Library News
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has stopped publication of “Imagine: How Creativity Works” because the author, Jonah Lehrer, apparently intentionally misquoted Bob Dylan. When a publisher recalls a book because of misinformation, Sno-Isle Libraries’ standard practice is to pull it from the library collection. It is no longer on the shelf at the Mukilteo Library. (The Mukilteo Beacon, 8.15.12) http://mukilteobeacon.villagesoup.com/news/story/bestseller-by-jonah-lehrer-pulled-from-library-shelves/881092

North Central Regional Library card holders can now get free online lessons in more than 40 languages, including pirate, ancient Greek and Biblican Hebrew. The program is offered through Mango Languages, which offers similar programs at libraries across the country. (Photos) (The Wenatchee World, 8.19.12) http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/aug/18/worm-firefighter-sheriff-learn-to-speak-like-a/

From a distance, it looks like a bird feeder fastened to a 4-inch square post stationed next to the sidewalk of 10th Avenue Southeast in Olympia’s east side neighborhood. But draw a little closer and its paperback books – not bird seed – that you see inside. What we have here is Olympia’s first Little Free Library installed by Jeanne Koenings. (Photo) (The Olympian, 8.19.12) http://www.theolympian.com/2012/08/18/2217996/soundings-east-side-of-olympia.html#storylink=misearch

The Ellensburg Public Library has four Kill-A-Watt EZ personal energy meters available for check-out in an energy saving took kit. Through a partnership with the library and Hope Source, the meters are loaned out to help users accurately track energy usage. (Photo) (Daily Record, [Ellensburg] 8.21.12)

Sixteen Ocean Shores Artists have generously donated 20 art pieces to the Friends of the Ocean Shores Public Library for their fund raising raffle. Tickets are $1 per item, enter as many times as you wish. Drawing will be held on October 12 just after the Friends celebrate the 40th birthday of the Ocean Shores Public Library on October 6. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 8.22.12)

With school starting up, it’s a great time to get involved with a local library. In Pierce County, check out the Pierce County Library System (www.piercecountylibrary.org) and in Thurston County; check out the Timberland Regional Library (www.trl.org) to find free and educational activities in your area. (Photo) (Fort Lewis Ranger & Weekly Volcano & McChord Airlifter, [Lakewood] 8.23.12) http://www.northwestmilitary.com/families/education/2012/08/Pierce-Thurston-County-libraries-have-something-for-all-ages/

The Washington Public Disclosure Commission is continuing to review complaints brought during the August 7 campaign to select a location for the downtown Renton library. The commission is expected to rule on whether to proceed with a formal investigation in two to three weeks. (Renton Reporter, 8.24.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/167207175.html

Hours of operation changed at the Port Townsend Library starting Tuesday, September 4. The library is temporarily located at Mountain View Commons while seismic renovations are made to the city’s Carnegie library. (Peninsula Daily News, [Port Angeles] 8.28.12)

Buildings
To mark the grand opening of the expanded and renovated Auburn Library, a community ribbon-cutting celebration is set for 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 15. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the public is invited inside to tour the new library and enjoy refreshments and music. (Auburn Reporter, [Kent] 8.17.12) http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/166147716.html

Construction on a new west Pasco branch library likely is to begin within the next month. Kyle Cox, executive director for Mid-Columbia Libraries, told the library board that the building could open to the public at the beginning of January. (Tri-City Herald, [Kennewick] 8.22.12) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/08/22/2070424/mid-columbia-library-branch-in.html

At their August 14 meeting, Spokane Valley City Council members once again heard from Stevens County Library District representatives, who said that the initial plan for a new library is being scaled down. The one-story design is more economical and makes more efficient use of floor space. (Valley News Herald, [Spokane] 8.24.12)

The Chelan Library, a branch of the North Central Regional Library, received a $25,000 donation from North Cascades National Bank that helped it hit a $160,000 fundraising goal to move into a larger space. The library needed to raise $160,000 by September to move into a large Masonic Temple in downtown Chelan. (The Wenatchee World, 8.26.12) http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/aug/25/chelan-library-receives-25000-donation/

A $280,000 renovation will soon turn one of Wahkiakum County’s historic buildings into a modern library and community center. Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz said a renovation of the town’s 1930s fire hall is slated to get underway within the month. The project will make the library, located on the second floor of the fire hall, more spacious and inviting. (The Daily News [Longview], 8.30.12) http://tdn.com/news/local/redesign-will-expand-cathlamet-library-s-floor-space/article_c6479de2-f340-11e1-b018-001a4bcf887a.html

Elections
The Ocean Shores Public Library Board of Trustees held its first meeting since the narrow passage of the library “lid lift.” The 2013-14 library levy will provide about $40,000 less per year than the 2011-12 levy. (The April ballot measure that would have provided about the same level of funding was defeated.) (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 8.22.12)

The Renton City Council will meet as the Committee of the Whole September 17 for updates on the downtown library and the new library in the Renton Highlands. Renton voters by a 76 percent margin voted to keep the library over the Cedar River in the August 7 primary. (Renton Reporter, 8.24.12)

Letters & Editorials
Chelan is in desperate need of a new library. The existing cinder block library is too small, too crowded and a far cry from state of the art. The library needs contributions to reach its $1.2 million campaign goal begun in January 2012. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 8.15.12) http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=6487&SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&S=1

The Ocean Shores Library Board of Trustees would like to thank all the citizens of Ocean Shores who supported the library in the recent levy election. Your vote of confidence will enable the library to continue providing a high level of service to the community for the next two years. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 8.22.12)

The Lake Stevens Friends of the Library would like to thank everyone who supported our annual Aquafest Book Sale. (Lake Stevens Journal, 8.22.12)

