Thursday, May 22, 2014

May 2014


Note: graphics are currently missing from this post.

Friends and Partnership Contact
Nathan Bomer, Librarian Services Manager Kent/Woodmont/Des Moines 253.859.3330
Local News
Hello! I am the “new Carol!” My name is Nathan and I am the new Librarian Services Manager for the Kent/Des Moines/Woodmont cluster. I have worked for Tacoma Public Library, Tulsa Community College (OK), and Mono County Free Library (CA). I look forward to meeting you at upcoming Friends meetings and Library programs!
We had fantastic attendance at two recent programs- 70 for the Free Comic Book Giveaway at Woodmont on Sunday May 4, and 20 for the Guided Meditation program at Des Moines on Tuesday May 6.
Upcoming programs
Find a Job: The Hidden Job Market Saturday May 10 @ 2 PM- Kent
After Lunch Book Bunch Wednesday May 14 @ 1 PM- Kent
40 Years in the Outdoors (author event) Tuesday May 20 @ 7 PM- Kent
Find Your Inner Peace at Work with Yoga Thursday May 22 @ 7 PM- Woodmont
Seattle Stairway Walks (author event) Tuesday May 27 @ 7 PM- Des Moines
More programs for the branches can be found at http://www.kcls.org/programs Director’s Report
Staff from KCLS and the Seattle Public Library (SPL) met this month to interview consultants to conduct an updated cross-use study. The two library systems have operated under a reciprocal agreement for many years, and there have been several phases when the relationship of usage and cost imbalances have swung from one side to the other. In the current agreement, SPL patrons cannot place holds on materials at KCLS although they can check out items on the shelves. This restriction was put into place to offset a cost imbalance identified in the 2005 study. Since then the range of services provided by public libraries has continued to increase, requiring a fresh review. The consultant selected to conduct an assessment of the overall reciprocal usage situation will work with both libraries to propose an appropriate method to quantify the financial impact of cross-usage and to provide recommendations based upon the results of the analysis.
Circulation for the month of March declined 1% compared to last year and declined 3% year-to- date compared to 2013. In March, 98% of downloaded materials occurred outside of libraries; of that, 65% was downloaded directly to tablets and phones. Holds Placed increased 4% System-wide and increased 1% year-to-date compared to the previous year. The Bellevue, Enumclaw, Kenmore, Maple Valley, Renton and Skykomish Libraries all recorded circulation increases in March.
More than 600 enthusiastic residents braved the rain to celebrate the newly expanded and renovated Vashon Library on March 29. Speakers included KCLS Trustee Robin McClelland, State Senator Sharon Nelson, Vashon Honorary Mayor Kathi Jenkins and Vashon Fire & Rescue Chief Hank Lipe. The 10,000 square foot library offers patrons a thoughtful place to read and interact and connects them to their surroundings with enhanced views of Ober Park. During the open house, residents enjoyed refreshments provided by the Friends of Vashon Library and a performance by the Free Range Folk Choir.
Powered by BiblioCommons, a new mobile app for Apple iOS and Android launched
in mid-April. The app is fully integrated with the KCLS catalog and provides a more consistent user experience. Highlights include filtered searches for more accurate results, GPS-enabled mapping of catalog items, barcode scanning and integration of eBooks with print materials in the “My Borrowing” screen. The 2014
2014 Grand Champions
Radical Roosters, Cherry Crest Elementary School
Global Reading Grand Challenge took place on Friday, March 21 at Bellevue Library. More than 160 parents, teachers and children cheered on four teams competing for the honor of being named Grand Champions, which went to the Radical Roosters from Cherry Crest Elementary School. Patrick Jennings, author of Guinea Dog and one of 10 books the students read, spoke to the audience, and every team member received an autographed copy generously provided by the KCLS Foundation. The Grand Challenge is the culminating event of the Global Reading Challenge, which kicked-off last October. More than 2,100 students from 61 schools across 18 school districts participated in the program.
Celebrating spring with programs for all ages, Playing with Words kicked off in early April. Performing together for the first time, Nancy Stewart and Charlie Williams got great reviews for their Chancy and Narly Show. Many Voices, One Land wrapped up at the end of March and, as suspected, attendance in 2014 (12,818) far exceeded last year (8,975).
The much anticipated Start to Fitness program, Seahawks Past and Present, was held at the Northshore Performing
Arts Center on April 7. Brad
Adams of Root Sports

moderated the panel, which
included Seahawks Assistant
Strength Coach Mondray
Gee, Seahawks Wide
Receiver Bryan Walters and
former Seahawks Safety
Nesby Glasgow. In addition
to talking about the Super
Bowl season, panelists
highlighted the importance
of motivation, education and health - all in keeping with the Start to Fitness theme. A crowd of more than 165 people attended, a third of whom indicating it was their first time at a KCLS-sponsored program. More than 500 people attended 20 Start to Fitness programs in the month of March.

The White Center Community Development Association, a KCLS partner, was one of five community networks nationwide selected to receive a Networks for Integrating New Americans (NINA) grant through the Office of Vocational and Adult Education
(OVAE). Grant recipients are provided technical assistance (not funding) in the form of training, expertise and coaching to address the linguistic, civic and economic needs of immigrant adults in support of the initiative. In addition to the White Center Community Development Association (lead agency) and KCLS, other partners in the community network include Highline Community College; Highline School District; OneAmerica; Port of Seattle; Southwest Youth and Family Services; Greenbridge YWCA; and King County Housing Authority.
The KCLS Foundation Board of Directors recently voted to expand eligibility requirements for its scholarship program to reflect the Foundation’s core values of supporting staff in the attainment of their personal goals. In past years only staff seeking a master’s in library and information science were eligible. However, scholarships are now available to staff pursing any advanced degree. As in previous years, scholars will be selected via a competitive application and interview
process. The top 10 applicants will be interviewed by members of the KCLSF Scholarship Committee in June and recipients will be announced in August. The 2014 Literary
Lions Gala
was held
on March 22 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue with record-setting attendance and dollars raised. More than 600 library lovers contributed more than $275,000
to support literacy,
learning and library
programs with an emphasis on teen programs. Study Zone tutoring and free SAT prep classes are a few examples of the programs supported by donor gifts. Best- selling author Amy Tan charmed the audience with a reading of the prize-winning
essay she wrote as an eight year old girl titled “What the Library Means to Me.” Her most recent book, The Valley of Amazement, inspired the Asian-themed three-
(from left) KCLS Foundation Director Beth Castleberry, KCLS Foundation President Rick Taylor, Interim Library Director Julie Brand, Amy Tan and Nancy Pearl.
course dinner and evening’s décor. Third Place Books hosted a benefit book sale featuring authors Pierce Brown, Deb Caletti, Carol Cassella, Langdon Cook, William Dietrich, Timothy Egan, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Nancy Horan, Sarah Jio, Lauren Kessler, David Laskin, Domingo Martinez, Peter Mountford, Kevin O’Brien, Julie Paschkis, Cat Patrick, Nancy Pearl, Matthew Porter, Vicki Robin, Paul Schmid, Indu Sundaresan, John Sundstrom, Laini Taylor, Samantha Vamos, and Urban Waite. Guests were also able to purchase tickets to exclusive author salons hosted by local northwest writers such as J.A. Jance, Nancy Pearl, Ciscoe Morris and Nancy Horan.