Library News

All county residents should have received a guide to Columbia County Rural Library District services. Attached to that guide was a self-addressed, stamped perforated survey card. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to answer three questions and give us your comments about our library and our services to you. (Dayton Chronicle, 8.25.10)

To celebrate the building’s centennial in 2013, the Port Townsend Public Library is creating a historical retrospective and seeks photographs of the building, library employees, volunteers and activities – particularly from its first 75 years.  Please share photos, documents and memories by October 1. (The Leader [Port Townsend], 8.25.10) http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=27578&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&S=1

Two Fort Vancouver Regional Library District delivery trucks now sport colorful vinyl wraps, thanks to funding from a Gates Foundation/Renew Washington grant established to promote library awareness and use. (Photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 8.25.10)

United States Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers got an up close view of federal stimulus dollars in action last Friday when she stopped by the newly remodeled Colfax branch of the Whitman County Library. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 8.26.10)

The University of Washington is partnering with labor groups to archive artifacts related to the labor movement’s history in Washington State. About $250,000 in donations from unions and individuals will jump-start the project and finance its first three years. The archive will be housed by the UW Libraries special collections department. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 9.1.10) http://www.seattlepi.com/local/426068_uwlabor01.html

Whatcom County Library System, through a Washington State Library grant, purchased $6,000 worth of e-books written at a middle school and high school level specifically to support social studies research projects after interviewing teachers about their needs. Whether what you want is an online encyclopedia, or a consumer reports article, whip out your library card. You’ll need it to impress your teachers and get into these resources through your library web site. (Bellingham Herald, 9.5.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/09/05/1598269/whatcom-school-libraries-offer.html#ixzz0z8z8dxvs

You can’t read the New York Times Electronic Edition online at the Pierce County Library’s website.  But you can if you hold a Seattle Public Library card. You don’t have access to DemographicsNow if you hold only a Seattle Public Library Card. But if you live in Seattle and get a Pierce County Library card, you will. Those are among the benefits the two libraries plan to offer patrons if their boards approve a reciprocal agreement on a one-year trial basis, the latest in a growing list of inter-library pacts for the Pierce system. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 9.8.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/09/08/1332092/libraries-to-vote-on-pact.html

Elections

Voters in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District will most likely face a 12 cent increase in their library levy rate next year.  The current rate is 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. FVRL Communications Director Sue Vanlaanen said library officials are optimistic about the final outcome but are not ready to declare victory until all votes are in. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 8.24.10)

More books, materials and longer hours are on their way in 2012 with the passing of the North Olympic Library System’s levy lid lift. Optimism was high among 14,245 supporters who voted 59 percent in favor of paying 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation in 2011. (The Sequim Gazette, 8.25.10) http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2010-08-25_library_leaders_look_to_future

Spokane County Library District patrons restored the district’s property tax levy to the state maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which the district said would enable it to maintain its current level of operations and maintenance for the next three years. (Journal of Business [Spokane], 8.26.10)

The city of Port Orchard decision last week to annex into the Kitsap Regional Library System could mean more than just a voice on the ballot measures like KRL’s upcoming levy request.  It could also signal an opportunity for the city to revise the current arrangement under which Port Orchard owns its own library building while KRL provides a structure for other Kitsap communities.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 8.27.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/news/101574643.html

With the Village Green park district measure passed, the Village Green Foundation and Kitsap Regional Library are focused on raising money needed to make the center a reality.  KRL included money for a new Kingston library branch in a levy proposal that will be brought before voters in the November 2 general election.  The branch would be built alongside the planned community center building. (North Kitsap County Herald [Poulsbo], 8.27.10)

Buildings

Andy Teerman of Streimer Sheet Metal installs terra cotta tile and metal strips on the exterior of the new Vancouver Community Library.  The building is scheduled to open by next Summer. (Photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 8.25.10)

King County Library System is seeking construction bids for the Newcastle Library, which will be built at 129^th Avenue Southeast and Newcastle Way.  The project budget is $5.8 million.  (Photo) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 8.30.10)

The Mukilteo Library is closed through September 12 so it can be re-carpeted.  (Everett News Tribune [Snohomish], 8.25.10)

