Library News

Bleyhl Community Library director Geraldine de Rooy recently unveiled a proposal to change the current library hours starting in June.  During the City Council meeting on May 3, she outlined her reasoning and proposed hours.  Currently the library is open six days per week for a total of 33.5 hours.  De Rooy is proposing that the library switch to a five-day week and increase the hours of operation to 37.5.  (Grandview Herald, 5.12.10)

West Pasco may get a library of its own within the next three years thanks to a tentative agreement reached Monday by Pasco and Mid-Columbia Libraries.  The library district hopes to open the new branch before 2013, said Kyle Cox, district administrative services director.  (Tri-City Herald (Kennewick), 5.18.10)

Elections

Nothing like a little library debate to get the blood pumping in Ocean Shores.  After a heated debate Monday night, the City Council decided to place a tax measure on the ballot in August, asking for 22 cent per $1,000 of assessed property value to support the local library.  (Daily World (Aberdeen), 5.11.10)

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District leaders took the plunge Monday: They agreed to place a levy lid request measure on the Aug. 17 ballot, asking voters in the district’s four-county territory to raise property taxes about 8 cents per $1,000 in assessed value. Raising the tax rate to the full 50 cents permitted by state law would raise library district revenue by about $3 million each year, starting in 2011.  (Columbian (Vancouver), 5.12.10)  http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/12/library-district-to-ask-voters-to-increase-levy-li/

Buildings

The King County Library System has decided not to extend its contract with the developer Lorig Associates in the Newcastle library project, KCLS officials said.  The plan is now for a standalone building without adjacent housing.  The Newcastle library is scheduled for a fall 2011 opening.  (Photo) (The Newcastle News (Issaquah), 5.7.10) http://www.newcastle-news.com/index.php?s=Library+project+moves+forward+without+Lorig

Letters & Editorials

We are very excited about the $900,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state.  This, combined with the generous funding from the City of Quincy, will allow construction of the Quincy Library to begin soon.  Our dreams of a new library are more concrete every day.  (Quincy Valley Post Register, 5.6.10) 

One of the highlights of my early childhood was going to the Quincy Library with my mother.  For a youngster growing up in the pre-Internet and video game age, the library was this wonderful place where I could have fun, explore and learn – and I could even take that fun home with me for free!  (Quincy Valley Post Register, 5.6.10)

There is no doubt that the Spokane County Library District needs some financial TLC.  While nothing is likely to go before voters this year, SCLD might be wise to take a wait-and-see approach before putting another ballot request before voters.  (Valley News Herald (Spokane), 5.7.10)

We have to hand it to the King County Library System for trying to do something different with the Newcastle Library.  But once again, the recession has interfered with the best-laid plans.  (The NewCastle News (Issaquah), 5.7.10)  http://www.newcastle-news.com/index.php?s=city+never+needed+a+brand+or+chartreuse+signage

Yakima Valley libraries have a long tradition of serving the public’s quest for knowledge.  That will not change in the wake of last week’s state Supreme Court decision involving Internet filters on library computers.  It turns out Yakima Valley libraries were handling Internet access exactly the way a majority of justices argued in the 6-3 decision that supports a public library’s refusal to disable content-blocking Internet filters for adult patrons.  (Yakima Herald Republic, 5.11.10)

It’s being billed as an Internet pornography case.  But the 6-3 decision of the Washington Supreme Court allowing public libraries to “filter” Internet information is much, much more.  The lawsuit that started here in Okanogan County wasn’t about porn, and the court is setting a precedent that could very well lead down a slippery slope that essentially allows librarians to censor information.  (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle (Omak), 5.12.10)

The new “Facilities Plan” for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRL) is a vast improvement over the inequities of the old plan, but unfortunately it does not update the 2003 space standard of .5 square ft. per capital. The management of our common library district has long tended to ignore the efficiencies that commonly come from economies of scale.  (The Reflector (Battle Ground), 5.12.10)

By their very nature, librarians want to make as much information available as possible to the public.  The thought of limiting access to printed material is foreign to most librarians.  That’s why librarians throughout the state have struggled with proposals to put filters on library computers to limit public access to certain files.  (The Olympian, 5.13.10)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/05/13/1237089/sophisticated-filters-are-good.html

The Friends of the Liberty Lake Library held their sixth annual spring social event titled “Seren-dip-a-ty” on Saturday, April 24 at the LDS Church.  It was a huge success.  The proceeds will benefit the library in purchasing equipment and sponsoring various programs throughout the year. (Liberty Lake Splash, 5.13.10) http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=19567

Of course first and foremost I feel for the kids who’ve lost out by this dastardly act.  Yet I also have to feel for the taxpayers, since they may face replacement costs in excess of $20,000.  The Port Orchard Library has a specific child librarian (whose name I shall not name).  If more than 1,200 books have gone missing, that works out to about six a say – for 200 days in a row.  It amounts to dereliction of duty for her not to have noticed this and taken necessary protective steps. (Independent (Port Orchard), 5.14.10)

