Library News

The Friends of the Upper Skagit Library have purchased a projector and screen.  This will enable projection of webinars and other Web programs when something that would be interesting to the community is presented. If such a program is scheduled, we’ll have the information posted on the Web site at www.upperskagit.lib.wa.us. (Concrete Herald, 10.2009)

November 4 marks a special date for many people in the Chehalis area – the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library, a member of the Timberland Regional Library System. This wonderful new library has met and even exceeded our community’s hopes and expectations. Since the library opened to the public last November, library staffers have issued more than 1,000 new Timberland library cards and circulation in Chehalis has increased 30 percent over 2008. (Photo) (The Chronicle [Centralia], 10.23.09)

This past spring when a group was working to renovate the Waterville Public Library, a member of the North Central Regional Library system, they got a little dreamy. The conversation wandered to what extras would improve the atmosphere at the library and one of the wishes discussed was an electric fireplace. Eric and Corinne Biggar were some of those present at the renovation and joined in the wish. Three weeks ago, the Biggars bought a fireplace and had it delivered to the library. (Photo) (Douglas County Empire Press [East Wenatchee], 10.29.09)

The Lyman Library is a free library run by volunteers, using the honor system.  We are located in the old Town Hall behind the fire house and we are here to serve the smaller towns in the upper valley. Our hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have questions or want to donate materials, call 360.826.3929. (Photo) (Concrete Herald, 11.2009)

Elections

Whatcom County voters will decide on November 3 whether to increase the library levy, a measure the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) says is essential to maintaining services and would bring in additional $1.6 million in 2010. If the lift is voted down, services will be cut at libraries across the county, including reducing hours, staff said. Opponents to the measure say WCLS should cut the budget, as taxes should not be raised in tough economic times. (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 10.28.09)

Whitman County’s Rural Library District will have more tax money for operations next year because voters voted 65 percent in favor of boosting the library’s levy back up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2010. Also, voters in Endicott, Farmington and Malden supported a proposition to be added into the library district.  The change means residents in those towns will be taxed directly by the library district. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 11.5.09)

Buildings

A large piece of a construction crane is lifted into place by another crane on the building site of the new Vancouver Community Library, a member of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, in downtown Saturday. The tower crane, nicknamed “Big Daddy” by library staff, was going up near the corner of Evergreen Boulevard and C Street.  The new library building is scheduled to open in 2011. (Photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 11.3.09)

The King County Library System hereby advises all interested parties that the Issaquah Library Exterior Painting Project, with Long Painting Co., has been accepted as of October 30, 2009. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 11.4.09)

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by Sno-Isle Libraries at the service center until 2:00 p.m. Monday November 23, 2009 for provision of shelving for the expanded Coupeville Library. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 11.5.09)

The Whitman County Library has received bids from eight contractors for their upcoming renovation project. The contract will be made after the bids undergo review by a USDA architect in Olympia.  The review is required because of the USDA financing involved in the project, according to Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick. The overall library project is expected to cost around $1 million.  In addition to USDA financing and state library funding, the library has conducted a fund drive. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 11.5.09)

Letters & Editorials

The Sno-Isle Libraries levy is not about 9 cents. The directors of the Sno-Isle Libraries system want us to make up a $2.5 million shortfall in their budget for 2010. Once this $2.5 million tax hike is taken by Sno-Isle Libraries, it’s money that will not be available for local schools, community police and fire districts. There’s only so much taxpayers will pay before they start voting down everything. Go find your ballot right now and mark “no” on Proposition 1. (Edmonds Enterprise [Lynnwood], 10.21.09) http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20091021/ETP21/710219900&template=ETPZoneEDart

Communities need libraries now more than ever.  And your tax dollars make public libraries possible. On Nov. 3, there will be a library levy increase measure on the ballot. If the levy fails, we will need to make deeper reductions to balance the 2010 budget, including fewer open hours in all of our libraries. (Arlington Times [Marysville], 10.28.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_sound/arl/opinion/66545122.html