Letters & Editorials

I am so proud of the citizens of Klickitat County who staunchly voted to support their libraries to regain hours and expand collections. Thank you for helping our libraries help us. (Sentinel [Goldendale], 8.25.10) http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/letters/2010letters/08-25-10_letters.htm

I completely agree with your August 20 editorial (“Port Orchard wants a say in library matters”). In short, there’s no question in my mind this city is tired of getting the scraps from KRL’s table and is chomping at the bit to vote against the library district’s latest attempt to raise our property taxes to pay for someone else’s library.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 8.27.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/opinion/101576993.html

I would like to respond to the young woman whose unruly children disrupted everyone in the library. Her reaction to their bad behavior was to blame the library staff for not lending hand. Instead of blaming everyone around her for her kids’ lousy behavior, maybe she should have been looking at the foul-mouthed teenagers she also seemed to be blaming, and seeing her own future children. (The Chronicle [Centralia], 8.31.10)

The Martin {Luther} King Library, one of my favorite hangouts.  That’s right.the library. I thank my mother and grandmother, my teachers and friends who taught me how to read and speak with skill and power. Kudos to staff at the Martin {Luther} King Library (and thanks to all my buddies at the downtown library.) (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 9.8.10) http://inyourneighborhood.blogspot.com/

Awards

Kelly Fiske, branch manager of Port Townsend’s First Federal Savings & Loan, presents a check for $2,000 in support of the Port Townsend Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.  Accepting the check are Youth Service Librarian Jody Glaubman and Jean Tarascio, in the presence of several of the program’s young readers. (Photo) (The Leader [Port Townsend], 8.25.10)

The Horizons Project that created leadership communities around the county as part of a grant-sponsored initiative is still reaping benefits in Kettle Falls. The grant dollars were spent on helping the Kettle Falls Library launch efforts toward a remodel, helping the Center for youth with fund-raising efforts and buying a freezer for the senior citizen center. (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 8.25.10)

Programs and Displays

On Wednesday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. the Cheney Library will be holding a program called “From Black Scratch: The Carl Maxey Story.” Join award-winning producer Denise Marie Thomas as she shares clips from her upcoming PBS documentary on Maxey. (Cheney Free Press, 8.26.10)

Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Zachary Lipez of the Freshkills will combine literature, performance art and, of course, music, tonight at Olympia Timberland Regional Library. Lipez – a singer, songwriter, bartender and lapsed poet – will read excerpts from his essays while Zinner plays guitar, and literary and musical collaborator Stacy Wakefield plays keyboards. (The Olympian, 9.3.10) http://www.theolympian.com/2010/09/03/1357011/essays-tunes-mingle-at-library.html#ixzz0z8zYOt3Y

The folks at the Everett Public Library want people to sign up for a library card or renew an expired one. In September, they’re putting their money where their mouth is. People who do so will be entered in a drawing for an MP3 player, a digital player that can store and play back audio books and music. The audio player was donated by the Friends of the Library. (The Herald [Everett], 9.7.10) http://heraldnet.com/article/20100907/NEWS01/709079953#Everett.library.offers.chance.to.win.MP3.player

WSU students and Pullman community members who have a Neill Public Library card can access free downloadable audio-books and e-books. Cheryl Brinkley, adult services librarian at the Neill Public Library, said patrons now have access to 362 e-books and more than 2,000 audio-books because of the partnership Neill Public Library has with the Washington State Library. (The Daily Evergreen [Pullman], 9.7.10) http://dailyevergreen.com/story/32206

Economy/Hard Times

The four public libraries in Clallam County were set to close their doors this Monday through next Saturday, September 4, for an unpaid staff furlough, North Olympic Library System director Paula Barnes said, due to worsening budget woes.  But then, on Thursday, announced the shutdowns won’t happen after all. The system’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously in a special meeting this week to keep the libraries in Clallam Bay open by dipping into system reserves. (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 8.27.10) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010308279986

Tax revenue, the almost exclusive source of funding for Pierce County Library System, is expected to drop by about $420,000 for 2011 and could continue to decline the next few years, resulting in service cuts, according to library officials. Managers and the Board of Trustees of the library network were scheduled to discuss the budget outlook during a public meeting yesterday afternoon. (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 9.1.10)

[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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