Library News

Many of the nearly 100 people in attendance at Monday night’s City Council meeting were there to fight against the city closing the Ocean Shores Library and Interpretive Center.  Mayor Dean Bunkers proposal said that closing the Library and Interpretive Center would save another $400,000.  Even so, Bunkers said that keeping those two open is a “high priority.” (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 11.25.09)

A reciprocal borrowing agreement between Anacortes and Mount Vernon public libraries was approved by both cities last month and took effect yesterday. Anacortes residents who have library cards may now apply for borrowing privileges in Mount Vernon, and vice versa. The Anacortes Public Library will implement a new schedule starting Jan. 1, including an earlier Monday opening time. (Anacortes American, 12.2.09) http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/new_hours_start_jan_1_at_anacortes_library/

Would you like to share your love of reading with someone who cannot use the library?  The King County Library System Traveling Library Center, or TLC, provides services to eligible King County residents who are unable to visit their community libraries. (Snoqualmie Valley Record, 12.2.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/svr/community/78271997.html

Buildings

With grants and donations reaching $276,000, construction of the new North Fork Community Library in Kendall, a part of the Whatcom County Library System, will kick off in spring 2010. The Friends of the North Folk Community Library, the group collecting funds and building the project, announced the news at their annual meeting on Nov. 12.  Once constructed, the library will replace the Maple Falls branch, which will close. (Photos) (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 11.23.09)

Sue Vanlaanan, Communications Director for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, said the new Main Library project broke ground in August, and they have poured the deep foundation and are constructing support pillars.  Funded by a bond passed by Vancouver voters in September 2006, the project is slated for completion in the first half of 2011. (Photo) (Vancouver Business Journal, 11.27.09) http://www.vbjusa.com/stories/2009-11-27/construction_projects_in_slow-motion.html

In less than two weeks, the Sammamish Library, a part of the King County Library System, will be closing as part of its move to a new location. The new library, which will contain the current collection, plus an expanded number of books, DVDs, CDs and other media, will open Jan. 9. (Photo) (The Sammamish Review [Issaquah], 12.2.09) http://sammamishreview.com/index.php?s=Old+library+to+close+soon

Letters and Editorials

I am very happy to see that the property owners of Whatcom County supported the Whatcom County Library System measure. Libraries are very important, and far too costly to lose. (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 11.23.09)

Although Whatcom County Library System has locations throughout our county, and we spend time in each of them, the small historical building closest to our home is the location we frequent the most. The kind and soft-spoken librarians (the guardian angels of knowledge) have watched my son grow up there.  I thank the library for the entertainment it has provided me when hard times make renting a movie a luxury. I thank the library for always being there. (Foothills Gazette [Maple Falls], 11.23.09)

Circulation growth in the six months since the new Battle Ground Library opened its doors totals over 90,000 items more than the growth that was generated in the first ten months of last year at the old library. There is much for the public to learn about our shared library system and I hope that 2010 will bring opportunities for the public to better understand how our library district operates. (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 11.25.09)

Even a threat of closing the Library and Interpretive Center reveals a lack of extensive knowledge about the people of Ocean Shores and a lack of caution regarding the future backlash of resentment that it could cause.  To block the growth or underestimate the skills and abilities at the Interpretive Center would be to seriously impair an asset which is actively building Ocean Shores. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 11.25.09)

County voters just approved a library tax increase, and now the city library system announces more cuts. In response to a new $75,000 budget reduction, the library plans to cut book delivery to elderly shut-in people at local care facilities. How about we save $75,000 by eliminating that assistant director position, and keep delivering books to those who can’t get to them? (Bellingham Herald, 12.1.09) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/letters/story/1182259.html

Your council reached a reasonable, good, and win/win compromise regarding the police station and library challenges. So in my way of looking at things, we are only paying for the cost of a needed police station – something the city has promised the community for 24 years.  But we’re also getting a library with no additional direct costs to city government. (Photo) (Westside Record-Journal [Ferndale], 12.2.09)

Awards

When Marie Bassett received a phone call from the Pierce County Library System telling her she had won a free laptop computer, she first thought it was a hoax. The countywide library system held a raffle for two laptops during its annual card drive, and Gig Harbor’s Bassett won one of them. (Photo) (Peninsula Gateway [Gig Harbor], 11.25.09) http://www.gateline.com/104/story/5683.html

