Clippings, August 8, 2008

By virtue of a multi-community donation effort, Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) will soon replace its aging, ailing bookmobile, “Buttercup,” with a shiny new model. KRL took delivery on the brand new, purple, diesel-powered Moroney bookmobile, nicknamed “Violet,” on July 14. (with photo) (Independent [Port Orchard], 7-23-08)

The Forks and Clallam Bay branches of the North Olympic Library System now offer free access to GrantStation, a leading clearinghouse for grant funding resources, which provides information about federal, state and private funding, as well as online training on grant seeking, technical assistance, and grant writing. (Forks Forum, 7-23-08)

This month the Snohomish Library celebrated five years in its current building, and on July 14, staff and the public celebrated with cake, party hats, live music and old library memorabilia. Managing librarian, Eileen McDonnell sees many more anniversaries to come; 50 more years in the current building is her estimate. Fortunately, the library owns some surrounding land in case an expansion is necessary. (with photo) (Snohomish County Tribune, 7-23-08)

The Walla Walla Public Library recently released the 10^th disc in the “Historic Walla Walla Valley” series. The 10-disc series of historical photographs is an ongoing fundraising project that was created in 2005 by Joe Drazan. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 7-24-08)

In the age of Google, we ought to see to it that children have the best chance for a fulfilled life by making sure they have every opportunity to become effective readers. One logical place to start is our public library system, which is in a position to positively affect the lives of thousands of children across the region. I spent time recently talking to some key folks at the North Central Regional Library, which has 28 branches scattered throughout the region. (The Wenatchee World, 7-25-08)

Elections:

The Timberland Regional Library (TRL) board of trustees, along with members of TRL administration, met at the Winlock library branch last night to discuss the possibility of asking voters for an increase in the amount of money the public library system garners from property taxes. TRL director Jodi Reng said the library is not trying to force an increase of the levy, but is considering whether or not to put the question before voters to give them an option between an increase and a reduction in services. (The Chronicle [Centralia], 7-24-08)

When their primary election ballots arrive the first week of August, Central Whidbey residents will have to decide whether to pay for a $2.3 million expansion of the Coupeville branch of Sno-Isle Regional Libraries. The library expansion proposal is the only measure on the primary ballot. (with color photo) (The Whidbey Examiner [Coupeville], 7-25-08)

Buildings:

Battle Ground youth raises funds for new public library. Sam Stremel, Maggie Stremel and Riley Brown set up, with parental assistance, a lemonade stand at a garage sale across from the Battle Ground Skate Park on a scorching summer day, peddling refreshments to passersby. Proceeds raised at the lemonade stand were donated to the Friends of the Battle Ground Library to help complete construction of a new building. (with color photo) (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 7-23-08)

Only 38 percent of Liberty Lake voters supported an initiative this spring that would have generated $9.8 million for a new library and community center. Therefore the city will pay $1.96 million for the new building and an additional $675,000 for renovation costs. The money will come out of a capital facilities budget which draws about $500,000 from a real estate excise tax. (Valley News Herald [Spokane], 7-25-08)

Letters and Editorials:

A letter to the editor supporting the Port Townsend Library levy lid lift. “I urge all Port Townsend residents to vote for the library levy lid lift in August.” (Port Townsend Leader, 7-23-08)

In April, the Orcas Island Public Library board of trustees accepted a report from a Citizens Advisory Committee for Facility Planning (CACFP). The report recommended that the Board launch a project to expand the Orcas Island Public Library using donated funds to finance construction. (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 7-23-08)

Two letters to the editor supporting the Coupeville Library expansion. “When you go to other libraries in the Sno-Isle system, you may have noticed that they are a lot bigger and have more things to check out. The reason the Coupeville library isn’t like that is because they don’t have enough room for other materials as other libraries.” “Please vote YES on Aug. 19 to lower the stacks on the counter and to give us a little more leg room as we stretch out with a good book or magazine.” (The Whidbey Examiner [Coupeville], 7-25-08)

A letter to the editor supporting the Coupeville Library expansion. “The library system in America promoted by Andrew Carnegie is perhaps the finest, most valuable service we have. Every village community of any size is almost sure to have a library, whether formal or a volunteer group.” (Whidbey News-Times [Oak Harbor], 7-26-08)

A letter to the editor against the Port Townsend Library levy. “The Port Townsend Library levy has everything to do with the third massive city tax increase in the past two years and little to do with the library. Voting no doesn’t mean you hate the library, it means enough is enough.” (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7-27-08)

People:

Whitman County Library Board of Trustees recognized Shirley Morasch of Endicott and Ruth Dorman of Lacrosse for years of outstanding support of Whitman County Library. Morasch received the Supporter of the Month honor for June and Dorman received Supporter of the Month for July. (with photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 7-24-08)

Awards:

N/A

Programs and Displays:

N/A

Summer Reading:

The Redmond Regional Library’s second “One Book, One Redmond, One Summer” reading campaign is underway. The intent is to get as many Redmond teens and adults to read and discuss the same book – and to have them participate in meetings with the author and illustrator in early fall. (Redmond Reporter [Kent], 7-23-08)

Landon Hallenius was the guest at the Endicott library’s Summer Reading Program July 18. The theme of the program was spiders and other bugs around us. Landon brought in lots of different bugs and books that he uses as a reference and taught kids about the difference between ordinary spiders and poisonous spiders. (with color photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 7-24-08)

Larry Byman’s insect collection at the Longview Public Library is bringing children a little closer to the world of the creepy, crawly and sometimes beautiful. Byman’s collection of termites, cockroaches, earwigs, dragonflies, butterflies, and moths have been on display in the basement of the library since it kicked off it’s summer “Catch the Reading Bug” program in June. (with large color photo) (Daily News [Longview], 7-24-08)

With many people staycationing this summer – that is, staying close to home as gas prices soar – it can be hard to come up with something fun to do during the last weeks of summer. So drop by your local library, where there are always books, audio books, movies, computer and more to entertain you. There are also fun library programs happening every week at the library. (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 7-25-08)

The teen librarian, Anne Murphy, for the Oak Harbor Library is challenging teens to read at least 50,000 combined pages this summer, and in turn, she’s willing to change her hair color from brunette to purple. So far, about 300 reviews were submitted online from Oak harbor. Murphy said they’re about at the halfway mark for the total of combined pages read. (Whidbey News -Times [Oak Harbor], 7-26-08)

Book Sales:

N/A

[This summary of library news was created by Susan Barrett of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. It represents a newspaper clippings packet from all Washington newspapers received on the date shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Susan at 360-570-5561 or [email protected].]