Library News
Librarian Julie Jantz reported to the Odessa town council that the proposed budget for the library had been given to the town clerk, adding that the most substantial change from the 2011 budget included the cost of supplies to convert to an electronic checkout system. (Odessa Record, 10.20.11)

Liberty Lake Mayor Wendy Van Orman presented her proposed budget for 2012 two weeks ahead of the state mandate. In her proposal, Van Orman mentioned the potential construction of a library branch in the burgeoning River District on the north side of town. (Valley News Herald, [Spokane] 10.21.11)http://www.spokanevalleyonline.com/articles_svnews/2011/102111_LL%20budget%20for%202012%20includes%20reduction%20in%20utility%20tax.html

This fall, the Pierce County Library System introduced an expanded e-book selection, which allows readers to download materials to e-readers like Kindle and Nook. To keep up with patron demand, the library system has already begun increasing its digital collection. (Photo) (Fife Free Press, [Tacoma] 10.21.11)

When surfing the Internet at King County libraries, adult patrons have the right to access anything they wish – including porn. King County Libraries filter Internet access for patrons ages 17 and under. Anyone over age 17 may request that the filter be removed. “Libraries are a manifestation of what Democracy is about. One of our democratic rights is intellectual freedom.” (Federal Way Mirror, 10.22.11) http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/132198708.html

Sno-Isle Regional Library System commissioned Dan Nelson and Designs Northwest to find a permanent spot for the Camano Library. Nelson presented three proposals with costs ranging from $2 million to $4.4 million for a permanent spot. (Stanwood Camano News, 10.25.11)

Conclusions drawn from a recent, 10-question survey conducted by the city of Enumclaw show that annexing the library to the King County Library System was favored by 65.5 percent of those completing the survey. Funding the library through the city budget was supported by 21 percent, while maintaining the library with a property tax increase earned the rest of the vote. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 10.26.11) http://www.courierherald.com/news/132254808.html

The Anacortes Public Library now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Passport forms, passport fees, information on how to apply and more can be found on the Department of State’s official Web site or pick up an application and passport guide at the library. (Anacortes American, 10.26.11)

The North Olympic Library System Board of Trustees will hold a second public hearing and adoption of the 2012 budget at 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 28th. Members of the public are encouraged to share their thoughts on the budget by calling library director Paula Barnes. (The Sequim Gazette, 10.26.11)

A legal memo explaining the details of the agreement between the city of Grandview and Yakima Valley Community College with regards to the new library building was presented at the Grandview City Council meeting. After a discussion, the council voted to approve the contract. (Daily News, [Sunnyside] 10.26.11)

Marcelina Ortega, Sunnyside Library Branch Manager, spoke to Daybreak Rotarians about the history of the library, a part of the Yakima Valley Libraries, and the new changes that are coming about. (Photo)
(Daily News, [Sunnyside] 10.27.11) http://www.dailysunnews.com/archives/Story.aspx/22519/sunnyside-library-getting-with-the-times

Good news for readers – North Central Regional Library (NCRL) eBooks are now compatible with Kindles. Kindle owners can now download free eBooks from the library’s website. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, 10.27.11)

You can use your Roslyn Public Library card to download eBooks from their collection of over 2,000 bestselling and classic titles to your eBook reader, all for free. The Roslyn Library is currently the only library in Kittitas County offering this collection. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 10.27.11)

A crowd of nearly 100 people packed the Colfax Library, a part of the Whitman County Rural Library District, to raise money for children’s programs across Whitman County. During the auction more than $27,000 was raised. (Whitman County Gazette, 10.27.11)

Liberty Lake Municipal Library announced its e-Book collection is now compatible with the Amazon Kindle. Patrons can now download popular and classic e-Books to a Kindle device or any mobile device running the free Kindle app. (Liberty Lake Splash, 10.29.11) http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=21271

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner presented her 2012 budget Monday. It would preserve the city’s library branches. The library’s material budgets likely will be cut in a way Verner described as “drastic.” (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 11.1.11) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/01/mayors-budget-spares-jobs/

In a Veterans Day ceremony, the Tacoma Northeast Elementary School library was dedicated in memory of, and renamed after, Michael T. Washington, who previously attended the school. A Marine, Washington was one of four Americans killed when a roadside bomb blew up their Humvee in Afghanistan. (Photo) (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 11.11.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/11/10/1901107/northeast-tacoma-elementary-renames.html#storylink=misearch

