Clippings, July 13, 2009

Library News

The downtown Bremerton branch of the Kitsap Regional Library was evacuated Wednesday afternoon while a bomb squad checked to make sure a briefcase left there was harmless. A bomb squad investigated and soon determined the briefcase was safe.  The case was confiscated and the police will contact the owner of a card left inside. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 6.25.09) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/24/downtown-bremerton-library-evacuated/

Kitsap Regional Library will conduct a community wide survey this summer to find out how the library’s services and programs may be improved.  The survey also will be used to gauge the level of public satisfaction with the library system’s performance. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 6.26.09) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/24/kitsap-library-surveying-on-satisfaction/

Vandals, likely two young transient men, ransacked the offices of the downtown Renton Library early Wednesday morning and raided the refrigerator in the staff lounge, tossing food on the floor. The windshield and windows on a city vehicle parked next to the library were broken, and two other vehicles in the parking lot on Mill Avenue were damaged. (Photos) (Renton Reporter [Kent], 6.26.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/49029516.html

Thumbs up to all who braved rain showers last Saturday to make Castle Rock’s first “Top of the Rock” fundraiser a $5,000 success.  Around 400 people showed up to participate in organized runs, walks and a trek up the community’s 190-foot-tall namesake.  All were drawn by a desire to keep the Castle Rock Library operating until voters can deliver more stable funding. (Daily News [Longview], 6.27.09) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/06/27/editorial/doc4a453f58ec2a4607067942.txt

King County Library System (KCLS) invites qualified vendors to participate in the Request for Proposal for Media Management Systems. KCLS must receive proposals from vendors by 5pm PST on August 19, 2009. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 7.7.09)

Economy/Hard Times

The Whatcom County Library System has added a ResumeMaker resource to its online databases to help with increased circulation and traffic at its libraries during the economic downturn. (Northwest Business Monthly [Bellingham], 6.2009) http://www.nwbusinessmonthly.com/nwbm%202009/jun/0609_bnews.html

Monday night’s City Council meeting was big on L’s: layoffs, levies and the LID.  With five layoff notices hanging in the air, the citizens of Ocean Shores spoke up, and spoke out, at the City Council meeting. Most argued against the layoff of a library staff member. One year ago at this time, the library had four staff members. One was laid off in the fall, and another library staff member has received a layoff notice. “Half a library is not acceptable,” said John Clark.  “It is the information center of Ocean Shores.” (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 6.24.09) http://www.northcoastnews.com/2009/06/23/city-council-layoffs-levies-lid

In downturn, libraries become comfort zones with programs providing information, help and guidance to job seekers.  Ray Serebrin, director of the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock, and Theresa Percy, director of the Port Townsend Library, both say the recession is accelerating a long-standing trend of increasing use of local libraries. (Photos) (The Leader [Port Townsend], 6.24.09)

Consumer Reports has been added to Whitman County Library’s on-line website.  Consumer Reports outlines products ranging from appliances and automobiles to electronics and garden items, and it provides buying advice, ratings reports, recommendations, test reviews and more. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 6.25.09)

With the country in the throes of recession, the American public library is amidst a great reemergence. The premise is simple: in hard economic times, people flock to what is free. “In terms of tough times, you can really equate Kitsap Regional Libraries to libraries across the country,” said Carol Schuyler, director of support services for the Kitsap Regional Library, noting a dramatic increase in circulation numbers, new card applications and door counts since the economy took a dive. (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 6.26.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/nkh/entertainment/49186547.html

Elections

With 14 members of the public attending , a May planning meeting for the library system in Point Roberts, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, was the best attended in the county. Most of the participants supported the idea of the library system going to the voters for an increase in their levy, which commissioners will decide at their June meeting. (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 6.2009)

The Sno-Isle Library System plans to ask for a levy increase this November that it says is needed to prevent library branches from cutting hours and losing services. The library system faces a $2.5 million budget shortfall for next year and is preparing to make sacrifices whether or not voters pass the higher tax in November. (The Daily Herald [Everett], 6.26.09) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090626/NEWS01/706269879