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/letters/93724379.html

The members of the Ferndale Library executive board want to thank the community from our hearts.  We greatly appreciate the support of the Friends of the Ferndale Library capital campaign as we continue to raise funds for the new Ferndale library. (Bellingham Herald, 5.16.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/05/14/1431387/ferndale-library-backers-say-city.html

We still don’t understand the veil of secrecy surrounding negotiations between the city of Pasco and the Mid-Columbia Library District. We’ve read the library district’s response to our April 30 editorial, calling for greater transparency in the negotiating process. The rebuttal is posted on the district’s website.  Maybe you’ll find it more convincing than we did. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 5.16.10)   http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/05/16/1016346/library-talks-in-pasco-still-keep.html

I strongly agree with North Central Regional Library (on filtering Web sites). The library is public, not just for the good but for the ones who are going to do bad. Most law-abiding citizens have Internet or computers, so I agree with the libraries on controlling Web access.  (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, 5.19.10)

I write this letter far after the fact, and I apologize for this.  I have been away from Gig Harbor for several years and return only on a rare occasion.  I wanted to write to mourn the loss of several incredibly giving workers at the Gig Harbor/Peninsula branch of the Pierce County Library.  For years, the library has been staffed with incredible people.  I know it still has an excellent staff, but I cannot let the loss of devoted librarians go without mention.  (Peninsula Gateway (Gig Harbor), 5.19.10) http://www.gateline.com/2010/05/20/7022/letters-to-the-editor.html

People

Twenty-five years ago, Paul Anderman applied for an open librarian position in Peshastin, part of the North Central Regional Library System.  “I didn’t think I’d get it,” he said.  “It’s a women’s world in the library, but I gave it a chance and they picked me.”  Now, the community is celebrating his 25 years of contributions, while one thing was made clear; “I’m not done yet,” he said.  (Photo)  (Echo [Leavenworth], 5.12.10)

Awards

The Clark County Historical Museum earlier this month became the first organization to win two State Historic Preservation Awards in one year.  One award was for the museum’s Artifact Detectives program.  The second award recognized the museum’s initiative to bring together all 28 Carnegie libraries – of which the museum is one – under the umbrella of the Carnegie Library Consortium of Washington.  (Photo) (Columbian (Vancouver), 5.10.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/10/county-historical-museum-honored/

As part of National Library Week in late March, the Blehyl Community Library held a contest that allowed members of the community to design a bookmark that will be reprinted and made available to the public for use.  There were many winners, and you can see their winning designs in an upcoming series, when The Grandview Herald will feature each artist and their design. (Photo) (Grandview Herald, 5.12.10)

Columbia County Rural Library District has been selected as one of the recipients of the We the People “A More Perfect Union” Bookshelf.  The Bookshelf is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities program, which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture.  The library received seventeen hardcover books for children and young adults, as well as a number of bonus selections. (Dayton Chronicle, 5.12.10)

In their first grant cycle of 2010, the Hazel Miller Foundation granted $1,750 to the Friends of the Mountlake Terrace Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, and $5,000 to Senior Services of Snohomish County.  The Friends of the Mountlake Terrace Library made a request to fund the summer reading program. (The Edmonds Beacon (Mukilteo), 5.13.10)

Construction on a new Quincy Library is likely to start by October after the state approved a $900,000 grant to the city.  The state Department of Commerce awarded the Community Development Block Grant to Quincy on the third attempt. The federally-funded, state-administered grant is designed to help low- to moderate-income areas with public or community facilities, economic development, housing rehabilitation service and planning projects. (Columbia Basin Herald [Moses Lake], 5.13.10)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/05/13/news/doc4bec682195308205831344.txt

A check for $1,000 was presented to the Friends of the Ferndale Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, to support the new Ferndale Library building project at a recent Wal-Mart staff meeting.  The Wal-Mart Foundation provides funds to the local Wal-Mart store for 10 grants per year to help local community nonprofits.  (Bellingham Herald, 5.14.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/05/13/1429931/wal-mart-donates-to-ferndale-library.html

Programs & Displays

The Camas Public Library is sponsoring the “What I Love About Camas” photography contest during this month.  Amateur photographers in two age groups are invited to participate in any of three categories.  Each person may enter two photographs for free; additional entries require a $5 entry fee.  Deadline for entries is Tuesday, June 1 at 5 p.m.  (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 5.11.10) 

Forest fires, happiness and domestic help: The topics of the three books residents can vote on for Pierce County READS 2011 are as varied as the residents themselves.  Pierce County residents can vote at any of the Pierce County Library System locations or online at www.piercecountylibrary.org for one of the three titles. (The Herald (Puyallup), 5.19.10)

[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] ]