Library News

Newcastle Mayor John Dulcich created two new committees for the city – the Library Development Committee and the Community, Communications and Outreach Committee.  The library committee was created to facilitate and ensure groundbreaking of the Newcastle library.  The committee will show the importance of building a library to city staff members and King County Library System.  The Newcastle News [Issaquah], 2.4.10) http://www.newcastle-news.com/2010/02/04/newcastle-mayor-creates-two-new-committees 

Jackie Spurlock, librarian at the Battle Ground Community Library, describes activity at the branch as “bustling,” with increasing circulation, computer use and attendance at special programs.  The new Battle Ground library building opened in May 2009 with 13,000 square feet of space.  Since then, library usage has increased faster than any other branch in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.  (Photo)  (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 2.10.10)

An agreement to provide library services to residents outside Walla Walla city limits will be before the Walla Walla County Library District board Tuesday.  Under the agreement, the library district will pay the city of Walla Walla $188,408 in 2010 to extend library services now available to city residents to suburban residents and property owners.  (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 2.15.10) http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2010/02/15/board-to-look-at-library-service-outside-city-limits

Provided a gala auction and dinner raises enough funds, the Camano Island Library pilot project, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, will get a two-year extension this June.  “The original plan was to ask for a voter-approved bond if the pilot was successful, which it has been,” said David Menard, branch Manager.  “However, with the slow economy, he said, it’s not right to ask for money.” (Photo)  (Stanwood Camano News, 2.16.10) http://www.scnews.com/news/2010-02-16/Camano_Scene/Libraries_offer_loads_of_free_resources.html

With a Pierce County Library card people may check out free passes to visit three Pierce County museums.  The museums are the Children’s museum of Tacoma – Play Pass; Tacoma Art Museum – Art Access Pass; and Washington State History Museum – History Pass. People may check out the museum passes, available on a first-come first-served basis, for three weeks. (Bonney Lake Sumner Courier-Herald [Kent], 2.17.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/pierce/bch/community/84411412.html

Annexation of the North Highline area dominated conversation, with worries about libraries running a close second at the Burien City Council meeting on February 8.  Citizen and council concerns over possible annexation of the northern portion of North Highline to Seattle were voiced.  Deputy Mayor Clark and Block were particularly worried about the impact on the White Center and Boulevard Park area libraries, parts of the King County Library System.  (Highline/Times/Des Moines News SeaTac News, [Burien] 2.19.2010) http://www.highlinetimes.com/2010/02/14/news/annexation-libraries-focus-burien-council-meeting

Residents in the Nile Valley are lobbying to reopen their small library.  Never mind those extended hours added at the Naches library to accommodate neighbors up the road.  More than 200 signatures have been collected on a petition that will be presented Tuesday morning to the Board of Trustees for Yakima Valley Libraries. (Photo) (Yakima Herald Republic, 2.22.10) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/02/21/book-retort-nile-residents-want-their-library-back

The Leavenworth Echo, first published in 1904, is among eight Washington newspapers to be preserved in the Chronicling America project, which preserves publications that first saw light a century or more ago. The project is an arm of the National Digital Newspaper Program.  The Echo pages were scanned and submitted by the Washington State Library under an NDNP grant.  (The Wenatchee World, 2.22.10) http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/feb/22/the-worm-digital-program-gives-old-echoes-new-life/

Sixty items, including the photo accompanying this article, in Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum’s collection can now be search and viewed online, through Denny Ashby Library’s web site: http://www.pomeroy.lib.wa.us.  The collection went online this week.  The creation of this collection was made possible through the Washington Rural Heritage Program, an initiative of the Washington State Library.  (Photo)  (East Washingtonian, [Pomeroy] 2.24.10)

Elections

King County voters – along with a small number of eligible Snohomish County voters – appear to have approved a levy lid lift benefitting the King County Library System (KCLS).  Votes are still being counted from the February 9 special election and numbers won’t be official until February 24, but the lid lift was passing 125,102 to 114,685 as of the deadline for this issue.  (Bothell Reporter, [Kent] 2.17.10) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100222/NEWS01/702229906

