Library News

Why do libraries charge for library cards?  The quick answer is that it’s one way the library is able to buy the items you borrow. People who want library services but are living outside the tax boundaries will be asked to purchase a nonresident card.  (Concrete Herald, 6.2010)

The Camano Island Library Advisory Board is accepting applications for its student position for the 2010-2011 school year. Board members are required to attend all regularly scheduled meetings. Deadline for application is Fri, June 18 at 5 p.m. (Stanwood Camano News, 6.1.10) http://www.scnews.com/news/2010-06-01/On_the_Island/Student_board_member_needed_for_library_pilot_proj.html

In an effort to help reduce operating expenses, the Seattle Public Library will stop generating and mailing paper notice to patrons beginning July 1. The Library has initiated the campaign to move people still receiving paper notices to e-mail. To sign up for e-mail notices, go to the Library’s Web site, log into your account and add your e-mail address to your profile. (Queen Anne News [Seattle], 6.2.10) http://www.queenannenews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=30330&SectionID=26&SubSectionID=248&S=1

Library nerds aren’t ashamed to tell you that searching for information is what gets their wheels going.  In fact, they might tell you that it makes them go a little.Gaga. That’s exactly what the University of WA library nerds did.  Under direction of library and information science grad student Sarah Wachter, staff and students rewrote the lyrics to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” to be about, well, library stuff. (Photo) (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 6.4.10) http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/209363.asp

For a library to be successful, it must be ready to adapt, particularly during difficult economic times.  To do that requires a plan and that is where the Puyallup Public Library needs the community’s assistance. We have assembled a community planning group.to help the Puyallup library staff and board review the library’s mission, vision and values. (The Herald [Puyallup], 6.9.10)

The Friends of the Longview Library need a logo, and they want the public to design it. The new Friends logo will be used for projects related to the work of the Friends and to benefit the Longview Public Library.  The winning logo designer will receive a $50 gift certificate from the location of his or her choice.  The winning logo will be announced and displayed at the library in late September. (The Daily News [Longview], 6.9.10) http://tdn.com/news/local/article_83abd1f2-742a-11df-8e05-001cc4c03286.html

Buildings

The Mountain View Timberland Library, a part of the Timberland Regional Library System, in Randle will be closed June 1 through 14 for painting and installation of new carpet. (The East County Journal [Morton], 5.26.10)

Whatcom County Library System Director Joan Airoldi toured the old Julius fire station on Gulf Road and met with local parks commissioners, but appeared less than enthusiastic about the building as a library. Airoldi agreed to ask the architect who had been hired by the library system to come up with options to expand the community center to look at the possibilities for the old fire station, but at the parks district cost. (Photo) (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 6.2010) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/news/article.exm/2010-05-28_library__parks_district_talk_expansion

The Federal Way Library, a part of the King County Library System and one of the region’s largest, will reopen Saturday with floor-to-ceiling windows letting in more light, nearly 40 percent more space, and 19,000 new books and other materials. The result of the $8.1 million expansion and renovation is a more open and inviting facility. (Photo) (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 6.2.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/02/1209369/federal-way-library-ready-to-reopen.html

The King County Library System (KCLS) is breaking ground Tuesday on its $10.49 million Kenmore Library.  The 9,500 square foot branch is being built by Sierra Construction, about a half-mile from the existing library. Funding for the library is coming from a $172 million capital bond that was approved by voters to fund major upkeep and expansion of KCLS libraries. (Photo) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 6.4.10)

Letters & Editorials

Anyone who has visited over the past year knows our libraries are experiencing an unprecedented increase in usage.  Usage is up while revenues are down.  Staff has been cut; library hours have been shortened. Fort Vancouver Regional Library District has not seen a levy increase for 17 years. I’ll be voting for the library levy measure this August and hope all my neighbors do so as well. (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.31.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/31/letters-to-the-editor/

The Friends of the Point Roberts library would like to thank everyone for supporting our first annual cookie walk.  A good time was had by all and the even brought in over $400 toward our library’s special programs for both children and adults. (All Point Bulletin [Point Roberts], 6.2010) http://www.allpointbulletin.com/letters

