Library News

The Pierce County Library System will sponsor a teen library card art contest.  The contest is an opportunity for teen artists to have their art featured on a card that will be used throughout the county.  The free contest runs through May 31. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 4.25.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/25/1639026/library-system-to-hold-card-design.html#storylink=misearch

The Jefferson County Library broke all-time records for circulation and use of materials and services in March 2011.  March featured the highest monthly circulation in the library’s history – 7 percent higher than the previous record – with 37,008 checkouts of materials of all types. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 5.4.11)

Everyone has used, old and out-of-date electronic equipment (gadgets) and question how to responsibly dispose of them.  The Dayton Memorial Library has partnered with an electronics recycling company to raise funds by offering the community an easy way to dispose of those unwanted or unused electronic items. After inspection of your item (s) a check for the value of the item (s) will be mailed directly to the Friends of the Library. (Dayton Chronicle, 5.4.11)

On Wednesday, all North Mason School District librarians and some other teachers will receive pink slips as part of the district’s preparations for a “worst-case” budget scenario. Though the district’s full budget picture remains unclear, it and other school districts are required to send layoff notices by May 15. Among those receiving notices are all the district’s librarian – three full-time and one part-time. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 5.10.11) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/may/09/north-mason-school-district-to-lay-off-other/

There is a neglected brick patio at the Walla Walla Public Library which will soon be transformed into a beautiful reading garden. The construction of the garden at the library is possible due to the generosity of the Sherwood Trust. Donations for garden furniture can be made to The Friends of the Walla Walla Public Library. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 5.10.11)

The Magic Spell adult spelling bee on Sunday offered stumpers, along with a word wizard and judges in robes and witches caps.  It was all for charity. The four teams represented Friends of the Vancouver Community Library, Clark College, American Association of University Women and Washington State University Vancouver. (Photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.16.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/may/15/teams-cast-a-spell-for-charity-at-contest/

With the City facing a $67 million shortfall last fall, the Seattle Public Library raised its late fees and launched what some said was a kid-unfriendly effort: Using a collections agency to crack down on overdue accounts of little kids. After launching its juvenile crackdown, officials soon discovered that older debts had diminishing returns. So the library has decided not to submit accounts more than a year old. (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 5.23.11) http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Library-crackdown-on-delinquent-kids-a-bust-1391971.php

The King County Library System is removing security cameras from its libraries, worried that supplying security video to law-enforcement agencies could compromise patron privacy. “We decided the cameras were not serving a purpose and were a point of contention with law enforcement,” said Bill Ptacek, who as director of the county library system has the final say. (Seattle Times Online, 5.24.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015138444_library25m.html

Stanwood City Council nosed around the issue of books, and how they’re paid for, at Thursday’s meeting. The city has entertained the idea of annexing into Sno-Isle Regional Library System since the former city administrator posited the idea as a way to reduce expenditures. Stanwood contracts with Sno-Isle for library services, but is the only city in the district that still does; all other cities have annexed into the library district. (Stanwood Camano News, 5.3.11)

Buildings

The Friends of the Roslyn Library wanted to help the City of Roslyn with the building renovation project for the Old City Hall building … at the Tuesday, April 26, city council meeting, Friends’ president, Cindy Gregory presented the Mayor with a check for $24,065. While construction continues on the ground floor of the old building, the rest of the funds will be used to continue leasing the city’s temporary location for the library and other city departments.  (Photo) (Northern Kittitas County Tribune [Cle Elum], 5.5.11)

The City of Yelm’s library proposal originally was to purchase the current space for $1.2 million with TRL and the city splitting the cost equally. However, the price dropped to $1 million after owner Margaret Clapp offered a personal contribution of $200,000 toward the purchase if TRL agreed to partner with the city in the purchase, which they did.  TRL is now drafting a response citing some specifications and agreements. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 5.6.11)

Letters & Editorials

On April 26, our City Council unanimously approved the plan for expanding the Port Townsend public library and ensuring its visibility for decades to come. This is wonderful news and will help us achieve the dream of completing that significant project by 2013, the 100^th anniversary of the completion of the Carnegie Library. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 5.4.11)

Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest came to visit Valhalla Elementary School teacher-librarian Kim Meschter and saw firsthand the Library Media program in action. Mayor Priest is a member of the state Legislature’s Quality Education Council. The QEC Council drafted a report that recommended every school have a qualified teacher-librarian. (Federal Way Mirror, 5.4.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/fwm/opinion/letters/121176054.html

I am puzzled as to why many of the people of Enumclaw want to keep our library local. When people claim that there is no advantage to joining the King County System, I would like to invite them to go visit the new Covington, Maple Valley or Black Diamond libraries. Can you imagine the major improvements that would occur here if King County would use those tax dollars to renovate, expand or simply build a new and larger library just like those others? (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 5.4.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ech/opinion/letters/121186574.html