Letters & Editorials

On behalf of the Stanwood Library, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the city of Stanwood for the recent landscaping on the west side of the building. After a brutal winter, many of the established plants surrounding the building didn’t survive, and the west side was hit especially hard. We appreciate the city making the effort to revitalize the exterior of the library, a community center used by thousands of local children, teens and adults each month.  (Stanwood Camano News, 6.23.09) http://www.scnews.com/news/2009/0623/letters/021.html

I visited the Sunnyside Library, a part of the Yakima Valley Libraries, Wednesday night and was surprised to see one of the library clerks playing Mexican Bingo with a group of happy boys. I learned this Wednesday night game night is one of the many new programs instigated by our fairly new branch manager, Francisco Gracia-Ortiz from Spain.  I think Sunnyside is fortunate to have this Ph.D from Spain living in our community and making our library so lively. (Daily News [Sunnyside], 6.26.09) http://www.sunnyside.net/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=16242

 

People

The Human Jazz Man, also known as Chris Swenson, is out to prove via his body and voice your local library is one wild place. The singer-actor-drummer-dancer will swoop in Wednesday to kick off the summer reading program for Clallam County youngsters with performances at the Sequim Library and Port Angeles Library, both a part of the North Olympic Library System.  (Photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 6.23.09) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009306239989

Elizabeth George of Walla Walla graduated Jun 13 from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a Master of Science degree in library and information services. Liz has worked for more than 20 years in various posts at the Walla Walla Public Library and recently accepted a new position as a public services specialist where she will continue her work with young people and expand it to adults.  (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 6.28.09)

Summer Reading

Both Stanwood and Camano Island Libraries have full slates of events and rewards for summer reading participants.  When children sign up at the Stanwood Library, they will receive two tickets to an Everett AquaSox baseball game, at the Camano Island Library they will receive a free book bag when they sign up.  Sno-Isle is having a “Name the Otter,” contest for the mascot of its new children’s Website. At the end of the program an otter painting will be raffled off. Teen readers will receive a free movie ticket to Stanwood Cinemas with the first book review they submit. For each subsequent review, they will be entered in the weekly drawing for a $20 gift card to Snow Goose Books in Stanwood. Sno-Isle Libraries will also do a weekly drawing for a USB flash drive and at the end of August the library system will draw for the winner of a laptop. Adults can also submit book reviews and with each submission will be entered into a weekly drawing for a $20 gift card from Snow Goose Books.  (Photo) (Stanwood Camano News, 6.23.09) http://www.scnews.com/news/2009/0623/arts_ent/030.html

Specially trained by the “Reading with Rover” organization, Eddie is a dog that travels to libraries to help kids become more comfortable reading aloud. As part of the Summer Reading Program for the North Central Regional Library System,  Eddie and his owner, retired librarian Beckie Peterson, will be at the Leavenworth Community Library the third Thursday of every month. They will also be in the Wenatchee Public Library the third Wednesday of every month. (Photo) (Echo [Leavenworth], 6.24.09) http://www.leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2422&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

The popular Brunch Bunch summer reading club returns this July to the Mukilteo Library, a part of the Sno-Isle Library System.  The Brunch Bunch is made up of middle school students who will read four great books, enjoy a free breakfast, and participate in book discussions and activities. (Mukilteo Tribune [Snohomish], 6.25.09)

Book Sales

Friends of the Library are raising funds by teaming up with the Columbia Basin Foundation in Ephrata. By creating a fund within the foundation that makes all gifts tax deductible, the Friends of the Library will be able to apply for larger grants. The loftier donations can then be used for future expansion and or improvements to the Grand Coulee Community Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library System (NCRL).  Any donations made to the local library will go directly to NCRL, meaning they could send the money to another town’s branch.  However, if a donation is given to the Friends of the Library, the cash will be used for the Grand Coulee Library. (Photo) (The Star [Grand Coulee], 6.24.09)

[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] ]