We are profoundly sad to hear that the school’s library has been closed due to budget cuts. The only saving grace is that we have an exemplary public library a few blocks from the school. We hope that something will be done to reopen the doors of a very important building. (The Island Sounder, [Eastsound] 8.22.12) http://www.islandssounder.com/opinion/167093175.html

Thanks to everyone for another fantastic Library Fair! I greatly appreciate and admire the people who make this such a success from year to year. (The Island Sounder, [Eastsound] 8.22.12) http://www.islandssounder.com/opinion/letters/167094255.html?mobile=true

Speaking of our community’s wonderful spirit of volunteerism, (August 16 ‘Opinion’) I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work done by volunteers on behalf of Cathlamet Public Library. Not only do they provide fine customer service checking-out nearly 12,000 books and movies every year, they also perform a wide variety of other tasks that keep the library running smoothly. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle, [Cathlamet] 8.23.12) http://www.waheagle.com/letters/article.exm/2012-08-23_spirit_of_volunteerism_alive_and_well

The final results are in and no doubt about it, Renton wants to keep its beloved downtown library right where it is, over the Cedar River. Now Renton and KCLS need to get down to the work of renovating the Cedar library and building a new one in the Highlands. (Renton Reporter, 8.24.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/167241025.html

The August 10, 2012, Renton Reporter’s (RR) anonymous “Our View” states, “Renton sends strong message about library!” A landslide vote is truly a strong message that our city government needs to acknowledge and follow. (Renton Reporter, 8.24.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/167240835.html

As someone who claims the authority to speak about libraries, George Hageman displays a shocking lack of information literacy [“Seattle’s libraries need a makeover for the digital world,” Opinion, August 28]. According to a SPL’s most recent community survey, nearly two-thirds of Seattle residents visit the public library twice a month or more … This is hardly a picture of an institution that is out of touch and in decline. (The Seattle Times, 9.4.12) http://seattletimes.com/html/northwestvoices/2019041262_librarieslet04.html

People
Friends of the Woodinville Library awarded Carol Fick its first honorary lifetime membership at a reception in Ms. Fick’s honor that was held at the library on August 1. Fick is retiring from the King County Library System after almost 30 years, serving the past 18 years as lead children’s librarian at Woodinville Library. (Photo) (North Lake News & Woodinville Weekly, 8.20.12) http://www.nwnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6736:childrens-librarian-becomes-lifetime-friend-of-the-library-&catid=34:news&Itemid=72

It was nearly 20 years ago that Linda Swenton got her first taste of what a career as a librarian would be like, and today she couldn’t picture herself working in any other field. “It took me a while to figure out I wanted to be a librarian,” admitted the East Coast native who was recently hired at the Camas Public Library as its assistant library director. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 8.21.12)

As a girl in Chicago, Lisa Labovitch found a hero on the movie screen. “I always wanted to be Indiana Jones,” she said. Indy’s archaeologist-adventurer character lined up with her interests. Labovitch, 31, brings her expertise to the Everett Public Library, where earlier this summer she was hired as one of two history specialists. (Photo) (The Herald Online [Everett], 8.31.12) http://heraldnet.com/article/20120831/NEWS01/708319920#New-Everett-library-historian-looking-foward-to-looking-back-

A “Jill of all Trades” describes Diane Hutchins. But, not only is she capable, she’s willing to help wherever needed! Diane joined the Washington State Library in 1999. Caught in the “Great Layoff of 2010” when Diane’s program, Preservation and Access Services, was eliminated, Diane accepted a position in the Library Development program. (Photo) (Between the Lines, Washington State Library Blog, 9.4.12) https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/library/index.php/2012/09/spotlight-on-staff-diane-hutchins/

Awards
Lynden Library, a branch of the Whatcom County Library System, presented library patron Mark Warren with a Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire was the top prize in a drawing connected with WCLS’s website usability study conducted this summer. (Photo) (Lynden Tribune, 8.22.12)

The 2012 Friends of the Grandview Library bookmark contest winner in the elementary category is Rebecca Valler, age 9. (Photo) (Grandview Herald, 8.29.12)

Programs & Displays
The tiny town of Port Gamble is so picture-perfect that it could be in a storybook. In fact, it is. The Empty Coffin series by Olalla author Gregg Olsen is set in the 120-acre historic landmark and the New York Times bestselling author will be at Mostly Books at the Chapel on Echo Bay at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 and at the Gig Harbor Library at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. (Peninsula Gateway, [Gig Harbor] 8.15.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/15/2255931/olalla-author-highlights-port.html#storylink=misearch

Brenda Spandrio, aka the Declutter Lady, will offer a four-part “Declutter Your Home Now!” series beginning Thursday, September 6. Classes will meet at the Sequim Library, a part of the North Olympic Library System, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. September 6, 13, 20 and 27. (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 8.24.12)

A wide variety of activities await families on “Second Saturdays,” which take place September through December at the Buckley branch library of the Pierce County Library System. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 8.29.12) http://www.courierherald.com/community/167394795.html

Learn the basics of Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint and Word, plus other computer skills, at free Pierce County Library System computer classes during September and October. Register for classes at the Buckey library or sign up at www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 8.29.12)

Three-person teams are studying word lists to get ready for the Spelldown: A Spelling Bee for Grown Ups. The third annual bee is scheduled for 7 p.m. October 12 at the Everett Performing Arts Center. Proceeds from the Friends of Everett Public Library event, support library programs. (The Herald Online [Everett], 9.12.12) http://heraldnet.com/article/20120912/NEWS01/709129954#Everett-library%26%23146s-spelling-bee-calls-for-word-lovers%0A

[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]]