Library News

Crittenberger Library on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Main will close in December as part of a plan to relocate various services.  All library services will be continued at Grandstaff Library on JBLM Main.  (Fort Lewis Ranger & Weekly Volcano [Lakewood], 10.7.10) http://www.northwestmilitary.com/news/articles/2010/10/northwest-military-ranger-airlifter-newspaper-JBLM-crittenberger-library-to-close/

A wealth of information about local history, from newspaper accounts to high school annuals, is available for research at the Ritzville Public Library.  The library’s collection of microfilm includes Ritzville newspapers as well as publications from Lind and Warden.  (Photo)  (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 10.7.10)

Pierce County Library System’s financial picture is looking better.  The system announced last week that a projected operating budget of $28.6 million for 2011 reflects a revenue shortfall of $125,000, which is an improvement.  The gap is about $300,000 less than what library officials were predicting as recently as early-September.  (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 10.13.10)

The North Olympic Library System is kicking off a “Go green! – Switch to E-mail Notices” campaign.  Library customers who are receiving notices through traditional mail are being asked to switch to e-mail. Contact your local library to make the switch.  (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 10.15.10)

Bothell police say two 7-year-old girls were fondled in two separate incidents at the Bothell/King County Public Library, over the past two weeks.  Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or suspicious people at the library over the past two weeks to call the department’s tip line at 425-487-5551. (Seattle Times, 10.20.10) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2013203869_police_two_girls_fondled_at_bo.html

Bellingham Public Library could launch its own foundation by mid-2011 in keeping with what other libraries are doing, said Pam Kiesner, its director.  She said the board of the newly formed foundation would decide its purpose and what to support – be it a capital campaign or some programming.  (The Bellingham Herald, 10.22.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/10/22/1680639/bellingham-library-expects-to.html

Elections

Beginning in May 2011, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRL) users will start to see library hours restored to 2008 levels and will enjoy a greater selection of books and other items in the collection.  The service enhancements were made possible by passage of a district-wide library levy lid-lift measure on the August 17 primary ballot.  (Senior Messenger [Vancouver], 10.2010)

A February vote on a bond measure to fund a proposed merger between La Conner School District and the La Conner Regional Library will most likely be shelved, but the entities are still discussing the idea and plan to review studies conducted by libraries around the country that have teamed up with their local schools.  (La Conner Weekly, 10.6.10)

Kitsap Regional Library staff are well aware of the challenge their latest levy measure faces in November.  If passed, the levy would lift the district’s property tax levy by 13.5 cents, to 48 cents per $1,000 assessed home value.  Along with construction, the money would be used to enhance collections, buy new technology, restore hours and pay for maintenance across the system.

(North Kitsap County Herald [Poulsbo], 10.8.10)

Buildings

Schematic designs for the new Vashon Library, a part of the King County Library System, elicited mostly positive responses from Islanders who attended a meeting last week in which architects revealed two similar options for the library’s expansion.  Contractors will likely break ground at the end of 2011 or early in 2012. (Photo)  (The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 10.13.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/news/104608299.html

The Twisp Library opened its doors Tuesday to the last big item on its renovation plan: new bookshelves.  Volunteers spent the weekend packing up the books from the old shelves, tearing the old units down and then restacking the books on the new shelves. (Photo) (Methow Valley News [Twisp], 10.13.10)

The King County Library System is going out for quote on the demolition and materials removal of a small house on their Duval property.  Quotes are due Monday, November 8, 2010 by 10:00 a.m.

(Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 10.14.10)

Lake Hills Library, a part of the King County Library System, has opened in Bellevue.  The $3.2 million, 10,000-square-foot library is in the redeveloped Lake Hills Village, a multi-phase project by Cosmos Development to turn the 1950s Lake Hills Shopping Center into a mixed-use complex.  (Photos)  (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 10.16.10)

The Federal Way Regional Library was awarded the Public honorable mention award by the International Interior Design Association Northern Pacific chapter at the seventh annual INAwards this month to honor design in hospitality, housing, corporate interiors and concepts, which are unrealized interior projects and also architecture and product designs.  Described as a “lantern in the forest,” the library is situated within a stand of mature evergreens.  (Photos) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 10.20.10)

Letters & Editorials

Kudos to the staff and board members of La Conner School District and La Conner Regional Library for proposing and working toward co-locating community and school library services.  (La Conner Weekly News, 10.6.10)

I recently attended the public meeting of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRL) board of trustees.  As the meeting proceeded I became aware of the passion the attendees have for the library system.  Locally, our library district seems to be experiencing an overall increase in patronage.  I suspect that it won’t be long before the term “library” will either not be used at all or will only be used in referring to a component of the “community learning center.”  (Reflector [Battle Ground], 10.6.10)

In the current economic climate, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to guess that virtually every South Kitsap household, every month, has had to defer purchases of nonessential items until things improve a bit.  On a broader scale, the lid lift currently being sought by the Kitsap Regional Library fits that description as well, and we’d encourage South Kitsap voters to reject it when their ballots for the Nov. 2 general election arrive in another week or so.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 10.8.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/104514429.html

I have loved going to libraries and being a patron since I was a little girl and wherever I have lived I have always sought out the library.  Please vote “yes” for Kitsap libraries, I know I will.  (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 10.8.10)

