Library News
A committee of administrators, teachers, parents and a student on Tuesday recommended a book challenged for its graphic depiction of child abuse remain available to seventh and eighth graders at Housel Middle School. Currently, middle-school students must have parental permission to check out Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called It. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 2.6.13) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/06/2264383/prosser-book-committee-gives-ok.html#storylink=misearch

The Kettle Falls Public Library Board of Trustees seeks to fill two open trustee positions beginning April 2013. Interested parties should reside within the city limits of Kettle Falls, be available to attend quarterly Board of Trustees meetings and be willing to serve as a liaison between the community and its library. (The Independent [Chewelah], 2.7.13)

Patty Ayala Ross, manager of the Shelton Timberland/William G. Reed Public Library, says Shelton is a town full of readers, and she has the numbers to back it up. In her 2012 year-end report to the Shelton City Commission, Ross pointed out that the number of visits rose from 92,866 in 2011 to 1332,037 in 2012. Also, the number of books and other items checked out rose from 288,515 in 2011 to 305,387 in 2012. (Shelton-Mason County Journal/Belfair Herald, 2.7.13)

The Spokane County Library District (SCLD) has introduced “My Library, My Card,” a student library card for middle school and high school students in the SCLD service area. More than 20,000 of the student cards are currently being distributed. (Valley News Herald [Spokane], 2.8.13)

A review committee has recommended a book challenged for its portrayal of a family with two fathers remain on the shelves of libraries in two elementary schools. The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow only is available to fifth graders in those two schools. The committee said it wants to keep that restriction in place. (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 2.8.13) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/08/2267247/prosser-school-district-committee.html#storylink=misearch

Kitsap Regional Library is seeking feedback on expanding library services in the Central Kitsap area through an online survey. The results of the survey will help library officials as they plan for the future and work to replace the exiting Silverdale Library. (The Kitsap Sun [Bremerton], 2.9.13) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/07/krl-seeks-input-on-silverdale-library-through/#axzz2NdQ1Benn

The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District stretches from Woodland to Goldendale and represents the community’s long-standing dedication to literacy. Changes in store for 2013 include a remodeled but smaller Vancouver Mall Community Library, and Executive Director Nancy Tessman said library district leadership will also seek feedback in 2013 from the community on the future direction of the district. (Photo) (The Columbian [Vancouver], 2.24.13) http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/24/library-district-looks-ahead/

Buildings
The Maple Valley Library will be closed for interior improvements March 11-31. The library will re-open on Monday, April 1. Please visit the Covington Library or other King County Library System branches during this time. (Voice of the Valley [Maple Valley], 2.12.13)

When voters approved money in 2006 for the new library in downtown Vancouver, they were told that a parking garage would follow with 200 public parking spaces for library patrons. But proponents of the project weren’t expecting a recession to hit in 2007. Vancouver community leaders are throwing their support behind a bill that would protect the parking garage’s future by extending the construction window. (The Columbian Online [Vancouver], 3.11.13) http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/mar/11/bill-offers-library-square-time/

Kyle Cox’s vision of what a library should be is starting to take root at the 6,000-square-foot west Pasco branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries. He wanted the new branch at Road 76 and Wrigley Drive to reflect the sense of wonder he felt during library visits as a child and the first parts of the whimsical forest décor are being installed this week. (Tri-City Herald Online [Kennewick], 3.13.13) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/03/13/2312298/decorator-creates-magical-scene.html

Letters and Editorials
I worked at Spokane Public Library for almost 33 years. In all that time I can only remember five to six different years that we didn’t have to beg for money, justify programs, or prove our worth. Please vote yes on Proposition 3. Keep library service for so many who have no other resources. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 2.7.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/07/keep-library-services/

Anyone who has ever checked out a book or movie, used a library computer, called with a reference question, attended story hour with young children, or dropped off teens to study after school needs to show appreciation by voting yes on Proposition 3, the library levy. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 2.9.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/09/show-appreciation-for-libraries/

There is no doubt in my mind that a failure to pass Prop. 3 will result in library closures and service reductions. Most important, vote yes for the Spokane Public Libraries to ensure that all of us continue to have much-needed library services. (Spokesman Review [Spokane], 2.9.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/09/preserve-level-of-service/

Awards
The library at Walla Walla Community College is being recognized for excellence by The Association of College and Research Libraries, according to a news release. The college library is one of three winners selected to receive the 2013 Excellence in Academic Library Award. Each winning library will receive $3,000 and a plaque. (Union-Bulletin [Walla Walla], 2.12.13)

Programs & Displays
August Pullman has a good deal to teach us about being different, about being kind, about being loved and being accepting. And he’s coming to Tacoma. August – Auggie to his friends – is the boy at the heart of Tacoma Reads Together’s 2013 selection, R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder.” The author will appear at a free book talk and signing at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the main library. (Tacoma Weekly, 2.8.13) http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/view/arts-entertainment-tacoma-reads-together-2013-introduces-us-to-the-wonder-t/

In anticipation of the opening of Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School next fall, Evergreen Public Schools is working with the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, Evergreen School District Foundation and others on a community-wide reading of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Portland author Rebecca Skloot. The first discussion will be held at 7 p.m. March 20 in the Community Room at Cascade Park Community Library. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 2.27.13) http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/26/henrietta-lacks-book-available-to-community/

In celebration of National Poetry Month (April), National Library Week (April 14-20), and National Haiku Day (April 17), we’re having an all-ages haiku contest at The Seattle Public Library. Winning haikus will be featured on the Library website starting April 1. (The Seattle Times, 3.10.13)

[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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