Library News
Campbell’s Resort recently donated $2,000 to the Chelan library renovation fund. (Photo) (Lake Chelan Mirror, 7.25.12) http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=6364&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&S=1

Much of an expanded fiber optic network bringing broadband’s high-speed data transmission for internet use has been completed in Eastern Washington. “Access to broadband is as essential as access to electricity 80 years ago,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said during a celebration at the Kennewick Branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries. (Photo) (Tri-City Herald, [Kennewick] 7.27.12)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/07/27/2034861/gregoire-hails-expansion-of-broadband.html

The Longview City Council unanimously decided to include the Longview Library grounds and the Longview Community Garden in the tobacco ban in Longview’s list of tobacco-free public places. (Daily News, [Longview] 7.29.12) http://tdn.com/news/local/longview-council-expands-smoking-ban-to-library-community-garden/article_d750c62e-d921-11e1-b1f9-001a4bcf887a.html

By the end of August the Grandview Library will roll out a new e-book service. Librarian Elizabeth Jahnke said the program will include a subscription to a statewide consortium for e-books and audio book downloads. (Daily Sun News, [Sunnyside] 8.1.12)
http://www.dailysunnews.com/archives/Story.aspx/24721/e-books-coming-to-grandviews-newly-built-library

Proceeds from Wednesday night’s bingo at the Hilltop Tavern during the month of August go to help support the Port Townsend Public Library’s Books for Babies program. The program is a community-based literacy programs that focuses on the importance of reading to newborns. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 8.1.12)

Future of the city’s support of its Neill Public Library and city parks brought a standing-room-only crowd to the Pullman City Council chambers. The pool and the library are on Pullman’s possible chopping block as it tries to cut $500,000 in spending to balance this year’s $15.9 million budget and provide an adequate level of cash in its general fund reserve. (Whitman County Gazette, 8.2.12)

The Ritzville American Association of University Women (AAUW) donated over $1,400 in Scholastic dollars to the Ritzville Public Library and the Ritzville School District. The library has purchased 92 books and used $600.57 of the donated money. The books purchased by the library are distributed as prizes for each child that met their reading goal in the summer reading program. (Photo) (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 8.2.12)

The Timberland Regional Library District’s Board of Trustees is considering changing its Internet filtering policy and at least two Lewis County board members are pushing for the district to filter the content on every public computer in all of the libraries. (Photos) (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 8.3.12)

Morton residents may get a new library or at least access to other Timberland Regional Libraries, after the TRL Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to add Morton to the library’s district. With the TRL approval, the Lewis County Commissioners will then vote to add the Morton annexation to the ballot in November. (The Chronicle, [Centralia] 8.4.12)

The independent coalition that is trying to resolve the dispute between the city and Rural Library District has officially asked the city to let its citizens settle the matter with a vote on annexation into the Walla Walla County Rural Library Taxing District. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 8.5.12)

The Kitsap Regional Library is circulating more than 3,000 DVDs donated by a Seattle-based computer gaming company. Screen Life Games closed its doors earlier this year but was known for its successful trivia DVD game series “Scene It?” The company donated more than 4,500 DVDs from its collection to the Kitsap library. (The Kitsap Sun, [Bremerton] 8.6.12) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/aug/05/kitsap-regional-library-receives-mass-dvd/

A reminder that all Seattle Public Library branches will be closed from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3 as a way to help the system save $613,000 lost by budget cuts. (The Seattle Times, 8.12.12)

By November, the Pierce County Library System will be out of the bookmobile business. Cutbacks began in January, when 11 stops were eliminated to save money. The library announced Thursday that it will eliminate all remaining bookmobile services. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 8.17.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/17/2258776/library-to-park-bookmobiles-for.html#storylink=misearch

Elections

An effort to create a rural, partial-county library district has enough valid signatures to get onto the November ballot. Residents outside the Sedro-Woolley city limits but within Sedro-Woolley School District boundaries will vote on the measure during the general election. (The Seattle Times, 8.18.12)

The Ocean Shores election was certified on August 21, and the library levy passed with an approval rate of 51.58%. (The North Coast News Online [Ocean Shores], 8.22.12) http://www.northcoastnews.com/2012/08/22/its-official-the-library-lid-lift-passes/

Buildings
Rick Braman, with the Oroville Friends of the Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library, told the city council their focus has changed from tearing down the public library and building fresh, to remodeling and refurbishing the existing building. Tearing down and building a new library was estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $1 million, while remodeling and refurbishing would be a fraction of that. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, [Oroville] 7.26.12)

