Washington State Library News
Olalla author Greg Olsen’s book “Envy” has been selected by the Washington State Library to represent the state in the Pavilion of the States at the 2012 National Book Festival. The National Book Festival is organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and will be held September 22-23 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (The Kitsap Sun Online, 9.20.12) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/sep/20/kitsap-authors-book-selected-by-state-for-book/

Library News
Rather than paying for commercial driver’s licenses to pilot its eight-year-old book bus, the King County Library System is considering buying a smaller vehicle for $300,000. The system hasn’t officially decided on the new book van. It would likely be discussed for next year’s budget. (Mercer Island Reporter, 9.5.12) http://www.mi-reporter.com/community/168542346.html

Friends of the Chelan Public Library have been working for months to raise $160,000 to move the library into the Masonic Temple in downtown Chelan. Recently the North Cascades National Bank donated $25,000 to the Chelan Library Planning Committee to put the members over the top. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 9.5.12) http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=6578&SectionID=59&SubSectionID=178&S=1

The Ellensburg City Council accepted a $50,000 bequest to the Ellensburg Public Library’s trust fund from the late Patrick T. Brown. In addition to the $50,000 bequest, Brown also donated nearly 5,000 DVDs, books and music CDs to the Ellensburg Public Library and other libraries in Kittitas County. (Daily Record, [Ellensburg] 9.5.12)

Renton residents have come together to form an advocacy group that will bring citizens’ concerns to the Renton City Council and other city officials. The group vows to keep watch on the City of Renton and the King County Library System’s actions concerning libraries. (Renton Reporter, 9.7.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/168660136.html

The Grandview library now has audio books and electronic books available for download. Library cardholders may download digital media from anytime.lib.overdrive.com. (Yakima Herald- Republic, 9.9.12) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/09/08/grandview-library-now-has-e-books

On August 25, Duvall residents lined up on the sidewalks for a ceremonial “book brigade” to move the final few books, one at a time, from the old library to the new one just a block away and across the street. (Photos) (Valley View, [Woodinville] 9.10.12) http://www.nwnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6835:duvall-welcomes-new-library&catid=49:valley-view&Itemid=94

Yakima Valley Regional Library started blocking pornographic websites from its computer Wednesday after community members petitioned for tighter controls. Library officials said a recent U.S District Court ruling opened the door for them to be more selective about what content patrons can access while using a library’s computers. (Yakima Herald Online, 9.26.12) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/09/26/library-to-block-porn-websites

Buildings
The La Conner Regional Library bought the old hardware store property a block from the present property at the end of June. The Friends of the Library and Kiwanis Club of La Conner is now running a thrift shop at the site. Their goal is for the thrift shop to pull in enough money to cover the monthly payments. In the meantime, they will be starting a foundation to raise funds for a new library building.
(La Conner Weekly News, 9.5.12)

King County Library System marked the grand opening of the expanded and renovated Auburn Library with a community ribbon-cutting celebration held Saturday, Sept. 15. King County residents supported a $172 million capital bond in September 2004 to pay for the Auburn Library project and other expansions and renovations. (Photo) (Auburn Reporter, [Kent] 9.7.12) http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/168645546.html?mobile=true

Mid-Columbia Libraries marked construction on a new library in West Pasco with a groundbreaking. The facility is expected to open early next year. (Tri-City Herald, [Kennewick] 9.10.12) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/09/10/2094122/construction-on-library-in-west.html#storylink=misearch

There isn’t enough widespread support in Silverdale for the creation of a new library to justify the launch of a fundraising campaign aimed at raising the millions needed to build it. That’s according to The Alford Group, an independent consulting firm hired by the Kitsap Regional Library system to analyze community support for a new library. (Photo) (The Kitsap Sun Online, 9.26.12) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/sep/26/consultant-warns-of-insufficient-support-to-for/

Letters & Editorials
Given my love of the library visit, I was surprised to find myself in a conversation recently in which it was asserted that, “No one goes to libraries anymore.” For those of us who visit our local libraries, it is clear that what this person was more accurately saying is that, “I don’t go to libraries anymore.” (Photo) (The Current, [Liberty Lake] 9.12)

In response to Kal Lambert’s letter to the editor of Aug. 31, “A library test of wills.” Why are our mayor and four council members still fighting citizen involvement in the Cedar River Library renovation? We very definitely should have the same goals at this point. (Renton Reporter, 9.7.12)

After watching the Aug. 31 local news, I found it disturbing that our local regional library allows pornography to be viewed by those 18 and older on the library computers. The reasoning is that pornography (other than child pornography) is not illegal. (Yakima Herald-Republic, 9.11.12) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/09/10/09-11-12-letters-to-the-editor

People
Because of her dedication to her career and improving library services for the general public, and spending much of her private time giving back to the community, Neel Parikh, Executive Director of the Pierce County Library System is the Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement honoree. (Photo) (Business Examiner, [Tacoma] 9.3.12)

Awards
The Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library recently recognized Queen Anne author Katherine Schlick Noe with a Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award for “Something to Hold,” as part of the 2012 Washington State Book Awards. (Photo) (Queen Anne News, [Seattle] 9.12.12) http://www.queenannenews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=33381&SectionID=95&SubSectionID=448&S=1

Winthrop librarian Sally Portman presented 9-year-old Courtney Creighton of Mazama with the grand prize – a Kindle electronic reader – in North Central Regional Library’s summer online reading program. Creighton is one of three winners throughout the five-county library system. (Photo) (Methow Valley News, [Twisp] 9.12.12)

Programs & Displays
Sno-Isle Libraries is hosting an interactive concert series for children through Oct. 12. Kids can join three musicians at concerts that promote early literacy skills at libraries around Snohomish and Island counties. (Photo) (The Herald, [Everett] 9.10.12) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120910/LIVING/709109997/0/SEARCH

Lorena Tardiff, a native Spanish speaker and preschool teacher will be conducting Spanish Story Times for ages 2-12 with an adult on Wednesdays from 1:30-2 p.m. at the Woodinville Library. (Photo)
(North Lake News & Woodinville Weekly, 9.10.12) http://www.nwnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6850:spanish-story-time-returns&catid=34:news&Itemid=72

[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]]