Clippings, March 18, 2009

Elections:

Thumbs up to Castle Rock’s many library supporters.  And there are many – enough to date to keep the city’s library operating at least through the summer.  (Daily News [Longview], 2.21.09)

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/21/editorial/doc499f2c1b91f88930532211.txt

Buildings:

Federal Way Regional Library (KCLS) patrons have a few more weeks to soak up the library’s services before it is shut down for bond-approved construction.  (photo)  (Federal Way Mirror [Federal Way], 2.18.09)

So far, community feedback has been mixed about the Orcas Library expansion. (Photo) (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 2.18.09)  http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/news/39684469.html

Contract discussions continued at the Feb. 12 Adams County Rural Library District meeting, even though the board is yet to receive the most recent draft of the agreement between the district and Mid Columbia Libraries (MCL).  (The Outlook [Othello], 2.19.09)

The new library branch has become a fixture on the island, but people must still vote to decide if it will stay.  (The Daily Herald [Everett], 2.20.09)

The Port Orchard City Council got its first look Tuesday night at the preliminary plan for the proposed downtown underground parking garage, answering initial questions about project cost and construction schedules.  The disposition of the Sidney Museum and its place in its downtown re-development plan was also discussed, although those decisions will be deferred until the project’s second phase.  The structure will have a total of 473 stalls on two levels, fewer than projected in past estimates.  It will have two entry points, from Bay Street on what is now Frederick Street and on Prospect Street across from Port Orchard City Hall.  The cost for the first phase of the project, which includes excavation, is estimated at $24 million in 2008 dollars.  The estimate for the entire project, which includes a relocated library facility and space for retail is $35.5 million. (Independent [Port Orchard], 2.20.09)  http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/community/39855588.html

People:

Between 1960 and 1964, I was the class librarian at Little Flower High School in San Antonio, Texas.  Today, I volunteer my time to serve as chair of Adams County Rural Library District No. 1.  (Photo)  (The Outlook [Othello], 2.19.09)

The Xenodican Club had their annual cleanup of the Palouse Library (Whitman County Library) followed by a pot-luck luncheon recently.  (Photo)  (Boomerang [Palouse], 2.19.09) http://www.the-boomerang.com/atf.php?sid=2111&current_edition=2009-02-19

The Elma Timberland Library has two new members on its advisory board, which the Elma City Council approved at its meeting Feb. 2.  (The Vidette [Montesano], 2.19.09)

Awards:

Columbia County Rural Library District has received a 2008 Supporting Student Success Small Project Grant from the Washington State Library in the amount of $3,963.  (Dayton Chronicle [Dayton], 2.18.09)

Two librarians recently received the 2009 Malstrom Award from the League of Snohomish Historical Organizations.  (Photos) (The Daily Herald [Everett], 2.19.09) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090219/COMM01/702199899

A playful cat. An emerald lizard. A wise owl, a musically inclined unicorn and even an inviting rocking chair.  Each is an image crafted by a talented junior artist and deemed a grand prize winner in the 2009 Bookmark Contest held by the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.  (Photo)  (Columbian [Vancouver], 3.9.09) http://www.fvrl.org/kids/bookmark_winners.htm

Programs and Displays:

Through spinning and weaving classes, Team Time afternoons with a tea madame and evenings spent decorating bodies in henna tattoo art, an entire community has come together, connected by the common thread of the national bestselling book “Three Cups of Tea.”  Thousands of Pierce county residents have joined in the county-wide READS program, through book discussions and fun activities. (Pierce County Library System)  (The Herald [Puyallup], 2.19.09)

A very productive meeting between a few volunteers and parents was held last month to discuss the continuation of “Story Time” at the Benton City Library – a branch of MCL.  (Benton City Bulletin [Benton City], 2.19.09)

Timberland Regional Library will begin its district-wide Family Read-Aloud program on March 2 and conclude the initiative on April 11.  The program is designed to encourage more reading between families.  (The Chronicle [Centralia], 2.20.09)

Economy/Hard Times:

Looking ahead to a year of “cutting close to the bone,” Kitsap Regional Library last week reached a balanced 2009 budget.  (North Kitsap County Herald [Poulsbo], 2.6.09)

The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Board of Trustees approved cutbacks to the district’s books-by-mail service at its regular meeting Feb. 9 at Three Creaks Community Library.  (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 2.19.09)

In hard times, more people check out Kitsap’s libraries. Bobby Johnson has applied for about 70 jobs in three weeks, all from his local library.  (photo) (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 2.20.09) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/19/in-hard-times-more-people-checking-out-kitsaps/

Timberland Regional Library’s Board of Trustees met in a special board meeting in Tumwater to determine how public input should be gathered regarding reductions in spending and revenue options to meet an expected $2.5 million shortfall in the library system’s 2010 budget.  (Chinook Observer [Long Beach], 2.25.09]

Library staffers refer to it as the stampede, the group of people lined up outside the doors in the morning, waiting for the building to open to go online, peruse magazines or pick up books they’ve placed on hold.  With the economy forcing people to cut costs such as home Internet access, not to mention book purchases and DVD rentals, library circulation and attendance are on the rise as people embrace a “why buy when you can borrow?” mentality.  (photo)  (Columbian [Vancouver], 3.7.09)  http://www.columbian.com/article/20090307/NEWS02/703079960

[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 newspaper clippings packet from all Washington newspapers received on the date shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Bobbie at 360-570-5577 or [email protected].]