Wow, $3 million to build a new library in Port Orchard in 2014 or 2018?  At a time when we’re laying off police and firemen?  Typical of politicians to commit us to extra expense in the future, when they will probably be out of office.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 10.8.10)

An extra $2 a month won’t break us.  If this levy isn’t passed, Lake Spokane Library will lose.  Suncrest is the newest library and therefore will be the first to lose funding if the levy fails.  Please join all the friends of the library and vote for the levy.  (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 10.13.10)

Many things help make a community a great place to live: good schools, city and county services and libraries able to meet the needs of its citizens.  Please vote “Yes” to the proposition on the November 2 ballot. (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 10.13.10)

The Libraries of Stevens County is one of the best rural library systems in the state! I encourage all Stevens County residents to vote yes on the library levy in order to maintain their privilege of continuing to enjoy the benefits of the Libraries of Stevens County.  (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 10.13.10)

The Chewelah Public Library Board of Trustees urges county residents to vote yes on the Stevens County Rural Library District – Levy Lift for Library Services on November 2.  Without approval of the levy, we cannot sustain improvements, please join the board in voting for the library levy. (The Independent [Chewelah], 10.14.10)

I moved with my family this summer to Bainbridge Island from South Africa.  The library here has been our landing pad, offering us daily activities for the children, job seeker seminars, film nights, a place to read and work for a few hours outside the home, etc.  You can imagine that I am delighted to take a first strike of activism in our new country by voting “yes” for Kitsap libraries.  (Bainbridge Island Review, 10.15.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/bir/opinion/letters/105051499.html

Cutting staff at the New Holly library – one of the busiest and most dynamic libraries in Seattle – and others like it must be boldly resisted.  Budget cuts require difficult decisions; a more nuanced approach, however, is needed for our city’s library budget.  We are counting on our city’s leadership to maintain librarian services, especially those serving such a rich fabric of our city’s population.  (Seattle Times, 10.19.10) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2013195938_guest19sundberg.html

Am I the only one that has found the new King County Library System’s online system lacking very much, when compared with the old system that it replaced?  The rationale for the new system was to allow the library technicians to be able to change the online system from time to time. It is very apparent that this concept has not been achieved! (Issaquah Press, 10.20.10) http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/10/19/to-the-editor-94/

People

Margaret Martin, Mercer Island Library Children’s Librarian, featured as the community profile, works with all ages, helping with various reference questions at the desk, and helping people find information.  She also helps kids 0-5 with early learning through story times.  (Photo) (Mercer Island Reporter, 10.6.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/mir/community/104357514.html

After 42 years of service with the Sumas Library, Branch Manager Penny Leenders is retiring at the end of the month.  On Saturday, October 30, The Friends of the Sumas Library will host an Open House to mark Leenders’ retirement.  (Photo)  (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 10.8.10)

In August, Doris Pederson (Puyallup Public Library) was the recipient of a Distinguished Service award given by the Washington Library Association at its state conference.  The award commended her efforts for her volunteer time as the Puyallup Public Library bookstore manager since 1980 and her contribution in raising about $100,000 over the past 20 plus years through bookstore sales.  (The Herald [Puyallup], 10.13.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/10/13/1379534/library-volunteer-honored-for.html

Awards

It’s not every day a library receives a gift of $16,000 worth of books.  Thanks to the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association or PNBA, the Rainier Volunteer Library received a generous gift last week after being named the recipient of the annual Michael Pritiken Rural Library Program award. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 10.15.10)

Programs & Displays

Images of Cuba will be shown in the Mnary Kazda Art Space at the Quincy Library during October and November.  A trip to Cuba in May of 2000 in celebration of his 50^th birthday resulted in some realistic photos by Michael Feely, a physical therapist from Portland, OR, whose images make up the exhibit titled CUBA!  (Photo) (Quincy Valley Post Register, 10.7.10) http://qvpr.com/articles/cuba-photos-display-quincy-library

The first-ever adult spelling bee organized by the Everett Public Library went off without a hitch Friday night, drawing hundreds of kazoo-blowing spectators.  The event raised thousands of dollars for teen and children rooms at the downtown library.  (Photo) (The Herald [Everett], 10.9.10) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101009/NEWS01/710099904

The Port Angeles Library will host the Starlab Planetarium from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.  Visitors to the inflatable portable planetarium will learn how to find the constellations and hear star stories.  This program is part of a series being offered by the North Olympic Library System and Port Angeles High School to coincide with the Visions of the Universe exhibit at the Port Angeles Library.  It will be on display at the library until Dec. 2.  (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 10.12.10) 

In September Port Townsend Library’s Book Lover’s Café, a literary discussion group, read Jamie Ford’s debut novel, Hotel  on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a surprise best-seller about a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl who fall in love in pre-World War II Seattle.  In October the group made a pilgrimage to the Emerald City to visit the places mentioned in the story.  (Photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 10.13.10)

Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) is encouraging Kitsap residents to read “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” this month as its celebration of the book and reading as a shared experience.  The book, set in Seattle, tells the story of a Chinese American boy, Henry, and a Japanese American girl who become friends while attending a private elementary school in Seattle in 1941. (Photo) (Bainbridge Island Review, 10.15.10)

[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] ]