Library News
Sno-Isle Libraries will be the first library district in the Pacific Northwest to launch a new eBooks service from 3M Cloud Library Systems, which is fully integrated with library customer accounts. The new eBook service will make it much easier for Snohomish and Island County ebook customers to find and check out over 3,000 additional eBook titles. (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 1.24.13)

Happy Birthday, Woodinville Library! On February 1, 1993, Woodinville Library opened its doors to the community. That first day, library staff issued 250 library cards to new patrons who promptly proceeded to make a large dent in the library’s well-stocked shelves. (Photo) (North Lake News & Woodinville Weekly, 1.28.13) http://www.nwnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7563:happy-birthday-woodinville-library-heart-of-the-community-celebrates-20-years&catid=53:letters-to-the-editor&Itemid=74

The local Kiwanis chapter donated $250 to the Parkway School’s library to update the school collection. With the money, librarian Marcy Morris purchased 16 nonfiction books on robotics, mythology, American history, and foreign cultures – all were areas the library previously didn’t have books for, or resources were lacking. (Photo) (Grant Co. Journal [Ephrata], 1.28.13)

The Pend Oreille County Library Board of Directors approved the districts 2013 budget in November, totaling $543,068. The budget includes $281,884 in personnel costs, including salaries and benefits for administrators and employees. (Newport Miner, 1.30.13)

Washington State Senator Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver) has introduced a bill to help ensure that the next phase of the city of Vancouver’s Library Square Project comes to fruition. If passed, Senate Bill 5293 would extend the expiration date of House Bill 2673 by ten years, from 2039 to 2049. (Vancouver Business Journal, 2.1.13) http://www.vbjusa.com/news/top-stories/8872-new-bill-aims-to-keep-library-square-project-on-track

Elections
The Winlock City Council this week discussed the possibility of annexing into the Timberland Regional Library District, an idea that would save the city government residential property taxes if voters approved the annexation. (Photo) (The Chronicle [Centralia], 1.31.13)

Buildings
A $1 million donation gives a major boost to plans for a community center in Kingston. News of the magnanimous gift from the family of the late Anne Y. Petter, given through the Kitsap Community Foundation to Kitsap Regional Library, was broken at the at the current community center. The daughter, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a Kitsap resident and library lover. (Photos) (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 1.27.13) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/jan/26/some-major-green-for-kingstons-village-green/

The new Ferndale Library effort will receive two grants totaling $10,000 in contributions from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and the utility’s charitable arm, the Puget Sound Energy Foundation. The new library meets the PSE foundation’s funding priorities to help communities focus on safety and emergency preparedness. (Photo) (Ferndale Record, 1.30.13)

Letters & Editorials
Several weeks ago I was told that Chewelah was not going to have a City Library. I’m a senior citizen and we have had a Chewelah Library my whole life. So I started to observe who was coming to the Library, since I was one who visited several times a week. (The Independent [Chewelah], 1.24.13)

Inspired by Apple and Steve Jobs, San Antonio’s Bexar County, Texas has revealed its plans for BiblioTech, the nation’s first bookless public library. The $1.5 million plan includes a 4,989 square-foot space, 100 e-readers available for check out, 50 e-readers for children, 50 computer stations, 25 laptops, 25 tablets and not one single printed book. (West Seattle Herald/White Center News, 1.25.13) http://www.westseattleherald.com/2013/01/21/opinion/tt-63-book-less-library

The Neighborhoods Matter Governance Council urges voters in the city of Spokane to vote yes on Proposition 3. Neighborhoods Matter is a community-based program working to improve outcomes for children and families. The library system serves an important function in our entire community. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 1.26.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jan/26/library-function-is-vital/

I am writing to support the “Tea Party folks” formerly in Terrace Heights Library. The letter by a former superintendent of the Yakima School District contained very good points. Libraries are important to our community; therefore it seems to me the library board needs to take action. (Yakima Herald-Republic, 1.27.13) http://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/latestopinion/764178-8/thoughts-on-library

