Clippings, December 10, 2008, Part 1

“The Washougal Community Library is not expected to have its hours of operation reduced, following the recent approval of the 2009 Fort Vancouver Regional Library District operational budget…Washougal is not on the list of branches that will have their hours cut back. It has not been determined, however, how layoffs will be distributed around the district. “(Camas-Washougal Post Record, 11-25-08)

“The Jefferson County Rural Library District Board of Trustees on Nov. 12 adopted a $1.8 million budget for 2009 that maintains programs, lays the groundwork for library renovation and expansion, and gives employees a raise. Library district voters--Jefferson County residents living outside the limits of Port Townsend--in 2007 approved a levy lid lift…’This year’s budget is a real reflection of community needs and intense demand’, said Ray Serebrin, library director. ‘Use of the library is up in almost every category. We broke a number of circulation records in 2008.’” (With photo) (Port Townsend Leader, 11-26-08)

Elections:

“Things don’t look good for the Castle Rock Library levy. It still was failing as of Friday, and today is the last day for ballots to be counted.” (Daily News [Longview], 11-24-08) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/24/area_news/doc492a5221f04ef817124551.txt And , in a headline, “Library’s future a mystery; Castle Rock levy fails by nine votes.”(With color photo) (Daily News [Longview], 11-25 & 26-08) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/26/area_news/doc492cbb704d1b6005784939.txt

Buildings:

“Students from Washington State University presented the final design they created for the Kettle Falls Public Library (Libraries of Stevens County).” The design ideas for the library expansion were presented to library staff and the Friends of the Kettle Falls Library. (With photos)(Statesman-Examiner [Colville], 11-26-08)

The book drop at the Tonasket Public Library (North Central Regional Library) ‘is constantly not working and the library would like to move it and put one within the building through the wall. The regional library will provide the new one” and the public works department will do the work. (Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune [Oroville], 11-20-08)

The new Greenbridge Library and YWCA Learning Center (King County Library System) opened this month. The 2,500 square-foot library and 8,000 square-foot YWCA Learning Center were designed by Stickney Murphy Romine Architects; this was the last project to be funded by the YWCA’s $40 million Moving Woman and Families Forward capital campaign. (With photo) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 12-3-08)

“Whether Timberland Regional Library’s levy lid lift passes or fails in February, it won’t affect the search for a new home for the Yelm Library….Timberland is working with the City of Yelm to formulate options for the library when its lease at Prairie Park ends in 2012.” The library could move or remain in its same place, but costs there will rise. Timberland and the city agreed to share the cost of the original 10-year lease, but the lease will revert to being wholly funded by the city. (Nisqually Valley News [Yelm], 11-21-08)

People:

Jane Higgins has been nominated by the Clark County Board of Commissioners to begin a seven-year term as one of the seven Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees, pending agreement by the commissioners of Skamania and Klickitat Counties. Higgins was instrumental in fund-raising for the new Battle Ground Library (FVRL) and is the chair of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation and the president of the Battle Ground Friends of the Library. (With photo) (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 11-26-08)

A long article describes Helen Hepp, winner of this year’s 2008 Margaret Downey Award given by the Friends of the W.H. Abel Memorial Timberland Library in Montesano for service to the community. (With color photos) (The Vidette [Montesano], 11-20-08)

The passing of longtime Fort Vancouver Regional Library board member and former Vancouver City Attorney Jerry King is mourned and his achievements described. (With photo) (Columbian [Vancouver], 12-2-08)

“Alex McGregor, President and CEO of the McGregor Company in Colfax, has been elected a chair of the Board of Trustees for the Washington State Heritage Center Trust.” The other board officers are named, and the Heritage Center, scheduled to open in 2012 as the home of the State Library, State Archives, and “historical exhibits, an educational center, a community events center, reading room, café and gift shop” is described. (Ritzville-Adams County Journal, 11-20-08)

Mary Jo Kraus of Davenport was confirmed as a member of the board of the Davenport Public Library by the City Council. (Davenport Times, 11-20-08)

Programs and Displays:

In the Lynden (Whatcom County Library) Library’s first of what they hope to make a yearly campaign, 256 Lynden first-graders were signed up with library cards, after visits to the library from 18 public and private school first-grade classes. A free beginning reader book and a chance to win one of two bikes contributed by the Lynden Masonic Lodge were incentives for the children to return to the library with their parents to sign up for the cards, with the chance to show their parents around the library.(Lynden Tribune, 11-26-08)

The Cathlamet Library is offering several resources for grant writers, including the GrantStation interactive web site provided by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and some new books on grant writing. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle [Cathlamet], 11-20-08)

The Royal City Library (North Central Regional Library) continues to offer story hours with Children’s Outreach storyteller Deborah McVay and is also holding a first grader library card drive, with each child being given a free lanyard to hold the card. (South County Sun [Royal City], 11-26-08)

“The Whitman County Library’s free computing classes in the Colfax Library have been extended through Dec. 16…There is no fee for these classes thanks to taxpayer dollars that fund Whitman County Library.” (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 11-29-08)

The Neill Public Library in Pullman is offering patrons the opportunity to waive their overdue fines on library materials by bringing in a donation of non-perishable food items which will given to local food banks. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 11-29-08)

The Lopez Island Library is broadcasting a monthly oral history interview on Lopez Island Community Radio. The interviews will be part of the Lopez collection on the Washington Rural Heritage webpage, a project organized by the Washington State Library in collaboration with the Lopez Island Historical Society and the Lopez Island Library. http://washingtonruralheritage.org/lopez/ A portion of the interview is excerpted in the article; one tidbit- “of course the school had no electricity. There was no electricity on Lopez Island!” (Island’s Weekly Newspaper [Lopez Island], 11-25-08)

Book Sales:

Othello (MCRL) Friends of the Library is holding its second book sale for November. (Othello Independent, 11-19-08)

[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] .