Clippings, August 20, 2008

Stevens County Library District has a website feature that makes finding and checking out books easier for many readers in Stevens County. Through the website members can look up books by title, authors, subject, notes, publisher or series. The Stevens County Rural Library District covers Chewelah, Colville, and the Kettle Falls public libraries. (with photo) (Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 8-6-08)

The Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library are looking for new volunteers to serve on the board. The Friends group is responsible for fundraising and recruiting volunteers to support the library. (Liberty Lake Splash, 8-7-08)

The economic challenges facing the Kitsap Regional Library system are not as grave as previously reported, KRL spokesperson Susan Rosapepe said this week. The cuts in the collection budget led to two measures: a change in fines and fees, and the reduction of time an item can be on the ‘holds’ shelf. As for putting another levy before voters, Jean is keeping options open. (Bainbridge Island Review, 8-9-08)

Police are seeking tips after a female staff member at Wapato’s library, part of the Yakima Valley Regional Library system, was assaulted by a man with a knife over the weekend. The man apparently hid in the bathroom and then emerged shortly after 4pm Saturday when he thought the library had closed. (Yakima Herald-Republic, 8-13-08)

Elections:

A well-funded library benefits the entire community, the director of Port Townsend’s city library, Theresa Percy, told business owners on Monday. Percy said the library acts as both a local resource for local business owners as well as a location for members of the community to find jobs and enrich themselves. The levy lid lift comes with the stipulation that revenues will go directly to a specific operational fund for the city library which Port Townsend residents identified as one of the town’s “special places” in recent town hall meetings. (with photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 8-5-08)

Buildings:

Quincy City Council members took the first step in changing the Vordahl’s Department store into a new library. Members approved an estimated $6,400 proposal to pay Wenatchee-based MJ Neal Associates to start an environmental impact survey. The survey would determine whether or not the city would purchase the building on D street in Quincy. (Columbia Basin Herald [Moses Lake], 8-7-08)

All aboard for reading at the Forks Library. Friends of the Forks Library hopes that new equipment the group donated to the library will help “train” children to enjoy reading. The children’s reading area is configured as a brightly-painted wooden train complete with engine and caboose. (with large color photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 8-7-08)

Redmond Regional Library Renovation project includes constructing an enclosure around the automated book return area outside the building and conduct an interior renovation. The owner will allow a six week closure of the public reading room and exterior book return area for completion of the work. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 8-9-08)

Confronted with ever-rising building costs, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District trustees have kicked nearly $1 million more into construction of the new Battle Ground Community Library. The $986,00 transfer from a capital projects reserve fund approved on Monday should keep the Battle Ground facility on track for completion next May, officials said. (Columbian [Vancouver], 8-13-08)

Letters and Editorials:

Two letters to the editor supporting the Coupeville Library expansion project. “As gasoline prices rise and our population grows, we need to prepare OUR library to meet the needs of many more customers. Please join me in voting “yes” twice the day your ballot arrives.” (The Whidbey Examiner [Coupeville], 8-1-08)

A letter to the editor not supporting the Coupeville Library expansion project. “Taxing authorties are coming with their collective hands out this year at a time of thinning wallets. Their proposals must make sense to the taxpayer rather than just be a feel-good idea.” (The Whidbey Examiner [Coupeville], 8-1-08)

An editorial supporting the Coupeville Library expansion project. “Both proposals deserve overwhelming support from the community. A library is a treasure and must keep pace with growth. For 7 cents a thousand, the Coupeville Library proposal is a bargain.” (Whidbey News-Times [Oak Harbor], 8-6-08)

Four letters to the editor supporting the Port Townsend Library expansion project. “Remember, a yes vote for the levy by Aug. 19 creates a dedicated, sustainable funding source for our library to restore hours, enhance its collections and ensure its exemplary services continue as our city grows. And it frees up funds for our parks, maintenance of city facilities and other long-under-funded city programs.” (Port Townsend Leader, 8-6-08)

A Q&A session about the Port Townsend Library levy lid lift proposal. Explains each proposition and answers frequently asked questions. (with large photo) (Port Townsend Leader, 8-6-08)

People:

N/A

Awards:

The Friends of the North Fork Community Library have received a $10,000 grant from the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation of Seattle, to be used toward building a new library in the Kendall area. (Lynden Tribute, 8-6-08)

Mary Cole of Everson has won the Whatcom County Library System’s story contest on “Why My Library is Priceless.” Cole was awarded an MP3 player donated by the Whatcom County Library Foundation that can be used with the library’s popular downloadable audio-book service. (Lynden Tribute, 8-6-08)

Programs and Displays:

Born to Read: Library opens doors to early learning. “Rhyming is an important precursor to learning to read, and rhythm is a first step in learning language,” said Jean Tarascio, associate librarian/youth services. “Babies love music and rhythm.” Tarascio oversees the library’s programs for children, including “Babytime” and the new “Born to Read” program which distributes gift bags for parents of newborns. Each bag contains information on the importance of reading to babies. (with large color photo) (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 8-6-08)

Summer Reading:

Barbara Olson, the librarian for Sunnyslope Elementary School has been spending much of her summer introducing South Kitsap’s youngsters to all sorts of creatures great and slimy. Fitting in perfectly with the Kitsap Regional Library’s summer theme of “Catch the Reading Bug,” Olson’s programs have presented millipedes, tarantulas, and oodles of snakes. (with photo) (Independent [Port Orchard], 7-30-08)

Youth Services librarian Lisa Cipolla gingerly set the mesh butterfly cage on the sidewalk outside the Hoquiam Library Friday morning and unzipped the top. A crowd of 20 eager children stared at the ten painted lady butterflies crawling inside and began chanting: “Fly! Fly! Fly!” The release of the butterflies marks one of the events the Timberland Regional Library’s summer reading program, “Catch the Reading Bug.” Cipolla has been “growing” the butterflies in a 2-foot-tall mesh butterfly pavilion on display at the library. (with color photo) (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 8-2-08)

Summer reading programs offered through public libraries – including in Maple Valley, Covington and Black Diamond – are in full swing now and have been for many years. According to the American Library Association, these program began in the 1890s as a way to entice schoolchildren to read and use the library over summer vacation. Since then, many studies have shown that these programs help children retain skills learned during the school year. (with large photo) (Covington Reporter & Maple Valley Reporter [Kent], 8-6-08)

Book Sales:

Harvest Days 2008 brought in record funds for the Friends of the Battle Ground Community Library. Jane Higgins, president of the Friends, said the group brought in about $6,600 from their annual book sale that was held this year across from the new library building in Battle Ground Village. (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 8-6-08)

[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 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].]