Library News

For decades, the King County Library System (KCLS), Issaquah, WA, has earned a reputation as a model for libraries throughout the nation and the world. The surprise is that it has not won the Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year Award until this year—and a banner year it was. KCLS had its busiest year ever in 2010. (Library Journal Online, 6.15.11) http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/newslettersnewsletterbucketljxpress/890760-441/library_of_the_year_2011.html.csp

For the first time in its history, the King County Library System was the busiest library system in the United State last year.  Bill Ptacek, KCLS Director, made the announcement at a breakfast meeting of Renton community leaders.  What as it that allowed KCLS to overtake the Queens Borough Public Library System, Ptacek posed?  Renton, was his and the audiences’ answer. (Renton Reporter [Kent], 5.6.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ren/news/120995264.html

The City of Stevenson Planning Committee is considering its recommendations to the City Council for an amendment to the sign ordinance. The Stevenson Community Library is in the R3-Multi-Family Residential zone.  As the proposed ordinance is currently written, “the library would be required to obtain a conditional use permit for their seasonal banners and the banners could not be larger than 24 square feet.” With summer reading approaching, the library district is concerned. (The Skamania County Pioneer [Stevenson], 5.11.11)

The Langley and Freeland libraries will have new hours starting June 5, Sno-Isle Libraries officials announced Monday.  Library officials said the changes were made based on public feedback and recent patterns of library use and do not reflect a reduction in service hours. (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 5.11.11) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/121638009.html

A hot water hose broke inside the ceiling of Colfax’s Jennings Elementary Library Saturday morning, filling the room with enough water and steam to destroy all the electronics, many books, six tables and other items in the room.  Library classes have been closed all week, with the school librarian Pam Becker instead visiting students in their classrooms to teach. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.12.11)

Wanda Alderman and Marianne Mitchell pull Kathie Anderson’s winning ticket in the raffle drawing to assist renovation of the Endicott Library during the Friends of the Library’s meeting May 3. Anderson won the grand prize, a McGregor outdoor fireplace. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.12.11)

The Mount Vernon City Library recently announced the winners of its Create a Bookmark Contest for children, held annually to celebrate National Library week.  Three elementary school students – Sophia Flores, Slavic Borysyuk and Brenda Garcia – did the best job of designing a bookmark for the library’s 2011 Summer Reading Program. (Photo) (Skagit Argus [Burlington], 5.17.11)

Beginning June 5, Stanwood Library will be open Sundays, too. Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, executive director of Sno-Isle Regional Library System, said the extra day is being added in response to patterns in customer use, and will be accomplished without increasing cost to the library. (Stanwood Camano News, 5.17.11)

The Okanogan Middle School has received a Laura Bush Foundation grant to purchase materials for the library.  The school requested $6,000 but has not been notified of the grant amount. (The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, 5.18.11)

The Outlook Elementary School Library recently received a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation.  All told, 241 schools around the country are receiving just over $1 million from the grant program, dedicated to enhancing school library collections. (Daily News [Sunnyside], 5.18.11) http://www.dailysunnews.com/archives/Story.aspx/21228/outlook-library-scores-5000-laura-bush-grant

The city of Chelan received a $24,000 grant to plan the expansion of the library.  The city will use the grant to collect information from residents regarding what features they want in their library.  The planning process will include several meetings designed to get citizen input on the specifics of the new library. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 5.18.11) http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=4075&SectionID=59&SubSectionID=178&S=1

The Friends of the Naselle Timberland Library have purchased a new “Kinect for Xbox 360” video gaming system for the library, thanks to a grant from WellSpring Community Network.  Kinect responds to the motions and voices of players without the need for a controller. (Chinook Observer [Long Beach], 5.18.11)

Mid-Columbia Libraries wants you to explore the virtual world of books lined up on its virtual shelves from your iPod, eReader, tablet or smart phone. And to coax you into the digital world, it’s offering an incentive. Each time patrons download an audiobook or e-Book from the libraries website, they get a chance at winning a new Sony Pocket Edition Reader or iPod Touch 8GB.  (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 5.19.11) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/05/19/1495861/libraries-promote-digital-books.html#storylink=misearch

Elections

On the subject of library services, Mossyrock City Council members decided to perform an information survey with Mossyrock citizens on what their thoughts would be on a levy that enables citizens residing inside the city limits to purchase a library card through the city.  Currently those living inside the city limits have to purchase a card through the Timberland Regional Library System for $80, where as those outside the city, do not, as the charge is included in their property tax. (The East County Journal [Morton], 5.18.11)

Buildings

The King County Library System invites qualified vendors to submit a proposal for the Bellevue Library Shuttle Services. KCLS will be building a three story parking garage at our Bellevue Library site in 2011. During the construction, library staff will be parking off-site and a shuttle service will be required to take staff between the off-site parking and library building. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 5.9.11)

Timberland Regional Library officials have been in talks with community officials from Napavine, Morton and Mossyrock about moving a new library into each community, but it could be a couple years before any location opens.  “There’s been some interest expressed from those cities that they wanted to have library services in their community,” said Michael Crose, director of the five-county library system. (The Chronicle Online [Centralia], 6.1.11) http://www.chronline.com/news/article_a0095160-8c77-11e0-8d0e-001cc4c03286.html?success=1?success

