Library Clippings for the week of July 17, 2015

Library News

Mid-Columbia Libraries develop auto-renewal service
Mid-Columbia Libraries developed an auto-renewal service which went into effect on June 10. Auto-renewal is a service that automatically renews library materials that have not been requested by another customer and are eligible for renewal. The system tracks the status of all materials and knows which can be renewed and which are needed back to share with another customer. Items that are requested by another customer will not be renewed automatically; eBooks are also ineligible for auto-renewal. This unique service is currently found only in some beta testing libraries in the U.S. and academic libraries in Europe and Asia. (The Outlook, Othello, 6/11/15)

New library trustee sought on Lopez
With the departure of Bill Evans from the Library Board of Trustees after many years of service, the library is in need of another trustee to step up to serve. Send a letter of interest to: [email protected] or send a printed letter to Lopez Library, PO Box 770, Lopez Island, WA 98261 or drop it by the library. The current vacated position’s term lasts until August 31, 2017 with reappointment a possibility. (Island’s Weekly Newspaper, Lopez Island, 6/16/15)

Six free libraries coming to Cashmere
Six small libraries are now on the sidewalks of Cashmere. The libraries seek to encourage the free exchange of books among residents, with no deadlines, late fees or rules involved, other than if you want it, take it, and bring it back when you are done. Or if you want to bring a book, slide it in. Students from Jeff Cravens’ and Stephanie Ball’s classes at Cashmere Middle School worked on the project, which adds Cashmere to a nationwide project called Little Free Libraries (littlefreelibrary.org). (Cashmere Valley Record, Cashmere, 6/17/15)

City checks out options for library
A consultant’s report gives West Richland several options for how to manage its library, but only a couple appear realistic. The city has contracted with Mid-Columbia Libraries since 1978, even though it is not part of the library district. The contract will expire at the end of the year. Mayor Brent Gerry says the $376,000 the city now pays (Benton County contributes another $119,000) is not sustainable because of declining revenue from 2.5 percent of utility taxes that voters approved to go toward the library in 2001. The study lists two major alternatives to contracting with Mid-Columbia Libraries – contracting with Richland, which has a library outside the district, and contracting with Library Systems & Services LLC, or LSSI Inc., a Maryland-based for-profit library operator. (Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, 6/18/15)

A little free library sprouts on Rucker (Everett/Mukilteo Tribune, Snohomish, 6/24/15)

City designates places to stay cool
The city of Seattle is offering public spaces for residents to stay cool in preparation for the excessive heat forecast for Seattle and surrounding areas. More than a dozen libraries in Seattle, including the Central library downtown, Northgate and Rainier Beach, are equipped with air conditioning and serve as cooling centers during heat waves, according to the city of Seattle. (The Seattle Times, Seattle, 6/26/15)

Buildings

Kingsgate Library design team puts families first in renovation (Kirkland Reporter, Kirkland, 6/12/15)

Library rehab (Daily Sun News, Sunnyside, 6/16/15)

Letters & Editorials

Friends of the Library has vision (North Kitsap Herald, Poulsbo, 6/12/15)

People

Community Record obituaries: Rogge boosted libraries, history, education (The Leader, Port Townsend, 6/10/15)

Friends of the library give big for expansion
The Kettle Falls Friends of the Library presented the City of Kettle Falls with a check for $57,000 to be used in the construction of a newly expanded public library. The money was raised over many years at pie sales, used book sales, and donations from many families and businesses in order to expand the library. The money will be added to a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant that the City of Kettle Falls recently received from the state in order to expand the library and develop the space as a community center. (Statesman-Examiner, Colville, 6/10/15)

A big, unusual donation to new library fund
This article thanks Mr. Bob Gruber for his generous donation of stock to the La Conner Library Foundation for the benefit of the La Conner Regional Library. (La Conner Weekly News, La Conner, 6/24/15)

Davis named new Bremerton library manager (Central Kitsap Reporter, Silverdale, 6/26/15)

Programs & Displays

SV Library to serve as summer meal site
Starting on June 15 and running until August 13, the Spokane Valley Library will serve lunches to children ages 18 and younger who qualify for federally funded lunches during the school year. The Central Valley School District will provide the meals that the library hosts. The meal is a sack lunch that must be consumed on site. Although library staff will mainly serve the summer meals, those interested in volunteering to serve meals can get involved by contacting Library Services Manager Gwendolyn Haley at [email protected]. (The Current, Liberty Lake, 6/–/15)

Strawberry Festival royalty reads to students at Pinewood Library (Marysville Globe, Marysville, 6/21/15)

Monroe Library unveils early learning space (Monroe Monitor & Valley News, Monroe, 6/23/15)

Microsoft courses at the library (Island’s Weekly Newspaper, Lopez Island, 6/23/15)

Audio books offered through area libraries
Folks who are traveling this summer and want a way to make the miles fly by can consider checking out an audio book from the North Central Regional Library System. The system has branches in Brewster, Bridgeport, Grand Coulee, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Pateros, Republic, Tonasket, Twisp, and Winthrop. (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, Omak, 6/24/15)

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[This summary of library news represents a selection of current newspaper clippings about Washington libraries received from Washington newspapers. The summary is created by 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].]