Library News

Spokane’s endangered Eastside Library will remain open at least another year.  After a library board of trustees meeting Thursday evening, board members and library administrators said they were certain that the branch was safe for another year.   (Spokesman Review (Spokane), 12.10.10) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/dec/10/budget-preserves-library/

Sno-Isle Libraries has earned praise for its 25^th straight problem-free audit from the state.  The just-released audit covered the year 2009.  Library officials said the achievement reflects one of Sno-Isle Libraries’ guiding principles: to be a responsible steward of public funds.  (Photo)  (South Whidbey Record (Langley), 12.18.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/community/112631334.html

Library hours will most likely not be cut next year due to a contract agreement approved this month between the city and the Walla Walla County Rural Library District.  Early this year, the district notified the city it wanted to reduce the yearly reimbursement from $180,000 to $125,000. And, for the first time, the 2011 contract will include bringing in a third-party firm to study and recommend a fair formula for determining future reimbursements, as well as looking at the possibility of forming a single larger regional library district that could cover the entire county.  (Union-Bulletin (Walla Walla), 12.19.10)

Shirley Dinesen was nervous at the start of an oral history interview conducted earlier this year by Kitsap Regional Library.  But gentle prompting by the interviewer released a flood of vivid memories about her childhood in Olalla during World War II.  Dinesen’s interview is part of an oral history project organized by KRL librarian Heidi Larsen.  The project, accessible on KRL’s website, yielded a collection of audio files from a diverse group of Kitsap residents, speaking on culture and history. (Photo) (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 12.19.10) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/dec/18/everyone-has-a-story-and-experts-say-nows-the-to/

In an ongoing effort to get the Stevens County law library back to a functioning status, current law library board members are trimming back the library’s expenses, but are still struggling to agree on how the funds should be spent. (Deer Park Tribune, 12.22.10)

Timberland libraries in Amanda Park and Westport are among the latest to receive Internet connection upgrades thanks to two projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The two Grays Harbor libraries join McCleary, Raymond and South Bend on the Twin Harbors whose technology upgrade projects are being funded by the Broadband Technology Program.  (Daily World [Aberdeen], 12.23.10)

Buildings

Although concerns about the final stages of construction have been raised, the City of University Place maintains the already-delayed new public library will be substantially complete by an important December 31 deadline.  (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 12.23.10) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/23/1476033/up-library-deadline-looming.html

A holiday event in Manchester on December 15 to benefit the Friends of the Manchester Library raised just over $3,600 that can be put toward repairs for the building that was inundated after a pipe burst following the pre-Thanksgiving winter storm and power outage.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 12.24.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/news/112395129.html

Letters and Editorials

On Saturday, December 4, the Friends of the White Salmon Valley Community Library held the annual Wassail, and I think it’s safe to say a good time was had by all. This is a real community experience and it was great to see so many folks participate. (The Enterprise [White Salmon], 12.16.10)

We were saddened to read that Vashon head librarian, Hester Kremer, is being transferred to the Burien Library as part of a “pilot project.” Her capable and competent leadership has been a major contribution to our amazing library during her tenure.  (The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 12.22.10) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/letters/112199874.html

I have a question that maybe someone can answer: If the Kitsap Regional Library is asking for money to maintain and improve the existing libraries, why do they want to build brand new ones?  There needs to be a little common sense used.  And no, I didn’t vote for the levy.  If it was for improving the two existing ones, I would have voted yes on it.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 12.24.10)

I congratulate the Kitsap Sun on an excellent article about our community’s growing interest in oral histories. Kitsap Regional Library’s Oral History Project was the combined effort of many volunteers and staff. Thank you, all. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 12.24.10) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/dec/23/letter-to-the-editor-community-supports-oral/

I was saddened to learn that Swan Creek Library will be closing in 2011.  The unique location of the library and the services it provides make this library a community gem.  It is a great resource and help for many and often the only hope for literacy and education. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 12.29.10) http://blog.thenewstribune.com/letters/2010/12/27/please-keep-the-swan-creek-library-open/

People

The Ritzville Public Library was a gathering place as area residents congratulated two individuals on their new ventures last Thursday. The event, which was co-hosted by the Ritzville Friends of the Library, served as a farewell to Robin Braun, who has served as library director since May 1, 2009, as well as a welcome to the new library director, Kylie Fullmer. (Photo) (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 12.9.10)

Bob Bates of Colton was unanimously named by Whitman County commissioners to the board of directors of the Whitman County Rural Library District.  Bates replaces Leslee Miller of Uniontown, who leaves the library board after serving two five-year terms. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 12.23.10)

Nancy Pearl, Seattle’s librarian extraordinaire, has been named the Library Journal’s “Librarian of the Year.”  “No one other than Nancy Pearl has so convinced Americans that libraries, books and reading are critical to our communities,” said John Berry III, writing for the Library Journal, the oldest publication covering the library field.  Her image has even been crafted into an action figure of a shushing librarian. (Seattle Times, 1.4.11) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2013840941_pearl05m.html

Programs & Displays

The La Conner School District is holding reading events to celebrate the Imagination Library.  The Imagination Library is a program providing free, age-appropriate books to young children from birth to age 5 who live in the La Conner School District. (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 12.13.10)

A reception for the “Best Book I Ever Read” Poster Contest Winners for Third Graders was held recently in the Edmonds Plaza Room.  George Shannon, author of many books for children, was the featured speaker. All winners received a certificate and bookmark, and the Outstanding Winners also received a $10 gift certificate to the Edmonds Bookshop provided by the Friends of the Edmonds Library. (Photo) (The Edmonds Beacon [Mukilteo], 12.16.10) http://www.edmondsbeacon.com/news/article.exm/2010-12-16_the__best_book_i_ever_read__poster_contest_winners_honored

The Anacortes Public Library is marking its 100^th birthday through March 2011, and invites groups or individuals to schedule their own celebrations at the library during that time. (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 12.19.10)

A group of five Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monastery of southern India has been touring the West Coast since October, and most of their days are spent piecing together, grain by grain, mandalas made of multi-colored sand. On Tuesday morning, those monks prayed and chanted in the main room of the Cascade Park Community Library before buckling down on a three-day mandala project. (Photos) (Columbian [Vancouver], 12.22.10) http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/dec/22/tibetan-buddhists-sacred-sand-art/

Orion Otero, 7, of Mount Vernon, tries on a visor from a suit of armor Tuesday at Maple Center in La Conner after a demonstration by the Knights of Veritas from Moses Lake.  Sponsored by the La Conner Regional Library, the program included detailed instruction of medieval swordplay and teaching from the Knight’s Code. (Photo) (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 12.22.10)

Gratitude was the word of the day at Bellingham Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 29, during the 20th annual Note of Thanks event.  More than a dozen families came to the library’s lecture room to help their kids make thank-you cards for gifts received during the holidays.   The event makes it fun and easy for kids to say “thank you.”  (Photo)  (The Bellingham Herald, 12.29.10) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/12/29/1791901/families-flock-to-bellingham-library.html

Book Sales

Cascade View Elementary School library’s book fair was held on December 2.  Last year, the fair raised more than $2,000 for South Carolina schoolchildren whose teacher was a former Cascade View staffer.  This year, it’s the library’s turn.  School Librarian Susan Head said 25 percent of the profits would go to the library, either in money or in books.  (Photo) (Snovalley Star [Issaquah], 12.9.10) http://snovalleystar.com/2010/12/08/cascade-view-book-fair-was-a-success

[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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