Washington State Library News
Steve Willis, central library services program manager of the Washington State Library in Olympia, must have great fun delving into old publications. Take this gem he uncovered from the Walla Walla Union, circa January 27, 1872, in Washington Territory. The story of a squabbling rival Walla Walla Statesman newspaper editor and a legislator, both democrats, made the Union under the headline, “The General Dullness Was Relieved – Two-Fisted Politics in Walla Walla.” (Union Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.22.12)

Library News
The Caring Neighbors board recently donated $500 to the Ritzville Library District No. 2. Part of the money is being used to fund children’s programs at the library this summer. The rest is being used to provide programs for children of all ages throughout the year. Caring Neighbors is a non-profit entity established by Big Bend Electric Co-op. (Photo) (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 7.19.12)

The Public Disclosure Commission is conducting a preliminary investigation into the recent complaints that the King County Library System (KCLS) over-stepped its boundaries with a letter sent to Renton residents on July 2. Last week five people filed complaints with the commission alleging KCLS used public money to sway Renton residents into voting for the Piazza site location. (Renton Reporter, 7.20.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/163120326.html#

Sno-Isle Library System is celebrating a half-century of books this year, and you’re invited to the festivities. The celebration kicked off in mid-July and featured an open house. Stop by the library to submit your library stories and ideas of what you would like to see in the time capsule. The time capsule will be sealed on September 30th and opened in 2022. (Stanwood/Camano News, 7.24.12)

An effort is underway to create an expanded Sedro-Woolley Regional Library, and petition signatures were collected until August 3. Sedro-Woolley is struggling to keep its library open, and Friends of the Sedro-Woolley Public Library say the best chance for survival is to establish a district-wide library. (Courier Times [Sedro Woolley], 7.24.12)

After the recent resignation of Cathy Eggleston, the Ocean Shores Library Board of Directors unanimously voted to make Derek Pearce her replacement. Pearce is president of the Friends of the Library. (Photo) (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 7.25.12)

The Library Users Coalition have asked county commissioners to replace the entire Board of Trustees of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District. The request was made because the coalition feels the board violated Washington State open meeting laws when trustees decided to not support annexation of the city into the district for at least three years. (Union Bulletin Online [Walla Walla], 8.16.12) http://union-bulletin.com/news/2012/aug/16/group-calls-for-library-board-ouster/#

Elections
There are two key figures facing Renton voters when they decide where to locate the downtown library: $9.3 million and $13.1 million. Just don’t hold anyone to them. The $9.3 million is the estimated cost to build the new state-of-the-art King County Library System library just west of the Piazza. The $13.1 million is KCLS’s most current estimate about the cost to renovate the library over the Cedar River. (Renton Reporter, 7.20.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/163213386.html

A Seattle levy to restore library operations and services was passing easily in initial returns, while a measure to rebuild the King County Youth Services Center was being approved by a more narrow margin. Both measures need a simple majority to be approved. The library levy had support of 62 percent of voters. (The Seattle Times, 8.8.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018869850_ballotmeasures08m.html

Buildings
An expansion project that will nearly double the size of the Ocean Park Timberland Library is launched with a groundbreaking ceremony held July 25th. An addition to the back side of the library will expand the interior space from 3,240 to 5,932 square feet. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2013. (Chinook Observer [Long Beach], 7.18.12)

Changes to the Walla Walla County Library District could mean facility expansions and improvements at the Prescott and Vista Hermosa public libraries. The first big change on the horizon is the construction of a new, full-service library in the Walla Walla area, but outside of city limits, expected to be completed in late 2013. (The Times [Waitsburg], 7.19.12)

The return of the Roslyn Public Library to the historic Old City Hall building was celebrated Saturday, July 26th with a public grand opening. The City Hall building has housed the Roslyn Public Library since 1918. (Photo) (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 7.26.12)

Even in an era when the internet puts a world of knowledge at people’s fingertips, old school librarians such as Richard Ostrander say libraries are still one step ahead. At 9,960 square feet the new West Valley Community Library will be the second largest facility in the Yakima Valley Libraries system. (Photo) (Yakima Herald Online, 8.12.12) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/08/12/yakima-valley-libraries-opens-a-new-chapter

Letters & Editorials
The very ambitious library program plan presented to Port Townsend City Council on July 9 emphasizes the need for a town meeting and a citywide survey on the topic of the library expansion project. Our future library should reflect the community needs and desires and not those of the government bureaucracy. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 7.18.12) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=31796&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&S=1

Five summers ago my family had the pleasure of a vacation at my inlaws’ in Port Townsend. Unfortunately, I also had the misfortune of a small mountain of work to do. My family was beachcombing while I was parked at an oak table on the top floor of Port Townsend’s Carnegie Library. In the end, I don’t regret those hours in your library. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 7.18.12)

