Washington State Library News
Sam Reed, Washington’s Secretary of State, will spend four days visiting communities in Eastern Washington next week — including Kennewick. Reed’s office oversees the Washington State Library, which is why he also is visiting libraries in Dayton, Waitsburg and Walla Walla next week. (Tri-City Herald Online [Kennewick], 6.11.11) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/06/11/1528024/kennewick-library-on-reeds-tour.html

Library News
Last fall, about 15 students from Olympic Middle School gathered twice a week to put on a book fair. After hours upon hours of work to create the event, themed “The Night of the Living Books,” the school won second prize, and $1,000 to purchase books for the library, said school librarian Cindy Roaf. (Photo) (Shelton-Mason County Journal, 5.12.11)

In one of this year’s most publicly visible impacts of a whittled down budget, the Camas Public Library will be closed each Saturday from May 28 through September 3. According to Library Director David Zavortink, Saturdays were selected for the closure because library data indicates that this is the day of the week, particularly during the summer, that produces the lightest foot traffic. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 5.17.11)

With the city preparing to embark on a $9.8 million renovation and expansion of the Port Townsend Library, library staff has scheduled a series of forums to help residents learn more about the project. The forums are scheduled for 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. The first forum is on May 24. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 5.18.11)

The flooded library at Jennings Elementary School in Colfax is still drying out. Library class sessions are being conducted with Librarian Pam Becker making visits to classrooms. Dehumidifiers and fans are running in the library to suck out the last bit of moisture. The more major repairs to be done to the library may come this summer when students are gone. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.19.11)

A member of the Kitsap Regional Library board of directors, Gregg Olsen, author of “Starvation Heights,” is organizing a fundraiser this summer based on a “Starvation Heights” theme, to benefit the local library system. “We have a lot of macabre events planned,” he said. “I wouldn’t go as far as to say it will be fun, but it will almost certainly be memorable.” (Photo) (Independent [Port Orchard], 5.20.11)

Buildings
The Renton City Council will decide Monday night whether to move forward with an $18 million bond issue to pay for two new libraries in the city, including one downtown. The vote comes against a backdrop of continuing community debate over whether to move the current library over the Cedar River to a spot near the Renton Transit Center. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 5.13.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/121747064.html

The Renton City Council Monday night decided not to move forward with issuing 10-year bonds to build two new Renton libraries until after it gets more public input on the matter. Mayor Denis Law at the meeting cited the recent shooting at the proposed downtown library site at the Big 5 sporting good store and council member absences from upcoming meetings as reasons to delay any decision. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 5.20.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/122030589.html

The Auburn Library will close for a year-long expansion at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 29. It will reopen at its temporary location, the former Herr Cabinets building, at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3. Library service will not be available between May 30 and June 2. Please visit other KCLS libraries for assistance. (Auburn Reporter [Kent], 5.20.11)

The downtown branch of the Kitsap Regional Library could get a new metal roof by the end of summer, compliments of the city of Port Orchard. “We just wanted a new roof so that the leaks would stop,” said Susan Whitford, director of technology and facilities for KRL. The city council and staff have discussed, in the past, whether they’re getting a good value for the roof. (Independent [Port Orchard], 5.20.11)

After nearly a half-century, the Vancouver Community Library at 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. will permanently shut down most operations at 6 p.m. Saturday, the close of normal business hours. The closure will allow the Fort Vancouver Regional Library staff and professional movers to ship the library’s collection and employee work stations to the new downtown library branch at 901 C St. (Columbian [Vancouver], 6.2.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/01/main-library-to-close-saturday/

Letters & Editorials
Clearly, where to locate a new library downtown has split the community and the City Council. The split really mirrors the narrow outcome when Renton voters approved the city’s annexation into the King County Library System, setting in motion today’s debate. Renton is having a hard time letting go of its library over the river. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 5.13.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/opinion/121734869.html

This August, the library district will go before the voters of East Jefferson County to ask for $8.4 million in bond financing. The money will be used to expand he heavily used building by another 9,700 square feet. Voters have a lot of time before they have to make up their minds on this one. Every one of them should get into the library between now and early August and take a look around. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 5.18.11) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=29244&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

The strides we have taken in the library situation are significant to the Yelm community. I applaud the efforts of the Timberland board for considering all the information when making their decision about our library. As our plans move forward we will be updating the community and outlining how each person can help fulfill our goals and support the Yelm Timberland Library. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 5.20.11)

I was disappointed to find out that the Yakima Valley Regional Library was not participating this year in Free Comic Book Day on the first Saturday of May as it has in the past. I was told that there was a change in personnel and a deadline was missed. What a shame. (Yakima Herald-Republic, 5.22.11) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/05/20/05-22-11-letters-to-the-editor

Programs and Displays
Andrew Wilder, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs at the United States Institute of Peace, will speak on Orcas Island May 22. Wilder’s original lecture topic was “Afghanistan: Understanding the Relationship Between Aid and Security,” a central research focal point for Wilder. Given bin Laden’s death, Wilder is also happy to answer attendees’ questions on current events. Tickets are $10 and available at the Orcas Island Public Library, Darvill’s Bookstore, and at the door. (The Islands Sounder [Eastsound], 5.8.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/lifestyle/121472324.html

Paintings by teaching artist Meredith Essex are on display at the Edmonds Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, through June 20. Essex, a Northwest native, belongs to an extended family of artists. Her early years were spent both in Western Washington and Eastern Washington. (Photo) (The Weekly Herald [Lynnwood], 5.11.11) http://www.weeklyherald.com/article/20110511/TWH05/705119926

Some of the best art in the Valley has found a spring home at the North Bend Library, a part of the King County Library System. The Mount Si Artist Guild is hosting an exhibit this month at the library, showing pieces that include inks, watercolors, collages, acrylics and oils. “It’s a beautiful opportunity to use the library as a source for the community to be able to come,” the guild’s Eileen Erickson said. (Photos) (SnoValley Star [Issaquah], 5.12.11) http://snovalleystar.com/2011/05/12/mount-si-artist-guild-brings-color-to-north-bend-library

Children are invited to read books for a chance to win a bike. The Lake City Library, a part of the Seattle Public Library, will host a “Bikes for Books” reading program through Tuesday, May 24. This program is open to children in grades four and five. Each entry will require a short oral book report to a librarian. (South Seattle Beacon, 5.18.11)

Free citizenship classes begin at 7 p.m. on June 23 at the Mountlake Terrace Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries. This series of five classes will help prospective citizens prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Test. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required for the five week session. (The Weekly Herald [Lynnwood], 5.18.11) http://www.weeklyherald.com/article/20110518/TWH01/705189907

Readers of all ages will travel the globe this summer as the Ritzville Public Library presents “One World, Many Stories” during its summer reading program. The 2011 Summer Reading Program is open to young people through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, story hours and more. Registration begins on Monday, May 23. All programs are free of charge. (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 5.19.11)

Odessa Elementary School students are invited to a Flashlight Reading Night on Tuesday, June 7, at 6:00 p.m., in the school multi-purpose room. This will also be a kick-off event for the Summer Story Hour at the public library. School librarian, Apryl Wraspir, will also continue the tradition of taking elementary school classes to the public library the last weeks of school to learn how to check out books and to see the wide array of children’s literature available for summer reading. (Odessa Record, 5.19.11)

[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] ]