Nice job on the part of Beth Kauer from the Benton City Library promoting their new digital collection at the recent Washington Library Association Conference in Yakima, April 6-8, 2011. Beth designed and staffed a “Spotlight on Success!” table at the conference featuring images and information from the Kiona-Benton City Heritage Collection, a project of the State Library’s Washington Rural Heritage Initiative.

To learn more about how your rural public or tribal library can get involved with the digitization of the local history resources, contact Evan Robb, Project Manager, Washington Rural Heritage: [email protected], (360) 704-5228.

The (4/29/2011) deadline is fast-approaching for this year’s Washington Rural Heritage grant applications; more information on the grant cycle is available here.

Volume 6, September 23, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – KIONA-BENTON CITY HERITAGE

2) 2009 WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICAL REPORT

3) THERE’S STILL TIME TO TAKE THE SURVEY

4) SPARKS! IGNITION GRANTS

5) GREAT STORIES CLUB GRANTS FROM ALA

6) MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA GRANT PROGRAM

7) AMIGOS ANNOUNCES WESTERN RESOURCE SHARING AGREEMENT

8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Jessie and Lawrence Palmer, Benton City, 1908

From the desk of Evan Robb

The Washington Rural Heritage initiative is pleased to announce the first of several new digital collections we’ll be unveiling this fall. For its 2009-2010 grant project the Benton City branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries partnered with the Kiona-Benton City Historical Society to digitize a variety of materials highlighting the history of this rural community on Washington’s Yakima River. The collection documents agriculture, irrigation district development, and railroad construction in the area, and depicts some of Benton City’s earliest family farms and public figures.

Of particular interest are a collection of glass plate negatives from a local private collection. The negatives were discovered around 1970, in the attic of a home being rented by Benton City residents Chuck and Betty Morgan. Some of the negatives were enclosed in paper envelopes with short descriptions, presumably written by the unidentified photographer. When project staff sat down to examine the negatives in late February, 2010, we found more than a few cracks and glass shards, some scuffed and blurry images, and plenty of flaking photo emulsion. But as we began carefully scanning the negatives, we were astonished to find beautifully preserved images of Benton City from over a century ago. Images such as: Mrs. McAlpin’s sewing club (1903); a water wheel on the Yakima (1904); the Yakima River, frozen over at the Kiona Bridge (1909); and Stacking hay at J.B. Palmer’s farm (1908) (within moments of scanning this negative, Mid-Columbia Library staff excitedly reported that the photo was taken from the roughly the spot upon which we were standing-the Benton City Library!).

Other highlights of Kiona-Benton City Heritage:

• Material from the Benton City branch library collection, such as a 1912 promotional booklet written to entice land buyers to the area, and a 1959 local history of Benton City.  Thanks to the Library’s digitization efforts, Benton City students will now be able to research their town’s history from any computer with Internet access.
• A collection of paintings and screen prints by local artist, Bob Dunlap, who has been documenting Benton City’s people, places and events for decades (and sharing his knowledge with the community). A few of our favorites include this poster for the Benton City Jr. Rodeo; this painting of an early homestead; and this schedule of high school basketball games from 1965-66.
• Important texts documenting irrigation development in the area, including the 1917 formation of the Kiona Irrigation District.

The Benton City branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries will be celebrating the publication of this collection with an open house exhibition on Saturday, October 2, 10am-3pm (learn more). A big thanks to our participants in Benton City for their hard work researching, digitizing, and cataloging these materials. With the knowledge and experience they have gained over the past year, they will surely be able to sustain and build upon this fantastic local history collection!

