Library News

Someone broke into the Clinton Library during the past weekend and made off with a small amount of cash and movie DVDs, according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Darren Crownover of the South Precinct said the break-in occurred sometime Friday night or Saturday morning, and was reported by library staff about 10:50 a.m. Saturday, February 19. (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 2.23.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/116604483.html

Frank Odo, who was recently appointed as the chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress visited Seattle last week to promote National Japanese American Memorial. Odo is a Sansei (third generation) from Hawaii and had served as director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program and academic institutions for over 3 years. (Photo) (North American Post [Seattle], 2.23.11)

NoaNet’s intention to swiftly bring faster broadband service to Lincoln County has left mayors, municipal libraries and other officials somewhat confused. NoaNet, short for Northwest Open Access Network, will be approached by Margie Hall, Lincoln County Economic Development Council executive director, for a meeting with local librarians, other city officials and the commissioners to work through concerns. (Davenport Times, 2.24.11)

Three local libraries recently embraced a happy surprise. The Anacortes, Burlington and Mount Vernon libraries are to receive a bequest from the estate of Vernon I. Sheller: $10,000 for each facility. Sheller moved to Washington from Minnesota as a young adult. He lived in Burlington and Mount Vernon before moving to Anacortes and working at the refineries. (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 2.27.11)

The Camas Public Library was closed last Friday following a bomb threat. According to Camas Police Department Sgt. Rob Skeens, the threat was called in directly to the library at approximately 1:30 p.m. The facility was then evacuated and the Metro Explosives team was called in to conduct a search. No explosive devices were found. According to Skeens, the incident is being investigated. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.1.11) http://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2011/feb/25/bomb-threat-called-camas-library/

Newcomers Book Club of the North Olympic Peninsula donated $100 each to the Port Angeles and Sequim Libraries. The book club meets monthly, alternating the site between the two libraries. (Photos) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 3.2.11)

Facing a potential lawsuit, Hilary Emmer on Monday turned over to the Vashon Library three binders filled with her e-mail correspondence from her last several months as a member of Vashon’s community council board. Tom Bangasser has sought Emmers e-mail, he has said, because for a stretch she was the sole member of the board, an unorthodox situation that he called illegal. (Photo) (The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 3.2.11)

The Chelan City Council awarded about a $300,000 contract Thursday to East Wenatchee-based RH2 Engineering to construct sidewalks on both sides of Bradley Street from East Woodin Avenue to the public library. The sidewalk projects literally paves the way for expansion of the Chelan Public Library and create a safer connection between the library and Morgan Owens Elementary School. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 3.2.11) http://www.lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=3612&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

The city of Chelan is considering a petition by Gloria Groves, head librarian, and the Friends of the Library to apply for a Development Block Grant that would put North Central Regional Library (NCRL) Chelan’s branch in line for a building better designed for the current and future needs of the branch. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 3.2.11)

Friends of the Seattle Public Library is one of four non-profit organizations that will be able to use Building 30 in Magnuson Park next year. The building, which usually hosts about 35 events a year, was deemed unsafe for such heavy use so the city limited the number to four a year. The library’s group name was among four picked in a drawing to use the building in 2012. (Seattle Times, 3.11.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014461162_magnuson11m.html

Buildings

The Ferndale Public Library will be closed from March 6 to March 15 while its contents are moved to a new temporary location. The library is moving into Pioneer Pavillion and is set to reopen March 16, Its current location will be remodeled to become a new, larger police station for the city. (Bellingham Herald, 2.27.11) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/27/1886075/ferndale-library-to-close-during.html

Fife residents have waited a long time for their first library, but they’ll now have to wait even longer than anyone expected. The first library in the city won’t open until December, six months later then the original opening date and more than two years after voters overwhelmingly decided to increase their property taxes to pay for a library. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 2.27.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/26/1561340/after-another-delay-fife-library.html

Sometime in March or April, King County Library System officials have said, the Auburn Library will close for a year of renovations and then reopen in a temporary home it is leasing in the old United Rentals property next door. Everybody with a stake in the renovation of the popular library is itching to know when that day will be, but nobody at KCLS, nobody at the Auburn Library and nobody at the City can say. (Auburn Reporter [Kent], 3.4.11)

Letters & Editorials

Last year Whitman County Library offered 294 community programs for adults and a staggering 1169 rograms for children. From my own experience, I encourage you and your family to take advantage of the valuable opportunity libraries provide for us to continue to learn and grow throughout our lives. (Daily News [Pullman], 2.26.11)

A very sincere thank you to our friends and partners at the Lake Stevens Family Center and the Lake Stevens Library who unconditionally supported our annual English Language Learners (ELL) Family Night. We are extremely grateful for the support of this great community. (Lake Stevens Journal, 3.2.11) http://www.lakestevensjournal.com/letters/article.exm/2011-02-28_your_letters___march_2__2011

