the winter may be easier with a good book to read.  The library has plenty of books, audio books and music to get you started.  Public Services Specialist Alexis Rodergerdts explained that there are plenty of options to choose from at the library including something new and exciting which is the Washington “Anytime Library.”(Union-Bulletin, 1.18.11)

Port Orchard’s city council voted unanimously, without discussion, on Tuesday, to officially give taxation authority to the Kitsap Regional Library District for the Port Orchard Library.  This will allow residents to be taxed directly and give them a direct voice in the library’s governance.  (Independent, (Port Orchard) 1.14.11)

The Puyallup Public Library will be providing copies of the most commonly used 2010 IRS tax forms and instructions during this tax season.  Not all forms or instructions are available, so users might need to print copies for their personal use.  The Puyallup Public Library will continue to provide space to the AARP Tax-Aide volunteers this coming season.  If you are 60 or older, you can use this tax filing assistance program for free.  (The Herald, (Puyallup) 1.19.11)

Buildings

Kitsap Regional Library officials are hoping to reopen the Manchester Branch, which has been closed since before Thanksgiving due to water damage caused by frozen pipes, by the end of February or early March.  Friends of Manchester Library, the nonprofit agency that owns the building, and KRL have selected a contractor to repair the building.  Work on reconstruction got underway on Jan 9.  The reconstruction work is supposed to take between three and four weeks.  (Independent, (Port Orchard) 1.14.11)

The new Milton/Edgewood Library opened its doors on January 12, and more than a thousand people came to celebrate.  “The community response was phenomenal,” Pierce County Library System Executive Director Neel Parikh said. The new location is twice its previous size at 6,650 square feet with a large meeting room, two conference rooms, a study room, a new space for teens, a great children’s area and many, many more computers.  (Photo)  (The Herald, (Puyallup) 1.19.11)

Letters & Editorials

Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) wants to close all libraries on Sunday afternoons to save $100,000 per year.  The director says she is sorry but this opening is not “cost effective” and that this evens the playing field as all the KRL libraries will be closed.  I am not convinced by any of their arguments.  I think it is a very bad decision.  I am shocked that it is imposed upon us without any due process with our community, and without any public discussion.  (Bainbridge Island Review, 1.14.11) www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/bir/opinion/letters/113504834.html

Awards

A $25,000 grant will help the Whatcom County Library System maintain programs that reach out to low-income people.  The Renew Washington grant (editor’s note: LSTA funds) provides money for local libraries to help with job searches and computer and language skills as part of its Hard Times Project.  More information about classes and employment resources can be found online at wcls.org.  (Bellingham Herald, 1.9.11) www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/01/07/1808654/whatcom-county-libraries-offer.html

The Neill Public Library received a $10,000 grant from The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to better develop library services that connect readers to librarians.  The type of grant made to the library was called a “reader’s advisory grant,” which is a service in public libraries that connects readers with other books and materials they would enjoy.  The grant will be used to further train the library staff, purchase two new online resources and to schedule a presentation with Nancy Pearl, a well-known literary advocate and librarian from the Seattle area.  (The Daily Evergreen, (Pullman) 1.11.11) www.dailyevergreen.com/story/33461

Julie Jantz, Librarian at the Odessa Public Library, reported to the city council that new computers have been installed in the library.  The Odessa Friends of the Library group also purchased a new table and three office-style chairs for the new computer area.  The new computers were obtained through a “Renew Washington” grant in 2010.(editor’s note: LSTA funds)  In addition to the computers, a trainer from the Colville branch of WorkSource will be coming to the library soon to teach Jantz and volunteers to assist local residents in using WorkSource to search employment online.  (Odessa Record, 1.13.11)

Programs & Displays

Instead of books, visitors browsed cockroaches and scorpions at the Mukilteo Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, Wednesday during a presentation by the Seattle Bug Safari.  Owner Brian Rolf introduced nine live species of bugs to an eager crowd who braved the snowy roads on December 29 to learn about these insects and arachnids. (Photo) (The Mukilteo Beacon, 1.5.11)

When former Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson started posting photos on Facebook that he had taken of the sun setting off his front porch, he only wanted to share the local view with his friends.  Now more than just Haakenson’s Facebook friends can enjoy his pictures.  Through January 28, he will be displaying a number of his prints at the Edmonds Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries. (Photos) (The Enterprise [Lynnwood], 1.5.11)

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District will launch its 2011 Bookmark Contest on Sunday, January 2. The popular contest, held every other year, is open to children in kindergarten through eighth grades. Entry forms are available in English, Spanish and Russian at the District’s website. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 1.6.11)

Calling all teenage artists!  The North Bend Library, a part of King County Library System, is hosting an art show and contest for students in grades six through 12. The artwork will be displayed in the library in February.  Winners in the art contest will be announced at the art show’s opening reception, from 3-5 p.m. February 4. (SnoValley Star [Issaquah], 1.6.11)

The Liberty Lake Municipal Library is holding a winter reading program beginning this week until March 31 for all ages.  Family readers or beginning independent readers can receive stickers for different types of books read. Older participants who read three books are eligible to win a chance at a Barnes & Noble gift card or other cold-weather treats. (Liberty Lake Splash, 1.6.11) www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=20323

Jim Trainer will present an illustrated talk on 10 of his favorite historical, culturally significant, or champion status trees from through-out Kitsap County at 2 p.m. on February 8 at the Port Orchard Library. The free event will include a book signing and sale of his new book, “Kitsap Trees”, with 50 percent of the proceeds benefitting the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation. (Photo) (Independent [Port Orchard], 1.14.11)

The Monroe Library and Monroe School District have partnered up to host the “Inquiring Minds” lecture series.  These presentations are sponsored in part by Humanities Washington in the interest of making students and citizens aware of the rich history of Washington State.  Additional funding comes from the Friends of the Monroe Library and the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation. (Monroe Monitor & Valley News, 1.18.11)

King County libraries want children and adults in a zone.  The Study Zone.  The tutoring program now offers online help to students in grades kindergarten through 12.  Children can now meet at the library virtually with their tutors, using library computers.  The yearlong program of in-person tutoring will continue at all King County Library System branches, including Issaquah and Sammamish until June 16.  The summer session will run July 5-August 26.  (Issaquah Press, 1.19.11) www.issaquahpress.com/2011/01/18/the-%E2%80%98zone%E2%80%99-marks-the-spot-for-online-tutors/

On Thursday, January 27 from 3 to 4 p.m., the North Mason Timberland Library in Belfair will host Northwest author Jan Walker.  Walker’s parenting textbook, “Parenting from a Distance: Your Rights and Responsibilities,” was released in its third edition this January. Her young reader novel “Inmate’s Daughter” and the novel “Dancing to the Concertina” were named “Washington Reads” books by the Washington State Library.  (Photo)  (Kitsap Sun, (Bremerton) 1.23.11)  http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/23/belfair-library-hosts-northwest-author-jan-walker/

[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] ]