It all started in late 2009 when the City Council announced much to the shock of the community that they were going to close the Library and Interpretive Center in order to save $400,000 since they had judged these services to be “Low Priority” items in the 2010 budget. The citizens responded with e-mails, phone calls and an enormous turnout at the next council meeting. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 6.2.10)

In his May 15 letter, “Library asks for more at wrong time,” Don Higgins used several dollar figures to support his opposition to Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s August 17 levy measure. The figures he used do not reflect FVRL’s true financial position. The library’s board of trustees felt it was important to allow the public to decide whether to restore library funding and head off additional cuts. (Columbian [Vancouver], 6.2.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jun/02/letters-to-the-editor/

A concerned mom and taxpaying citizen writing in from Edmonds. Upon waiting at our library in Edmonds recently, I noticed a man using his computer for pornography purposes.  With all the families and young children present, this was quite appalling to me. I approached the front desk librarian and she told me he was within his rights.  America, America, what has happened to you? (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 6.3.10) http://www.edmondsbeacon.com/letters/article.exm/2010-06-03_changes_needed_at_library

A registered sex offender reportedly approached children at a Kennewick branch of the Mid-Columbia Library District, and library officials seemed less than cooperative with police.  But state law is clear on the issue: “Librarians and library employees shall not make available library circulation records to any agency of state, federal, or local government…” Is a state law protecting library records a good idea? That’s open to debate, but we think requiring authorities to first obtain a subpoena is a reasonable protection of our constitutional right to privacy. (Tri-City Herald Online, 6.11.10) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/11/1049770/privacy-of-library-patrons-tested.html

It’s the indestructible lie that permeates my everyday existence. A mother and child will enter my workplace with the words, “Now Johnny, you have to whisper, this is a library.” Please. The library is not a place of worship; there is no need to whisper. How could I answer the phone or any questions if I had to whisper all day long? This quiet-as-a-mouse, you-can-hear-the-mouse-eating-his-cheese library business has got to go. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 6.14.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/14/1225997/this-is-not-your-grandmothers.html

People

Donna Simms is the library associate at the Elma Timberland Regional Library, a part of the Timberland Regional Library System (TRL), and is responsible for bringing the love of reading to children and teens in Elma.  Simms began working for TRL in September 1992 at the Shelton Library.  She was first hired at the Elma Library in 1995, went back to Shelton, and reapplied to work in Elma again in 2001 and has been there since. (Photo) (Daily World [Aberdeen], 6.6.10)

The final four candidates vying for the recently vacated position of Timberland Regional Library executive director will be making presentation and responding to questions from the public during a forum in Chehalis tonight.  The candidates are: Barbara Pickell, Linda Mielke, Leonard Hernandez and Michael Crose. (The Chronicle [Centralia], 6.7.10)

Awards

Neel Parikh, executive director of the Pierce County Library System (PCLS), has received the Sullivan Award for the Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children from the American Library Association. Parikh is a founding member and chair of the Early Learning Public Library Partnership, which is focused on early learning movements in Washington.  She has been the executive director of PCLS since 1994. (Photo) (Business Examiner [Tacoma], 5.31.10) http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/people-on-move-220

Smokin’ Papas Restaurant and owners Roy and Judy Weiker were recognized as Whitman County Library Supporters of the Month during a special visit to the Garfield Business. Smokin’ Papas has long been a supporter of Garfield Summer Reading programs.  This year they will help out even more by also providing treats for teens and adults who complete the summer program. The Weiker’s newsletter often carries library news of community interest. (Photo) (The Eagle & Boomerang [Palouse], 6.3.10)

Lynne Greene, who recently won the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, has been director of the Davis High School Library for 27 years. Greene traveled to the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia in April to receive the award.  And she’s up for another honor this summer. Her two staffers are nominating her for the Washington Library Media Association’s 2010 Librarian of the Year. (Photos) (Yakima-Herald Republic, 6.4.10) http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/06/03/longtime-davis-librarian-looks-out-for-students-needs

