Library News
The Friends of the Key Center Library, a part of the Pierce County Library System, elected a new board at their annual meeting. Maureen Riley, president, Barb Trotter, vice president, Karen Lovett, secretary, Connie Renz, treasurer, Neal Van Der Voorn, Christine Gilbert, Carolyn Wiley, and Barb Lutzewitz. (Photo) (Key Peninsula News [Vaughn], 7.2012)

“Without access to information, there is no justice. The Public Law Library of King County aids all persons with their need for legal information by providing legal materials, training, education and services in a welcoming and positive environment.” This is the library’s new mission statement, recently adopted by the Board of Trustees. (King County Bar Bulletin, [Seattle] 7, 2012)

Versatility is the name of the game for the Once Card program of Whatcom Libraries Collaborate. The program allows local library card holders to use their cards at any public or academic library in Whatcom County. (Photo) (Foothills Gazette, [Maple Falls] 7.2.12)

The Seattle Public and nine Seattle museums are partnering to offer free museum admission to library cardholders. Sponsored by the Seattle Public Library Foundation, the Museum Pass program allows patrons of the Seattle Public Library to use their library card to check out free museum passes. (City Living Seattle, 7.4.12) http://citylivingseattle.com/SpecialSectionSearchResult.asp?SubsectionID=239&PageID=p10c5.html

Spokane County Library District, which includes Deer Park Library and Spokane Public Library, joined 127 library systems demanding vastly improved ebook services for library users. The ReadersFirst Initiative (readersfirst.org) is a joint statement outlining four principles the libraries want e-content providers – the intermediaries between publishers and libraries – to follow. (Deer Park Tribune, 7.4.12)

On any given day about half of the people who walk into the Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library wanting a library card leave without one. The reason: They don’t live here. That may change soon, as the Everett Public Library Board is considering letting people have library cards who own property or work in the city. (The Herald [Everett], 7.5.12) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120705/NEWS01/707059927/0/

Friends of the Carpenter Memorial Library (FOL) and the City of Cle Elum are close to signing a contract in support of the library’s expanded hours provided in part by the ‘Restore the Library’ fundraising effort led by Christine Heimbigner this spring. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune [Cle Elum], 7.5.12)

Heidi Ojalehto and cousin Austin Campbell were caught on camera at the library for the second time in their lives this month. The first time they were pictured, Monitor photographer Dan Armstrong went to the Monroe Library in 1997 to take pictures of children participating in the library’s story time program. (Photo) (Monroe Monitor & Valley News, 7.10.12) http://www.monroemonitor.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=3739&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=76&S=1

After a public hearing on the matter, the Grandview City Council approved deeming as surplus the contents in the Bleyhl Community Library. Grandview City Administrator and Public Works Director Gus Arteaga said the city has no plans for the using the items and requested they be surplused for lease or sale. (Photo) (Daily News [Sunnyside], 7.11.12) http://www.dailysunnews.com/archives/Story.aspx/24574/council-oks-surplus-of-old-library-contents

It’s the end of the road for Clark County’s bookmobile. As The Columbian reported recently, its demise was a result of shrinking resources, changing times and a quest for better ways to serve outlying areas of Clark County. This isn’t the first time the county bookmobile went away. It also happened in 1948, when there was a problem with a title. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 7.16.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jul/16/1940s-era-dispute-wasnt-end-of-bookmobile-story/

The next director of the Timberland Regional Library District will make at least $120,000 in annual salary. That doesn’t include the potential perks for a travel allowance, cell phone allowance, moving expenses and everything else that could come, as well. The Timberland Library Board of Trustees met in Ilwaco last week and approved the salary minimum. (The Chronicle Online [Centralia], 8.2.12) http://www.chronline.com/news/article_11151fe8-dcbc-11e1-803e-0019bb2963f4.html

Buildings
A major change to the design of the Public Law Library of King County at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) will happen over the next year. MRJC will undergo a major remodel to accommodate the King County District Court move from the Kent Municipal Court Building to MRJC. (King County Bar Bulletin, [Seattle] 7, 2012)

The Tukwila City Council agreed last month to sell a portion of the Tukwila Village property for $500,000 to the King County Library System, which plans to build an $8 million, 10,000-square-foot library. Residents will get a chance to tell KCLS what they would like to see at the new facility during a public meeting on August 23. (Photo) (Tukwila Reporter [Kent], 7.2012) http://www.tukwilareporter.com/news/163240466.html

Directors with the Walla Walla Library and the Rural Library District are ready to end nearly four decades of working together to provide library services for city and county residents. To further solidify the split, the Rural Library District is moving forward with building its own $5.5 million, 15,000-square-foot library to serve county residents in the “suburban” areas surrounding Walla Walla. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.8.12)

The Walla Walla County Rural Library is making sure costs and other details surrounding its proposed multimillion dollar library are accurate. On Sunday, the Union-Bulletin misstated the cost of the planned library. The $5.5 million in planned spending includes $1.9 million in improvements to current facilities. The remaining $3.6 million will be used to build the new branch. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.10.12)

Letters & Editorials
Mention “freedom” around public librarians and the word-association process is likely to generate a host of terms, including “access,” “privacy,” “censorship,” and “equity.” More and more attorneys are learning about the intricacies of First Amendment law as applied to libraries, and the country’s library users can be that much more secure that their rights will continue to be vigorously protected. (King County Bar Bulletin, [Seattle] 7.2012)

