Library News
The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees voted to continue operation of the Camano Island Library Project, accepting a $5,000 per year pledge of community support from the Camano Island Library Friends. This decision extends library services for the pilot project until a bond measure is brought forward to voters or for a period of three years, whichever comes first. (Stanwood/Camano News, [Stanwood] 3.6.12)

Pierce County Library System’s fully owned properties became tobacco-free April 2. The library’s Board of Trustees adopted a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy in January. (The Herald, [Puyallup] 3.7.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/14/2065212/pierce-county-libraries-go-tobacco.html#storylink=misearch

A $337,000 Internet broadband fiber link just completed between Blyn and Sequim will significantly benefit the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and Sequim Library. Tacoma-based NoaNet, is in the process of extending Internet broadband infrastructure across the North Olympic Peninsula. (Peninsula Daily News, (Port Angeles) 3.9.12) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120310/news/303109999

A citizens group hopes to gather 1,400 signatures on a petition to keep the downtown Renton Library where it is over the Cedar River. The petition also asks that any library improvements for a downtown library occur at the existing library location unless the alternate proposed location for a downtown library is approved by a simple majority vote of Renton voters. (Photo) (Renton Reporter, 3.9.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/141674003.html

Visitors at Bainbridge Public Library’s 50th anniversary were able to view an exhibit of the 40 black-and-white images assembled by photographer Joel Sackett. The images tell volumes about the community and its relationship to the library. (Photos) (Bainbridge Island Review, 3.9.12) http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/142027033.html

Starting this week, Kelso Public Library cardholders can download books and audiobooks for free from the library’s website onto their home computers, eBook readers, iPods and other electronic devices. To get started, interested patrons need to call the library to set up an account. (The Daily News Online [Longview], 3.28.12) http://tdn.com/news/local/kelso-public-library-launches-ebook-options-for-cardholders/article_5b13ac9c-7937-11e1-99ff-0019bb2963f4.html

Spanning a back wall of the Enumclaw City Library is a display case that contains a number of artifacts representative of Enumclaw history. To make it easier for those interested in perusing local history from home, the library has been working with the Washington State Library’s Rural Heritage Project to reproduce images of documents online. At this point, with the prospect of the city library possibly annexing into the King County Library System, it’s unclear if the library will continue to maintain the collection. (Enumclaw Patch Online, 4.5.12) http://enumclaw.patch.com/articles/library-unanswered

Buildings
Construction began April 2nd at the Dayton Memorial Library for an ADA ramp along with new steps going into the main entrance of the library. New ADA doors for the library will be installed in May. (Dayton Chronicle, 3.14.12)

The Cathlamet Town Council affirmed the selection of an architectural firm to design the remodeling of the old town hall and Library. The committee recommended Chesshir Architecture PC of Portland. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle, [Cathlamet] 3.15.12) http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2012-03-15_council_authorizes__architect_negotiation

Letters & Editorials
Read it before you see it! In honor of the upcoming release of “The Hunger Games,” the Point Roberts Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, is having an informal contest to decide which is better, the book or the movie. (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 3.12) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/letters/article.exm/2012-02-24_march__2012

As the Crossroads Lecture Series continues its fifth season, we wish to share with the community an administrative change in which Orca Crossroads has become an independent nonprofit organization. The Orcas Island Library will no longer operate the lecture series. (The Island Sounder, [Eastsound] 3.7.12) http://www.islandssounder.com/opinion/letters/141513523.html

WSU post-graduate student Brian Koepke petitioned the ASWSU senate to create a Services and Activities fee to prevent the closure of the Architecture, Fischer Agricultural Sciences and George B. Brain Education Libraries. I stand behind Koepke on this. WSU students need to move quickly if they want to save these libraries. They have my vote. (The Daily Evergreen, [Pullman] 3.9.12) http://dailyevergreen.com/public/readmore.castle?id=2191

On possible ethical lapses and Spokane Valley: Ethical dilemmas are a constant of public life. When the Library Board approached the city of Spokane Valley for a partnership, I knew this one-time opportunity for economic development at U-City would come not only with necessary scrutiny, but also with more than a few hints of cronyism. To me, the community benefit overrides this commentary. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 3.10.12) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/10/judge-ethics-at-ballot-box/

Camano Island is an impressive community which has demonstrated true passion for its library. That’s why Sno-Isle Libraries has joined the Camano Island community in reaffirming our mutual commitment to library services for all island residents. (Stanwood/Camano News, 3.13.12)

Really Mr. Elfers? Close our 94-year-old library after city residents paid off a $1 million bond for the library building? We will have to see on April 17 if Enumclaw residents agree with you that they are willing to deed over control of their unique and wonderful library to the King County Library System. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 3.14.12) http://www.courierherald.com/opinion/letters/142409495.html

I love the Library! Please vote yes for the upcoming Ocean Shores Library levy. It’s the best bargain in town. (The North Coast News, [Ocean Shores] 3.14.12)

People
The Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation Board has elected new officers. Rose Olson of Camano Island is the newly elected President; Carol Thorp of Marysville is the new vice president; Maris Clayton of Edmonds is the new treasurer; Ken Kortlever of Langley is the new secretary; and Chris Loos of Edmonds is now chair of major gifts and president of the past presidents council. (Lake Stevens Journal, 3.14.12)

Kevin Harris, branch manager of the Ferndale Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, is retiring after 38 years at the branch. (Photo) (Ferndale Record, 3.14.12)

Awards
R.E. Bennett Elementary School in Chehalis has received a $5,000 donation from TransAlta to buy books for their library. Claudia Craig, the school’s librarian, applied for the donation with the TransAlta Community Transformers, a group that oversees funds intended to help the community. (The Chronicle, [Centralia] 3.8.12)

The Lake Chelan Rotary pledged $25,000 to the building fund of the Chelan Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library system. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 3.7.12)

Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library reflected on 2011 accomplishments at a recent board of directors meeting. The Friends contributed $2,779 to the library last year, including $1,000 donations to support tutor.com and bolster the children non-fiction books collection. (Liberty Lake Splash, 3.15.12) http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=21771

Programs & Displays
The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) District recently announced its 2012 annual district-wide Family Read-Aloud program, an early learning initiative taking place at all 27 TRL libraries. (Shelton-Mason County Journal, 3.8.12)

Peninsula Arts Association presents a local artist, Elizabeth Bonn Zimmerman, at the Ilwaco Timberland Library. She creates a variety of colorful collages in several styles. These works of art will be shown during the months of March and April. (Chinook Observer, [Long Beach] 3.14.12)

The White Salmon Valley Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRLD), is currently signing up participants for a unique program called Story Talk. Story Talk is a program created by the People & Stories organization. Through a National Endowment for the Humanities grant People & Stories has partnered with FVRLD to offer Story Talk. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 3.15.12)

The White Salmon Valley Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, invites readers to join the final discussion of the book, “Shell Games: A True Story of Cops, on Men, and the Smuggling of America’s Strangest Wildlife,” by Craig Welch. The discussion is April 12 at 3:30 p.m. (The Enterprise, 3.15.12) http://www.whitesalmonenterprise.com/archives/Story.aspx/13200/join-book-discussion

[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] ]