Library News
On Sept. 4, the Yacolt Library Express officially opened to the public. The Fort Vancouver Regional Library converted the former jail and town hall in Yacolt into the new resource for Yacolt and other North Clark County visitors. A grand opening for the Library Express will be held Oct. 20, 24 p.m., at the library. (Photo) (Reflector, [Battle Ground] 9.19.12) http://www.thereflector.com/home_scene/article_d0f860ea-0110-11e2-bf54-0019bb2963f4.html

Pend Oreille County commissioners appointed Janelle Atyeo, Katherine Schutte, and Karen Bricket to the Pend Oreille County Library District board of trustees. (Newport Miner, [Newport] 9.19.12)

Pierce County Libraries are offering free assistance with homework through its Online Homework Help program. Professional tutors are available via instant-messaging seven days a week from 1 to 10 p.m. for live, on-demand help in math, science, English and social studies. (South Pierce County Dispatch, [Eatonville] 9.19.12)

The local community, along with Libraries of Stevens County, is working to find a way to keep library services in the Chewelah area since the Chewelah City Council proposed to cut its half of the funding to the city library beginning in 2013. Amanda Six, director of the Libraries of Stevens County, said the best option for city residents is for them to annex into the district through public vote. (Photo) (The Independent, [Chewelah] 9.20.12)

A Port Angeles man arrested while allegedly viewing sexually explicit images of minors in the Port Angeles Library, a part of the North Olympic Library System, has been charged with seven counts of possessing child pornography. After being alerted by library staff, a Port Angeles detective in plain clothes at the library made the arrest. (Peninsula Daily News, [Port Angeles] 9.20.12) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120920/news/309209998/0/SEARCH

Grandstaff and Book Patch Libraries will be closed for electrical upgrades Oct. 9 to Nov. 6. Full library services and process will be available at the McChord Library at McChord Field while Grandstaff is closed. (Northwest Guardian, [Tacoma] 9.21.12)

Buildings
After a year’s closure for extensive remodeling, the expanded Auburn Library reopened to a raucous – by library standards, thunderous – reception filled with people gushing about “all the room” and “the huge kids area,” and “the central area.” (Photo) (Auburn Reporter, [Kent] 9.21.12) http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/170562316.html

By January, Wenatchee kids could be reading books in wooden apple trees at the Wenatchee Public Library, where construction began Sept. 17 on the new Camille Wade Children’s Library. Most of the $440,000 renovation will be funded by a donation from James Wade, in honor of his late wife, Camille Wade who died last winter. (The Wenatchee World, 9.27.12) http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/sep/26/wenatchee-library-renovating-kids-area/

Letters & Editorials
I was shocked to learn that our city government plans to close the Chewelah Library. I think that the job of our elected officials is to ensure that services are provided to the folks/tax payers in town. (The Independent, [Chewelah] 9.20.12)

The Friends of the North Bend Library wish to thank the community for donating used books, CDs and DVDs throughout the year for our annual book sale. The money raised at the sale stays in the North Bend Library; it helps fund library enhancements as well as programs for children, teens and adults. (Snoqualmie Valley Record, 9.19.12) http://www.valleyrecord.com/opinion/letters/171176691.html

People
Tim Wadham started September 4 as the Puyallup Public Library Director. “This is my dream job,” said Wadham, the former assistant director for youth and community services at the St. Louis County Library in St. Louis, Mo. (The Herald, [Puyallup] 9.19.12)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/09/19/2301343/library-turns-page-with-new-director.html

Jaime Forsyth of Bremerton is the new executive director of the Kitsap Regional Library Foundation. The foundation raises money to support the facilities, programs and services of Kitsap Regional Library, a system with nine branches from Bainbridge Island to Manchester. (Photo) (North Kitsap Herald, [Poulsbo] 9.28.12) http://www.northkitsapherald.com/community/172124151.html

Programs & Displays
The Kitsap Regional Library has books and will travel. The library’s Homebound Patron and outreach Program delivers books and other library materials to patrons who are unable to visit the library, as well as supplying materials to other sites in the county. (Central Kitsap Reporter, [Silverdale] 9.21.12)
http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/news/171180941.html

October is Experience Technology month at the Sequim Library and one day each week from 2-8 p.m. patrons can get free hands-on experience with some of the most interesting new technology now available at the library. (The Sequim Gazette, 9.26.12) http://www.sequimgazette.com/entertainment/article.exm/2012-09-26_sequim_library_helps_patrons__experience_technology_

The Downtown Branch of the Spokane Public Library has debuted “Discover Tech: Engineers Make a World of Difference,” a traveling exhibit for libraries. The interactive exhibit, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, is part of the STAR Library Education Network led by the Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning. (Photos) (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 9.27.12) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/sep/27/engineered-to-educate/

[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]]