Clippings, December 24, 2008  

The North Central Regional Library has a new children’s bookmobile, a 27-foot motor home that can carry 4,500 children’s books. outfitted with a small rooftop satellite dish to connect with the Internet and the library’s checkout system. It makes weekly or monthly visits to many small schools and communities in North Central’s five-county area. The last NCRL bookmobile, in the late 1960’s, gave way to the district’s Books by Mail program, but this new effort is successfully reaching out to children who have little experience with libraries. (With photo from a visit to Nespelem) (Grand Coulee Star, 12-17-08)

The cutbacks to Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s staff and services are described. The three new library building projects, at Battle Ground, Cascade Park, and the central library in Vancouver, which have different funding sources, will continue. “’It would be very costly and short-sighted to slow down or halt large building projects that are underway. Adequate facilities are part of the long-range planning for library services, beyond the immediate economic downturn’, said library director Bruce Ziegman.” (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 12-11-08)

In the new year, the Colville Public Library (Libraries of Stevens County) will no longer have Sunday hours, due to budget constraints. The food-for-fines drive continues throughout the county, with each library’s gathering going to its nearest local Food Bank. (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 12-10-08)

A Seattle runner had plans to visit all 27 of the Seattle Public Library’s branches in one day’s run, getting his “library passport” stamped in all of the branches, but the advent of a snow day and early branch closures (noon to 4:30) enabled him to visit only 11 branches, logging about 50 miles. (With color and b/w photo) (Seattle Times, 12-19-08) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008538071_marathon19.html

The Neill Public Library in Pullman is beginning an environmental effort of a “Bring a Bag/Buy a Bag” program of offering reusable bags for patron’s books. Bags will be for sale for $2 on a first-come, first-served basis. (Moscow Pullman Daily News, 12-13-08)

Elections:

As well as the district-wide Timberland Regional Library levy lid lift election on Feb. 3, Shelton voters will be asked if they approve the city annexation into Timberland. The city would continue to maintain the library building and has contracted with TRL to have the payment level remain the same for 2009 and 2010. (Shelton-Mason County Journal, 12-11-08)

Buildings:

Plans for the new four-story Vancouver city library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library) are described. See more details at www.fvrl.org/aboutus/Main_Library_Project.htm. (With color illustration) (Columbian [Vancouver], 12-14-08)

Construction bids and contracts—bids opened for furniture for the Burien Library (King County Library System); contracts accepted for the Woodinville Library Tenant Improvement Project (KCLS) and for the Pasco Library remodel (Mid-Columbia). (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 12-15-08)

The Olympia Library (Timberland Regional Library) has re-opened after a two-month closure for renovation, with patrons now able to pick up their own hold items. Interest on an endowment paid for the paint and new information and circ desks; the city of Olympia paid for the new carpet; atrium furniture by a private donation; and plant containers and storage of materials by the Friends. (With photos) (Olympian, 12-16-08)

Funding changes for the new Heritage Center are discussed. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12-23-08) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008551555_heritagecenter23.html

Letters and Editorials:

A letter from Brian Soneda, library director at the Mount Vernon Public Library, on behalf of five Skagit County libraries, thanks TAG and the Skagit County Community Action Council for all working together on performances by the Theater Arts Guild and Meta Performing Arts of A Christmas Carol and of The Wiz. (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 12-14-08)

People:

Alex McGregor was named the Whitman County Library Supporter of the Month during the library district’s annual winter luncheon at the Colfax Library. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 12-13-08)

The Kelso Public Library Advisory Board is seeking applicants for a board vacancy. Applicants must live within Kelso or the boundaries of the Kelso School District. (Daily News [Longview], 12-11-08)

Programs and Displays:

The White Salmon Valley Community Library held its Annual Holiday Toddler Sock Hop, with stories, music, treats, bubbles, and a visit by the library’s mascot, Sophie the Otter. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 12-11-08)

The Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA and the Friends of the San Juan Library presented a reading of a new children’s book Ecology from A to Z by Joseph Angel, an island resident. (With book illustration) (The Journal of the San Juan Islands [Friday Harbor], 12-10-08)

Several Winter Break Celebrations took place at Seattle Public Library branches. (Seattle Times, 12-19-08)  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2008536716_zart19library.html

The Timberland Regional Library’s 40^th anniversary was celebrated with cake and free wall calendars showing library branches. Each branch location will have a library memory book for patrons to add to. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 12-07-08)

A column by Neill PL staffer Randi Adams discusses the Good Yarns group that meets weekly at the Pullman library, and their many charitable projects of making caps for newborns both here and overseas. (Moscow Pullman Daily News, 12-13-08)

The Friends of the Whitman County Library are announcing the arrival of their new cookbook, More Recipes from Our Friends, with an order blank on the library website, www.whitco.lib.wa.us. The Colfax Branch of the Whitman County Library will be hosting a blood drive by the Inland Northwest Blood Center. (Both, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 12-15-08)

[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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