Pat and I attended the library annexation workshop on January 19 and the public hearing on January 24, which were attended by our mayor and our City Council. We feel that a strong, well-funded library is absolutely necessary to attract new residents and new businesses to our growing community and to better serve our students and all ages. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 3.2.11)

Programs & Displays

In his day, he was called a bloody tyrant and a dictator for shutting down opposition newspapers, imprisoning thousands of his critics, and sending troops to New York who killed scores of rioters protesting the draft. Today, Abraham Lincoln is one of the nation’s most revered presidents. Author Larry Tagg will discuss the contradictory views of America’s 16^th president in a talk at the Tacoma Public Library in downtown Tacoma, on Saturday. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 2.20.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/20/1552366/author-to-discuss-reviled-lincoln.html

The Pierce County Library System is sponsoring its Teen Writing & Art Contest – Our Own Expressions, which runs through March 4. Winning entries will be published in books and distributed throughout Pierce County libraries and to the winning students’ schools. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 2.21.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/21/1553267/pierce-county-teen-contest-accepting.html

Jim Lynch, author of “Border Songs,” a novel set along Whatcom County’s border with Canada, will be at the Lynden Library from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 24. The Lynden visit, which is open to all, is part of a county-wide book discussion of “Border songs” with the author. (Lynden Tribune, 2.23.11)

Best-selling author Meg Chittenden will be the guest speaker next Thursday, March 3^rd the Friends of the Westport Timberland Library meeting at 1 p.m. The program is free and all South Beach community members and visitors are welcome to attend. (South Beach Bulletin [Westport], 2.24.11)

The Friends of the Whitman County Library, Palouse Resource Network for Families, Thrifty Grandmothers Club and the Colfax Rotary Club partner in providing “Books for Babies” new born packets to new parents via area hospitals. The baby packets are a method of educating new families about the importance of early literacy and the free library services available to them. (Daily News [Pullman], 2.26.11)

A best-selling book about the largest forest fire in American History is the selection for this year’s Pierce County Reads. “The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved American” by Pulitzer Prize winner Timothy Egan is the featured book for the Pierce County Library System’s communitywide reading program. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 2.27.11)

As they did last year with “Three Cups of Tea,” Kittitas County public libraries are on a mission to get everyone in the community reading and talking about one book. The One Book One Community effort is part of a national program to get adults reading for pleasure while building community. This year’s book is “Garlic and Sapphires” by food critic and editor Ruth Reichl. (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 3.1.11)

Accomplished raku pottery artists Dave and Boni Deal have their work in private and public collections across the United States and internationally. But on Friday, the Deals’ collaborative work will be featured in an intimate venue that is a little closer to home. First Friday will mark the opening reception for their show at the Second Story Gallery at the Camas Public Library. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.1.11) http://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2011/mar/01/fusion-art-and-nature/

Best-selling author Jamie Ford will give a reading of his novel, “The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Vashon Library, and will be available afterward to sign copies of his book. The reading is in conjunction with the library Take Time to Read campaign. (Photo) (The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 3.2.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/entertainment/117181058.html

A month of centennial events at the Anacortes Public Library gets into full swing Saturday with a community birthday party. The event begins at 11 a.m. when Mayor Dean Maxwell will commemorate the library’s first 100 years, followed by refreshments and events. The library is also launching its “100 for 100” legacy donors campaign. “We’re trying to get people to donate $10 a year for 10 years,” said Library Director Cynthia Harrison. (Anacortes American, 3.2.11)

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) and the Cape Flattery School District are joining forces to present a play at Clallam Bay. The Oregon Shadow Theatre is traveling to the Clallam Bay High School gym to put on a performance of “Thumbelina.” Along with shadow puppetry, the troupe adds music from the 1960s and 1970s during the play to modernized the well-known story. (Forks Forum, 3.3.11)

All branches of the North Olympic Library System now have children’s board books available for patrons to “read and return” without having to check them out. The new Read and Return borrowing approach to books for the very young is aimed at encouraging families to use the library, and to feel comfortable about allowing young children to explore books in the tactile ways that are natural to babies and toddlers. (Forks Forum, 3.3.11)

History will come alive for county youth this March 8, 9 and 10 with the arrival of traveling actress of history. Living Voices, a multi-media education program, will visit nine schools with a 50-minute presentation on several aspects of history. The grant for the visit was coordinated by Whitman County Library. The $4,000 Supporting Student Success grant was awarded by the Office of the Secretary of State. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.3.11)

Lego enthusiasts gathered at the Liberty Lake Library on Saturday to view Lego creations and have a little fun with building blocks. Librarian Tracy Rebstock said the great response to this contest has prompted the library to consider holding another Lego contest during the summer or offering a Lego club for kids. (Photos) (Liberty Lake Splash, 3.3.11)

[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]]