WA State Library News
A recent grant awarded to the Camas Public Library will help it serve its patrons ages 50 and older. According to Assistant Library Director Sandy Glover, the $1,153 Washington State Library Transforming Life After 50 grant will help get several classes and programs started. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.20.12)

Library News
Alpha Nu, the Cheney/Medical Lake chapter of active and retired teacher organization Alpha Delta Kappa, has donated $200 to each elementary school library in the Cheney School District. Alpha Nu chooses a different way each year to use the money raised at their annual holiday fundraising auction. (Cheney Free Press, 3.15.12)

A total of 135 residents donated $1,020 in non-perishable food for the 12th annual “Food for Fines” drive conducted by Whitman County Library. Donations came in throughout Whitman County. Almost one third of the donations were not involved with waiving overdue fines. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.15.12)

Walla Walla Public Library now loans Kindle and Nook e-readers for people wanting to experience this increasingly popular way of reading. If you’re hooked on downloadable books and are thinking about getting a reader, the loaners let you try before you buy. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 3.20.12)

The Longview Library Board recently welcomed new members, recognized the services of longtime outgoing members, and elected new officers for the upcoming year. Leaving the board after numerous years of service were Bob Altenhof, Skip Mezger and Judith Fuller. Joining the foundation board were Skip Dunlap, Allison Hutchinson and Dr. Tom Pence. (Daily News [Longview], 3.20.12)

Construction workers have been busing cutting trenches and boring under driveways in Dayton in preparation to connect key institutions with the Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet), a fiber optic line connecting communities across Washington State. Director of Columbia County Rural Library District, Janet Lyons recently reported to Columbia County Commissioners, the library plans to use Columbia Energy, LLC to connect to NoaNet broadband services. (Dayton Chronicle, 3.21.12)

A rural Eastern Washington library system may continue to filter the Internet to block porn and gambling sites, a federal court judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Edward Shea of the Eastern Washington Federal District Court ruled that the North Central Regional Library System (NCRL) is not violating the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by filtering some adult Internet content on library computers. (Seattle Times Online, 4.10.12) http://today.seattletimes.com/2012/04/e-washington-library-wins-suit-it-can-filter-porn/

Elections
Last month, John Schroeder, one of the freshman class of city councilors elected in November, voted in a council meeting to put both the upcoming EMS and library levy lid lifts on an April ballot, but this does not mean he was in favor of the levy lid lifts, he said. He has recently been seen putting up “Vote No” signs regarding both measures. “I voted to put them on the ballot so taxpayers can have their God-given rights to vote on it.” (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 3.21.12)

Four years of budget cuts have forced most Seattle branch libraries to close on Fridays and Sundays and have shut down the entire system for a week in late summer. The Seattle City Council next year expects to shave an additional $5 million off the struggling system’s $49 million current budget, so it’s asking voters for help. The council is proposing a $123 million, seven-year property tax levy for the August primary ballot. (Seattle Times, 4.3.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017895694_library03m.html

Buildings
The Graham branch of the Pierce County Library System will close next Wednesday and remain closed for two weeks for renovations. From March 21 to April 5, workers will install a central customer service desk. Also planned are changes that officials said will improve access to books, DVDs and other materials. (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 3.14.12)

Renton volunteers last weekend gathered enough initiative signatures, they hope, to keep the downtown Renton library over the Cedar River. The volunteers collected 2,108 signatures; after they initially submitted petitions to the City of Renton, they were 1,442 signatures short of the 6,375 needed to validate the petition. (Renton Reporter, 3.16.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/142483445.html

The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District currently pays the city of Washougal $1 per year, for the use of the current library building in the City Hall complex. That type of financial arrangement is not likely to occur again if the library relocates. Washougal Community Librarian Christine Hughey said they are splitting at the seams, and would love to quadruple their current space. (Photo) (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.20.12)

Trustees for the Mid-Columbia Libraries will revisit the topic of the closed library at Merrill’s Corner near Eltopia. The board of trustees closed the facility in December as part of its budget process. Eltopia residents and others told trustees last month how important the library was to them and they felt slighted by the closure. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 3.24.12) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/03/24/1879863/mid-columbia-libraries-to-revisit.html

Letters & Editorials
I want to point out why I adamantly support the building of a downtown library at the Renton Piazza site. Having an affordable, latest state-of-the-art facility, easily accessible, and more centrally located in a major traffic area ensures the continued benefit of a first-class library, in the downtown, for our citizens for years to come. (Renton Reporter, 3.16.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/142813515.html

I attended the forum on the Library Levy on the 15th and was so impressed with the services and programs that our library provides. Despite the wording on the ballot, which is required by state law to say “increase,” the Library Levy is not an increase in property taxes. It is a replacement for the current library levy that expires at the end of 2012. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 3.21.12)

People
A new director moved into the Spokane County Library District administrative office this month for the first time in more than two decades and the office reflects the change. At the beginning of the month, Nancy Ledeboer, 55, took over for Mike Wirt, who retired. Ledeboer is midway through a tour of all the district’s libraries as she settles into a job she hopes she’ll have for a long time. (Photo) (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 3.22.12) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/22/new-job-like-a-homecoming-for-county-library/

Programs & Displays
Whitman County Library System’s Penny Drive begins March 26 and lasts through April 14. Proceeds go toward funding the children’s programs at each community library. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.15.12)

Colorful and thought provoking, the mixed media exhibit “Landscapes Interrupted” by Richmond Beach artist Judith Heim presented by the Edmonds Art Commission, focuses on the human impact on the environment. Her exhibit at the Edmonds Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, runs March 16-April 28. (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 3.15.12)

March 6 marked the 100th birthday for the Oreo cookie sandwich, and celebrations were held across the U.S., including at the Winlock Timberland Regional Library. The employees at the library marked the occasion by providing patrons with 10 of the 63 Oreo cookie flavors during their all-day celebration. The craft project for the day was creating an inchworm out of mini Oreos. (Photos) (The Chronicle [Centralia], 3.20.12)

People who want to practice English conversation skills are invited to attend a free event at the Sumner Public Library, a part of the Pierce County Library System. The group meets from 10 a.m. to Noon on the first and third Thursdays of the month. (The Herald [Puyallup], 3.21.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/21/2076539/sumner-briefs.html

The Chelan Public Library, a part of North Central Regional Library District, hosts its Second Annual Father Daughter Dance fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., April 14 at the Masonic Lodge. The theme is Starry Nights. Tickets are available at the library donation box or at the door. This fundraiser is to raise funds for the expansion of the Chelan Public Library. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 3.21.12)

If you received an eReader or a tablet computer during the holidays, you are one of the thousands in the nation who are now visiting their public libraries with some major e-book questions. The Puyallup Public Library is running monthly e-book download demonstration events to help the public and answer questions. Check out the library’s website for April and May events. (The Herald [Puyallup], 3.21.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/21/2076585/puyallup-public-library-column.html

The Pacific Northwest Folklore Society and the Everett Public Library are teaming up again to present three family concerts of traditional folk music. These concerts all start at 2 p.m., Sundays at the main auditorium with the first concert scheduled for March 25, the second on April 22, and the third and final on May 20. The concerts are all free. (The Herald [Everett], 3.23.12) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120323/ENT/703239991/1019

[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 on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or [email protected] ]