Clippings, July 23, 2008

Elections:

The Quincy City Council voted unanimously to accept a $399,000 counter offer for the Vordahl’s Department Store building during its meeting on Tuesday, July 1. The council asked for an extension of a proposed 45-day assessment period by 30 more days. The assessment period would allow the council to have an engineer look at the building to determine if it would be suitable for a public library. (Quincy Valley Post Register, 7-3-08)

The Pierce County Library Board of Trustees will meet today to discuss planning for library buildings, mid-year budget and improving services for customers. (Peninsula Gateway [Gig Harbor], 7-9-08)

Although former City Council member Allen Frank is accusing the City of Port Townsend of improper use of city facilities to campaign for passage of the library lid lift, a state agency disagrees. Prior to posting a “face sheet” on the city’s website and including an article about it in the city’s July utility bill newsletter, City Attorney John Watts asked the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) to review the draft information. “We’ve been very careful from the beginning,” said Fran Post, the citizen chairing the levy lid lift campaign, of making sure to follow state campaign laws. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-9-08)

Buildings:

The Magnolia branch of the Seattle Public Library will re-open to the public at a celebration this coming Saturday, July 12. The reopening marks the end of more than a year’s work on the $4.4 million remodeling and expansion project, and it also marks a milestone for the Seattle Public Library system. “This is the last one,” Glen Osako said of the 27 projects funded under the 1998 $196.4 million Libraries for All bond measure. (Magnolia News [Seattle], 7-9-08)

Letters and Editorials:

Letter to the editor about general support of library systems, quote from the writer: “Books are not cheap; the ability to explore and interest free of charge is priceless.” (Port Townsend Leader, 7-9-08)

Letter to the editor about supporting the Port Townsend library levy lid lift, gives six reasons why it is so important to support. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-9-08)

Letter to the editor showing gratitude, but also questioning, being able to use his library card at the libraries in both Port Townsend and Jefferson County; it seems that there are two “classes” of citizens and only the first class ones get to check-out everything at both libraries, the second class ones only get certain items (your class depends on geography). He is supporting the Port Townsend library levy as this levy will make everyone equal. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-9-08)

Letter to the editor supporting the Coupeville Library expansion and remodel. (South Whidbey Record [Langley], 7-9-08)

Letter to the editor questioning the Coupeville Library expansion and remodel. “Knowing that the libraries are both operated by Sno-Isle, it is time to combine facilities rather than compete. Let’s close Coupeville and put the money into Oak Harbor.” (Whidbey News-Times [Oak Harbor], 7-9-08)

The Kenmore Library will be holding a 50^th anniversary event at the library, possibly the last community-wide event to be squeezed into the library facilities before Kenmore Library moves to a new building to be constructed on Bothell Way. (Bothell Reporter/Kenmore Reporter [Kent], 7-9-08)

Letter to the editor about moving the Downtown Olympia Library (Timberland Regional Library System) to closer to the water. “Several years ago, I wrote to The Olympian suggesting that we try to relocate the downtown library into the existing Capitol Center Building, thus opening up those fantastic views to the public. Protecting the views for state employees and those able-bodied enough to walk up the steep hillside does not seem to be an adequate trade off for the enjoyment that so many others would have closer to the water.” (The Olympian, 7-10-08)

People:

Othello Public Library’s librarian, Corinne Fields, knows how to get kids into the library. This article gives background on Fields and gives examples of programs Fields creates and runs. (with color photo) (The Outlook [Othello], 7-3-08)

The Neill Public Library has a fairly bursting collection of books, DVDs CDs, videotapes and a wealth of special collections. But there’s another resource that doesn’t always catch the eye, even though it may be looking you in the eye. More than the materials on the shelves, it is the staff that makes Neill Public Library such a wonderful community resource. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 7-19-08)

Awards:

The Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce selected the Timberland Regional Library system as Business of the Month for June. Only 12 awards are handed out each year, chosen from over 600 businesses. (The Vidette [Montesano], 7-3-08)

Nancy Lintvedt Colfax holds a $10,000 check to the Friends of the Whitman County Library from the Avista Foundation for the capital improvement project to make the library more ADA compatible. (with photo) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 7-10-08)

The Mount Vernon City Library received a $7,000 Library Services and Information Act grant from the State Library division of the Office of the Secretary of State of Washington. The funding will support the One Book program in Mount Vernon. (Skagit Valley Herald [Mount Vernon], 7-14-08)

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced Tuesday that $8.1 million in grants were awarded to libraries in 11 states to keep free computers on hand and up to date. Libraries must pony up matching funds to get all the money. Everett Public Library was a recipient. (The Herald [Everett], 7-16-08)

Programs and Displays:

Six times a year the Vashon Library comes alive on Saturday nights, and for four hours, a familiar landmark hosts Late Night @ the Library, a hub of adolescent socializing with rules a group of 50 live by while still having a blast. All of this is provided by the Friends of the Vashon Library, a nonprofit that raises money to provide community programming at the library. (with photo) (The Beachcomber [Vashon], 7-9-08)

Molly French, Jefferson County Library’s youth services associate as scheduled a variety of summer boredom booters for teens, including a Manga drawing workshop and a game night featuring the library’s latest acquisition: two Nintendo Wii systems. (with photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7-9-08)

Summer Reading:

More than 100 children and 50 adults gathered outside the Sequim branch of the North Olympic Library System to watch Seattle-area magician Jeff Evans awe them with tricks centered around bugs. The Sequim branch is following the statewide library summer program theme this year – “Catch the Reading Bug.” (with color photo) (The Sequim Gazette, 7-9-08)

Teen Nights are events hosted by the Libraries of Stevens County as part of their Summer Reading program. The goal of Teen Nights is to give teens an outlet for fun during the summer and to encourage their use of the local libraries. (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 7-9-08)

This year’s summer reading program is “Catch the Reading Bug” and kids at the Roslyn and Carpenter libraries have signed up to read for fun and prized this summer. The goal of the program is to keep kids reading during the summer months. (with photo) (Northern Kittitas County Tribune [Cle Elum], 7-10-08)

Kids get close to a Madagascar hissing cockroach on Monday at the Tacoma Public Library’s Swan Creek branch. As part of the library’s summer reading events, the Point Defiance Zoo has been bringing a bug-education program to the branches. (with large color photo) (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 7-22-08)

Book Sales:

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[This summary of library news was created by Susan Barrett and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. It repre sents 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].]