Library News

The Quincy Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is back for a third year, bigger and better than ever at Parties on the Green.  Tickets to the Saturday evening event are $20 for a car load up to 6 people.  A portion of the proceeds will go to the new Quincy Library, a part of North Central Regional Library System, project.  (Quincy Valley Post Register, 9.2.10)

The Camas Public Library is looking for kids age 13 to 17 to join its Youth Advisory Council.  Council members plan library programs, discuss book orders, and earn volunteer hours doing special projects.  Applications will be available at the next meeting.  For more information, call the library at 834-4692.  (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 9.7.10)

NoaNet, a nonprofit company that brings broadband telecommunications to rural communities, has received a grant to help improve Internet access in Whitman County and other need-based areas.  The funding came from the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Kristie Kirkpatrick, director of the Whitman County Library District, said the broadband access will help open opportunities for education and businesses.  (The Daily Evergreen [Pullman], 9.7.10) http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/32215

Teenagers pumped up for the Yelm Timberland Library have formed a group to promote the library and its services.  The newly established Teen Team so far consists of 15 teenagers, most of whom describe themselves as avid bookworms.  They hope to work with the Friends of the Yelm Library and brainstorm way to outreach in the community.  (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 9.10.10)

Agreements for the library services will be on the table Tuesday when the Walla Walla County Rural Library District board meets.  Board members will discuss the two library service agreements the district has, one with WALNET and one with the city of Walla Walla.  Action may be taken on the items, said Punkey Adams, district executive director.  (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 9.13.10) http://union-bulletin.com/stories/2010/09/13/library-agreements-to-be-discussed-at-rural-district-board-meeting

Residents of Pierce County and Seattle may begin tapping into their respective public libraries.  At its meeting September 8, Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees was expected to approve a borrowing agreement with Seattle Public Library.  If approved by the boards of both organizations, the arrangement would take effect October 1.  (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 9.15.10)

Elections

By a postage stamp-thin margin of three votes, the lid lift/levy of 22 cents per thousand of assessment was approves to fund the Ocean Shores Library.  This means that Ocean Shores will have a public library in 2011 and 2012.  In light of the favorable vote, the board is now putting together a job description to hire a new Library Director.  It could happen as soon as next month, and should mean expanded hours.  (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 9.8.10)

When Stevens County voters get their November 2 ballots, they will be asked to consider a proposition for a levy that funds the daily operations of all nine libraries throughout the county. If approved, the levy rate will increase by 11 cents/$1,000 of assessed valuation for property owners.  If the levy passes, library funding would be stabilized through at least 2015 and would go into effect January 1, 2011.  (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 9.8.10)

Buildings

The King County Library System put the construction of the Newcastle Library out to bid August 17.  KCLS Director Bill Ptacek said the bidding process would take four weeks, and groundbreaking would be near the end of September.  The library is funded by a $172 million bond measure passed in 2004 that called for expansion and maintenance of the library system. (Photo)  (The Newcastle News [Issaquah], 9.3.10) http://www.newcastle-news.com/index.php?s=library+goes+out+to+bid

Where the Yelm Timberland Library, a part of the Timberland Regional Library System, may be when the lease on its current facility expires in 2011 is still in the air, but city representatives said they’re making progress.  Earlier this year, Timberland officials said that once the lease expires it will no longer financially contribute to the facility itself.  That responsibility lies in the hand of the City of Yelm.  (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 9.10.10)

Yakima Valley Community College and the city of Grandview are preparing to build a library that will serve both students and the general public.  The college is seeking construction bids, which are due by 3 p.m. September 29.  The 12,000 square foot building will replace the city library. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 9.13.10)

Kirtley-Cole and Associates, an Everett construction firm with a 37 year history of building education, healthcare and commercial facilities, has won the contract to build Duvall’s new, long-awaited library.  The King County Library System, which is building the library, announced the results following the September 1 bid opening.  (Photo) (Valley View [Woodinville], 9.13.10)

Fundraising efforts for the new Ferndale Library Project received a massive boost this month as an anonymous donor has agreed to match all contribution s made to the fund between now and December 1, 2010, the Whatcom Community Foundation announced on Tuesday.  No cap limits the amount of donations.  (Ferndale Record, 9.15.10) http://ferndalerecord.com/all-donations-to-new-library-thru-dec-will-be-matched-p1109-1.htm

Letters & Editorials

Libraries and library services are extremely important.  A great library is a community asset.  However, funding libraries is not a life-and-death matter such as funding police, fire and ambulance services.  The Walla Walla Rural Library District should continue its arrangement with the city of Walla Walla. It ultimately benefits all in the area.  (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 9.8.10)