Libraries serve as a critical access for job hunting for people who may not have computer or Internet access otherwise. Libraries provide homework help for students who want a bit of assistance outside of school hours. Sno-Isle Libraries froze the salary of all staff except senior managers – where they cut the salaries. Sno-Isle saves me money personally by allowing me access to books and videos that I’d otherwise be paying for – or doing without.  So…yes, 9 pennies more per $1,000 assessed value on my home is an incredibly good deal. If you haven’t voted yet, vote “yes” for the Sno-Isle Levy. (The Daily Herald [Everett], 10.29.09) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091029/OPINION02/710299975

The USA Patriot Act was signed into law in October 2001 and reauthorized in March of 2006.  Section 215 of the legislation, knows as the “library provision,” which grants authority to law enforcement to search records and investigate library patrons, is due to sunset on December 31, 2009.  Congress is debating this authorization, and while libraries everywhere are hoping that Section 215 will be modified to coincide with state’s laws and regulations, is it not at all clear that this mitigation will occur. Our Orcas Library Board of Trustees would like to engage Orcas library users in this discussion, since they feel that a democratic society must provide free access to all forms of self-expression and information without undue interference or monitoring. The Orcas Library has pledged to consent to legal court orders to obtain specific information about specific individuals, but it stands behind its users’ rights to privacy and freedom of inquiry, and plans to resist vague and nonspecific “fishing trips” by law enforcement officials.  (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 11.4.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/opinion/letters/68623837.html

People

The Friends of the Cheney Library, a member of the Spokane County Library District, will meet on Wednesday Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at the library. Following the meeting from 2-4 p.m. there will be an open house honoring Kris Barnes, Cheney branch supervisor, who is leaving, and to welcome her replacement, Rachel Kennett. We will also welcome Patrick Roewe, Spokane County Library District branch services manager. (Cheney Free Press, 10.22.09)

Awards

Weller Public Library Director Jan Cronkhite and Sue Alexander, librarian, gained some new perspectives when they attended the Conference of Small and Rural Libraries in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The two librarians received scholarships from the Washington State Library to attend the two-day conference. The two-day event brought together librarians from small libraries across the United States. The fourteen from Washington State held the honor of traveling the furthest to attend the conference. (The Times [Waitsburg], 10.22.09)

Programs & Displays

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Jazz Operation will be livening up the Country Celebration; the Oroville Library’s, a member of the North Central Regional Library, annual fundraising dinner that raises money for the library rebuilding project. Everyone is invited to come see Jazz Operation at the 7^th annual Country Celebration. Admission is free. A lasagna dinner will be available by donation and there will be a silent auction with many great items up for bid.  All proceeds go to support the library rebuild fund. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune [Oroville], 10.22.09)

Thanks to a gift from the Abernathy Fish Technology Center, the Longview Public Library has four “nature backpacks” that children and families can check out to use for exploring nature at home or in the wild. Backpack contents include a journal, binoculars, a compass, thermometer, and tree identification cards. The backpacks are intended to promote the outdoors and encourage children to enjoy and learn about the natural world. (Daily News [Longview], 10.23.09) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/10/23/this_day/doc4ae0f37d467ce427785813.txt

Have you ever had a question you couldn’t answer? Has Google left you empty-handed – or overwhelmed? Have you considered asking an expert for help? Sno-Isle Libraries has professional information specialists (we just call them librarians) who know how to go beyond Google to find you the information you need. Sno-Isle Libraries “Ask a Librarian” service is part of Ask-WA, a statewide cooperative of libraries in Washington that is in turn part of a larger, global cooperative. Ask-WA is a service coordinated by the Washington State Library and in participation with Washington libraries statewide. It is funded in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. (The Mukilteo Beacon, 10.28.09) http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2592:great-answers-to-tough-questions-at-the-library-from-home&catid=78:community&Itemid=186