Last Wednesday night nearly 50 people, ranging in ages from 5 to 85, attended the Timberland Regional Library System board meeting to show support for the Yelm Library. This is a special community and once again, we proved that working together gets positive results. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 5.6.11)

I wish to publicly thank the Sunnyside Lion’s Club for its generous contribution to the Pioneer Elementary School Library. Lion member Sara Hart held a yard sale and the monies raised were matched up to $150 by the Lion’s Club.  This resulted in $343.55. These funds will purchase more than 100 library-bound books. (Daily News [Sunnyside], 5.11.11) http://www.dailysunnews.com/archives/Story.aspx/21163/forum

Library Director Bill Ptacek should be fired. Who?  Bill Ptacek, the director of the King County Library System.   Why should he be fired?  Because he believes that he must, at all costs, protect the privacy of muggers. (Sound Politics, 5.25.11) http://soundpolitics.com/archives/014854.html

The King County Library System’s decision to get rid of all its surveillance cameras in the wake of becoming an arm of law enforcement gets to a Core Issue of Our Times: privacy versus security. As Bill Ptacek, the County library director, told the Seattle Times yesterday, “We believe intellectual freedom is the important part, so we got out of the camera business.” (Seattle Weekly Online, 5.25.11) http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/05/king_county_libraries_are_gett.php

People

Sno-Isle Libraries has hired Kendra Trachta as its new deputy director.  Trachta has 20 years experience, most recently as the assistant director of public services for San Antonio Public Library. Trachta’s first day on the job was April 25. (Photo) (The Herald [Everett], 5.2.11) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110502/BIZ/705029940

The Monroe Library has a nearly all-new staff, following the co-incidental departure of two of three librarians all at once this winter.  Chuck Pratt applied for the job of adult and teen librarian, got the job, and started on Valentine’s Day. Shannon Dye saw the ad for a children’s librarian while she was still living in Phoenix, Arizona. “I think one of the reasons I was hired is that I speak Spanish,” she said.  (Photo) (Monroe Monitor & Valley News, 5.3.11) http://www.monroemonitor.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=1925&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=76&S=1

Programs and Displays

Washougal photographer Mari Coryell will display her photographic art at Second Story Gallery in the Camas Public Library this month. Coryell is fascinated by the attempt to get so close to a subject that one has to look deeply to figure out what the subject might actually be. “In my Backyard; a photographic journal” is an exploration of the “macro” life around us. It will show until May 31. (Photos) (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 5.3.11)

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons and their parents, friends, families and allies gathered at the Stanwood Library on April 20 and “expressed that they were pleased to have a local outlet,” said Pat Clark, M.D. and licensed mental health counselor. To continue the conversation, meetings will be held the third Wednesday of every month in the community reading room at the Stanwood Library, 7-9 p.m. (Stanwood Camano News, 5.3.11)

Nearly 80 youngsters met Whitman County Library’s five-day TV Free Challenge during April.  The Friends of the Library offered a free book to those who met the challenge. As reported in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, children who watched too much TV ate more snacks and soft drinks than those whose TV viewing time was limited. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.5.11)

Come experience art through the eyes of the students at Whitson Elementary School during the month of May at the White Salmon Valley Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, Sprint/Baker Gallery. Various types of art will be on display, created by Kindergarten through Fourth Grade students in the Enrichment Program. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 5.5.11)

Twenty-five job-seekers were waiting for Worksource staff when they came to Cathlamet last Wednesday to hold a job fair. Worksource, which connects employers with prospective employees set up at the Cathlamet Public Library/Blanche Bradley Memorial Library. As a result of the interest shown at the job fair, town Librarian Connie Christopher created a bulletin board with information for job-seekers. (Photo) (The Wahkiakum Co. Eagle [Cathlamet], 5.5.11) http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2011-05-06_cathlamet_library_holds_first_job_fair

Marilyn Brown of the Kittitas County Genealogical Society says searching out your family’s history is so engaging that, “you can sit down for just a minute, and the next thing you know it’s been an hour.”  Many like-minded individuals joined Brown at the Family History Fair at the Hal Holmes Center in Ellensburg on Saturday, April 30. The event was sponsored by the Society and the Ellensburg Public Library. (Photo) (Northern Kittitas County Tribune [Cle Elum], 5.5.11)

Honeybee populations are declining all around the world. The importance of bees lies in their performance as pollinators. Learn more about bees and beekeeping at a free presentation by T.J. Jorgenson, president of West Sound Beekeepers Association at a nearby Kitsap Regional Library branch during the month of May. (Photo) (Bainbridge Island Review, 5.6.11)

[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] ]