Library News
The North Olympic Library System has started offering e-readers for checkout. The devices are Barnes & Noble Nooks and they will be pre-loaded with 10 popular fiction and nonfiction titles for adults. The devices will be available at all four NOLS libraries: Port Angeles, Clallam Bay, Forks and Sequim. (The Sequim Gazette, 12.14.11)

Ritzville Public Library has expanded its services with audio books and eBooks available to download from the Washington Anytime Library website. Funding for this service, powered by OverDrive, comes from a donation from the Ritzville Friends of the Library and from federal Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) dollars granted through the Washington State Library. (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 12.15.11)

Superlatives do no justice to Quincy’s new public library, a part of the North Central Regional Library System. “It’s a dream come true,” said head librarian Schiree Ybarra. The library opened to the public Monday, Dec. 19. (Photos) (Quincy Valley Post, 12.15.11) http://www.qvpr.com/articles/library-prepares-opening-day

County residents will have access to the city library next year. The Walla Walla County Rural Library District board approved a 2012 contract. The contract was a counteroffer from the city earlier this month. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 12.16.11)

Libraries in Everson, Ferndale and Sumas (Whatcom County Library System) will be open more hours next year under a $7.3 million budget approved Tuesday, Dec. 13, by the board that oversees the county’s library system. (Bellingham Herald, 12.16.11) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/12/15/2313097/some-whatcom-county-library-branches.html#storylink=misearch

Because of the 2011 increase in Spokane County Library District tax support, resulting from the voter-approved 2010 levy lid lift, the district’s annual nonresident use fee will go up accordingly to $105 per household effective January 2, 2012. The 2011 rate was $100 per household. (Valley News Herald, [Spokane] 12.16.11)

Phone numbers at all Tacoma Public Library offices and branches have changed. The library is switching to a VOIP – Voice Over Internet Protocol – system, library spokesman David Domkoski said. The new system operates over Internet lines rather than through a local network provider. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 1.2.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/02/1966341/tacoma-public-library-will-change.html#storylink=misearch

The Seattle Public Library has scheduled three community meetings in January to discuss improving library services. The meetings will focus on enhancing the library’s collection of books and materials, increasing operating hours, upgrading computers and online services and improving building maintenance. (Seattle Times, 1.6.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017171162_bluebox06m.html

Buildings
A tree was hauled to the top of the Tioga Library Building on Dec. 14 to mark that construction of the Tioga Library Building had reached its highest point, according to University of Washington Tacoma officials. When completed next summer, the $16 million Tioga Library Building will house expanded library resources and classrooms that will be linked to the existing library via a bridge over the historical railroad tracks that run through campus. (Photo) (Tacoma Daily Index, 12.21.11) http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2088632&more=0

The stacks have been cleared from the old Fort Vancouver Regional Library District building on Mill Plain Boulevard, but for the next 10 to 20 years, it will still play home to books and librarians. The old library is now being used to consolidate all district staff and book processing facilities into one location, saving about $120,000 a year. (Columbian [Vancouver], 12.31.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/31/old-library-has-new-role/

Letters & Editorials
Library staff members, Friends of the Library and assorted library supporters of all ages enjoyed being part of the North Pole Library float, Mount Vernon City Library’s entry in the Downtown Mount Vernon Christmas Parade. Thank you to all for making this a great occasion and catapulting so many of us into the holiday season with the Christmas Spirit. (Skagit Valley Herald, [Mount Vernon] 12.18.11)

Shame on the Mid-Columbia Libraries board members, again. What’s so fascinating about their back room that they keep taking their meetings there? Especially meetings that ought to take place in the open. (Tri-City Herald Online [Kennewick], 1.3.12) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/03/1772631/librarys-closed-meetings-thwarting.html#storylink=misearch

Awards
WhatcomREADS!, a community-wide reading program, has been awarded a $7,500 matching grant from Humanities Washington to help fund and promote authors’ visits. Elizabeth George’s mystery novel “In the Presence of the Enemy” is this year’s Whatcom READS! title. Now with the funding, Ms. George is expected to visit locally in February 2012. (Ferndale Record, 12.14.11)

Libraries of Stevens County Foundation reports recently receiving two donations. Robert and Susan Schalock donated $2,000 for general use, and Campbell Scientific, Inc., of Logan, Utah, donated $500 at the request of a shareholder. Donations may be targeted to be used for a specific library within the district, for a specific project, or for general use throughout the district as needed. (The Independent, [Chewelah] 12.15.11)

The Spokane Public Library has received a $30,000 donation from Mukogawa Women’s University in Japan. Library Director Pat Partovi said the library board is determining what to do with the gift in order to benefit the public. “The money will be used to support education,” Partovi said. (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 12.20.11) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/20/in-brief-japanese-school-gives-30000-to-library/

Programs & Displays
Mid-Columbia Libraries is inviting young readers to visit the Smithsonian Institution’s Journey Stories, a traveling national exhibit now at the Kennewick Branch Library. A free multimedia exhibit, it involves photographs, audio, historical objects and interpretive materials to show how mobility helped a young nation develop through the personal struggles and successes of travelers. The exhibit will remain at the library through January 20. (Photo) (Tri-City Herald, [Kennewick] 12.13.11) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/13/1751339/smithsonian-traveling-exhibit.html#storylink=misearch

[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] ]