Camas taxes and construction impact fees are among, if not, the highest in the county.  Our nice library remains open on Mondays whereas some of the Fort Vancouver branches closed last year due to funding shortfalls.  Call me a liberal Democrat, but I prefer that all taxpayers pay for services that benefit the majority of our citizens.  (Columbian [Vancouver], 9.9.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/sep/09/taxes-you-get-what-you-pay-for/

Reading the article titled “RPDA offers more space, accessibility in library relocation proposal,” in the September 2 Journal prompted an involuntary guttural laugh out loud.  The RPDA is looking for the Library to bail them out from the Ritzville Business Center boondoggle, and the Library will be the clear loser in any such move.  (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 9.9.10)

The suggested advantages to the citizens of Ritzville of moving the library from its historical Carnegie building to the remodeled Brunswick Tavern are illusory.  The disadvantages of such a move beg the question of why would anyone make such a proposal.  (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 9.9.10)

As managing librarian of the Port Orchard branch, I’m compelled to respond to the August 20 editorial and subsequent articles and opinions concerning the service Port Orchard residents receive from their library in comparison to other communities in our Kitsap Regional Library District.I can assure you that the staff of the library are dedicated to provide the residents of Port Orchard the very best library service.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 9.10.10)

People

King County Law Library says goodbye to John Cary who, appointed by the King County Bar Association, is leaving us after serving on the board for four years.  We are sad to see John go and commend him for his dedication and commitment to the King County Law Library.  (King County Bar Bulletin [Seattle], 9.2010) http://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BBView.aspx?AID=lawlib&Year=2010&month=09

Elinor Robinson a reference librarian at the Aberdeen Timberland Library retired after 25 years with the library system on Monday, August 30.  Robinson began her career for the library system as a volunteer for the Cosmopolis Timberland Library.  She has been at the Aberdeen Timberland Library for the past 12 years.  (The Vidette [Montesano], 9.2.10)

Carolyn Ferguson Neal was recently named executive director of the Kitsap County Historical Society.  Neal had retired from Kitsap Regional Library, where she was the branch manager of the downtown Bremerton location and the head of the library’s Northwest History Collection. (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 9.10.10)

It’s hard to not smile at Alice Claire Mitchells’ recounting of how she struggled with reading as a child.  Considering that the newest member of the Duvall Library Board – who goes by Claire – is an avid reader, writer and artists who launched her own book club, and was one of the leaders of last summer’s petition drive to keep the Duval Library in historic old downtown, it seems unlikely.  Also, she just turned 13 last month. (Photo) (Valley View [Woodinville], 9.13.10)

Awards

Thanks to a $2,000 grant from Target, the Rainier Education Foundation plans to purchase library books for Rainier Elementary School over the next two years.  The grant was awarded as part of a partnership between REF and Target to recognize efforts in working toward educationally benefitting students.  (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 9.10.10)

Programs and Displays

One of the ways that King County Law Library supports its users is by providing free access to Westlaw subscription databases and practice-oriented software for use in the library.  The Seattle library has two terminals and the Kent library has one terminal with Westlaw access. Our Westlaw subscription provides access to federal statutory and case law, state statutes and case law, and some primary law for Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  (King County Bar Bulletin [Seattle], 9.2010) http://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BBView.aspx?AID=article21&Year=2010&month=09

On Wednesday, September 8, the Cheney Library, a part of the Spokane County Library District, will be holding a program called “From Black Scratch: The Carl Maxey Story.” Join award-winning producer Denise Marie Thomas as she shares clips from her upcoming PBS documentary on Maxey, Spokane civil rights attorney and African-American hero whose crusade for justice broke discrimination barriers around the Inland Northwest.  (Cheney Free Press, 9.2.10)

WSU students and Pullman community members who have a Neill Public Library card can access free downloadable audiobooks and e-books.  Cheryl Brinkley, adult services librarian at the Neill Public Library, said patrons now have access to 362 e-books and more than 2,000 audiobooks because of the partnership Neill Public Library has with the Washington State Library.   (The Daily Evergreen [Pullman], 9.7.10) http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/32206

The Second Story Gallery, a nonprofit art space inside the Camas Public Library, is seeking artists interested in displaying their work during monthly shows being scheduled for 2011.  To obtain an application packet to be considered for a future show, artists should visit the service desk at the library or download the application and guidelines from the library blog.  (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 9.7.10)

Teens in a book group at the Mukilteo Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, are going to help pick out the best books for teen readers in the country.  The Mukilteo group, The Write Stuff, will nominate books for the Teens’ Top Ten – teens nationwide will vote on their favorite books each year from that list.  (The Mukilteo Beacon, 9.8.10) http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/community/article.exm/2010-09-08_mukilteo_teens_to_select_top_teen_books

The Orcas Island Public Library will be offering a course on “Compassionate Communication” led by Rena Patty, beginning Monday, September 13 through Monday, November 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.  There is a $70 course fee, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.  Call 376-4985 to register.  (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 9.8.10)

[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] ]