Washington State Library News
By 2014, 65 percent of library customers will be between 50 and 75 years of age. If you fall into this age range, the library is looking for your help to participate in a focus group. Information gathered will help plan future library programs and services. Stevenson Librarian Marshall Shapiro, who has been selected by Washington State Library to be a fellow in a new program aimed to serve middle-age patrons, called “Transforming Life After 50,” is funded by the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 6.1.11)

Library News
Whitman County Library supporters generously collected $1,171 during its annual penny drive in celebration of National Library Week in 2011. For the sixth year in a row, Vicki Hatley’s Daycare for children, family and friends won the penny drive local competition with $620.46 collected for kid’s programs at the Colfax Library. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.26.11)

Target Stores has announced that 42 new schools from across the country will receive a new library as part of the 2011 Target School Library Makeover Program. That will include West Seattle Elementary School. Principal Vikki Sacco said, “This new library is a gift that satisfies an enormous educational need in our school.” (West Seattle Herald/White Center News, 6.3.11) http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/05/25/news/west-seattle-elementary-school-will-get-new-libra

The City of Des Moines and the King County Library System (KCLS) are at odds over surveillance cameras and library patrons’ privacy. Des Moines Prosecuting Attorney Tim George said because the library is a public agency surveillance camera footage should be public record. But KCLS feels that surveillance camera footage falls under the same Washington law that prevents the library from being compelled to hand over library records of patrons. (Highline Times/Des Moines News/Sea Tac News [Burien], 6.3.11) http://www.highlinetimes.com/2011/05/25/news/des-moines-and-kcls-odds-over-surviellance-camera

Lopez middle school teacher Colleen Currie’s students had been studying Lopez Island history and giving in-class presentations for some time, but Currie thought they could do even more. She believed they could write and publish a book about the history of Lopez Island. With the help of the Paul G. Allen Foundation and the Lopez Island Library, this ambitious and expensive project became a reality. (Photo) (Island’s Weekly Newspaper [Lopez Island], 6.7.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isw/news/123477344.html

The Richland school district is banning a book, even though the committee in charge of the decision did not read the book. The Tri-City Herald’s reports that the districts Instructional Materials Committee has decided to ban Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” because of profanity and sex scenes. However, members of the committee made the decision based on student and teacher feedback. (Seattle Times, 6.20.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015366923_apwabookbanned.html

As the popularity of e-readers has soared, so has the checkout rate for library e-books — and with it, phone calls and emails from borrowers seeking help. The Seattle Public Library, for example, reports that about 70 percent of “help” calls to its “ask a librarian” line relate to digital content. King County Library System records show the number of tech-support calls, which includes e-books inquiries, increased by 230 percent from May 2010 to May 2011. (Seattle Times, 6.24.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015419039_ptebooks25.html

Buildings
There are two things you hear a lot about projects that improve a building’s energy efficiency. It’s the right thing to do for the environment, and it ends up saving money in the long run. Those attending a ceremony May 4 at the Sedro-Woolley city library heard both messages from city officials who cut a ribbon to recognize the completion of a $12,000 upgrade of the library’s energy systems. (Courier Times [Sedro-Woolley], 5.31.11)

Plans that might have resulted in the Bleyhl Community Library being closed for more than two months have changed, according to interim Librarian Ruth Dirk. The new facility on the Grandview Yakima Valley Community College campus may not open until near the middle of September. The official ribbon cutting for that library is September 12, Dirk said. (Grandview Herald, 6.1.11)

The Timberland Regional Library system and community boosters in Oakville have refined their plans for a new library and community center. The new facility is slated to be housed in underused parts of the Oakville Elementary School building. The project would upgrade existing unused classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria, and include a Native American cultural museum and community center with a full commercial kitchen. (Photo) (The Chronicle [Centralia], 6.2.11)

The Liberty Lake Municipal Library Foundation recently launched a fundraiser to benefit the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. Foundation representatives are selling tiles that range in price of $50 to $500 to make up a photo-mosaic mural at the facility. A total of 136 tiles will make up an 8-foot mural to be installed inside the library later this summer next to the quiet reading room. (Photo) (Liberty Lake Splash, 6.2.11) http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=20811

Letters and Editorials
I am dismayed that the King County Library System Board of Trustees would consider consolidation of the Boulevard Park and White Center libraries at this time. While the timing itself is enough to delay the vote, there is also the issue of boundaries and service. (Highline Times/Des Moines News/Sea Tac News [Burien], 5.27.11) http://www.highlinetimes.com/2011/05/23/letters-editor/dont-consolidate-libraries

The Enumclaw library has a great history spanning from the 1920s … to the 1950s … then to the 1990s when another new library opened. However, I think Enumclaw’s library can face a new path now that could lead to a greater selection of books for the people of Enumclaw and a greater amount of people coming into the library. The Enumclaw library should become part of the King County Library System. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 6.1.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ech/opinion/letters/122978293.html

Last year the North Kitsap School Board did not want librarians cut. Any cuts, this year, have been made by the administration. There has been no board discussion on our position this year. The only direction that the board has given the administration is that we will cut 28 teaching positions and not the 38 that were suggested by the administration. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 6.2.11) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/01/letter-to-the-editor-nk-board-hasnt-decided-cuts/

Let it be established that a public library means different things to different people. But it is a sad commentary on the plight of one of society’s most revered institutions when it is converted into a hangout spot and game den instead of its original purpose. Frankly, I pity the child who doesn’t identify books with libraries, but sees them as cyber playground props. (Federal Way Mirror, 6.4.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/fwm/opinion/123064673.html

As the mother of two North Kitsap students, I feel very strongly that our district must fully staff our school libraries to ensure our children’s academic success. As a frequent library volunteer and occasional library substitute, I have seen the important teaching and learning that goes on in our libraries. Fully staffed libraries are not a luxury, but a necessity. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 6.5.11) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/03/letter-to-the-editor-libraries-are-the-hearts-of/

Libraries are a center of literacy and discourse and play a big role in shaping students who become part of our society. Technology is an important part of the modern library, with research methods being taught. School librarians fight a daily battle to lead students to reliable and fully vetted sources of information. (Columbian [Vancouver], 6.14.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/14/letter-certified-librarians-carry-great-value/

Programs and Displays
The Seattle Public Library (SPL) offers a robust summer reading program tailored to teens and tweens. The program kicks off early this month with librarian visits to most local schools. This year’s theme is “Steampunk Summer” and librarians are bringing two steampunk-themed books to the school for kids to take home with them: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, and Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. (Parent Map [Seattle], 6.2011)

Learning to Look, Looking to Learn is a series of three, one and half hour art history classes sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Artist and educator, Tory Raggett, teaches the classes on June 14, 21 and 18 in the library meeting room. Her classes will combine slides, art history and discussion of various paintings. (The Journal of the San Juan Islands [Friday Harbor], 6.1.11)

The Chewelah Public Library helped commemorate the Memorial Day holiday by offering their “Teens and Tweens” a chance to write letters to soldiers serving overseas. Library Assistant Kristina Payne said she chose this activity for kids, and adults, in the community to remember patriotism. A return address label was also included in the letters with the library’s address so the soldiers can write back. (Photo) (The Independent [Chewelah], 6.2.11)

[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] ]