Library News
The City of Roy discussed the Roy Library in its department quarterly reports. The library is managing despite an $18,423 budget. (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News, [Yelm] 4.27.12)

Former Timberland Regional Library Executive Director Michael Crose says he was unfairly terminated and may seek legal action. (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News, [Yelm] 4.27.12)

Port Townsend Public Library director Theresa Percy received word that the State Legislature awarded a $375,000 Heritage Capital Projects Fund grant to the library for its rehabilitation and expansion project. “This funding is a linchpin for moving the library project forward and allowing us to complete the second and third phase of the project,” said Percy. (Photo) (The Leader, Port Townsend] 5.2.12) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=31398&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&S=1

Kindle devices, also known as e-book readers or e-readers are becoming more popular. Colville Public Library Manager Krista Ohrtman said checkouts of these materials have gone up from 699 in January 2011 to 1,304 in January 2012. The Libraries of Stevens County has around 2,368 downloadable items in circulation according to Ohrtman. (Statesman-Examiner, [Colville] 5.2.12)

The use of software to filter Internet content for library patrons received support in a recent federal court ruling. Officials at the King County Library System filter Internet content at public computers, although library patrons can have the filter deactivated. The library system uses a tiered system of filters to determine patrons’ access to Internet content. (The Sammammish Review [Issaquah], 5.2.12) http://sammamishreview.com/2012/05/02/court-ruling-doesnt-change-librarys-internet-policy

There’s a new library in Montesano, however this one promises not to charge late fees or even a charge for keeping a book. The “Little Free Library,” is a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to build more than 2,510 libraries around the world to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide. (Photos) (The Vidette, [Montesano] 5.3.12)

Friends of the Point Roberts Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, have signed an agreement with the parks district giving them five years to raise funds to transform the Julius Fire Station into a new library. Construction costs to transform the fire station into a library are projected at $540,000. (Photo) (All Point Bulletin, 5.12) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/news/article.exm/2012-04-27_working_toward_a_new_library_for_the_point

Buildings
Yakima Valley Community College and the City of Grandview have announced that the Grandview Library has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. This is the first LEED-certified project in Yakima County. (Photo) (Grandview Herald, 5.2.12)

The downtown Yakima Central Library, a part of the Yakima Valley Libraries, is open again after the completion of a $500,000 remodel. Library Director Kim Hixson said a reserve fund for building improvements paid for the remodeling. (Yakima Herald-Republic, 5.22.12) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/05/21/downtown-yakima-library-gets-long-overdue-improvement

Letters & Editorials
The town of Cathlamet and its library committee have concluded that a good temporary location for the library during town hall remodeling would be up in the Shell station plaza on SR4. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle, [Cathlamet] 4.26.12) http://www.waheagle.com/letters/article.exm/2012-04-26_sewer_project_still_going_nowhere

The Renton City Council didn’t take last week’s suggestion that it include how much it would cost to build/renovate the new/old downtown Renton library in the wording of the ballot measure on the Aug. 7 ballot. Maybe that slash-filled sentence is the reason why. It’s complicated. And it’s political. (Renton Reporter, 4.27.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/149091555.html

The Friends of the Washougal Community Library, a support group that raises funds to enhance library programs and activities, would like to invite community support for this valuable resource. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 5.1.12)

We have a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to have a library in Morton. There have been numerous meetings, discussions and certainly questions in regard to our hope that the Timberland Regional Library will provide a library for the City of Morton. Please support a Morton Library. (Photo) (The East County Journal, [Morton] 5.2.12)

The Chelan Friends of the Library used book sale on Earth Day was very successful. The sale netted the Friends $1,500, almost double last year’s total. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 5.2.12)

Re: A sad state of affairs for once-proud Tacoma libraries (editorial 5.14). The state of our public library system will continue its downfall unless attention is given to an ongoing problem. The downtown main library has become the hangout for the street vagrants. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 5.15.12) http://blog.thenewstribune.com/letters/2012/05/14/sad-state-indeed/

Programs & Displays
Greg Ewert’s first solo photography show opened at the Lopez Library May 9th and will remain open until June 20th. Photographs on display include a set of landscape photographs from England and the United States. (Photo) (Island’s Weekly Newspaper, [Lopez Island] 5.1.12) http://www.islandsweekly.com/community/149306765.html

Timberland Regional Library is offering people a chance to win one of five popular e-readers while becoming familiar with premium online reference and information resources they can use every day. The “Name that Database” contest is open through June 15. (The Chronicle, [Centralia] 5.5.12)

[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 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] ]