Library News

The Friends of the Mukilteo Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, purchased and donated some 75 new chairs for the public meeting room. (Photo) (The Mukilteo Beacon, 3.17.10)

Conner Woodruff died at age 12 last November because of complications from swine flu.  Since then, his family has been taking donations to raise money to buy books for the libraries at Robert Gray and Miller Jr. High School for his classmates to enjoy.  Conner was an avid reader, consuming up to three books at a time, and his family thought the donation was fitting. (Photo) (Daily World [Aberdeen], 3.20.10)

On March 13, the Friends of the Ferndale Library held a grand opening for the B.O.B. Shop, a temporary store next to city hall that gives all its proceeds to the fund for a new library. The B.O.B. Shop will be in operation through May 1, but Amend said the Friends have received so many donations already that they could stay in business for a long time to come. (Photo) (Westside Record-Journal [Ferndale], 3.24.10)

The La Conner Regional Library is six months into their reciprocal agreement with the Anacortes Library.  They have also just signed an agreement with Upper Skagit Library in Concrete that becomes effective May 1. Each of these agreements is a one-year pilot project.  (La Conner Weekly, 3.24.10)

The King County Library System will be disposing of surplus property in the Lake Hills area of Bellevue.  A Public Hearing will be held at the Lake Hills Library on April 15, 2010 at 10 a.m. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 3.25.10)

All branches of the Whitman County Library system will close for a computer upgrade Thursday and Friday. Library materials will be due during the closure.  All book drops will be available for returning items. The library catalog called Horizon will be unavailable during the two-day upgrade. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.25.10)

The Ellensburg Public Library’s Web site has the Toyota recall information on vehicle speed control within the Auto Repair Reference Center, a free database compliments of the library.  (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 3.25.10)

The Camano Island Library Friends raised enough money at its recent Reading Between the Vines auction and dinner to keep the library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, open, member Connie Hall said. Though she is still looking at numbers, Hall said the fundraiser should enable the Camano Library to stay open for another two years. (The Herald [Everett], 3.26.10) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100326/NEWS01/703269913

The Delany Room at the Dayton Memorial Library, a part of the Columbia County Rural Library District, is sporting contemporary new furniture thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Dayton Memorial Library.  They purchased many furniture pieces including lighter weight plastic tables to make meeting set up easier and safer for the public. (Photo) (Blue Mountain News [Dayton], 4.2010) http://bluemtnnews.com/apr10/briefs.html#delany

Elections

Annexing Fairwood to the City of Renton passed a major test Tuesday night with the unanimous approval of the annexation by state Boundary Review Board for King County. The citizen comments were strongly in favor of annexation.  The board now will meet April 8 in Bellevue to vote on a formal decision.  Public testimony won’t be taken. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 3.26.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/88957792.html

Buildings

Every day that the Maple Falls Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, is open is moving day.  Three times a week, employees walk into a small room and roll out as many as 50 pieces of furniture. The moves are a must to gain more space. Library users and workers will have more room when a new library is built. When completed, the Maple Falls Library will close and the new library will open as the North Fork Community Library. (Photo) (Bellingham Herald, 3.25.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/03/24/1353781/new-library-in-kendall-breaks.html

The new North Fork Community Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System is to be built in Kendall and will have its ground breaking ceremony at the building site on Saturday, March 27 at 10 a.m.  The new, larger library will replace the Maple Falls Library, which is slated to close after the Kendall construction is completed. (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 3.26.10)

Six months is a long time for the books to pile up.  That’s probably the greatest challenge staff at the Kent Regional Library, a part of the King County Library System, are dealing with at this point, given that the bustling library was closed that long for a major renovation project.  The library officially reopened, complete with a new interior paint job, March 6. (Photo) (Kent Reporter, 3.26.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/88875337.html

Visit the Coupeville Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, at 10 a.m. April 14 for a grand reopening and dedication ceremony of the newly remodeled and expanded facilities. The community celebration is held in conjunction with the Coupeville Farmers Market and is supported by the Friends of the Coupeville Library. The festivities continue with five days of special events to experience and appreciate the new facility. (Whidbey News-Times [Oak Harbor], 3.27.10)

As of March 15 the students of Point Roberts Primary have a working library where they can check out books and take them home to share with their families. Elizabeth Anne, a volunteer at the Primary, has been the driving force behind the now functional library.  She also serves as the volunteer librarian, having set up a book checkout/check-in system. (Photo) (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 4.2010) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/front_page11.html

