Washington State Library

People typically go to their local library to check out books, including books on tape and CD.  Thanks to a new project coordinated by the Washington State Library, many titles can arrive directly on someone’s computer for free.  Reardan and Harrington are among roughly 40 small and mid-sized public libraries offering downloadable audio books, also known as “eAudiobooks.”  (Davenport Times, 10.21.10)

Library News

The Timberland Regional Library Foundation has joined with the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter to bring lifesaving automated external defibrillators and AED/adult/CPR Training to the 27 libraries in the Timberland Regional Library District.  A grand unveiling for the AEDs will take place Saturday, December 4 at a Timberland library in each of the district’s counties. (The Vidette [Montesano], 10.21.10)

Cathlamet Public Library has started the process of converting to an automated cataloging system.  The new software will streamline library operations and save labor.  Josh Curtis, the volunteer Library Automation Project Manager, is training volunteers to help with the conversion project.  This undertaking will take several months, roughly 2000 hours of labor, to complete. (Photo)  (The Wahkiakum Co. Eagle [Cathlamet], 10.21.10)

The Walla Walla Library is looking at losing about $250,000 of its roughly $1 million annual budget.  The 25 percent cut is due mostly to a financial reimbursement dispute between the city and County Rural Library District. Should the city and Rural Library District fail to negotiate a contract, the city might refuse service to several thousand county residents who currently hold Walla Walla Library cards, and library hours would be cut, city officials said.  (Union Bulletin [Walla Walla], 10.24.10)

Bob Valen, president of the Friends of the Library organization, asked the City of Grand Coulee to provide his group with a letter of support for grants they are seeking.  A Wal-Mart grant of $1,000 will be used to help develop books for the library’s local history collection.  (The Star [Grand Coulee], 10.27.10) http://grandcoulee.com/articles/2010/10/28/news/doc4cc858d5dfede050233023.txt

A city program to reimburse residents for part of the cost of library cards is still active for now.  City council members discussed the program Monday and agreed to place an article in the city newsletter to let people know the program will remain available at least until the end of the year.  The program provides a reimbursement of $25 per household for a library card obtained from the Walla Walla Public Library or the Milton-Freewater Public Library.  (Union Bulletin [Walla Walla], 10.27.10)

It’s still very much in the draft stages, but last week the Grandview City Council began picking its way through the joint library agreement with Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC).  The combined library to be built next year will be located on the YVCC Grandview Campus.  The college will own the building and pick up costs for maintenance, while Grandview will provide library staffing.  Grandview Librarian Geraldine de Rooy will oversee day-to-day operations.  (Daily News [Sunnyside], 11.1.10)

The Ferndale Library capital campaign is getting a $50,000 donation, thanks to a local business and a matching program by a local foundation. Sanitary Service Company has donated $25,000 to the new library project, and that donation is being matched by Whatcom Community Foundation. The foundation is matching all contributions through December 1. (Bellingham Herald, 11.3.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/11/03/1702634/ferndale-library-campaign-gets.html

You may have heard about the plans to dissolve the Western Washington University music library as a separate entity and absorb it into the Wilson Library, to be serviced by general library staff rather than music specialists. The 200 members of the Friends of the Music Library have already responded vigorously and militantly. (Bellingham Herald, 11.8.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/11/05/1706081/wwu-music-library-is-worth-the.html

Elections

In a few months, the Goldendale Library, a part of Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, will be open more hours, have more books, and offer more programs.  “We’ll be going back to a six-day week in May,” librarian Naomi Fisher announced Monday. May is when funds from the newly passed library levy will kick in, allowing the library to return to hours once curtailed by budget cutbacks.  (Photo) (Sentinel [Goldendale], 10.27.10) http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/news/2010news/10-27-10_news.html

Buildings

The Aberdeen Timberland Library will spend $32,700 to make cosmetic improvements to the library’s high traffic areas.  Library Director Christine Peck said the money comes from a private donation.  Peck said the funds will be used to install new wall paneling and purchase new chairs.  The improvements will be done next year.  (Daily World [Aberdeen], 10.23.10)

On Oct. 22, a groundbreaking ceremony at the Grandview campus of Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) marked the start of construction for a new library in town.  This will be a 12,000 square foot project, to be completed in summer 2011, which will give Grandview and YVCC a library they can share.

(Photo)  (Grandview Herald, 10.27.10)

Letters & Editorials

I don’t know of anyone whose life, at some point, has not been positively affected by a library.  Libraries have long supported our families and our communities.  On Nov. 2, the library system needs your support.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 10.22.10)

With a heavy heart, I’m going to have to vote “no” on this proposition (Kitsap Regional Library Lid Lift), mostly as a vote of no confidence in the way the organization is currently being directed.  (Bremerton Patriot, 10.22.10)

Two letters to the editor taking issue with letter entitled “Hail Mary” (Oct. g, A6).  “A Hail Mary pass is thrown in desperation at the end of a football game.  I do not think we are at the end of the game for our libraries.”  (Bremerton Patriot, 10.22.10)

I wanted to address a misimpression left by your Oct. 15 editorial.  In the editorial, you say, “Kitsap Regional Library. has poured its efforts into trying to get itself out of a financial hole without planning for what might happen if the measure fails.”  In fact, the library district has prepared a budget for 2011 that assumes the levy does not pass.  (Bremerton Patriot, 10.22.10)

