Washington Library News

Keeping Spokane’s Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture open with funding from a new “mega-agency” was criticized Thursday by state officials, librarians, Native American tribes and advocates for the blind.  Almost all those critics said they were concerned about proposals for sharp cuts in art, culture and heritage programs.  (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 4.1.11) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/01/mac-rescue-plan-criticized/

Library News

Most property owners in Columbia County will see an increase in property taxes they owe this year. For city of Dayton residents, 2011 is the first year they will pay the Rural Library District assessment, which this year is $0.44 per thousand.  The levy rate paid to the City of Dayton, however, has dropped from $2.73 per thousand to $2.31, since the City no longer operates the Library. (Blue Mountain News [Dayton], 4.2011)

Staff of Pend Oreille County Library District will be in a party mood during National Library Week as they celebrate 25 years of the Calispel, Ione, Metalines and Newport public library joining together to become one district. (Newport Miner, 4.6.11)

The world championships for the 2011 WrestleMania Reading Challenge were held April 2 in Atlanta, Georgia and Marinna Vela of Zillah is this year’s winner in the Grades 7-8 category. She won a gold trophy and ringside seats for WrestleMania XXVI.  She also won $2,000 for Yakima Valley Libraries to use towards the purchase of materials for the Libraries’ Tween and Teen collections. (Yakama Nation Review [Toppenish], 4.8.11)

A new program offered by Yakima Valley Libraries, in cooperation with the Maryhill Museum, gives patrons an opportunity to visit the museum for free of charge. The cooperative project is made possible through the museum’s Access Art Program. The museum pass is an 8 minute DVD. YVL customer simply check out the DVD, take it to the museum for free admission and return the DVD to the library. (Yakama Nation Review [Toppenish], 4.8.11)

The Friends of the North Fork Community Library have won a Distinguished Service Award from the Washington Library Association for drawing together an entire community to build the North Fork Community Library, which opened in Kendall on February 28. Specifically, the award comes from the Washington library Friends, Foundations, Trustees and Advocates group. (Photo) (Lynden Tribune, 4.13.11)

Timberland Regional Library System’s governing board probably won’t go for a plan to split the cost of purchasing the existing Yelm library space, according to TRL’s Executive Director Michael Crose. Yelm Mayor Ron Harding will present the proposal to the TRL Board April 27. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 4.15.11

Elections

The Jefferson County Library will place a measure on the August 16 ballot asking voters in the unincorporated part of the county to approve an $8.4 million bond to provide most of the funds for a $9 million expansion. If it is approved, the bond measure would cost the average property owner – one with property assessed at $250,000 – $44 annually in additional property tax for 20 years, the library director said. (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 4.18.11) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011304189994

Buildings

Officials from the Whitman County Rural Library District are working with members of the LaCrosse Community Pride on a long-term lease agreement to move the LaCrosse Branch Library to the former LaCrosse Market building. Peggy Bryan, business manager for the library district, said Tuesday the two sides were working out terms of a lease agreement. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 4.7.11)

A new roof is on the way for the Cashmere Library. The Cashmere City Coucnil approved a $23,600 bid on the project from Mason Roofing and Construction of Monitor at the March 28 council meeting. (Cashmere Valley Record, 4.13.11) http://www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=4324&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

King County Library System is rebidding its Duvall Library project after receiving seven bids last summer that were more than 18 percent above the $3 million estimated cost. Bids this time are due May 15. (Photo) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 4.13.11)

Lately, Lou Pray, Lopez Library director, has been asked two questions, “What are they doing with all those cranes?” and “Will it cost us any tax raises?” Firstly, the cranes are for an additional reading room. To answer the other questions, the funds have been added to the capital expenditure fund over the last several years, which means, it’s free for you. (Island’s Weekly Newspaper [Lopez Island], 4.19.11)

The King County Library System and the City of Renton have determined that seismic upgrades and remodeling of the current downtown library location would be too costly to undertake. The City Council is not considering whether to issue $18 million in bonds to pay for design, construction and other construction related costs for the two libraries. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 5.4.11) http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Renton-council-hears-from-crowd-about-library-1364856.php

Michele Jeffers takes her two children to the Lacey Timberland Library every week.  But Jeffers and the approximately 1,500 people who visit the library daily will have to alter their plans for two months beginning May 23 as the library closes for a $223,500 facelift.  Through July 25, most of the library will be off-limits as crews install new carpeting, replace lighting and paint the interior. (The Olympian [Olympia], 5.10.11) http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/10/1647003/20-year-old-lacey-timberland-library.html

Letters & Editorials

The downtown Renton Library is a state-of-the-art library! We have computers for patron use, children, catalog searching, and self check-out/check-in.  How much more state-of-the-art do you want? (Renton Reporter [Kent], 4.8.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/opinion/letters/119419014.html

The Federal Way City Council did not “cave in” to a “vocal minority” when it finally decided not to support moving the 320^th Library to the Transit Center. What the council did do was honor the wording of the March 2004 King County Rural Library District Resolution 2004-03, Exhibit A, which passed as Proposition 1 in September 2004. (Federal Way Mirror, 4.9.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/fwm/opinion/letters/119504354.html

Thank you for the in-depth article last week about the Jefferson County Library’s renovation plan.  Mr. Robinson writes that 47 percent of resident polled “very strongly” support the renovation plan. He fails to add that 20 percent “strongly” support the plan, illustrating that 67 percent support the library and its plan to renovate and enlarge the library in Port Hadlock. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 4.13.11) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=29022&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

