Library News
The Columbia Center Rotary and Mid-Columbia Libraries have received a $4,000 district grant from Rotary International to purchase new books for local agencies that serve at-risk, low-income children. Each agency will receive a deposit collection of books for children they serve. (Tri-City Area Journal of Business, [Kennewick] 8.12) http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2012/08/shoptalk-36/

Schools, libraries, police and fire departments, and hospitals that currently have Internet services will have a chance to use high-speed fiber optics being installed in the northern part of Okanogan and Ferry counties. Last month, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) began work on its $16 million project, which consists of more than 175 miles of fiber in Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. Completion is schedule for summer 2013. (Okanogan County Chronicle, [Omak] 8.8.12)

The Sno-Isle Libraries are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and as part of the celebration, the Arlington Library is collecting stories and other items for a time capsule that will be sealed at its open house event in October. Community members could win a $50 cash prize from the Friends of the Arlington Library for submitting their favorite stories or memories of the library, or their predictions for what the library might look like in the future. (Arlington Times, [Marysville] 8.8.12) http://www.arlingtontimes.com/community/164158506.html

Elections
Lewis County Commissioners approved a resolution that will add the Morton library annexation issue to the November ballot. The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) board of trustees also approved the Morton annexation request during a special meeting. Residents in the city will have a chance to vote on whether the city will join Timberland’s five-county library district. (The East County Journal, [Morton] 8.8.12)

The last Ocean Shores Library levy votes have been nail-biters, with one narrow win two years ago and a close loss in April. Ocean Shores is not alone. Cities and districts around the state have had narrow votes on library funding issues since 2011, with as many losses as wins. (The North Coast News, [Ocean Shores] 8.8.12)

Renton’s voters stuck by their beloved library over the Cedar River Tuesday, overwhelmingly voting to refurbish it rather than build a new one. Results showed that 76 percent favor keeping the library right where it’s been for 46 years vs. 24 percent who want to build a new library just west of the Piazza. (Photo) (Renton Reporter, 8.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/165378096.html

Ocean Shores voters have narrowly passed a replacement levy to keep the city’s library running. Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler, the former president of the Friends of the Library and longtime proponent of the city-owned facility said the newly released totals indicate the measure had passed. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 8.10.12)

The closure of the Seattle Public Libraries this week didn’t prevent people from checking out books and using computers at one location in Seattle’s library system. “The People’s Library” was set up by neighbors and some members of the Occupy movement as a response to the week-long closure of Seattle libraries due to city-wide budget cuts. (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 8.29.12) http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/The-People-s-Library-fills-in-during-Seattle-3822912.php

Buildings
Groundbreaking for construction on the $579,000 expansion and renovation of the Ocean Park Library, a branch of the Timberland Regional Library, was held July 25th. Construction began July 26th and is expected to be finished in December. (Photo) (Chinook Observer, [Long Beach] 8.1.12)

Volunteers helped move boxes of novels, trays of videos and stacks of resource books into storage so the remodeling work on the Kettle Falls Library could begin. The remodel itself will be partially funded by the Friends of the Kettle Falls Public Library, who dedicated $22,500 to help cover the $45,000 cost of updating the 1967 building. (Statesman-Examiner, [Colville] 8.8.12)

Letters & Editorials
The long battle over filtering Internet access in Timberland libraries continues, and it’s high time for all the system’s trustees to firmly and finally agree that free access to pornography has no place in our libraries. (The Chronicle, [Centralia] 8.7.12)

The Stevens County Rural Library District is not paying half the costs of the Kettle Falls Library remodel project. The project is being funded by the Friends of the Kettle Falls Public Library and the city of Kettle Falls Library’s Cumulative Reserve Fund. (Statesman-Examiner, [Colville] 8.8.12)

It’s probably too late now to influence anyone, so I’ll say it: I’m voting for the Ocean Shores Library Lid lift. (The North Coast News, [Ocean Shores] 8.8.12)

Officials of the Rural Library District, which serves people living outside of the city limits of Walla Walla and College Place, have made it clear they plan to forge ahead with constructing a new branch. The RLD has plans to spend about $3 million on a new library near or in the city of Walla Walla and then borrow another $2 million to upgrade RLD facilities in Prescott, Burbank, and Touchet. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 8.8.12)

It’s time for Renton voters to put their money where their mouths are. We knew that rehabbing the Cedar River location would be more expensive than the downtown location but we voted for it anyway. I anticipate tax increases, special levies, etc., as the project moves forward, and I am ready to pay my share with a smile. (Renton Reporter, 8.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/165612706.html?mobile=true

Finally, Renton has spoken loudly and clearly about its library. While there are still votes to count, the public’s will is to preserve the beloved library over the Cedar River. (Renton Reporter, 8.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/165613066.html?mobile=true

A number of letters, columns, editorials and articles have been written in regard to the inability of the Rural Library District and the Walla Walla Public Library to come to an agreement on a contract. I don’t feel all the facts have been aired. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 8.13.12)

The library is dying. All across the country, branches are closing, shelves are shrinking, and budgets are tightening, in Seattle’s case, by an estimated $5 million. Fewer and fewer librarians can find jobs, and those who do find themselves underutilized and underappreciated. The library levy that voters approved in the August 7 primary election, is nothing more than a Band-Aid. (The Seattle Times Online, 8.27.12) http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2019004861_guestgeorgehagemanxml.html

With all its library levy controversy, Seattle has just been a-hoppin’ with library excitement. Now that the library levy has passed instead of broken, it’s time the Seattle public library gave some serious thought to adapting the library for the future. (Library Journal Online Blog, 8.29.12) http://blog.libraryjournal.com/annoyedlibrarian/2012/08/29/get-rid-of-the-libraries-or-just-the-books/

People
Librarian Jane Agar knows her readers. “I’ll hear about a new book on NPR and I come in and tell Jane and she already has it or knows about it,” said regular library patron Jackie Johnson Trumpy. Agar has been at the Carpenter Memorial Library in Cle Elum since 2003, and her experience allows her to continue running the library as its budget and hours were reduced. On May 1 because of fundraising by the Friends of the Cle Elum Library, some hours were restored and library is now open for 33 hours a week. (Photos) (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 8.8.12)

Summer Reading
Grandview Library summer reading program concluded Aug. 2, with the theme “Camp Out.” The Grandview WalMart Distribution Center donated $500 for book giveaways, which were handed out during the program. Friends of the Grandview Library also donated $500. (Photo) (Grandview Herald, 8.8.12)

[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]]