With the deal sealed on the parks district’s purchase of the old Julius fire station, the library may be looking at the building as an answer to the need for more space. Librarian Kris Lomedico asked parks commissioners at their March 8 meeting if there was a possibility the library could go in this new building. Lomedico suggested the library system would be willing to work with the parks district to identify grant funding for a remodel.  (Photo) (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 4.2010) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/front_page5.html

Letters & Editorials

Annexing the City of Port Orchard into the Kitsap County Rural Library District (KRL) would cost city taxpayers more, but they might decide it’s worth it.  The rural library district is considering a property tax lid lift to increase revenues.  KRL is an organization consisting of the rural library district and participating cities.  The City of Port Orchard library, while getting services from  KRL,  is not the part of the rural library district so its residents can’t vote in library district lid lift elections. (Independent [Port Orchard], 3.19.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/88565062.html

For the past two months, starting at about 11:50 a.m., people of all ages have been lining up outside the Orcas Island Library waiting for staff member Susannah Beck to open the doors and welcome people inside.  It’s refreshing to see so many people excited to use the library on a Sunday afternoon.  (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 3.24.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/opinion/letters/89025527.html

The Citizens of Ocean Shores once again need to Help the Library. We are concerned that no 2^nd quarter funding will be provided to the Library at the upcoming City Council Financial Planning Session. Yes, we have a grant that is intended to subsidize the Library’s regular funding – but, we need something to subsidize! Please contact your City Council members and ask them to Help the Library. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 3.24.10)

Ten years ago, the city of Milton annexed to the Pierce County Library System, turning the Milton Memorial Library into the Pierce County Library Milton Branch.  Since the city of Edgewood had annexed to the Pierce County Library System in 1996, Edgewood citizens were also provided service at the Milton Branch. This year the name was changed to Milton/Edgewood Branch and plans for a new library location at the Surprise Lake Square were announced and the new library is set to open this fall. (Milton-Edgewood Signal [Tacoma], 3.25.10)

If Port Orchard is to be annexed into the Kitsap County Rural Library District, the city council needs to make some decision before placing the measure on the ballot for the August election. City taxpayers would experience a tax increase if they approve annexation into the library district, but this tax increase is the price they have to pay to be able to vote in library district elections. (Independent [Port Orchard], 3.26.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/89147062.html

Thanks to everyone for making the March Friends of the Point Roberts Library Chocolate Tasting a rousing success, even on a rainy, miserable night! If you missed it, just stop by the library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, by April 10 and buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a six-piece box of wonderful handmade truffles. The drawing will be held at the friends meeting on April 13. (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 4.2010) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/editor_letters.html

People

When Sonya Beard realized her sixth bout with oral cancer was a losing battle, she began to think about the legacy she would leave behind. Beard built up a sizeable chunk of money after learning to invest by working as a secretary for stockbrokers and real estate bankers.  On Friday, she announced plans to donate $500,000 to the Mount Vernon City Library as seed money for a new facility.  (Photo) (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 3.20.10) http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/mount_vernon_woman_intends_to_leave_a_legacy/

A long awaited arrival of Geraldine de Rooy at Grandview’s Bleyhl Community Library is over, as the new director is finally here.  She was scheduled to begin her duties on January 25, but because of an illness wasn’t able to start until two-and-a-half weeks ago.  She took helm at the library Monday, March 8. De Rooy moved to Grandview after having served as director at Pullman’s Neill Public Library. (Photos) (Daily News [Sunnyside], 3.26.10) http://www.sunnyside.net/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/18065/new-library-director-takes-helm-in-grandview

 

Awards

The Queen of Spades Garden Club has awarded the Ellensburg Public Library a grant to promote gardening with children.  The library’s elementary-school book clubs, called Book Worms, will learn about worms as part of gardening. With the grant, they will read new books about worms, learn how worms grow in a worm bin and plant seeds in worm compost.  (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 3.25.10)

Whitman County Library branches will be open for a few extra hours over the next months to boost the time patrons can use their computers. Because of a $50,000 state grant{Renew Washington IMLS grant: editor’s note} provided to the library system, the library has more funds to open more hours for patron computer use, job search classes and putting patrons in touch with local employment resources. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.25.10)

