Library Clippings for the week of January 23, 2015

Library News

Saturday hours gone at library (Statesman-Examiner, Colville, 12/17/14)

South Everett library gets noisy for 25th bash
The Evergreen Branch library celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The library was built in 1989 as a way to give South Everett, a hotly growing area in the 1980s under Mayor Bill Moore, an access point for books and library services. Nowadays, it is widely acknowledged the library has outgrown its space. The library’s expansion plans, though, were halted earlier this year because of the city’s belt-tightening budget process, a library board member said last week. An architectural firm already had been contracted in 2013 to sketch out the expansion. (Everett/Mukilteo Tribune, 12/17/14)

Book donations for Toybox
Librarian Nichole Kopp delivers book donations to Jim Krouse at the Colfax Fire Department for the Firemen’s Toybox project. Friends of Whitman County Library provided a drop site at the Colfax Branch for new books and toys for the annual drive hosted by the Colfax Fire Department. Colfax Thrifty Grandmother’s and others donated new books which were available to youngsters in the drive. (Whitman County Gazette, Colfax, 12/18/14)

Gates technology grant funds learning stations
Whitman County Library has received a $50,000 “Technology Made Easy” grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Washington State Library. It is designed to improve the computer and internet skills of residents with a variety of informative workshops and individual appointments at the library’s 14 locations. The grant will provide learning stations for classes in Albion, Colfax, Palouse, Rosalia, St. John, Tekoa and Uniontown. (Whitman County Gazette, Colfax, 12/18/14)

Ritzville Library increases children’s book selection
The Ritzville Library District No. 2 recently added 83 new books to the children’s and teen rooms. The books, which had a total retail value of $1,405.44, were purchased through generous donations from community members. (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, Ritzville, 12/18/14)

Assault causes security worries at library (The News Tribune, Tacoma, 1/8/15)

Buildings

Upcoming Projects – White Center library branch
Location: Seattle, 1409 S.W. 107th St.
Project: Develop a new library in White Center; 10,000-square-foot, single-story library with associated site work and surface parking on a 1.5-acre site.
Action: Determination of non-significance issued by King County Library System
Owner: King County Library System
Comments: By Jan. 26 to King County Library System
Information: King County Library System, (425) 369-3308
(Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle, 1/7/15)

Letters & Editorials

Thanks Richland Library (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, 12/18/14)

Elks grant provides MV library programs
On behalf of the Mount Vernon City Library Youth Services Department, I would like to thank Bill McMoran and the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge No. 1604 for the generous grant supporting library programming for children and teens. The Elks grant enabled us to purchase early learning equipment for our Play & Learn programs, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs, and our toy cupboard. The grant is also being used to fund the purchase of one year’s worth of books for our Juvenile Detention Center Booktalking program, now in its third year of operation. This letter to the editor was written by Beth Bermani, Youth Services Supervisor at Mount Vernon City Library. (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, 12/21/14)

Puyallup: Library no longer a safe place for families
Re: “Assault causes security worries at library”. I have three young children who love visiting the Puyallup Library. Unfortunately, we no longer feel safe or comfortable there. We feel the same way about the brand new play system at the park right outside. Our last and final visit was over winter break. Something needs to be done in order to protect staff and visitors both inside and outside of the library. This letter to the editor was written by Halley Hudson of Puyallup. (The News Tribune, Tacoma, 1/11/15)

People

Eilene Smith honored for service to library
Friends of the Oroville Library have been in a party mood this fall. In mid-October our members gathered at Hometown Pizza to celebrate the decades long active membership of FOL’s former president Eilene Smith. Since she’d just spent September visiting family and friends in her home state of Michigan, it was also a welcome home and surprise party. (Okanogan Valley Gazette – Tribune, Oroville, 12/18/14)

