Clippings, January 16, 2009

“Beginning Monday, the Kelso Public Library will be closed on Saturdays and will shorten its Wednesday operating hours, the city announced Tuesday. The library’s reduced hours are one of several cost-saving measures the city is taking to balance its 2009-10 budget amid the economic downturn.” (Daily News [Longview], 12-31-08) http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/12/31/area_news/doc495b1c9c0707d608968950.txt

Headline and header: “Heritage Project in Olympia short of cash. To keep the $141 million center alive, Gregoire has proposed adding $27 million worth of construction bonds to the project.” (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 12-24-08)

Buildings:

Several sign-holding protestors stood in the foyer of the Vashon Library (King County Library System) “asking people to sign a petition urging library administrators to keep the branch at Ober Park….The protest marked the latest development in the long-running saga over the future of Vashon’s well-used and much-loved library.” (With photo) (Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, 12-31-08)

Bid offering: Federal Way Regional Library (King County Library System), construction of a 9,000 square foot addition to the existing 25,000 square foot library. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 12-27-08)

“Construction timelines for a new city hall and public library in Kenmore (KCLS) have slipped. Work was set to begin on the new city hall, but planners are re-bidding the project in hopes of getting more competitive bids. The new public library is being delayed until a post office now leasing the site moves elsewhere.” After some intervention by Rep. Jay Inslee, the post office, which was guided by budget constraints, is now again actively considering some other sites. The library will cover relocation costs. (With color illustrations) (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 12-29-08)

Letters and Editorials:

A letter writer criticizes the architect’s design of the new Vancouver Community Library, saying “all those windows just don’t seem necessary or appropriate.”Another calls the design “all about ego.” (Columbian [Vancouver], 1-1-09 & 1-2-09)

Programs and Displays:

“Jefferson County Library and Port Townsend Library present a four-program series titled ‘Adventures in Culinary Arts—Specialties, Spirits, Sweets, and Spices’ starting Wed., Jan. 14.” The programs, offered every two weeks, will alternate between the two libraries. Additional support for the series has been provided by the Friends of both libraries. (With photo) (Port Townsend Leader, 12-31-08)

The Tacoma Public Library offered a presentation by Dana Canedy, author of A Journal for Jordan; A Story of Love and Honor, about a journal her son’s father kept while he was stationed in Iraq, from which he did not return. (The News Tribune [Tacoma], 1-13-09)

A community photography exhibition at the Orcas Island Library, in a show organizer Nichole Proffitt titles “Common View: Through a New Lens”, displays the work of new photographers in each decade of life. (With photos) And, the Orcas Library is offering three afternoon sessions of “Three Tuesdays of Poetry—for Poets, Poetry Lovers, and the Curious”. (Both, The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 12-31-08)

Several Sno-Isle Libraries branches, at Lake Stevens, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Marysville, and Darrington, are holding special crafts, activities, and story times for recently snowbound children and teens. Mukilteo also offers teens a chance to accumulate community service credits by helping with book shelving and other tasks. (With color photo) (The Herald [Everett], 1-02-2009) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090102/ENT/701029968

Downtown Camas’ first “First Friday” event of the year includes the opportunity for visitors to the Second Floor Gallery at the Camas Public Library to view paintings by local artist Andy Bleiler. (With color illustration) (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 12-30-08)

Story Hours, Summer or Winter Reading and Early Learning:

The Graham Library (Pierce County Library System) offered a Doggone Family Story time, with a chance to read to a canine companion, plus play games and hear stories. Children “collected a trading card from each dog they read to.” (South Pierce County Dispatch [Eatonville], 12-31-08)

[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].]