The annual Art’s Alive! bookmark contest held by the La Conner Regional Library yielded so many good entries that it was really difficult to decide winners for each age category.  The ultimate decision gave the top honors to: Katie Watkins, 1^st grade, Matt Lynn Lagerwey, 3^rd grade and Hailey Azure, 5^th grade. The winning bookmarks have been reproduced and laminated for patrons to use.  (La Conner Weekly News, 12.2.09)

 

Programs and Displays

Probably most of us who live in the Pacific Northwest have noticed the large amount of plant and animal species with “Douglas” as part of the name. However, as well known as these names may be, few of us know where they came from. A group in attendance at the Waterville Library on Nov. 18 learned this in fascinating detail from Spokane based author Jack Nisbet.  Nisbet was present to speak about David Douglas, the Scotsman who was sent by the Royal Horticulturalist Society to collect specimens in Eastern Washington from 1826-1833. (Photo) (Douglas County Empire Press [East Wenatchee], 11.26.09)

An artist who grew up along the banks of the Washougal River will show environmental painting at the Second Story Gallery in this month. Travis London will present “Deep Green,” his own personal message through the medium of acrylic paint, beginning with a First Friday Reception Dec. 4, and continuing until Dec. 27 at the gallery upstairs at the Camas Public Library. (Photo) (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 12.1.09)

The Friends of the Snoqualmie Library will hold a silent book auction beginning Monday, Nov. 30.  High-quality special interest and literary books will be displayed in the Snoqualmie Library meeting room with bids accepted through Saturday, Dec. 5. (Snoqualmie Valley Record, 12.2.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/svr/community/78272487.html

First graders Jose Padilla and Brooklyn Wester were drawn as winners of new bikes in the raffle associated with the Bikes for Books campaign, an effort of the Lynden Masonic Lodge with the Lynden Library, a part of the Whatcom County Library System. In all, 18 first grade classes visited the library, every class in the area including both public and private schools, said Tina Bixby, branch children’s librarian. (Photo) (Lynden Tribune, 12.9.09)

The Friends of the Olympia Library is holding three juried art shows and sales, with each weekend featuring a dozen different artists working in a variety of media. The shows include photography, paintings, fiber art, book art, pottery and glass. Artists participating have agreed to give 20 percent of the selling price for art to the Friends of the Library. (The Olympian [Olympia], 12.3.09) http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/1057313.html

Economy/Hard Times

Budget cuts.  Is anyone interested in hearing more about budget cuts? Luckily, the Upper Skagit Library will tighten its belt, but will not have to change hours or cut back in any way.  We will be affected by the cuts at other libraries, however. In 2009 we’ve borrowed nearly 800 books from other libraries, but being able to borrow books through interlibrary loan will get a little tougher. (Concrete Herald, 12.2009)

Concrete Chamber, East County Resources, Upper Skagit Library and the Town of Concrete are excited to announce our first “Community Angel Trees.” There will be two trees: one located at the East County Resource Center and the other at the Upper Skagit Library. The trees will have nondescript “angel” tags of children from our area who need someone to be their special “angel” for Christmas. (Concrete Herald, 12.2009)

If the Sammamish Library feels a bit more crowded than it used to, that’s because it is. The Sammamish Library’s usage has grown by 11 percent in the past year, said Marsha Iverson, a spokeswoman for the King County Library System. “As people find new needs, we’re able to find more ways to help them use the library,” Iverson said. (Photo) (The Sammamish Review [Issaquah], 12.2.09) http://sammamishreview.com/2009/12/02/library%e2%80%99s-use-grows-with-recession

Pierce County Library System will make $1.5 million in cuts in 2010. The five-member Board of Trustees approved the $28.6 million budget last week.  The library will eliminate 24 positions, slash hours for 10 jobs and convert 31 positions to lower-level jobs with less pay.  Customers can expect the same hours of operation at the system’s 17 branches, as well as an emphasis on self-checkout. (The News Tribune Online, 12.16.09) http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/995701.html

[This summary of library news was created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State.  It represents a selection of newspaper clippings about Washington libraries from all Washington newspapers received in the packets on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or [email protected] ]

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