Clippings, June 12, 2009

Library News

Langley Library (Sno-Isle Libraries) display depicts the library from a humble beginning to the community hub that it is today.  As library users’ needs change, Langley Library continues to move forward, boldly facing the future to best meet the needs of tomorrow.  (Photos)  (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 5.20.2009)

The Bonney Lake Library and the Buckley Library (Pierce County Library System) host meetings to present preliminary recommendations for Pierce County Library System’s 20-year facilities plan “Library 2030.”  (Bonney Lake Sumner Courier-Herald [Kent], 5.20.09)

The city of Port Orchard revised its agreement with the Port Orchard Library (Kitsap Regional Library (KRL)).  Kitsap Regional Library is updating its agreements with all its libraries except Silverdale and Sylvan Way, where KRL owns the building.  (Independent [Port Orchard], 5.22.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/poi/community/45733882.html

Jodi Reng, Executive Director of the Timberland Regional Library, presented an annual update of the library system to the Pacific County Commissioners and managers of all of the libraries in Pacific County.  Reng quoted Charles Dickens “These are the worst of times; these are the best of times, “ explaining that in these tough economic times, people need their library like never before and services must be provided with fewer resources.   (Willapa Harbor Herald [Raymond], 5.20.09)

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Clippings, June 10, 2009

Visitors to the Richland Public Library should expect to spend extra time locating and checking out books today and Wednesday while the library installs a new automated system (Tri-City Herald [Kennewick], 5.19.09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/583304.html

Tenino Timberland Library, a part of the Timberland Regional Library System, is looking for a special volunteer to serve on the library board. If interested in serving the community as a member of the library board, pick up an application at the Tenino Timberland Library and return by May 31^st. (Tenino Independent, 5.20.09)

After spending $10 million during four years of planning, the vision of state officials for a majestic state Heritage Center is fading and its future existence in doubt as hard economic times forced reconsideration of the project. Although its future is uncertain, Gov. Gregoire downplayed any second guessing of the way the project has been handled so far. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 5.28.09)

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Clippings, June 5, 2009

The Clark County Historical Museum – housed in a former library – is heading up “Mr. Carnegie’s Grand Tour of Washington.”  The tour is designed as a theme for family road trips and to bring visitor traffic to heritage sites around the state.  Washington’s Carnegie library cities include: Auburn, Anacortes, Burlington, Edmonds, Goldendale, Pasco, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Ritzville, Seattle (six sites), Snohomish, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Walla Walla.  (Photo)  (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.31.09) http://columbian.com/article/20090531/NEWS02/705319970/

Elections:

Malden voters will be asked this November whether or not they want the town annexed into the Whitman County’s Rural Library District.  If voters approve the annexation, a library tax will be levied against property owners.  This year the library levy was just over $.45 per $1,000 assessed value.  (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 5.14.09)

Buildings:

The Burien Library (King County Library System) opens June 13 at the Burien Town Square.  (Highline Times/Des Moines News [Burien], 5.13.09)

With a construction project looming to expand the Coupeville Public Library (Sno-Isle Libraries), Sno-Isle Library officials are finishing up a deal for a temporary home starting this summer.  (Whidbey News-Times [Oak Harbor], 5.13.09) http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/44838997.html

Battle Ground celebrates its new library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library) with a grand opening.  At 13,000 square feet, it’s more than three times bigger than the library it’s replacing, a 50-year old facility on the campus of Battle Ground High School.  (Photos)  (Columbian [Vancouver], 5.30.09) http://columbian.com/article/20090530/NEWS02/705309964/

Work is under way to clear the lot in downtown Vancouver for the future 83,000-square foot, $38 million main library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library).  It is set to open mid-2011.  (Vancouver Business Journal, 5.29.09) http://www.vbjusa.com/stories/2009-05-29/like_a_good_neighbor.html

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Clippings, May 15, 2009

Contract negotiations continue for Mid-Columbia Library and Othello Library.  (The Outlook [Othello], 4.16.09) http://othellooutlook.com/?p=1014

Sno-Isle Libraries and the Everett Public Library host the Big Read, a community reading of the “Maltese Falcon”.  For more information check www.sno-isle.org.  Nate Cushman, librarian at the Snohomish Library uses geocaching during the series of library events.  To learn more about the hobby of geocaching, go to the website www.geocaching.com.  (Photos)  (The Daily Herald [Everett], 4.21.09) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090421/LIVING/704219962

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