Monday, November 18, 2013

November 2013




Friends, Guilds, Associations & Partnership Contact:  Carol Van Baalen


Local News

Naturalization Ceremony
October 28 at the Kent Library

The Kent Library hosted a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Naturalization Oath ceremony on Monday, October 28.  Thirty-three new citizens from fourteen countries took the oath to become US citizens.  Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke and Linh Thai, Community Liaison to US Representative Adam Smith witnessed the ceremony as well.  A big thank you to the Friends of the Kent Library for not only funding refreshments (cake and punch) and a gift of a KCLS bag to each citizen, but also for volunteering at the refreshments table. 

KCLS Budget Hearings & Board Forums

KCLS is holding community budget hearings to discuss proposed strategic plans and budget allocations for 2014.  It is an opportunity for public discussion to help shape the way we provide service in libraries, online and in communities throughout KCLS.
Please join the conversation:

Thursday, November 14, 7pm at the Kent Library

The Des Moines – Woodmont Library Advisory Board will attend the KCLS Library Board Forum prior to the budget hearing.  Forums will be held:

Tuesday, November 12, 5:30pm at the Newcastle Library
Thursday, November 14, 5:30pm at the Kent Library

November Program Highlights

Woodmont Library:
Job Search & Interview Strategies for Teens
Wednesday, November 13, 7pm, presented by Allan Hay

Des Moines Library:
A Holiday Tale of Poetry and Magic Show
Saturday, November 23, 2pm, presented by Thomas Pruiksma; for children & families.

Kent Library:
Creating a Graphic Novel
Saturday, November 23, 2pm, presented by Elizabeth Guizzetti, for ages 12 & older.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Kent Library

For a complete list of programs, story times, book clubs, and much more, please click here:  http://www.kcls.org/programs/library_programs.cfm


Director’s Report – October 2013


The permit and land use requirements for four KCLS construction projects located in unincorporated King County come under the jurisdiction of the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES). Facilities Director Greg Smith has met with DDES Deputy Director Jim Chen along with architects from the Skyway, White Center, Fairwood and Vashon Library projects. It was clear from the meeting that the County’s budget problems have severely limited staffing levels and KCLS’ ability to facilitate their library permitting process. Mr. Chen has agreed to set up an official contact person for KCLS. The DDES also prioritized the permits needed for each current project, identifying in order the fire permit for the Vashon Library; building permit for the Skyway Library; fire permit for the Fairwood Library and the building permit early next year for the White Center Library. Based on that order, KCLS expects to be able to finish the Vashon Library by the end of the year and go out to bid on the Skyway Library in November. KCLS will be presenting an update on both Renton projects to the Renton City Council on November 18.


OPERATIONS
KCLS’ fleet of Mobile Learning Lab vehicles are back on the road with increased connectivity and new servers to support the vehicles’ on-board software. Library staff will be able to bring more technology related-programs to their community partners. Kingsgate Library staff is planning to visit a neighborhood park with teens to conduct a count of birds and will then use a Mobile Learning Lab to connect to the Cornell University Urban Bird Count Center to report their findings. Library2Go vehicles, which visited an average 165 community sites per month over the summer, have also been upgraded.





NOTICE

Effective immediately, the monthly King County Library System Board of Trustees meeting has changed from Tuesday to Wednesday evenings.

Notification of the change was included in the October Board meeting announcement that I send to both the Library Advisory Board and Friends mailing list. Let me know if you have any questions.

Maria Hatcher
Assistant to the Director

From the KCLS Foundation


This year’s Friends Day theme was Friends Around the Table. The agenda included “courses” on holiday meal presentation building community through reading and eating, and literary recommendations on cookbooks and food memoirs. Keynote speaker Tames Alan presented “Dining at Downton Abbey – A Trial by Fork.” The KCLS Foundation hosts the brunch for 100+ guests with arrangements made by Community Relations. Outstanding members of Friends of the Library organizations were honored with the annual Awards. Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to all the recipients.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Connie Olstad, Friends of the Lake Forest Park Library

Friend of the Year
Jackie Krutz, Friends of the Valley View Library

Friends of the Library Hall of Fame

·         Beth Zirbes, Friends of the Covington Library
·         Bill and June McIvor, White Center Library Guild
·         Fred Warden, Friends of the Covington Library
·         Jane Kato, Newport Way Library Association
·         Jean Marston, Friends of the Redmond Library
·         John Mantle, Burien Library Guild
·         Kathleen Malarky, Friends of the Richmond Beach Library
·         Luanne Rosenfeld and Dolores Robertson, Bellevue Friends of the Library
·         Marla Blaser, Kenmore Library Association
·         Sidney Stockinger, Friends of the Kingsgate Library



Upcoming Meeting Dates

Finance Committee
Wednesday, November 20th, 4 pm, Service Center
Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 20th, 5 pm, Service Center



Carol Van Baalen
Librarian Services Manager
Des Moines - Kent - Woodmont Libraries