Clippings, August 1, 2008

Library supporters hope for happy endings for the two libraries of Jefferson County, the Port Townsend Public Library and the Jefferson County Rural Library. Each library has done studies and made expansion plans. Funding the new spaces is a bit more complicated, but in both the city and the county the voters will have a say. (Port Townsend Leader, 07-16-08)

Elections:

The Jefferson County Public Library is considering an expansion plan that would essentially double the facility’s square footage and include a complete renovation. The plan would tap into the district’s reserve fund, private fundraising and a bond issue. Voters overwhelmingly approved a county library levy lid lift in 2006. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

The City of Port Townsend has placed a resolution on the Aug. 19 primary ballot asking for a public library levy lid lift of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. One hundred percent of the 75 cents of the new levy goes to the library. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

The city’s cramped library and police department will soon get a new, combined home. The city of Liberty Lake unveiled a plan this week to transform a former industrial building on Mission Avenue into a joined library and public safety facility. (Liberty Lake Splash, 7-17-08)

Buildings:

Bike for books supports library construction. The Friends of the Battle Ground Community Library (Fort Vancouver Regional Library District) and the Lewis’s battle Ground Bicycle are sponsoring a bike run through the city to raise money for the construction of the new library building. (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 7-16-08)

Timberland Regional Library Re-carpet Project provides for the removal of existing carpet and the installation of approximately 2,000 square yards of new carpet and associated work. City of Olympia is requesting sealed bids for this project through August 5, 2008. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 7-23-08)

Renovation of the Redmond Regional Library will be constructing an enclosure around the automated book return area outside the building and conduct an interior renovation. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on July 31 at the Redmond Regional Library. (Daily Journal of Commerce [Seattle], 7-24-08)

Letters and Editorials:

A letter to the editor regarding the vote to annex the Lake Stevens Library into the Sno-Isle system. “Thank you to the citizens of Lake Stevens who were farsighted enough to see that it is important to have a stable, long-term source of revenue to maintain the library’s operations.” (Lake Stevens Journal, 7-16-08)

Three letters to the editor supporting the Port Townsend Library levy lid lift. “Therefore, I urge my fellow citizens of this beautiful place to vote for the Port Townsend Library levy.” (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

A letter to the editor asking for clarification on the Port Townsend Library levy lid lift. “To make it perfectly clear, the city needs to explain exactly how much the library will get, total, and where it comes from if the levy fails and if the levy passes.” (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

A letter to the editor saying goodbye and thank you to Mary Ann Hughes, who has retired from the Neill Library. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 7-25-08)

People:

The Port Townsend Public Library welcomes versatile Seattle performer Linda Severt for a fast-paced, unique family show this Friday July 18. Gives background info on Severt and other shows she has been involved in. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

Awards:

Jefferson County Library and East Jefferson Rotary Club have teamed up to win a Rotary Zone 22 Literacy Award. The award honors the library and the club for their sponsorship of the Jefferson County Library Children’s Reading Initiative – a series of program events for kids encouraging self-discovery through the written word. (Port Townsend Leader, 7-16-08)

Programs and Displays:

The Orcas Library is involved in the Community Bikeshare program. The idea of Community Bikeshare is simple – a fleet of bikes to remain in Eastsound free for anyone to use. (The Island Sounder [Eastsound], 7-16-08)

Summer Reading:

Children and teenagers are invited to take part in the continuing Summer Reading Program conducted at branches of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, with this year’s theme, “Catch the Reading Bug.” (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 7-16-08)

Kids try edible insects at Children’s Library. A local version of “Fear Factor” came to town earlier this month at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library with kids trying out chocolate ant wafers, chocolate covered insects, potato chip-flavored mealworms, etc. The library’s summer reading program theme is “Catch the Summer Reading Bug.” (Liberty Lake Splash, 7-17-08)

An insect enthusiast will show off his bug collection at the Port Angeles Library and the Forks Library on Thursday. Insects will also be the focus of a program at the Sequim Library on Wednesday. The programs, for those 5 years old and older, are part of the libraries’ summer reading program “Catch the Reading Bug.” (Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles], 7-20-08)

Book Sales:

Friends of the Battle Ground Community Library sponsor the Battle Ground Harvest Days summer celebration, an annual book sale held across the street from the new library building, which is under construction and may even have windows installed before the festival begins. The book sale usually brings in about $6,000 for library programs. The books sold by the library were donated by community members throughout the year. (The Reflector [Battle Ground], 7-16-08)

[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].]