Library News
The Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) was host to a diverse group of stakeholders last week for a meeting to discuss the NoaNet broadband fiber installation projects taking place in several rural eastern Washington counties. Among those in attendance were the Director of the Washington State Broadband Office, the Washington State Library Program Manager for rural libraries, representatives from WSU and Community Colleges of Spokane and several broadband experts. (Odessa Record, 9.22.11)

The Spokane County Library District’s electronic book collection is now available in the Amazon Kindle format. In addition to Kindle reader devices, the format may be used on iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches and other mobile devices by downloading free software from Amazon.com. (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 9.23.11) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/23/in-brief-no-charges-to-come-in-drivers-death/

Users of the North Olympic Library System can now review books and movies in the library’s online catalog at www.nols.org. NOLS has contracted with ChiliFresh.com to put interactive content, including reviews and comments from library users at thousands of other ChiliFresh libraries, in the NOLS catalog.
(Peninsula Daily News, [Port Angeles] 9.25.11)

The Walla Walla Public Library installed a Kreuig coffee maker, which is a test to see if a full espresso bar might be merited for the future, Library Director Beth Hudson said. Also new at the east end of the library, landscaping on a reading garden was finished late last month. (Photos) (Union Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 9.25.11)

Walla Walla Public Library filled the vacancy created when past library director Martha Van Pelt left in July 2010. Beth Hudson was promoted from support services librarian to director at the start of this month. The Walla Walla County Rural Library District hired Aletha Bonebrake as Interim Executive Director. Bonebrake started on Sept. 8. (Photos) (Union Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 9.25.11)

City officials are again working out a yearly reimbursement contract with the Walla Walla County Rural Library District, but this year the city is pushing for a per-capita formula that would provide more library funding, which could lead to more library hours. (Union Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 9.25.11)

Castle Rock Library officials are cutting back hours and laid off the library’s two part-time employees to save costs after Augusts’ levy failure. The only remaining employee is Librarian Vicki Selander. The changes also mean the library won’t be open Fridays and Saturdays anymore – at least for now.
(The Daily News, [Longview] 10.2.11) http://tdn.com/news/local/article_88be1cac-ed52-11e0-a065-001cc4c03286.html

There weren’t many bombshells at this morning’s presentations on the city of Seattle’s parks and libraries budget—just more of the same bad news (fewer community center hours, a continuation of the library’s already slash-and-burn budget, renewed furloughs, and entire days when branch libraries will be closed), along with a fairly dismal outlook for the future. (Publicola, [Seattle] 10.4.11)
http://publicola.com/2011/10/04/parks-and-libraries-outline-budget-cuts/

Buildings
Expansion of the Ocean Park Timberland Library has been a topic at TRL board meetings for well over a year. This June, those discussions turned serious when the TRL Board of Trustees voted to spend $50,000 on the development of construction documents. An early estimate for the project is $500,000. Funding comes from the TRL Foundation with help of community fundraising efforts. (Photo) (Chinook Observer, [Long Beach] 9.21.11)

The city of Chelan’s Library Planning Committee is submitting its recommendations to the City Council at the Sept. 22 meeting. The committee said only $500,000, or one-third, of the cost of the new library will come from city coffers. The rest of the costs will be covered by public grants, fundraising and other private sources. Under the city’s agreement with North Central Regional Library district, the city must provide the building, the shelves and the maintenance for the library, while NCRL supplies librarians, books, computers and services. (Lake Chelan Mirror, [Chelan] 9.21.11) http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=4875&SectionID=59&SubSectionID=178&S=1

A new Timberland library and community center is being planned in Oakville. Estimated cost for the project in today’s dollars is $2.5 million, which includes site work, demolition and permitting, foundation and structural construction, interior construction including mechanical and electrical work, along with equipment and related labor expenses. (Photo) (The Vidette, [Montesano] 9.22.11)

Vandalism in the men’s restroom at the downtown Yakima Valley Library on Friday afternoon set off a fire sprinkler, releasing about 200 gallons of water, according to a news release today from the Yakima Fire Department. The restroom had a tile floor drain but some water ran out to the carpet and walls, causing estimated damage of $2,000. (Yakima Herald-Republic, [Yakima] 9.25.11) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/09/24/library-vandals-unleash-water-from-fire-sprinkler

Tacoma Public Library officials announced Wednesday the Charlotte White Mottet Library will be closed for renovation beginning on Thursday, October 13. The library will reopen on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. The upcoming remodel will offer more computers and more space for patrons to access the Internet through their wireless laptops. The library will meet new standards for access by persons with disabilities. (Tacoma Daily Index, 9.29.11)

Letters & Editorials
It was a busy summer, and we are planning more exciting events this fall. Thank you for making our programs and events so successful! Each year, library use grows and libraries become even more necessary. The Benton City Library, a part of Mid Columbia libraries, makes a difference in our community on a daily basis. (Benton City Bulletin, 9.11)

Awards
Mark Ray, a teacher librarian at Skyview High School in Vancouver, was named the 2012 Washington Teacher of the Year on Monday, cited for his enthusiasm, creativity and efforts to empower teachers through technology. He said he plans to use the award to advocate for the importance of school libraries. (Photo) (The Seattle Times, 10.3.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016396089_teacher04m.html

Programs & Displays
The Langley Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, will present a series of gardening programs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings this fall, funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation and Puget Sound Energy. Fran Abel will present “Beyond Rain Gardens” on Tuesday, October 4. On Tuesday, October 11, Craig Weiner will present the final program, “Community Gardening.” (South Whidbey Record, [Langley] 9.17.11)

Eastern Washington University Libraries will hold “Oktoberfest” on October 8, from 5 to 10:30 p.m. in the JFK Library. This year’s theme is “Casino Royale” and it will include a buffet dinner. All proceeds benefit the EWU Libraries’ Collection Endowment Fund for the purchase of books and journals. (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 9.22.11) http://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=29232

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Broadway debut of Langston Hughes’ retelling of the Nativity story with two upcoming events at local libraries. From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, a discussion of Hughes and his legacy. An exhibit honoring Hughes’ 1932 visit to Seattle will be on display at the Douglass Truth Branch of the Seattle Public Library. (Seattle Times, 10.2.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2016370656_blacknativityevents03.html

Economy/Hard Times
The Port Townsend Library is offering “Transition Yourself” workshops in the coming weeks focused on helping people get new jobs. Besides information on finding a job, the workshops also guide participants through the process of what steps are needed to start your own business. {editor’s note: these workshops grew out of an LSTA grant} (The Leader, [Port Townsend] 9.21.11)

In the annual “State of the Cities” address Longview Manager Bob Gregory and Kelso City Manager Denny Richards focused on the progress their cities have managed to achieve. Despite little available money, economic hopes in Longview and Kelso are high. In 2011 the Kelso Public Library moved into Three Rivers Mall and has an updated environment for people to get books. (Photos) (Daily News, [Longview] 9.23.11)

[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] ]