Library News

The Friends of the Longview Library need a logo, and they want the public to design it.  The new Friends logo will be used for projects related to the work of the Friends and to benefit the Longview Public Library. The winning logo designer will receive a $50 gift certificate from the location of his or her choice. The winning logo will be announced and displayed at the library in late September.  http://tdn.com/news/local/article_83abd1f2-742a-11df-8e05-001cc4c03286.html

If you’ve requested a book at the Seattle Public Library, don’t look for a notice in the mail. In a cost-savings move, the library is eliminating paper notices as of July 1.  Instead, the library is asking patrons to switch to e-mail or “TeleCirc,” a telephone notice for those who either don’t have e-mail or prefer a phone call, cell phones included.  The library estimates 150,000 notices are mailed each year at a cost of $60,000, which will be saved with the end of the paper notices.  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012062905_library09m.html 

The Federal Way Library, one of the region’s largest, will reopen Saturday with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in more light, nearly 40 percent more space, and 19,000 new books and other materials.   “We’ve created a much more relaxed space,” Sheller said. “The moment you step into the library, you can see the entire library.”  (The News Tribune, (Tacoma) 6.2.10)  http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/02/1209369/federal-way-library-ready-to-reopen.html#ixzz0pohzr9MD

After making the case to the City Council on Tuesday that the latest round of proposed library budget trims cut too deeply, the Tacoma Public Library’s board of trustees heard the response that members had been waiting for.  Mayor Marilyn Strickland, with support from fellow council members, directed City Manager Eric Anderson to target other areas in the city’s budget when making about $588,000 in cuts.  (The News Tribune, 6.4.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/04/1212126/council-eases-library-cuts.html

Benton County prosecutors are deciding whether to charge a registered sex offender who approached four children at a library in Kennewick.  The sex offender reportedly encouraged a girl to sit next to him last weekend and passed her a note.  The children, ages 11 to 13, went home and told their parents, who called the police and went back to the Mid-Columbia Library branch.  (Tri-City Herald, (Kennewick) 6.4.10) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/04/1040569/sex-offender-reportedly-bothers.html

The Renton Highlands Library, a part of the King County Library System, will be closed for interior improvements June 7-12 and reopen June 14.  The building is getting new carpets, paint and furniture.  (Renton Reporter, (Kent) 5.28.10)

The Sunnyside City Council agreed last night to partner with Yakima County and the Sunnyside Library to bring fiber optic cable to Sunnyside.  The benefits of this will allow the city government to do a host of things, most notably have blazing fast internet service.  George Helton, senior director for Yakima County’s IT services, told the council that by partnering with the county and the library, the city can get access to a federal grant to bring the cable to Sunnyside.  The grant, part of the federal government’s stimulus program, totals approximately $506,500 and requires a 20 percent match.  The three partners’ share would be $33,500 each.  (Daily News, (Sunnyside) 5.25.10)  http://sunnyside.net/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/18538/broadband-technology-okd-for-sunnyside

Buildings

The new Ferndale Library project, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, is moving forward.   The City has finalized the purchase of land next to City Hall, the library’s future location.  The groups utilized time with the architect to specifically place the building on the site as to preserve the Mt. Baker vista and view of the wetlands.  The protection of that ecosystem was also agreed upon.  (Westside Record-Journal, (Ferndale) 5.26.10)

After plenty of delays and lots of wheeling and dealing between the city and the U.S. Post Office, the King County Library System (KCLS) is ready to break ground on a new $10.4 million Kenmore branch.

According to Brooke Fisher of the KCLS, facilities officials estimate a construction period of about 10 months for the new 10,000-square-foot library.  The project is being funded by a $172 million bond issue passed by King County voters.  (Bothell Reporter, (Kent) 6.2.10)

Letters & Editorials

It was recently my lamentable task to file a report with our Port Orchard Police Department regarding the theft of over 1,300 children’s picture books from the Port Orchard Library’s shelves.  This story received far more media attention than we ever anticipated.  Our entire library has been heartened by the outpouring of support from our community, as well as from book retailers, authors and publishing houses.  Our Kitsap County Library (KRL) Foundation has received thousands of dollars in donations from all across the country to help restore our collection, and many patrons have brought in new copies of hardback books to replace those stolen titles.  (Photo)  (Independent, (Port Orchard) 5.28.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/95034489.html

Recently you printed an editorial stating that individual libraries within the North Central Regional Library system made case-by-case decisions to block or unblock sites on the Internet based on their own moral objections.  This is simply not true.  (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, (Omak) 6.2.10)

Awards

More than 60 entries in Elma Timberland Library’s second annual Haiku contest during April presented the judges with some difficult choices to make.  A Haiku is a Japanese-style poem that – in English-has only three lines, with five syllables in the first, seven in the second and five in the third.  After careful consideration, though, the three best Haiku were selected, with the winsome – and – winning – top entry by Susie Demiglio of Elma, “The Gibbous Moon”.  (Photo)  (The Vidette, (Montesano) 5.27.10)

As part of its 100^th anniversary celebration, First Independent has teamed up with the Firstenburg family to donate $25,000 to the Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) Foundation.  The gift extends the reach and momentum of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s 2010 Summer Reading program.  (The Enterprise, (White Salmon) 5.27.10)  http://www.whitesalmonenterprise.com/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/11523/first-indy-donates-to-library-reading

Programs & Displays

The public is invited to attend Wednesday’s dedication of the new Teen Zone area at the Moses Lake Public Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library.  The event begins at 4 p.m. and includes free pizza and soda.  (Columbia Basin Herald, (Moses Lake) 5.25.10)

While you’re finishing up your spring cleaning, take the time to sort out old photographs of ancestors, local buildings, long-ago events and more.  There’s a unique opportunity coming up soon to get these items preserved while contributing to local history.  Learn what you can about the photos beforehand, then contribute to your local heritage by attending “History in Pictures Day” Saturday, June 19, beginning at 9 a.m. at Stevenson Community Library.   A Washington Rural Heritage Grant was awarded to Stevenson and North Bonneville libraries by the Office of the Secretary of State and the Washington State Library.  The grant was funded by the Library Services and Technology Act through the Institute of Museum and Library Service.  (The Skamania County Pioneer, (Stevenson) 5.26.10)

 

Economy/Hard Times

People will learn valuable job, investment and business skills from highly qualified professionals with many years of experience in their fields by attending free workshops offered by Pierce County and the Pierce County Library.  Job workshops will be held at the Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library June 16, 6:30-8 p.m. and July 19 2:30-4 p.m.; at the South Hill Pierce County Library June 22, 10:30 a.m. – noon and July 30, 10:30 a.m. – noon.  (South Pierce County Dispatch, (Eatonville) 5.26.10)

[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] ]