Honored for 13 years on library board
Becky Dickerson of St. John was recognized for 13 years of service on the Whitman County Library Board of Trustees during the annual winter luncheon of staff, friends and board members. Key accomplishments during her tenure include a new library in St. John, renovation at Colfax and a number of branch locations and a sizable grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that was followed by a visit from Mr. Gates himself. (Whitman County Gazette, Colfax, 12/18/14)

Silverdale Library has new manager (Bremerton Patriot, Bremerton, 12/19/14)

Coach, librarian dies suddenly
Staff and students at Bainbridge High School were in shock Friday at the unexpected death of Mike Roe, longtime assistant football coach and librarian. Roe, 61, died in his sleep Thursday night, according to district spokeswoman Galen Goff. (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, 12/20/14)

She’s a librarian with a sense of adventure
Librarians are often portrayed as dull, stuffy types. But they’re not all tightly wound people who enjoy shushing others every time they get the chance. Case in point: Asotin County Library Director Jennifer Ashby. Ashby, who has held her position since 2001, counts scuba diving, pottery, yoga and travel among her favorite pursuits, which also include spending time with family, speaking Spanish and swimming. And it doesn’t end there. “I love art and theater and feel proud of what the library has done over the last several years to promote the humanities in the (Lewiston-Clarkston) Valley,” she said. (Morning Tribune, Lewiston, 12/26/14)

Amy Larsen will start the New Year as Waterville librarian
After a year and a half serving as the librarian at the Waterville branch, Tamara Larson left the job at the end of 2014. The new librarian will be Amy Larsen, a resident of Waterville since 2005 and a library substitute since the beginning of 2014. Amy has a master’s degree in library science and 20 years of library experience. She is a partner along with Dave Lundgren in running the Waterville Hotel and is also an artist. She said that with the library job being only 24 hours a week, she believes she will be able to continue with her other roles. “It’s really an ideal situation,” she said. Amy said that for her it is exciting to get back into library work after a time away. (Douglas County Empire Press, East Wenatchee, 1/1/15)

Programs/Displays

OC minilibrary big on community
Outside the Olympic College student center, a quaint little bookshelf with Plexiglass doors invites passers-by to take a book or leave a book. On Tuesday, offerings included a book on marine science, a Janet Evanovich novel, “The Kite Runner,” a textbook called “Modern European Social History” and Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, OC’s minilibrary is full of surprises and constantly changing. (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, 12/10/14)

Christmas at the Library!
Weller Public Library manager Rosie Warehime waited until she had the library all decked out for Christmas before letting her youngest patrons open an extra-special present. At a recent Story Time, Warehime shared a box of 83 brand new children’s books – purchased through a grant from the Libri Foundation and Friends of the Library donation – with a group of excited young readers. The youngsters excitedly unpacked two large boxes of books, stopping to examine new favorites in the process. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide, non-profit organization that donates new, quality hardcover books to rural libraries, usually those in towns with populations of less than 5,000, through their Books for Children grant program. They donate to libraries that operate with a limited budget and have an active children’s department. (Times, Waitsburg, 12/11/14)

Schultz’ trophies on display in H. library
Twenty-five animal heads and furs have been on display in the Harrington Public Library since June of 1973. The late Louis Schultz was a Harrington farmer who enjoyed game hunting when he was not busy keeping his farming operations going. He began game hunting in 1946 and made two trips to Africa, trips into British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska. (Odessa Record, Odessa, 12/18/14)

Winter cooking with your library (The Sequim Gazette, Sequim, 12/24/14)

Uplifting films come to library for ‘Family Flicks’ (The Sequim Gazette, Sequim, 12/24/14)

Check out library to improve your health (Yakima Herald, Yakima, 1/4/15)

Attention to detail (Daily Sun News, Sunnyside, 1/14/15)

************************************************************************************
[This summary of library news represents a selection of current newspaper clippings about Washington libraries received from Washington newspapers. The summary is created by Leanna Hammond and Marilyn Lindholm of the Washington State Library, a Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. For further information about this summary or the clippings listed, contact Shirley Lewis at 360.570.5567 or [email protected].]