The Timberland Regional Library system and community boosters in Oakville have refined their plans for a new library and community center.  The new facility is slated to be housed in underused parts of the Oakville Elementary School building on School Street. The project would upgrade existing unused classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria, and include a Native American cultural museum and community center with a full commercial kitchen.  (The Chronicle Online [Centralia], 6.2.11) http://www.chronline.com/news/article_24320404-8d41-11e0-b30b-001cc4c002e0.html

Letters & Editorials

At the Mill Creek Library, we’ve seen firsthand how the economic downturn has led to an increase of people in our community needing our resources and services. For example, through a Washington State Library grant, Sno-Isle Libraries has been able to provide laptops for job-seekers to use in the library. I know that if I want to lean on something that lasts, it’s going to be the public library. (The Weekly Herald [Lynnwood], 5.4.11) http://www.weeklyherald.com/article/20110504/TWH01/705049913

The Washington State Law Library will close its doors if the state Senate budget for 2011-2013 becomes law.  This should concern citizens because the law library is used by many people who are not lawyers but need to research legal issues affecting their lives. All citizens will lose if the doors to the law library are bolted shut. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 5.5.11) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/05/05/1653227/dont-close-the-states-law-library.html#storylink=misearch

This professional librarian generates a daily positive impact on the academic achievement of 690 students ages 10-13. As a librarian, I make the library a safe haven from the tyranny of the middle school lunchroom. As professional librarians, we are chief information officers making a direct and positive impact on every student’s academic achievement. (Highline Times/Des Moines News/SeaTac News [Burien], 5.13.11) http://www.highlinetimes.com/2011/05/01/letters-editor/school-librarians-vital

People

Christine Bowman is the new manager of Whitman County Library’s Garfield branch. Garfield residents are invited to come in and meet her during library hours. (Photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.12.11)

Citizen of the Year Margaret Clapp isn’t one to toot her own horn.  Luckily, there are people in the community who will do it for her. Clapp co-owns Prairie Park, a business complex that Yelm Cinemas, Prairie Hotel and the building that houses the Yelm Library. A most recent example of Clapp’s commitment to the city was several weeks ago when it was announced that Clapp had offered to drop the cost of the Yelm Library by $200,000.  It was a personal contribution by Clapp.  (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 5.13.11)

Programs and Displays

The Battle Ground Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, will host a month-long exhibit by 16 Battle Ground High School advanced photography students. The exhibit, which will be located in the library’s Swift Gallery, opens May 10 and runs through June 10. (Reflector [Battle Ground], 5.4.11)

Eastern Washington University Friends of the Library invites the Cheney community to combine culinary tastes with literary tastes by participating in the Books2Eat event on Wednesday, May 25, at the JFK Library. Every spring, the FOL puts on this free event as a means to bring people from the community together with the university community at the library and just have a good time together. (Photo) (Cheney Free Press, 5.5.11)

For years much of Medical Lake’s history has been shuffled around in cardboard boxes, most recently from a closet at City Hall into the garages of local historians Judy Abbott and Joyce Calloway. This month some of the collection will finally move into a semi-stable home at the Medical Lake branch of the Spokane County Library District. The library walls will feature 14 framed documents and photographs, all annotated with historic information, as well as a rotating display of other artifacts four times a year. (Photo) (Cheney Free Press, 5.5.11)

Seattle-based author Kevin Emerson plans to visit the Clallam bay branch of the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) to lead a writing workshop for young people as part of the COAST Program.  The event at the Clallam Bay Library is part of an ongoing partnership between NOLS and Cape Flattery School District’s COAST (Creating Opportunities for After School Thinking) program. (Forks Forum, 5.12.11)

In honor of the 25^th anniversary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, the Camas Public Library wants you to snap beautiful pictures and send them in.  The second annual photography contest sponsored by the library is now open for submissions on the theme “Camas Looks at the Gorge.” Amateur photographers in two age groups (younger than 17 and 17 and older) are invited to enter.  Deadline is 5 p.m. June 20. (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.18.11)

You are invited to celebrate a summer fun month at the Bleyhl Community library as we travel the world through activities, games, reading and fun! The 2011 Summer Reading Program is open to all, with activities on Wednesdays.  Readers can pick up their passports and bags beginning June 1 at the library. (Grandview Herald, 5.18.11)

Surrounded by books, staring down at odd-looking maps strewn across a large white table, St. Vladimir realized he had a problem. “Are there any space/time portals around here?” he asked, looking hopefully across the way at Sean McGill, a silver-haired, wizard-like man who was strangely dressed as a librarian. “No,” McGill answered, thumbing through some notes and a small stack of Dungeons & Dragons books at the Washougal Community Library, where the 46-year-old is, oddly enough, a librarian. (Columbian Online [Vancouver], 6.3.11) http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/03/fantasy-lives-in-real-world-games/

[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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