At a recent Walla Walla City Council workshop I was surprised to hear some of the Council members did not know that the County Commission is prevented by law from having any say over the actions of the County Rural Library Board. Perhaps members of the public did not know either. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla-Walla] 7.2.12)

I remember years ago when we moved to Ocean Shores, the library was in the public works building. It was a small, dark country library, but it was a start. If the levy fails, it will cost our residents more than the proposed 24.7 cents per thousand or $24.70 per year on a $100,000 home. What is a viable city without a library? Please register to vote and vote yes for the library on August 7. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 7.6.12)

As a downtown Renton resident for the past 16 years and a new member of the City Center Community Plan Advisory Board, I have some comments and questions on the library debate. I am glad this issue is coming up in a vote on August 7 to give both sides a chance to make their case, but I feel like my questions need some answers to make an informed choice. (Renton Reporter, 7.6.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/161616265.html

We in central Renton are being treated like some kind of backwater, not deserving of a big facility. We who voted to join KCLS feel bait-and-switched. No one wants to feel like that. Vote for Proposition 1 – don’t let them shrink our library. (Renton Reporter, 7.6.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/161616075.html

To the taxpayers of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District: Your non-elected library board is officially designated as a board of trustees. It appears this group has been a questionable steward of your tax dollars. There needs to be continuing dialogue between the county rural library and the city library. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.9.12)

In light of the recent announcement that the Library Working Group was unable to agree on any plan for library services, it appears that cooperative library service between the city of Walla Walla and the Walla Walla Rural Library District is a dead issue. How sad for all of us. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.9.12)

Should Seattle approve new tax for libraries? Libraries are many things to many people. They are too important to allow them to languish. You have the opportunity to support this work by voting yes on August 7 for Seattle Proposition1, a seven-year $123 million property-tax levy to fund our city’s libraries. (Photo) (The Seattle Times, 7.22.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018736827_guest22nancypearl.html

Should Seattle approve new tax for libraries? A core public service that we all treasure, libraries, should be fully funded in the regular budget, our city’s statement of its true priorities. If the levy is approved, the mayor and council are determined to take $5 million per year that would have gone to the library’s regular funds and spend it elsewhere – even when good economic times return. (The Seattle Times, 7.22.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018736818_guest22chrisleman.html

In the compute rage, a large public library system is not essential [“Should Seattle approve new tax for libraries,” Opinion, July 22]. There should be one central library with all books online and accessible from anywhere by computer. Schools should, of course, have their own school libraries, especially colleges. Access to these research libraries should be granted to the public. (The Seattle Times, 7.24.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2018753112_librarieslet24.html

People
Writing activities are leaning toward the creative, courtesy of Walla Walla Public Library summer intern Eleanor Ellis. A senior this fall at Whitman College, the Salem native is working part-time with Young People’s Librarian Liz George. The Whitman Internship Grant makes Eleanor’s learning experience possible. (Photo) (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 7.8.12)

Awards
Washington State University supporters and alumni Mike and Liz Johnson of Kirkland are making the largest-ever commitment to The Libraries at WSU, a bequest valued at $3.2 million. The Johnson’s designated their bequest for unrestricted use. As such, the dean of the libraries can determine how best to strategically leverage the funds to make the greatest impact. (Tri-City Area Journal of Business, [Kennewick] 7.2012) http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2012/07/shoptalk-35/

Milton Wagy, a local history librarian at the Ellensburg Public Library, was recognized by the Ellensburg Downtown Association during its annual awards ceremony. Wagy was given the 2012 historian award for his work to preserve Ellensburg’s history. (Photo) (Daily Record, [Ellensburg] 7.5.12)

The Bainbridge Community Foundation awarded 53 grants amounting to $137,000 to local island causes in June. The community foundation had three awards provided for special causes. One specialized grant was given to the Bainbridge Library, part of the Kitsap Regional Library, to pay for an open/closed sign. (Bainbridge Island Review, 7.6.12) http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/161576285.html?mobile=true

Programs/Displays
Learn the basics of Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint and Word, plus other computer skills, at free Pierce County Library System computer classes in August. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 7.4.12)

The Sammamish Public Library has partnered with the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce, Eastside Catholic School and the Friends of the Sammamish Library to plan and organize events surrounding the All Sammamish Reads reading event. The main event will take place September 11. (Photo) (The Sammamish Review, [Issaquah] 7.4.12) http://sammamishreview.com/2012/07/05/groups-to-bring-the-community-together-with-a-book

Registration opens August 1 for three Field’s End fall classes that focus on writing fantasy, revising writing and scene structure. “Writing Fantasy: The Rules of Magic,” with instructor Janet Lee Carey, is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 16. All three classes will be held in the meeting room of the Bainbridge Public Library, a part of the Kitsap Regional Library. (Bainbridge Island Review, 7.6.12) http://www.bainbridgereview.com/entertainment/161720345.html

The Ellensburg Public Library is offering citizenship classes through its adult education program. The classes are offered at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Classes are taught in English and Spanish. (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 7.7.12)

Summer Reading
The Colville Library, a part of the Libraries of Stevens County, will host great summer-long programs for kids, teens and adults. Teens and adults should remember to turn in their book reviews for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle. (The Independent [Chewelah], 7.5.12)

[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]]