A levy lid lift measure will be on the August 17 primary election ballot to provide additional funding for Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.  If passed, the district-wide measure would raise approximately $3 million for books and other items for the library collection, and restore library hours that were cut in 2009.  (The Skamania County Pioneer, [Stevenson] 2.17.10)

Buildings

Bids are being accepted for five small library additions to the Newport Way Library, King County Library System.  Bids are due March 16.  (Daily Journal of Commerce, [Seattle] 2.19.10)

Letters & Editorials

A letter to the editor questioned whether money was the reason for the decision by the library board to close the Nile branch.  Since the Nile area pays more than $46,000 in property tax specific for libraries, I believe that having a local branch a few days per week is not unreasonable.  (Yakima Herald-Republic, 2.21.10) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/02/19/02-21-10-letters-to-the-editor

The Nile “Save Our Library Committee” will meet with the Regional Library Board on Tuesday.  The board is supposed to be considering whether our library will reopen or not.  Nearly 200 of us have signed a petition stating that we want our library reopened soon.  (Yakima Herald-Republic, 2.22.10) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/02/21/02-22-10-letters-to-the-editor

I just got back from the “Citywide Conversations: Help Plan the Future of the Library” event at Seattle Public Library (SPL).  I was underwhelmed, especially by the fact that SPL doesn’t seem to understand what the word “conversation” means. (The Stanger Online [Seattle], 3.1.10) http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/03/01/seattle-public-library-wants-you-to-ideate

Awards

In the November 15 issue of the Library Journal, the Lopez Island Library was named as “one of America’s star libraries” in a national review.  This was based on circulation of items, walk-in traffic, computer use and attendance at library events per capita.  (Island’s Weekly Newspaper [Lopez Island], 2.16.10)

Programs & Displays

When librarians at city public libraries in Kittitas County tell you to read a good book this month and in March, they’ll have a specific book in mind.  Under way at this time is a communitywide “book read:” everyone throughout the county is encouraged to read “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson, who also established the nonprofit Central Asia Foundation.  (Daily Record, [Ellensburg] 2.13.10)

Learn how to preserve food with author Lorene Edwards Forkner, as she presents “Preserving the Harvest” on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Library.  Forkner’s presentation concludes the “Adventures in Simple Living” series put on by the county library with the Port Townsend Library. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 2.17.10) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=26317&SectionID=101&SubSectionID=471&S=1

The Port Townsend Public Library staged its annual Valentine card-making day on February 12. Coordinator Jean Tarascio, youth services librarian, said a highlight of the event was distribution of chocolate hearts to go in the cards.  (Photo)  (The Leader [Port Townsend], 2.17.10)

The latest work from artist Katherine Downing is on display in the Mary Kazda Art Space, located in the Quincy Public Library.  The former Quincy resident, now of Ephrata, created six new paintings for the Quincy show, including a meditation piece and a crane. (Photo) (Grant Co. Journal, [Ephrata], 2.18.10)

Economy/Hard Times

With the city of Puyallup facing a $2 million shortfall in its overall budget, the Puyallup Public Library is one of several departments being asked to shoulder the burden.  Earlier this month, city leaders proposed a $125,000 cut to the library. Library board members said they understood the deficit facing the city and the need for the library to take cuts.  But they felt $125,000, which represents 6 percent of the library’s total budget, was too much. (The Herald [Puyallup], 2.24.10)

Money savers, job seekers and other patrons made 2009 the Pierce County Library’s biggest year ever.  Card holders checked out more than 7.8 million items last year, an 18 percent increase over 2008, library spokeswoman Mary Getchell said.  In-person trips rose 16 percent.  We site use streaked up 65 percent. (The News Tribune Online [Tacoma], 3.2.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/01/1092068/pierce-county-library-card-is.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] ]