Clippings, October 22, 2008

Elections:

“The Timberland Regional Library has made as many ‘invisible cuts’ to its budget as it can, and now will have to cut services, including Sunday hours this winter”, reducing its materials budget by $367,000 in 2009, instituting a hiring freeze and no longer using substitutes.. The district will seek a levy lid lift in the spring. (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-4-08; Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 10-2-08))

Buildings:

Up for bid: Kirkland Library Addition and Renovation, estimate $2 million; Sammamish Library Construction, estimate $10 million, (both King County Library System); Northeast Branch (Seattle Public Library) Parking Lot Improvements, estimate $120,000; and Sequim Branch (North Olympic Library System), estimate $80,000-$90,000. (All, Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 10-11-08)

The Oakesdale Library (Whitman County Library) apologizes for the difficulties created by sidewalk construction around the library, “funded by a grant to the Town of Oakesdale by Ti-B and Co-Ag.” (Boomerang [Palouse], 10-2-08)

“’McLibrary Night’ on Tuesday will help get Battle Ground’s new library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library) closer to full funding. Between 5 and 7 p.m., the McDonalds restaurant at 515 W. Main will donate 20 percent of al sales to the new library, due to open in May 2009. Library boosters report that they are within $7,000 of their fundraising goal.” (Columbian [Vancouver], 10-16-08)

Letters and Editorials:

A letter writer from Hoquiam supports the Timberland election. “Now I don’t like to see taxes rise any more than the next person, but I really believe this increase for our library system is something we should all support.” (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-7-08)

People:

Palouse Library (Whitman County Library) patron Charlotte Omoto is interviewed. “My support of libraries stems from my past. My family was poor and as a child we could not purchase books…The fact that I am now a professor at a university is in no small part due to the public library.” And a photo shows several Palouse High School students at the Palouse Library book sale during Palouse Days.(Both, Boomerang [Palouse], 10-2-08)

“The City of Stanwood and the Stanwood Library Board are seeking a volunteer to fill a vacancy for a five-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2009…The library board serves as an advisory board to the City…(regarding) library services with Sno-Isle Libraries.” (Stanwood Camano News, 10-7-08)

Programs and Displays:

In an unusual personal appearance, author Ursula Le Guin will read from A Wizard of Earthsea in discussions for the Aberdeen Timberland Library and the Olympia Timberland Library, as part of this year’s Timberland Reads Together. (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-7-09 & The Olympian, 10-9-08)

At the Westport Timberland Library, Dr. Alfredo Gomez-Beloz will give a presentation on the history and uses of chocolate. “Audience members will get free samples.” (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-2-08)

The Friends of the Whitman County Library are gathering recipes for a “More Recipes from our Friends” cookbook. [Editor’s note—the first one was very nice!] The cookbook can be pre-ordered; proceeds go to support children’s programs countywide. (Boomerang [Palouse], 10-2-08)

Events at the Oroville Library (North Central Regional Library) included a celebration of Oroville’s Centennial with a storytelling event-“two tents and storytellers non-stop all afternoon long” and the annual Country Celebration dinner and silent auction. “Circulation was up 24 percent for the summer with the summer reading program.” (With photo of the two top readers)(Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune [Oroville], 10-2-08)

The Kitsap Regional Library has received a one Book grant from the Washington state Library for activities surrounding Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Elma Timberland Library held the second of a series of “Conversation Cafes”, an open round-table discussion following the guidelines of “no interrupting and no discrediting body language like eye- rolling or ‘long sighs’”. (With photo) (The Vidette [Montesano], 10-2-08)

[This summary of library news was created by Susan Barrett of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. It represents a newspaper clippings packet from all Washington newspapers received on the date shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Susan at 360-570-5561 or [email protected].]

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