Clippings, November 5, 2008

“Unless Vancouver Mall management relents on strict lease conditions, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District officials feel compelled to shut down the system’s third-most popular branch.” $1.2 million needs to be shaved from the 2009 FVRL budget; closure of the mall branch would save half of that. The mall lease insists that the library be open all 73 hours per week that the mall is open, and that FVRL fund $500,000 in internal improvements. Some say that the branch coverage area is already reached by other libraries; some say the mall branch reaches a more diverse population that would not find its way to other branches. Other budget-saving measures, such as Sunday closure at the main library, shutting libraries one day per week, or closure of the Book-by-Mail and the bookmobile program, have also being considered. (With color photos) (Columbian [Vancouver], 10-28-08 & 10-29-08)

“The projected revenue for Sno-Isle Libraries for 2009 will be less than the revenue the library received in 2008…The combination of the decrease in revenue and the increase in costs means a smaller budget for the system next year.” The library will be trying to make changes that have a minimal effect on library resources. (With color photo) (Stanwood Camano News, 10-21-08)

Elections:

“Two uncomfortably close elections and the nation’s souring economy have Castle Rock Library officials concerned about their annual levy—but they remain hopeful.” (Daily News [Longview], 10-21-08) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/21/area_news/doc48fd33814d7ab377203165.txt

Buildings:

A large aerial group photo and article herald the grand opening of the Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library. The actual opening of the library will be in two more weeks, after some finishing work. (With color photos) (Chronicle [Centralia], 10-20-08 & 10-18-08)

Letters and Editorials:

A letter from Sedro-Woolley Public Library director Debra Peterson invites local children to come see the 66 new hardback children’s books received as a grant from the Libri Foundation, with the assistance of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the Washington State Library. (Courier Times [Sedro Woolley], 10-15-08)

Awards:

“As part of the Oct. 11 Denton Building open house in St. John, the Whitman County Library Board of Trustees recognized the St. John school librarian Kay Riehle for her many contributions to the library district and to the students and teachers of St. John. During the presentation, St. John Branch Manager Clancy Pool talked about the years of cooperation between the school and the public library.” (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 10-23-08)

People:

“Sunnyside resident Jerri Honeyford was recently named to the board of trustees for the Washington State Heritage Center Trust….Honeyford, who serves as a board member of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and the Maryhill Museum, is the wife of Senator Jim Honeyford from the 15^th Legislative District.” The article also lists the others named to the board of the State Heritage Center Trust. (Daily News [Sunnyside], 10-23-08) http://www.sunnyside.net/ArcStoryPage.asp?Database=Story&StoryID=14493

Programs and Displays:

A combined trio of columns from the directors of the Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island libraries lists many good happenings at the area’s libraries, including an annual report from San Juan, which can be found on the library’s website, and a group called Sustainable Orcas Island, or SOI, “an informal network of people interested in strengthening local resiliency and community self-reliance. Most people would probably agree that the basic unit of survival is the community.” (Island’s Weekly Newspaper [Lopez Island], 10-21-08)

An Aberdeen author, Floyd Wesley”Wes” Brosman, will discuss his memoir No Place Else and will hold three workshops on memoir-writing at the Aberdeen Timberland Library. (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-21-08)

Moses Lake artist Phyllis Peterson’s watercolors are on display at eh Quincy Library (North Central Regional Library). (With color photo) (Columbia Basin Herald [Moses Lake], 10-21-08)

Several events in Yakima Valley Libraries’ branches focus around the 2008 Big Read title To Kill a Mockingbird. (Daily News [Sunnyside], 10-20-08)

An Aberdeen Timberland Library patron is transcribing a set of local history radio scripts of stories by Ben Weatherwax, read as part of a radio program on station KBKW, which Weatherwax founded in 1949. (With color photo) (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-20-08)

The Roy City Library is presenting an ongoing display of great works of American art, received as part of a “Picturing America” grant, sponsored by ALA and the National Endowment for the Humanities. (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 10-22-08)

Northwest author J.R.Stoddard discussed his series of “Cougar Hunt” novels at the Elma Timberland Library. (The Daily World [Aberdeen], 10-18-08)

The two winners of the Whitman County Library Card Sign-up are pictured. “Friends of the Library donated $25 gift certificates to the winners to spend at the business of their choice.” (With photos) (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 10-23-08)

“Kids and parents are invited to stop at the Orcas Public Library for a chance to show off their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat for a book…Come in and pick out a book and have your picture taken.” (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 10-22-08)

The Friends of the White Salmon Valley Community Library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library) will be sponsoring a program by Bill Murlin and Carl Allen, The Wanderers, performing a program of some of the 26 songs Woody Guthrie wrote in 1941 about the Columbia River Dams and the Northwest. (Guthrie was paid $266.66 for his month’s work for the Bonneville Power Administration; the songs included Roll On, Columbia.) The Wanderers will also perform a wider selection of folk music at the Stevenson Library (FVRL). (With photo) (The Skamania Pioneer [Stevenson], 10-22-08)

Story Hours, Summer Reading and Early Learning:

At the Pierce County Library System, summer reading hours indicate a 69 percent rise in hours from 2007. In the spring, librarians visited grades K-3 in all the area schools to encourage children to participate, focusing on that age group because “reading by grade level by grade 3 is critical for reading development and progress.” (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 10-22-08)

“Kids in 4^th-6^th grades are invited to attend a meeting at the Orcas Public Library…to discuss forming a book club…Books and snacks for the book club meetings will be provided with funding from the Friends of the Library. Also, after a brief break, family story times have resumed at the library.(Both, The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 10-22-08)

[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].]