Library News
The City of Yelm is in a “holding pattern” in its plan to purchase the Yelm library. Several different documents are being drafted including a contribution agreement from Timberland Regional Library System. The City of Yelm is planning to purchase the existing library space for approximately $1 million. (Nisqually Valley News, [Yelm] 2.3.12)

The Roy and Leona Nelson Foundation recently made a $5,000 donation to the Chelan Library renovation and expansion project. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 2.8.12)

The Plaza Branch of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District is now open seven days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays the branch is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Union-Bulletin, [Walla Walla] 2.9.12)

Critics of the Cle Elum City Council’s recent move to halve Carpenter Library hours of operation in order to counter a budget shortfall announced last month insist the institution is vital to the City’s inventory of services and amenities. Library Director Jane Agar pointed this out in a white paper delivered to City officials while options for the library’s future were still under review. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

After school a lot of teenagers end up at Burien’s library, a part of the King County Library System. Complaints of vandalism, drug use, swearing, intimidation, car prowls, pulling fire alarms, loud voices inside a traditionally very quiet place – the list goes on, and some citizens say they have decided to just stop going during after-school hours. The King County Library System is working with Highline High School and city hall to work out the behavior problems. (Photo) (Highline Times /Des Moines News/SeaTac News, [Burien] 2.10.12) http://www.highlinetimes.com/2012/02/03/news/city-county-and-police-vow-subdue-unruly-teen-beh

Libraries across the state will be participating in “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Washington Libraries” the week of April 8-14. This statewide project will illustrate the importance of libraries for Washington’s citizens through collection of statistics, stories and photographs.” (Valley View, [Woodinville] 2.13.12)

Enumclaw has been looking at getting out of the library business, favoring annexation into the King County Library System. If annexation occurred, the independent library system would begin assessing city residents at its current rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 2.15.12) http://www.courierherald.com/news/139455993.html

Elections
Get ready to vote again, Ocean Shores. At Monday night’s Ocean Shores City Council meeting, council unanimously approved putting property tax “lid lift” funding measures for the Ocean Shores Library on an April 17 ballot. (The North Coast News, [Ocean Shores] 2.15.12)

Buildings
Just as parks district commissioners approved the first step toward converting Julius Fire Station into a new library, a far more ambitious plan was proposed. An alternative plan of moving the library site to Baker Field and building a new facility was suggested. While options are explored, the parks commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding which will allow the old fire station to be available for the library for five years. (Photo) (All Point Bulletin, [Point Roberts] 2.12)

Quincy’s new library had its grand opening. The architectural design of the library has made it one of the finest buildings in Quincy. The new library boasts a well lighted art gallery plus a permanent art collection which is throughout the library. (Photos) (The Outlook, [Othello] 2.9.12)

The Renton Housing Authority has received a key federal approval that will move forward the massive redevelopment of its Sunset Terrace public housing complex in the Highlands. Colpitts will develop the first phase of the development which will include a new Highlands branch of the King County Library System. (Photo) (Renton Reporter, 2.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/139034564.html

Letters & Editorials
The Carpenter Memorial Library operation in Cle Elum has been heralded by patrons, city leaders and peer libraries as an outstanding community cultural asset. The library identity is embodied in the librarian who has served exceptionally for many years. City budgets should not be crafted based on who you socialize with during the job. The City Council should represent all the employees fairly and not be accepting printed numbers on face value. This is our no vote for the re-election campaign of all those perpetrating this farce. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

Reducing library hours is an unfortunate inconvenience but the city is unable to further sacrifice essential services to maintain the present desirable level of service. We, you and I can only hope the master resort will find a means to meet its contractual obligations and these serious issues will go away. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

As a volunteer at the [Carpenter Memorial] Library, I wish to protest the cutting back of hours for the library, and the reduction of hours for our librarian. Cutting back would be a disservice to our community, and to our librarian who does a heroic job of keeping things together with only volunteers to help. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

I am upset at the Council cutting services in our community because Suncadia has a history of not paying their bills. Keep the services by using the rainy day fund and go after Suncadia to man up and put it back in the fund. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

