Editor’s Note: In last week’s Clippings, the Stevenson library was inaccurately said to be part of the Libraries of Stevens County. It is actually a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. [The Stevenson Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, has announced the winners of its juried art show, held every October with the exhibit on display at the library. Dennis Peterson of Stevenson judged the artwork and awarded first place to James M. Wilhelm. Marilyn Bolles earned second place, and Julie Olson of Washougal earned the top honor for the People’s Choice selection. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 11.7.12)]

Washington State Library News
The Denny Ashby Library, the Asotin County Library, Columbia County Rural Library District, Neill Public Library (Pullman), Walla Walla Rural Library District and Whitman County Library are partnering in the project eREADS in eWA to circulate 12 NOOK eReaders to their patrons. The six libraries were awarded the grant through Connecting Libraries through Resource Sharing, a project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and sponsored by the Washington State Library. (East Washingtonian, [Pomeroy] 11.14.12)

Library News
The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia provided libraries to first-year, kindergarten through third-grade teachers and to new teachers in special needs classrooms. The program provides 100 books to each first-year educator. (Tri-City Area Journal of Business, [Kennewick] 11.2012) http://www.tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2012/11/networking-41/

The image of a stern librarian glaring at you, her index finger pressed against pursed lips while rasping, “Ssshhhh!” is so yesterday. Today’s library is more buzzing beehive than muted morgue. That’s certainly true at the Evergreen branch of the Everett Public Library, where newly-hired branch manager Alan Jacobson is a proponent of more buzz, less mute. (Photo) (South Everett Beacon [Mukilteo], 11.7.12) http://south-everett.villagesoup.com/p/evergreen-library-branch-stakes-claim-as-neighborhoods-community-center/921997

The Sedro-Woolley library sees no budget changes from 2012 to the 2013 budget, but the City Council is keeping an eye on the new rural partial-county library district outside city limits, which was created by another voter proposition that passed Nov. 6. Any changes to Sedro-Woolley’s library won’t happen in time to affect the library’s 2013 budget. (Courier Times, [Sedro Woolley] 11.13.12)

Budget requests indicate the city of Cle Elum may restore some funding to the Carpenter Memorial Library. The additional $10,000 in library funding would come from a $28,000 CD the city has that recently matured. The library may change its fee structure as well; implementing a base fee for library cards and becoming more proactive and consistent with existing material late fees. (Daily Record, [Ellensburg] 11.14.12)

Over the course of the past few months, staff members at the Ritzville Public Library have been busy working on both technological and physical upgrades to help expand the list of services available to patrons. Also, by the end of the year, a knowledge center will be installed in the basement. (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, [Ritzville] 11.15.12)

The Pierce County Library System plans to cut spending on books, eBooks, movies and other materials next year by nearly a-quarter – about $1 million – to cope with a $3 million budget shortfall. A second and final hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12, after which the trustees are expected to approve their spending plan. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 11.19.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/11/18/2372920/shortfall-means-spending-cuts.html#storylink=misearch

The Timberland Regional Library board of trustees voted unanimously to offer the five-county library system’s top job to Cheryl Heywood. She has worked for the library system since 1996 and has a master’s degree in library and information studies from McGill University. (The Olympian [Olympia], 11.29.12) http://www.theolympian.com/2012/11/29/2336108/timberland-library-board-offers.html

Buildings
Bid proposals for a General Contractor for the construction of a Library/Technology Building at the Northwest Indian College in Bellingham have been have been requested. The new building would house a new library, office/workspace, and IT Department. (Daily Journal of Commerce, [Seattle] 11.9.12)

Bid proposals for expansion of the Vashon Library have been requested by the King County Library System. (Daily Journal of Commerce, [Seattle] 11.15.12)

Newcastle’s first library will feature a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 8. The $11.9 million library was built as part of the $172 million library capital bond, approved by voters in 2004. (Bellevue Reporter, [Kent] 11.16.12) http://www.bellevuereporter.com/community/179163321.html

Letters & Editorials
Now really, Larry Kingsbury’s Nov. 7 letter to the editor – “Libraries require ample parking,” quibbling that the new downtown Vancouver and Cascade Park libraries “are virtually inaccessible by car during the day because of tiny crowded parking lots” – is hyperbole. OMG, walk. (The Columbian, [Vancouver] 11.13.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/13/letter-libraries-parking-adequate/

Thank you to the donor of the new million-dollar match to the New Ferndale Library Project. You have stepped up at a crucial time with an incentive for everyone in greater Ferndale to make a gift, large or small, that will make it possible to break ground and begin building in the fall of 2013. (Ferndale Record, 11.14.12)

[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]]