Library News
The Silverdale Library is benefiting from the attention of the Kitsap County Rose Society. The Rose Society has been tending the roses outside of the Silverdale Library since 1999. Two to three hours a week volunteers tent the 17 bushes that make up the garden. Each rose has been donated by the society and on clean-up day the volunteers cut a bouquet to bring in to the library staff. It is the hope of the volunteers that the bushes will move when the library does. (Central Kitsap Reporter, Silverdale, 06/27/14). http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/news/264780421.html

Port Angeles Library will offer free online tech courses. The North Olympic Library System will offer introductory classes that cover everything from sending and receiving email to navigating the web. More advanced users will benefit from the Microsoft Online Academy. Completion certificates are free and testing with official Microsoft Certification is available for a fee. (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, 06/30/14).

Stanwood City Council will vote to put a measure on the ballot that would ask voters to approve annexation into Sno-Isle Libraries. If Stanwood annexes, property taxes paid to the city would go down 11 cents per $1,000 AV, but takes over all would increase 39 cents per $1,000. The city has been struggling to pay for library services on contract to Sno-Isle and Sno Isle is not happy with dealing with the contract. They would also like Stanwood to annex into the Sno Isle system. (Stanwood/Camano News, Stanwood, 06/24/14).

The Timberland Regional Library summer reading program for teens, Spark a Reaction is bringing science, technology and creative construction to the area with hands-on experiences and book and web based activities. (Daily World, Aberdeen, 06/28/14).

Ridgefield, Washougal, and Woodland library patrons can discuss their visions for the new libraries. There will be community meetings that are part of the pre-design process that will encourage the community to voice opinions and ideas about what they want the new libraries to look like and how they should be integrated into the communities. (The Columbian, Vancouver, 06/22/14). http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jun/22/libraries-want-public-input-on-new-services-facili/

The Timberland Regional Library’s Summer Reading Program begins when school lets out. The library staff begin giving out free Summer at the Library fun bags that include a variety of things geared to get kids participating in the Summer Reading program. There will be authors of teen novels, LabARTorty programs, science themed activities and much more going on this summer. ( The Chronicle, Centralia, 06/17/14). http://www.chronline.com/news/article_1971289a-f645-11e3-8976-001a4bcf887a.html

Pierce County Library System will have an open public forum with the final candidates for the positon of executive director. The current director will be retiring November 1. (South Pierce County Dispatch, Eatonville, 07/02/14).

Editorials/Letters
Libraries can help teach about the birds and the bees. With the onslaught of information children are subjected to on the topic of sex it can be difficult to know how to get accurate, relevant, age appropriate information to kids these days. The Bellevue and Lake Hills libraries will be hosting programs to support teens and parents of teens. The program will be presented by a Public Health Seattle-King County sexual health educator who will give parents and teens the resources to encourage conversations about safe and healthy relationships. (Bellevue Reporter, Kent, 06/27/14). http://www.bellevuereporter.com/opinion/264123431.html

Marlene Penry, a volunteer at the Ocean Shores Library, says the library is a valuable community asset. Books, special library programs, dvd’s cd’s, and many other services are available at the library. (The North Coast News, Ocean Shores, 06/12/2014).

A Mercer Island library patron asks what the safety concern is with the book drop. She states that many Mercer Island residents would find it very inconvenient to not have the book drop option. (Mercer Island Reporter, 06/18/14).

Kitsap Regional Library is partnering with Coffee Oasis in providing technology and science classes to teens in Kitsap County. KRL provides the space and Coffee Oasis, a non-profit outreach for at-risk and homeless youths, offers its students a spot in the course. The BiblioTEC program is designed to help students develop job skills. The courses are five weeks long and take place in four hour chunks five days a week. LRL is also offering short, one-day courses open to all teens every first Saturday of the month. Eventually, KRL wants to have a space for learning science and technology classes at all of its branches. (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, 06/08/14).

Kitsap Regional Library’s Summer of Learning program is the designed to encourage every young person to focus on reading. The first 4,000 kids to finish their 10 hour reading goal will receive a free ticket to the Kitsap Fair and Stampede. There are fantastic librarians available who love finding the perfect book for young readers! (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, 06/01/14).

Third and fourth grade students were given a tour and history of the Harrington Public Library. Marjorie Womach met with the students to give the tour and help them get acquainted with the library. The children were allowed to explore the library and look for books to check out. Rules for the computer were shared with them and rules of library conduct. ( Odessa Record, Odessa, 06/12/14).

Ocean Shores residents and library patrons, Steve and Toni Munce, are encouraging everyone to support the library and keep it open. They support the special events and the internet connection that help people who can’t access the internet otherwise. The range of materials and information along with the friendly helpful staff make it a great asset to the community. (The North Coast News, Ocean Shores, 06/26/14).

Buildings

King County Library System has accepted a bid for the Duvall Library Construction Project. Kassel & Associates, Inc. of Redmond has been accepted as of June 24, 2014. (Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle, 06/27/14).

People
Allison Grubbs has been the manager at the Elma Timberland library for the past year or so. She will now be the manager of the Aberdeen Library. She has six years’ experience with libraries and lives in the area with her husband. (Daily World, Aberdeen, 06/26/14).

Programs/Displays

White Salmon’s summer reading program give children and teens the chance to have fun and earn rewards while keeping their reading skills sharp. The reading programs will run through the end of August and are free. (The Enterprise, White Salmon, 06/19/14).

The 2014 Summer Reading Program at Cathlamet Public Library, Fizz, Boom, Read will explore all things scientific. There are programs for kids from five to fourteen. (The Whakiakum, Cathlamet, 06/19/14).

The Waterville Public Library had a special summer reading program in June. Debra McVey, a bilingual storyteller with North Central Regional Library shared weather experiments. (Douglas County Empire Press, East Wenatchee, 06/12/2014).

Timberland Regional Library now offers patrons free, unlimited access to 100 popular magazines through the library’s website. Patrons can check out as many as they want and keep them as long as they like. New issues are available online at the same time as the print version is released. Back issues are also available. (The Chronicle, Centralia, 06/14/2014). http://www.chronline.com/news/article_37db630a-f37e-11e3-8cc6-001a4bcf887a.html

The Ellensburg Public Library has kicked off its summer reading program. The “Fizz, Boom, Read!” program is free and open to all young people. Even babies! Each child will receive their own reading log to record time spent reading, listening, and being read to. There are also weekly events revolving around science. (Daily Record, Ellensburg, 06/14/2014).

The Gig Harbor branch of the pierce County Library has four 3-D printers as part of a series of free courses. The youngest participant in the hands-on course was 12 and the oldest 81. The four machines were a gift from the manufacturer. (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, 04/02/2014.) http://www.gateline.com/2014/07/02/3271186/3-d-class-models-science-education.html

The Burlington Library has recently installed the hearing loop system to reduce background noises for those with hearing aids. Hearing aids amplify background noises and makes it hard for wearers to filter out the unimportant noises from the main focus. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of patrons, Jerry and Joanna Olmstead and community support the library was able to install the $6,000 system for its hearing impaired patrons. (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, 07/14/2014).

The Puyallup Public Library hosted young adult author, Marissa Meyer. She is the author of the series The Lunar Chronicles. Her appearance at the library intersected with the Sparks A Reaction” program for teen summer reading. http://www.puyallupherald.com/2014/07/07/3278068/puyallup-public-library-welcomes.html

La Connor Library is benefiting from AmazonSmile, a program through which people who shop on Amazon can have .05 percent of their eligible purchase donated to their favorite charity. (La Conner Weekly News, La Conner, 06/25/14).