With the country in a recession, high unemployment, state and local governments cutting back on everything due to budget cuts, the Kitsap Regional Library Board wants you to approve about a 40 percent lid lift.  How long is this lid lift for?  Four years? Six years? Ten Years? Nope.  It’s forever.  How does that help us in South Kitsap?  (Independent [Port Orchard], 10.22.10)

What does the Whitman County Library get?  The library “gets” that a child’s learning is very important in their early stages of life.  The library “gets” how important kids are, especially during the most critical period of brain development from birth to five years of age.  (Daily News [Pullman, WA], 10.23.10)

Two letters to the editor in support of the Kitsap Regional Library levy lid lift. “Kitsap residents need the resources of our libraries – now more than ever.  Vote yes for our libraries.”  (Independent [Port Orchard], 10.29.10)

I was appalled at the report that two girls were molested at the Bothell Regional Library.  Certainly, I am outraged at the parents that were not with their children.  I hope that this will be a lesson to those parents thinking that the library can be a drop-off place for their child, that even for a moment, it is not OK to leave a young person without an adult to ensure their safety.  (Bothell Reporter [Kent], 10.29.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_king/bkn/opinion/letters/105896138.html

People

People want to know what Jan Cronkhite will do now that she’s retired from her post of 32 years as director of the Weller Public Library on Main Street in downtown Waitsburg.  “I don’t have any plans,” the longtime resident said.  “I’ve always got my big garden, but no real special or different plans.”  Will she continue to be a part of the little community where she has lovingly kept house and introduced a whole generation of children to a passion for books and reading?  “You betcha,” she said. (Photo) (The Times [Waitsburg], 10.21.10)

Members of the Friends of the Cheney Library honored Jan Matthews for her dedication to Cheney’s library.  For 12 years she served as the president of the Friends, a support organization of the library, stepping down this fall.  Jan was shown appreciation for her long and careful work.  (Cheney Free Press, 10.21.10)

Ray Serebrin, director of the Jefferson County Library, is a man with a plan.  The plan involves providing the best possible library service to meet the needs of the community for the present and into the next generation by renovating and expanding the library building in Port Hadlock. The project, which Ray believes will be completed in 2013, will mostly be financed by a bond issue complemented by a private fundraising effort.  (Photo)  (The Leader [Port Townsend], 10.27.10)

Awards

The Burntwater Cook’s Kitchen Guide, an unusual and innovative cooking book written by retired Harrington chef, Dave Michaelson, has been awarded the Silver Medal in the non-fiction, how-to category by the Military Writer’s Society of America.  Michaelson hopes to schedule a book signing at the Ritzville Public Library at a future date.  (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 10.28.10)

Maple Valley Library, a part of the King County Library System, hosted an event to honor Helen and Nathan Gross, two longtime library patrons, and to welcome a new landscape addition.  A park bench has been purchased with proceeds from the shell collection of the Grosses, who passed away this year.  (Covington-Maple Valley Reporter [Kent], 10.29.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/cmv/community/106387763.html

Pat Bliquez is the librarian at Roxhill Elementary, a small elementary school in a West Seattle neighborhood of modest means.  For her exemplary work promoting books and reading, she just won Seattle public-television station KCTS’ coveted Golden Apple Award for making a difference in children’s lives. (Photo) (Seattle Times, 11.7.10) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2013355006_litlife08.html?cmpid=2628

Programs & Displays

“The Immigrant,” a play by Mark Harelik has been chosen by Island Theatre founder Steve Stolee as this year’s traveling production.  The 100-minute play will be performed “on book” at Kitsap Regional Library branches over the course of three weeks. For more information, visit www.islandtheatre.org.  (Photo)  (Bainbridge Island Review, 10.22.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/bir/entertainment/105485498.html

The works of Roger and Marian Morris are on display at the Sequim Library, a part of North Olympic Library System, through November.  Marian is a painter who enjoys painting outdoors in natural light.  Roger’s medium of choice is digital photography, which he prints at home using “archival, pigmented inks.”  He also paints outdoors using oils and acrylics.  (Photos)  (The Sequim Gazette, 10.27.10) http://www.sequimgazette.com/entertainment/article.exm/2010-10-27_sequim_couple_find_solace_understanding_in_art

Economy/Hard Times

Renton Mayor Denis Law proposed a two-year, $445 million city budget Monday night, a big number but for the first time it’s a two-year or biennial budget rather than for just one year.  The two-year budget proposal includes $2 million each year to finance development and construction of two libraries in the city, a commitment the City Council made when Renton annexed to the King County Library System. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 10.22.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/105292633.html

The Port Townsend Public Library announces the schedule for their job seeker Transition Yourself workshops in October and November.  Each course consists of four workshops that build upon the previous session.  Funding is provided by a grant from the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library as part of the Renew Washington Project, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Museum and Library Services.  (The Leader [Port Townsend], 10.27.10)

City of Liberty Lake employees affected by last week’s announcement of staff cutbacks shed some light this week on how city services may be impacted in their absence.  The most visible impact to community services will likely play out at the city’s municipal library.  Contingent on the approved budget is a reduction in library staffing.  Two full-time employees will be reduced to half-time effective December 31. (Liberty Lake Splash, 10.28.10) http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=20103

[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] ]