I’m just sorry the City Council is taking away library hours from 2 and 3-year-olds for their arts and crafts and reading projects. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

One of the reasons my family moved to Cle Elum was because the city had a full time library. Libraries offer amenities that draw residents and businesses to the city, enrich quality of life and supplement services falling outside the parameters of recreational reading, as detailed in Librarian Jane Agar’s white paper and submitted to the Council. Members of the City Council failed to air their decision to cut library hours – with anyone. (Northern Kittitas County Tribune, [Cle Elum] 2.9.12)

How can anyone with a sense of decency twist the First Amendment to allow pornography to be available in a public library? Freedom of speech should have its limits. (Skagit Valley Herald, [Mount Vernon] 2.10.12)

I ask the Reporter to not dismiss the library story just yet. I invite Renton residents to support the library initiative petition to put the proposed move on the ballot in April. Everyone, even the council, benefits from putting the matter to vote. (Renton Reporter, 2.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/139034999.html

This week 6,877 signatures of Renton residents were turned into the city clerk’s office in an attempt to halt the move of the downtown Renton Library over the Cedar River to Third Street. The petition is asking that any library improvements for a downtown library must occur at the existing library location, and not at any other location, unless the alternate proposed location for a downtown library is approved by a simple majority of Renton voters. (Renton Reporter, 2.10.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/139034874.html

People
Lou Verellen, former Chelan librarian, plans to raise money for the Chelan library’s renovation and expansion project, by asking friends to donate $10 each, and she will match those contributions. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 2.8.12)

Dan Gottlieb, a municipal law attorney with extensive experience representing library districts in Washington State, has joined the Kitsap Regional Library board of trustees. He will represent Bainbridge Island in a five-year term that ends December 31, 2016. (The Kitsap Sun, [Bremerton] 2.12.12)

Mark Johnson, a Medical Lake resident who works for a highway construction company, has been named to the Spokane County Library District board of trustees. He has a four-year term through 2016. (Spokesman Review, [Spokane] 2.23.12) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/23/in-brief/

Awards
The Libri Foundation has awarded the Cathlamet library a $700 Books for Children grant. In order to receive the grant, the library must raise $350, at a two-to-one ratio from the foundation. This will allow the library to select around 70 books valued at $1050. To raise the $350, the Blanche Bradley Memorial Library Foundation is asking for donations by March 31. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle, [Cathlamet] 2.16.12)

Programs & Displays
The Shoalwater Bay Tribal Library and the Department of Social & Health Services will present Roberta Armstrong, a Washington state attorney, as she talks about wills and power of attorney and their effects on the family at 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, at the library. (Daily World, [Aberdeen] 2.12.12)

The Duvall Friends of the Library and Northwest Art Center are pleased to announce “Raising the Foundation: An Evening with John Grade,” on Saturday, March 10. The internationally renowned sculptor’s award-winning work “Fold” will grace the entry of the new Duvall Library, scheduled to open this summer. (Photos) (Valley View, [Woodinville] 2.13.12)

Camano Island Library had its first “Reading with Misty” early literacy program in February. Camano Island volunteer Barbara Peterson and her therapy dog, Misty, shared a special reading time with local preschoolers and kindergartners. (Photo) (Stanwood Camano News, [Stanwood] 2.14.12)

Whidbey Reads 2012 will feature the book “Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom From the Urban Wilderness” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. The author will also visit local libraries and schools during Whidbey Reads events in April. Haupt was awarded the 2010 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award for “Crow Planet”. The award is presented annually to an author whose book best captures the spirit of human relationship with the natural world. (Photo) (South Whidbey Record, [Langley] 2.15.12) http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/entertainment/139442708.html

Economy/Hard Times
In partnership with the Sno-Isle Libraries, WorkSource Snohomish County will be conducting workshops on creating a targeted resume, along with mock panel interviews. The Marysville Library will host the workshop on March 20 from noon to 3 p.m. (Marysville Globe, 2.15.12) http://www.marysvilleglobe.com/news/138902509.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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