Programs & Displays

There’s going to be a frenzy at the Camas Public Library.  A Script Frenzy, that is. The library is participating in this year’s Script Frenzy, a maverick approach to script writing where people of all ages are invited to bash out screenplays, stage plays, television shows, short films or graphic novels in one month. Entry into the event is free, and to “win” participants just have to sing up and complete the goal of writing 100 pages in April. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.23.10)

Nearly $200 was raised during a recent First Friday event in downtown Camas that was a benefit for the Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library. The Arts and Letters event, held March 5, featured local authors who read and sold their books, students who displayed their artwork, as well as a raffle. The $172 in proceeds will go toward the purchase of books, activities and events at the library. The next First Friday will be held on April 2. (Photo) (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.23.10)

Stevenson author Kim Antieau will be the guest speaker at this month’s adult book discussion at Stevenson Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.  All are invited to participate on Tuesday, March 30.  Her novel, “Church of the Old Mermaids,” is featured as part of a series on local authors and settings. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 3.24.10)

A six-session series of workshops for job seekers begins on Monday, March 29 at Mountain View Commons in Port Townsend.  Presented by the Port Townsend Library, these Transition Yourself workshops are designed to help job seekers focus job plans and learn to network to get results.  The workshops are free.{Renew Washington IMLS grant: editor’s note} (The Leader [Port Townsend], 3.24.10)

The 2010 Community Read draws to a close this week with a visit from Linda Greenlaw, author of “The Hungry Ocean,” on Thursday, March 25 at the Port Townsend High School Auditorium. The 2010 Community Read is sponsored by the Friends of the Port Townsend Library, The Leader, and the Port Townsend School District (The Leader [Port Townsend], 3.24.10)

In celebration of North Central Regional Library’s 50^th anniversary, North Central Regional Library is sponsoring author appearances with Lois Lowry and Garth Stein.  Lowry will be appearing at the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center on April 7 and Stein will be at the North Central Regional Library Distribution Center on April 22.  Discussion groups will also be held and the public is encouraged to check out a copy of their books from their local library. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 3.24.10)

The Palouse Library, a part of the Whitman County Rural Library District, is proud to host a special Meet the Artists even featuring oil painter, David Wold, and paper sculptor, Lauren McCleary on Tuesday April 6. Please stop by the library to enjoy the company of these two creative and fun artists.  The Wold and McCleary exhibit will remain in the library until May 7. (Photo) (The Eagle & Boomerang [Palouse], 3.25.10)

Storytime at the Palouse Library, a part of the Whitman County Rural Library District, is always a lot of fun.  Recently, in an attempt to mix things up a bit, Holly White, the branch librarian, decide to pull out a building set of Straws and Connectors that is part of a math and science kit awarded to libraries through the “What’s the Big Idea?” grant from the National Science Foundation.{Washington State Library is a partner in the “What’s the Big Idea” grant: editor’s note} Storytime ran an extra hour on this day because kids were so engaged in their projects. (The Eagle & Boomerang [Palouse], 3.25.10)

The Prescott Library, a part of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District, is hosting a free program on Tuesday March 30 entitled: “The History of Fish and Fishing in the Columbia River Basin” with Dennis Dauble, who teaches fish ecology at Washington State University’s Richland Campus. This program is free and open to everyone. (The Times [Waitsburg], 3.25.10)

Join in a short term book discussion group at the White Salmon Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, starting Friday, March 26. This month’s book is “Revenge,” a story of hope and is authored by Laura Blumenfeld, a Washington Post writer. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 3.25.10)

Normally, to “cook the books” is a bad thing, but not this April Fool’s Day when University of Puget Sound’s (UPS) Collins Memorial Library celebrates the marriage of reading and eating at the library’s fourth annual Edible Books Festival.  The community is invited to participate in this fun event by creating a book-themed, edible display inspired by a favorite volume of literature. (Tacoma Weekly, 3.25.10) http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/4200

A local expert on alternative energy will share his finding during a presentation April 3 at the Aberdeen Timberland Library.  Alan Richrod will discuss several alternative energies, including wind, solar, geothermal and fuel-less transportation in straightforward language that’s easy to understand. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Aberdeen Timberland Library. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 3.26.10)

Book Sales

The semiannual Used Book Sale will be on Friday and Saturday at the North Spokane County Library.  Proceeds will be used for library activities such as Spokane is Reading, the Big Read and the summer reading programs for children, teens and adults. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 3.25.10) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/25/in-brief-school-hosts-cut-for-a-cause/

[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] ]