Washington Report

by Mary Campbell

Washington Representative 

People

Sybil Harrison, formerly of Richmond Public Library in BC, is now Manager, Selection Services, at Seattle Public Library.

King County Library System director Bill Ptacek is this year's recipient of PLA's Charlie Robinson Award. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor, the award recognizes a public library director for implementation of innovative change.

Jefferson County Rural Library District has hired Bill Mitchell, formerly with the Fraser Valley Regional Library (BC), to replace Judy Gunter, who is retiring after 13 years as director.

Susan Madden has retired after 27 years with the King County Library System. She remains active in WLA as Chapter Councilor to ALA and as Chair of the Membership Committee. She has also recently been appointed to the Washington Literacy Board. Susan is available to do workshops on YA Services, IF issues, and literacy. She can be reached at susanmad@gte.net.

Passages: Robert L. Burr, Dean of the Foley Library at Gonzaga University for 23 years, and Associate Academic VP for Information and Technology since 1996, died January 21 at the age of 55, following a heart attack. He will be greatly missed.

Libraries

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District was awarded PLA's Service Award for Creative Marketing, sponsored by Demco. FVRL was also the recipient of a $59,000 grant from the Gates Library Foundation. The grant will provide 22 public access computer stations and eight printers in eight branch libraries.

In other news, FVRL plans to open two new library branches in April. Vancouver Mall Community Library will reopen in its new location April 1st, and White Salmon Valley Community Library will begin providing services on April 29th.

Orcas Island Library District has established a successful partnership with its local museum. Through grant-writing and "Stay-at-Home-Tea" fundraising, the two organizations have purchased 99 existing rolls of local newspapers on microfilm (early 1900s to mid-'70s), along with the equipment needed to access them. Their most recent joint project is to film fragile original hard-copy newspapers from the '70s to present, and to index them using software compatible with their circulation system. More information about this project is available by contacting Victoria Parker, Director, at 360-376-4985 or vparker@orcaslibrary.org.

Whatcom County Library System's Reference Center, which houses a large print reference collection as well as numerous electronic resources, will be moving temporarily to the Ferndale Branch. The move is an interim one, while it is awaiting its permanent home at the still-to-be-built new Lynden Branch.

Toppenish and Wapato annexed into Yakima Valley Regional Library at the February 29th election with 75.7% and 73.5% respectively. The City of Kenmore annexed into the King County Library System with 97% approval last fall.

Anacortes Library is gearing up for a bond referendum to be held by mail this May. If approved, the $6-million bond will fund a new library building for the City of Anacortes. Total projected costs are $7.2 million, with the additional funds to be raised privately.

Washington Library Association

Washington Library Association (WLA) is primed to deliver an outstanding year 2000 conference, "r/evolution", in Tacoma from May 17-20. Either of the following websites can provide information about the conference: www.wla.org/wla2000/wla2000.html or www.tpl.lib.wa.us/wla2000. Highlighted conference speakers include Ray Bradbury, celebrated author of Fahrenheit 451, and William Mitchell, MIT Professor and author of, E-topia: Urban Life, Jim - But Not As We Know It. Also featured are ALA's Bill Gordon, Executive Director, and Sara Long, President of ALA. Ms. Long will speak at the ALA/PNLA breakfast on Friday, May 19.

Return to PNLA QuarterlySpring 2000 Table of Contents