Plans are moving forward for a new library to anchor the proposed Tukwila Village on city property at the intersection of Tukwila International Boulevard and South 144th Street. The Tukwila City Council agreed to sell a portion of the Tukwila Village property on the northeast corner of the intersection for $500,000 to the King County Library System, which plans to build an $8 million, 10,000-square-foot library. (Renton Reporter, 7.27.12)

The Timberland Regional Library in Raymond is tentatively slated to close for nearly three weeks to undergo an extensive remodel of the interior of the library. The library received a $50,000 grant from the Stella & L.V. Raymond Foundation board to improve the condition of the plaster in the interior of the Raymond Timberland Library. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 8.1.12)

The Kettle Falls Library, a part of the Stevens County Rural Library District, will be closed through August 27th for a remodel. The remodel project is anticipated to cost a maximum of $45,000. (Statesman-Examiner, [Colville] 8.1.12)

Endicott officials have begun the process of remodeling the town’s library building, a part of the Whitman County Library system. The project will be funded through grants and donations including a USDA Rural Development Division grant of $76,500, a $30,000 grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, $7,500 from utility Avista, and $11,500 raised through a community fundraising drive, raffle, and proceeds from the annual fall German dinner. (Whitman County Gazette, [Colfax] 8.2.12)

Consultants hired by Kitsap Regional Library continue to study the feasibility of raising enough private money to build a new Silverdale Branch Library. The study is expected to be completed and submitted to the Kitsap Regional Library Board of Trustees at its scheduled Sept. 27 meeting. (Central Kitsap Reporter, [Silverdale] 8.3.12) http://www.centralkitsapreporter.com/news/164911656.html?mobile=true

Letters & Editorials
It’s obvious that some points of clarification about the Port Townsend library expansion project need to be made because it is not an “either/or” situation as Jim Todd has suggested in his letter printed in the Leader on July 18. I believe the library expansion project is a critical investment in our community’s future well being and I support this project 120 percent. (The Leader, [Port Townsend] 7.25.12)

Many Walla Wallans refuse to accept that because the rural and city library boards are at an impasse, no further possible cooperation is possible. Surely the public should have a voice in finding solutions to meet equitably the needs of all the residents of Walla Walla County, city and rural residents alike. Their tax dollars are, after all, funding the library. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 7.29.12)

Having made use of the rural library in Grant County, I wonder why Walla Walla County Rural Library could not be run the same. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 7.29.12)

Sno-Isle Library System is another county system that works as well as Grant County’s. It includes Snohomish and Island Counties. Letters in the paper from Bonnie Brickey and Beth Call are right on.
(Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 8.2.12)

People
Judge Mary Yu has bid farewell to the Public Law Library of King County’s Board of Trustees. Judge Yu’s passion and steadfast dedication to providing equal and open access to the justice system made her a natural fit for a position on the board. Judge Yu continually and consistently strove to ensure that the Law Library remained open and accessible to the public. (King County Bar Bulletin, [Seattle] 8.12) https://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BView.aspx?Month=08&Year=2012&AID=article11.htm#.UDe0JKMjEp8

Programs & Displays
The Public Law Library of King County has announced upcoming classes. On August 29, they will offer “Skiptracing,” using WebEx. This class introduces you to sites on the Internet that help you find business and personal information, using free, publicly accessible databases. (Photo) (King County Bar Bulletin, 8.12) https://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BView.aspx?Month=08&Year=2012&AID=lawlib.htm#.UDe0U6MjEp8

Paintings and drawings by local artist Kristen Proctor are on display through Aug. 31 at the Mountlake Terrace Library. Proctor, a Mountlake Terrace resident, developed her passion for drawing and painting at an early age. A graduate of Western Washington University, Proctor works as a graphic designer and illustrator. (The Weekly Herald, [Lynnwood) 8.1.12) http://www.weeklyherald.com/article/20120801/TWH05/708019935/0

The husband-wife duo of Martha Flores and Rod Daut are the featured artists in the Quincy library’s art gallery. Their art will be on display at the Quincy Public Library through October. (Photos) (Quincy Valley Post, 8.2.12)

Summer Reading
Tekoa Library, a part of Whitman County Library, Summer Reading for kids was a great success. Teen and adult summer reading continues through August 30. (Whitman County Gazette, [Colfax] 7.26.12)

[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]]

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