It appears the expansion plans for the Moses Lake Public Library are moving forward. The CBH editorial Board recently stated that a good library is a great community asset, which is true, however this proposal is too costly. (Columbia Basin Herald [Moses Lake], 7.19.12) http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/opinion/letters/politics/article_09085baa-d1c5-11e1-8a76-001a4bcf887a.html

Well, isn’t it just lovely that the director of the King County Library System, Bill Ptacek, is so concerned about the citizens of Renton’s financial business that he sent out letters to his “neighbors.” However, Neighbor Bill and his architectural firm’s in-depth investigation into “cost considerations” has failed to provide financial information the rest of us “neighbors” might find pertinent. (Renton Reporter, 7.20.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/163062896.html

After attending the Library Users Coalition meeting, it seems clear to me that most folks in the Walla Walla Valley do not want the addition of a new rural library in Walla Walla County. It is also clear that the Rural Library District is going to build one anyway. (Union Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.20.12)

The Renton Reporter has consistently maintained that the city should stick by its original plan to build a new library at the Piazza in downtown Renton. There has been nothing new in recent months to change our mind, even a citizen’s initiative to put the location to a vote. In fact, our concerns have deepened, because of the growing costs to renovate the library over the Cedar River. (Renton Reporter, 7.20.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/163243426.html

We must pass the library levy in August! We use the library every week, as do many others. The people who cannot afford a computer use the many computers at our Ocean Shores Library. There are many programs provided by the library. Please vote ‘yes’ on the levy. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 7.22.12)

What is a library? Beyond the bricks and mortar that both the county and city are seemingly focused, a library should have the ability to provide the information required from an interested population that enhances our community. As we stand now, the RLD and the WWPL are so focused on the lines in the sand that they are unable or unwilling to provide quality services that are the expectations of our Valley. (Union Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.22.12)

When my husband and I decided to leave the Seattle area, one of the reasons we chose to live in Ocean Shores was that there is a public library in town. “Libraries connect communities,” so please support your local library. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 7.25.12)

Awards
Battle Ground is a finalist in a national competition that awards grant money to America’s best communities for young people. The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition uses submitted data, essays and youth testimonials, and examples of collaboration and partnerships that make youth a priority. The Battle Ground City Council created a youth task force that includes the Battle Ground Community Library. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 7.28.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jul/27/battle-ground-named-finalist-national-award/

Programs & Displays
Peshastin Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library District, hosted their 50th annual Ice Cream Social July 28th. The very first ice cream social took place in 1962, earning $1113. Fifty years later, the Ice Cream Social is still being used as a fun way to bring the community together and raise money. (Photos) (Cashmere Valley Record, 7.18.12)

The Centralia Timberland Library hosted solar power expert Kirk Haffner in July to discuss how solar power works in the Northwest. The discussion covered how solar compares to other renewable energy sources, how solar works in Washington, and what new technologies and financial incentives are available to homeowners installing solar power. (The Chronicle [Centralia], 7.19.12)

Between 1941 and 1966 Fred Breckon took about 1,300 photos, mainly of people he encountered on the streets of Ellensburg. “I’m not aware of any other collection like this. It’s immensely rare. …” said Milton Wagy, local history and reference librarian at the Ellensburg Public Library. Wagy was part of the team at the library that scanned more than 1,200 Breckon photos to make them available as part of the library’s online photo collection. (Photos) (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 7.21.12) http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/top_story/now-and-then-fred-l-breckon-photos-offer-glimpse-of/article_cc2aff7c-d2c7-11e1-8d4c-001a4bcf887a.html

The Mountlake Terrace Library, a part of Sno-Isle Libraries, hosted a teen digital photography scavenger hunt on July 28th. Teens were given a list of things in the Mountlake Terrace community to track down and photograph. The first team to complete the list (or the team with the highest number during the time limit) won a prize. The event was for those in middle school and high school. (The Weekly Herald [Lynnwood], 7.25.12)

Six Tibetan monks from India used individual grains of sand to create a beautiful, intricate design at the Battle Ground Community Library, a part of Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Making a sand mandala takes three days, starting and ending with traditional signing and chanting. The monks started August 1 and swept the design away August 3, releasing the sand into the river at Lewisville Park. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 7.27.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jul/27/battle-ground-named-finalist-national-award/

[This summary of library news represents a selection of current newspaper clippings about Washington libraries received from Washington newspapers. The summary is created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library, Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. For further information about this summary or the clippings listed, contact Martha Shinners at 360.570.5567 or [email protected]]