Amongst the reasons that Port Townsend is a great place to live are the many gathering places we enjoy and the diversity of people and personalities they support. In 2008, we citizens approved a library levy to provide significant, dedicated funding. The other publicly funded gathering places are not this fortunate. While I support the library … if we expand the library while losing other community gathering places, we will be poorer for it. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 1.30.13)

As the new executive director of Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, I was interested to read the Jan. 28 letter “Library display criticized” from Brian Copp, expressing concern regarding a display of books about humanism at the Cascade Park Library. If we are fulfilling our responsibility, FVRL libraries will promote understanding, prompt a conversation, encourage a healthy debate, and – yes – sometimes strike a nerve. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 2.2.13) http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/02/letter-libraries-promote-understanding/

People
The ranks of librarians have included many famous names … but when Pat Partovi is asked who steered her toward a career among book shelves, she cites a more modest mentor: her college roommate. “After graduation, she went off to library school,” Partovi recalled, “while I got married and ended up in a crummy little job.” Later, the former roommate visited Partovi and her husband. (Photo) (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 1.27.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jan/27/top-shelf-leader/

In light of the recent progress toward bringing a new library to Ferndale, the selection of Norine Amend as the 2012 Tom George Woman of the Year is especially appropriate, given that Amend has become one of the Friends of the Ferndale Library’s most galvanizing leaders in recent memory. (Ferndale Record, 1.30.13)

Two new board members have been appointed to the Edmonds Library Board by Mayor Dave Earling. Wendy Kendall and Tim E. Healy were recently interviewed by the Board and recommended to Mayor Earling for appointment. After meeting with the candidates, Mayor Earling whole-heartedly endorsed their appointment. (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 2.1.13)

Awards
Kitsap Regional Library and the KRL Foundation have been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation for the purpose of creating a mobile technical lab designed to serve Kitsap County teens, especially those considered to be at risk. (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 2.1.13)

Programs & Displays
Cost and transportation don’t have to block people from the benefits of a higher education. The five-county Timberland Regional Library (TRL) System is providing free college-level courses and personal-interest classes through Ed2Go, a new service on the library’s website. (South Beach Bulletin [Westport], 1.24.13)

Throughout his artistic career, Dale Chihuly has set the standard and broken the boundaries of glass as art. Carnegie Picture Lab has partnered with Chihuly Studio and Chihuly Garden & Glass to bring a series of events to participating schools. The Chihuly series kicked off with a community event Saturday, January 26th at the Walla Walla Public Library. (Photos) (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 1.24.13)

The Arts Council of Sedro-Woolley and the Sedro-Woolley Public Library will host the second StoryWalk, a celebration of children’s books and quilts, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9th, in downtown Sedro-Woolley businesses. Organizers say they can use some help from the community for this free, public reading promotion. (Courier Times [Sedro-Woolley], 1.29.13)

Molly Palmer and her husband Joe Peck are two of many talented artists in the Upper County. Palmer and Peck are two of 17 artists with art on display at the Roslyn Public Library as part of the “Handmade Roslyn” exhibit. (Photos) (Daily Record [Ellensburg], 1.30.13)

In partnership with the IRS, the AARP Free Taxaide service is again open at the Cheney Library. This year volunteers have been certified with the IRS to assist taxpayers with their taxes. The Cheney Taxaide site is available by appointment Thursday evenings from 4-7 p.m. and Friday afternoons from 1-5 p.m. throughout the tax season. The last day for appointments is April 12. (Cheney Free Press, 1.31.13)

In celebration of the Chinese New Year and the new Lighting Enhancement Project under construction in the Edmonds International District, the Edmonds Art Commission presents a collection of paintings inspired by the International District by Sue Gill at the Edmonds Library. The exhibit will be shown from February 1st through March 15th. (Photo) (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 1.31.13)

Along with the books, Tacoma Public Library workers will be stacking canned goods through next week as part of a late-fee forgiveness program to benefit local food banks. The library is relieving patrons of overdue book fines at a rate of three items per $10 of penalties. The “Food for Fines” program, a first for Tacoma, started Tuesday and will continue through March 2nd. (Photo) (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 2.23.13) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/23/2486084/tacoma-public-library-forgives.html#storylink=misearch

[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]]