“The Tourist Town Murders,” a Gorge-based mystery by M.C. Lemley, will be the focus of a reading on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. in the White Salmon Valley Community Library’s, Sprint/Baker Gallery.  Lemley’s story was inspired by the early years of windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge, and centers on the culture clash between locals and barges with tourists and windsurfers. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 10.28.09)

In the digital age it’s important for today’s teens to have a place to go for activities.  The place to be in Prosser is at the Prosser branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries. Last month, the library opened its community room as a place for teens to get together to get involved in special events, and of course, to hit the books and work on their homework. New programs also added include computer classes, book talks, family-centered story times and crafts, guest speakers and special movie showings.  (Record-Bulletin [Prosser], 10.28.09)

Erik Brooks, an author and illustrator based in Winthrop, spent the summer touring all 28 library branches of the North Central Regional Library District as part of the 2009 summer reading program. Working with children who attended library programs, Brooks made 28 drawings to form a book. The result, The Adventures of Super Princess Madame Zorony, is on its way to library bookshelves. As he brought his story from library to library, children attending the programs helped him create characters and make plot choices. At each program, Erik spends about five minutes creating a sketch. The sketches were used to create the more elaborate art that went into the book. (Douglas County Empire Press [East Wenatchee], 10.29.09)

Snoqualmie Valley writers of all ages can soon tap their creative muses for help in two contests – one local and the other national. The first contest, sponsored by the Friends of the North Bend Library, a member of the King County Library System, is open to children in elementary, middle or high school.  Participants who write a short story, play or poem before the deadline at 9 p.m. Nov. 30 are eligible to win a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble.   The other contest, National Novel Writing Month, targets people of all ages worldwide.  (SnoValley Star [Issaquah], 10.29.09) http://snovalleystar.com/2009/10/28/north-bend-library-sponsors-writing-contests-for-all#more-4888

When Central Washington University Professor Daniel Herman PhD. entered the Sunnyside Library, a member of the Yakima Valley Libraries, to deliver a lecture about Benjamin Franklin, he uttered, “Wow, this is more people than I expected.” About 20 eager listeners young and old made their way to the library to learn more about the American legend, who is being celebrated at the facility through various events between now and early December. (Photo) (Daily News [Sunnyside], 11.2.09) http://www.dailysunnews.com/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/17118/ben-franklin-lecture-draws-large-crowd-to-sunnyside-library

Book Sales

The Friends of the Edmonds Library, a member of the Sno-Isle Libraries, Annual Book Sale, held Saturday Oct. 24, raised over $8,000 for Friends of the Library projects. Proceeds help provide furniture, programs for adults and children, maintenance on equipment, etc. (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 10.29.09) http://www.edmondsbeacon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2566:friends-book-sale-again-a-huge-success&catid=78&Itemid=186

Economy/Hard Times

With things looking as grim as they do for Seattle’s 2010 budget, one of the major impacts of the cuts will be on Seattle Public Libraries. Most branches will see their hours reduced to 35 per week. The Seattle City Council is reviewing the mayor’s proposed 2010 budget and will vote on it before the end of November. (Ballard News Tribune [Seattle], 10.23.09) http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2009/10/14/news/city-budget-director-2010-bad-2011-will-be-worse

The Seattle City Council, sitting as its budget committee, has restored $863,000 to the public library budget.  That means the library will be able to provide seven-day-a-week service at 11 branches and the Central Library. The remaining 15 branches will operate on a five-day-a-week, 35-hours-a-week schedule, as originally proposed. (The Seattle Times Online, 11.12.09) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010259875_weblibrary12m.html

Pierce County Library System is facing at least $1 million in cuts over the next year. But there are no plans to slash services or hours of operation at the system’s 17 branches. In fact, officials are moving forward with a new building in University Place and a new branch in Fife that was approved by voters in last week’s general election. Most of the cuts will come from staff, according to library spokeswoman Mary Getchell.  The library would eliminate 25 positions, 12 of which are supervisory, and reduce hours for seven positions. In addition, 37 jobs would take on lower-level duties with less pay.  (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 11.9.09) http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/947042.html

[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] ]