A few years ago, the King County Library used to mail books that were on hold to patrons when they came in.  Then funding ran out and they stopped. I asked if they could mail holds for patrons willing to pay the fees, and was told “No, that would create a different class of service between people who could afford to pay and those who could not.” (Bellevue Reporter [Kent], 4.15.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/bel/opinion/letters/119707474.html

Timberland Regional Library System’s Executive Director Michael Crose certainly doesn’t think TRL’s board of directors should, nor does he expect that it will, support paying half of the $1.2 million to purchase the current library space at Prairie Park.  Fair enough. I was bothered, however, by Crose’s approach to the issue during our meeting last week. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 4.15.11)

I agree with Leora Gibson’s April 14 letter, “Treasure your library,” which said library staff are very helpful.  I love the Fort Vancouver Regional Library system. I have just one question for Gibson. What library did she go to where it was quiet? (Columbian [Vancouver], 4.28.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/28/letter-too-much-noise-libraries/

People

Kristie Kirkpatrick, Whitman County Library Director, was a double award winner at the Washington Library Association (WLA) Awards Luncheon in Yakima last Friday. She received the Merit Awards for Advances in Library Service and for Outstanding Performance.  Kirkpatrick is pictured with Former State Librarian Jan Walsh and Acting State Librarian Rand Simmons who also received awards. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 4.14.11)

Yelm Timberland Library formed “The Big Three” after promoting Stefan Abuan to library associate. Abuan joins Mike McGowan and Kelsie Raddas as library associates. Timberland Regional Library created the third position, and Abuan was one of four people who interviewed. Abuan was previously a library assistant. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 4.15.11)

Cecelia Hanson has been the director of the Roy Library since April 15, 1989.  Or maybe it was April 16.  It’s been so long she can’t remember. Hanson worked at Roy Elementary School for many years as a library clerk and playground supervisor.  When the Roy library position opened up, Hanson applied, got the job, and worked six hours at the school and 2-3 hours in the evening at the Roy Library. She retired from the Bethel School District in 2004. (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 4.15.11)

King County’s Law Library has a new name and a new director. What was the King County Law Library is now the Public Law Library of King County, a news release announced Friday. The new name is intended to welcome a wider array of visitors, and to make clear that lawyers and judges aren’t the only ones who can use it.  Rita Dermody, the new director, wants to promote the library as a first stop for local residents who need legal help. (Seattle Times, 5.1.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014924666_lawlibrary01.html

Programs and Displays

The King County Library Walking Tour, running now through May 31, is creating outdoor art galleries with more than 100 giant book cover posters installed in prominent locations around King County (Bellevue, Burien, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Renton and Vashon). Each book cover work of art is accompanied by a dial-up audio guide with information about the book.  Free book tour guides are available in local businesses and all KCLS branches. (NW Prime Time [Tukwila], 4.2011)

Graphic novels help deaf students see the big picture and they’ve always been a great device to pick up a new language: match some unfamiliar words with the picture, and there’s a “eureka” moment. Plus, comic books have always been just plain fun for many young readers. That’s why it makes sense for a pair of Washington Reading Corps volunteers assigned to the Washington School for the Deaf this school year to pounce on the trend.  (Photos) (Columbian Print Edition Only [Vancouver], 4.23.11)

The Friends of the Chewelah Public Library has initiated a new project to promote early childhood literacy in the community. The volunteer group is donating Welcome Baby Bags to each mother that has a child at Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital.  This handmade bag contains a new hardcover Mother Goose book along with pamphlets on the importance of reading to babies and information on literacy resources. (Photo) (The Independent [Chewelah], 4.7.11)

“Couponing is so important in this economy,” said Mary Lengel, Adult Programming Coordinator for the Join Base Lewis-McChord Library System. With the recent debut and success of TLC’s Extreme Couponing show, it seems like she couldn’t be more right. That’s why Lengel and Sue Baldwin, the McChord Field Library manager, created a club, open to anyone with base/library access, to talk about great deals, ways to best utilize sales and coupons and how to avoid overspending once you’re in the store. (Fort Lewis Ranger & Weekly Volcano [Lakewood], 4.7.11)

The North Central Regional Library (NCRL) has created its first infomercial to promote a new early reading program, Links to Literacy. The video is accessible on the library’s website. Links to Literacy is a program designed to teach children the early literacy skills necessary to learn to read. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune [Oroville], 4.7.11)

Beginning this month, boffer lovers plan to start meeting regularly, one Friday per month, at the Jefferson County Library. The first meeting of the newly created Boffer Sword Club is set for Friday, April 15. Boffers are foam or padded mock weapons used for simulated handheld combat. Sylvia Platt, teen services coordinator, said she would continue club meeting throughout the summer and fall, assuming there is continued interest. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 4.13.11) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=29037&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&S=1

Family Support Center, a program of Rural Resources, Chief Troy Anderson of the Chewelah Police Department and the Chewelah Public Library joined together in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Chief Anderson read to the pre-school children at the library’s regularly scheduled story time on April 5 and Family Support Center gave gift bags to every child participating. (Photo) (The Independent [Chewelah], 4.15.11)

Many homeowner associations are responsible for a stormwater pond or other drainage system in their neighborhoods that need ongoing maintenance. HOA members in Pierce County can learn how to protect these systems at three upcoming workshops.  Workshops are April 8, May 5 and June 8. June 8^th’s program will be held at the Gig Harbor Library and will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 4.26.11)

Jan Johnston loves books, and starting this week she hopes to share that love with Columbian readers. For years, library staffers have shared a list of a few new adult and children’s acquisitions on The Columbian’s book page every Sunday. Johnston will continue to provide that list, but she’s also going one step further by offering insight into a different book each week – many that are new, but also some older books that readers may have overlooked. (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.1.11)

[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] ]