Library cardholders at the Seattle Public Library can access the Freegal Music Service, which allows three free downloads each week. The website is surprisingly simple: Enter your card number and pin, and you’re in. (Photos) (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 11.13.11) http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/11/13/how-to-get-top-tracks-without-the-1-29-itunes-cost/

Buildings
The Pierce County Library System will host a grand opening celebration for its Fife branch December 3rd from 1-5 p.m. For information visit the library’s website www.piercecountylibrary.org. (Fife Free Press, [Tacoma] 10.21.11)

King County Library System has awarded construction of the Duvall Library to Kassel & Associates, Inc. of Kirkland. Construction cost of the library is $3,446,000. (Daily Journal of Commerce, [Seattle] 11.9.11)

Letters & Editorials
A recent writer questioned why the King County Library System does not filter, or more correctly censor online access. The answer is that we live in a free society, not a nanny state that gets to control our access via public services to keep people like the writer safe from such “obscene” stuff. (Issaquah Press, 10.26.11) http://www.issaquahpress.com/2011/10/25/to-the-editor-139/

I have been trying for more than 18 months to get a response from the King County Library System regarding two items about the personal “checkout history.” To date, KCLS has not seen fit to address my requests. I wonder if anyone else has the same KCLS problem. (Issaquah Press, 10.26.11) http://www.issaquahpress.com/2011/10/25/to-the-editor-139/

On behalf of Mark P. Waterman Masonic Lodge, I would like to thank our Vashon neighbors for their generous support of our 2011 public school library fundraising campaign. This summer we raised $3,000 for the Becky Braicks Fund established to purchase critically needed books and resources for our children’s libraries. (The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 10.26.11)

Hoquiamites are being asked to formally annex the library to the Timberland Regional Library System, one of the most successful regional library cooperatives. I hope you’ll join me in approving Proposition 1 on your mail-in ballot. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 10.28.11){editor’s note: while the election hasn’t been certified, the vote is 72.77% in favor of annexation}

2012 will be the first year in which the city of Port Orchard doesn’t pay Kitsap Regional Library an amount equal to what KRL’s levy would collect from within the city. City residents will pay the KRL levy directly, and the net effect on the city is a small reduction in property tax revenue available for the city’s other purposes. (Photo) (Independent, [Port Orchard] 10.28.11)

Surely few essential services have suffered more drastic cutbacks than our Bellingham Public Library. Simply by donating your used books to the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library, and by attending the Friends’ book sale, you can help to provide much-needed supplements to the library’s operating budget. (Bellingham Herald, 10.29.11) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/10/27/2247063/letter-friends-book-sale-to-benefit.html#storylink=misearch

Here we go again. Hoquiam is coming after us for more money by annexing the library. They need to stop spending our tax dollars on non-essential projects. Quit spending on non-essential consultant fees. With these minor reductions, they should be able to continue paying for the library with no additional burden on the taxpayer. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 10.30.11)

This Nov. 8, Hoquiam voters are being asked a critical question regarding the future of our local library: Should the Hoquiam Library be annexed into the Timberland Regional Library System? We, the members of the Hoquiam Library Board of Trustees, wholeheartedly believe that it should. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 10.30.11)

Awards
Wesley and Robin Williams received a $25 gift certificate from the Friends of the Whitman County Library in celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette, [Colfax] 10.20.11)

Yakama Nation Library has been awarded a grant from Communities Connect which has funded ten laptops, fifteen desktop computers and a computer lab assistant position in the library. (Review Independent, [Toppenish & Wapato] 10.26.11)

The Garfield Branch of the Whitman County Library received a new flag in memory of Garfield’s Walt Roach. County Commissioner Greg Partch along with Walt’s widow, Dixie Roach, recently presented the flag. Mr. Roach, who died last March, served in the Army in the Marshall Islands and qualified for several sharpshooter medals. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette, [Colfax] 10.27.11)

Programs & Displays
A series of medical lectures sponsored by UW Medicine and the Seattle Public Library system began October 5th and will continue into April. These lectures feature various UW faculty and researchers and cover a wide range of topics, from the risk of stroke to healthy eating habits in touch economic times. (University of Washington Daily, [Seattle] 10.12.11) http://dailyuw.com/news/2011/oct/12/medical-column/

On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Northgate Branch of the Seattle Public Library will host a World Toilet Day storytime for all ages. While at the library, adults may want to check out “The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters,” British author Rose George’s smart study of sewage disposal (or lack of it) in the U.S., Japan, India, China and Africa. (Seattle Times, 11.13.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2016728608_shortlist13.html

[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] ]