Programs & Displays

Pierce County Library System is offering free computer classes to help people gain computer skills and search for jobs. Classes will be in English at the Gig Harbor and Key Center Libraries. Visit your local library to register for classes. (Key Peninsula News [Vaughn], 6.2010)

For photographer Alfred Pease, a picture is all about context: He enjoys photographing people in their cultural setting, wildlife in its natural habitat and the scenic beauty of the wilderness. His work will show in its proper place – on display – at the Mountlake Terrace Library, a part of Sno-Isle libraries, through the month of June. (Photo) (The Enterprise [Lynnwood], 6.2.10) http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20100602/ETP18/706029889&template=ETPZoneEDart

Seasoned traveler and photographer Eddie Rosen, a former Fort Vancouver Library District employee, will present a slide show and commentary on his recent trip to Nepal Wednesday, June 9 at the Stevenson Community Library. He volunteers to give these presentations as his contribution to cultural understanding. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 6.2.10)

La Conner Regional Library’s 3^rd Annual Tea Party delighted little princesses, their moms and grandmas with cookies, petit fours, brownies and cream cheese mints made by the library staff and special bubble gum tea from Ruby Sue’s Tea and Treasures.  This year’s tea celebrated the 201^st birthday of England’s Queen Victoria. (Photo) (La Conner Weekly News, 6.2.10)

Whitman County Library’s penny drive this year raised $1,262 with proceeds designated for weekly children’s programs, special guests, crafts and incentives.  Whitman County Library’s annual penny drive is done in conjunction with National Library Week as a way to raise awareness and funding for local services. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 6.3.10)

Former Peace Corps volunteer, writer and book enthusiast Michele Graves plans to encourage readers to have “a naked encounter” while searching for library books when she speaks Tuesday during a presentation sponsored by the Stanwood-Camano Friends of the Library. “Be an adventurous reader instead of just going right for the best-seller list books,” she said in a press release from the Friends of the Library. Graves also plans to talk about her treks to find books while working as a Peace Corp volunteer in a remote region of South Africa. (Photo) (The Herald [Everett], 6.4.10) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100604/NEWS01/706049865

Hard Times/Economy

This will be the third year in a row that the local government is facing a budget deficit. Each year, more services that residents use directly – like parks and libraries – get cut more. Budget exercises this month have caused panic among some residents, especially supporters of the Bellingham Public Library system. The reduction exercise has shown that the library would need to cut another $372,000 on top of the $546,385 that has been cut in the last two years. (The Bellingham Herald Online, 6.11.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/06/11/1475423/bellingham-officials-budget-outlook.html

Parents, teachers and students plan to attend the school board meeting Tuesday in hopes of persuading school officials to maintain school library programs at their current level. As it stands now, students at Port Susan and Stanwood middle schools next year won’t have easy access to their libraries or a librarian to guide them. Faced with state funding cuts, Stanwood-Camano School District is set to return its middle school librarians to the classroom to teach. (The Herald Online [Everett], 6.14.10) http://heraldnet.com/article/20100614/NEWS01/706149925&news01ad=1#Stanwood.parents.hope.to.keep.school.libraries.staffed

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn on Monday proposed more than $12 million in cuts to this year’s budget, with the bulk coming from police, parks and libraries. The library budget would be cut $1.17 million (2.4 percent). A half-million dollars would be taken from funding for the library collection and $235,000 would be axed from janitorial, human resources, and technology staffing and equipment. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 6.14.10) http://www.seattlepi.com/local/421730_budget14.html

Bringing books to the elderly who can’t make it to the library on their own could be slashed from the city’s budget if officials agree to new library board member recommendations. The option of closing the Fairhaven branch library was basically not even discussed during the two-hour-plus meeting Tuesday, June 15, at the Bellingham Public Library where board members tried to figure out how to cut $372,441 – or 11 percent – from the department’s budget. (The Bellingham Herald Online, 6.15.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/06/15/1482059/bellingham-library-board-recommends.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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