Woodmont / Des Moines Libraries Advisory Board

January 2012

2012-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Happy New Year! With the beginning of a new year, our three libraries are busy with a wealth of special programs for library patrons. Here is a sampling for the month of January:

eReader Demos
Woodmont: Tuesday, January 3, 7-9pm, and Wednesday, January 4, 1-3pm.

Clear Your Clutter and Organize for the New Year
Kent: Monday, January 9, 7pm
Sponsored by the Friends of the Kent Library

Bridge to Basics
Kent: Monday, January 9, 2-4pm
Woodmont: Monday, January 9, 3-5pm
Bridge to Basics connects people to public benefits and money saving services such as food stamps, health care, utility assistance and other community resources. Presented by WithinReach.

How to Grow Good Roses
Kent: Saturday, January 28, 1pm

Clifford Kicks Off Winter Story Times
Bring your children or grandchildren, and get back in the Story Time habit. Clifford, the Big Red Dog, will make a guest appearance at the first story time of the new year.

Woodmont: Tuesday, January 10, at 7pm
Kent: Thursday, January 12, at 1:30pm
Des Moines: Tuesday, January 17, at 10:15am

Join a Book Group in 2012
If you’re not already in a book group, consider joining one of the groups that meet monthly at our libraries. Here’s the schedule for January:

Knit Lit Book Group at Woodmont: Thursday, January 5, 6-8pm. This month’s book: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

After Lunch Book Bunch at Kent: Wednesday, January 11, 1pm. This month’s book: I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

Woodmont Book Group: Thursday, January 19, 7pm. This month’s book: Ford County by John Grisham

Des Moines Book Group: Wednesday, January 25, 7pm. This month’s book: Agent Zigzag: a true story of Nazi Espionage, Love and Betrayal.

Copies of the books for discussion are available at the library front desk, and new members are always welcome!

For a complete list of library programs, click on this link http://www.kcls.org/programs/library_programs.cfm and then click on your branch, or open the attachments sent with this newsletter.

Upcoming Meetings:

Des Moines Library Advisory Board will meet at the Des Moines Library on Wednesday, January 11, at 7pm.

The Board’s membership will remain the same this year, as Tony Wilson and Janet Sorby will return for second terms. Other board members are Virg Staiger, Robin Lamoureux, and Melissa Ponder.

The InfoToGo topic for January is Library Programs. There’s something for everyone at the library, from Story Times for children to Game On programs for teens to author visits for adults.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM DECEMBER

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete December report, please look here.)

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

KCLS continues to hear news about a possible annexation of the Enumclaw Library into the King County Library System. Last month, the City Council approved an ordinance to pay for 2012 library operating expenditures from a property acquisition and development fund. The ordinance also included language that the City is considering a decision, if annexation passes, to transfer the Enumclaw Library to KCLS with a stipulation that the Library not be closed prior to the transfer. The 2012 operations budget for the Enumclaw Library is only $350,000, which significantly reduces the Library’s staff, open hours and materials budget.

The Renton City Council responded favorably to the initial design plans for the Renton Library. KCLS will now meet with City staff and Renton Library Advisory Board members in December to present initial design plans for the Renton Highlands Library in preparation for a public meeting on January 11. KCLS and the City are still trying to sort out issues regarding long-term ownership of that Library. KCLS will own the building but the City of Renton will own the property. Because it is part of a mixed use development, it does not quite fit into the guidelines of the inter-local agreement between the City and KCLS.

The Tukwila City Council will review the process, terms and conditions for the sale of the land for the Tukwila Village project later this month. The focus is on an agreement with the developer, Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) but the Council will also set forth its requirements for KCLS’ role in the project. KCLS continues to operate under the assumption that KCLS will negotiate directly with SHAG on the property acquisition and shared development costs. KCLS will meet with Tukwila’s new City Administrator, David Cline, to get further clarification on the process.

It was noted earlier in the year that the City of SeaTac was having reservations about the continuation of their Library Advisory Board. The City agreed that they would wait to resolve the issue until KCLS had a chance to create a job description for Library Advisory Board members. Based on feedback gathered during last month’s Library Advisory Board forums, SeaTac Library Advisory Board members have a renewed energy about newly defined roles and expanded responsibilities. Board members will meet with the City Council in January to report on library issues in the community.

The Washington Library Association’s Legislative Committee reviewed developments regarding recent library districts audits that called into question the activities of their Foundations as well as a range of other activities that are deemed “inappropriate” for libraries. One library district in which this issue has come up has not yet had its exit conference with the State Auditor and feels it is best to review concerns at that time before engaging in any statewide effort to challenge the narrow interpretations. The Auditor also issued a finding against the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) in Olympia about the amount its Foundation raised versus the amount that the Library spent to support the Foundation. TRL’s Director feels that the finding is more a local issue and does not translate into a larger interpretation by the State Auditor’s Office regarding the role of public library foundations.

OPERATIONS

Public Services and Outreach staff members are working hard to develop programs and services for the four new Library2Go vehicles that will be on the road next year providing materials and technology to students. KCLS is working on a partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Game Science, which is world famous for “Foldit,” a game that relies on people’s innate sense of space to solve complex problems related to microbiology. The Center is putting some of those same practices in place to help students learn math and science. KCLS thinks the new Library2Go vehicles could be the perfect laboratories to test some of the Center’s gaming creations.

Students from Grass Lake and Moorlands Elementary Schools visited the KCLS Service Center to participate in the “You Choose the Next Newbery Award at KCLS” contest. Eight books were chosen by the “You Choose…” committee and the students eloquently debated the virtues of each book before voting. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt tied with 41 votes each. In January, discussions and voting will take place at Star Lake Elementary School in Kent, Woodmont K-8 School in Des Moines and Southern Heights Elementary School in Boulevard Park. Students from Opstad Elementary School in North Bend will be bused to Ridgecrest Elementary in Shoreline and North Hill Elementary students in Burien will be bused to Bow Lake Elementary School in SeaTac for discussions and voting. The KCLS Foundation is paying for the buses and for the eight selected books for each class to read, discuss and keep for their school.

There are some positive stories behind the 9% increase in System-wide circulation for the month of November. After Evergreen launched, staff suspected that Self-Check Out kiosks were not working properly and that some circulated items were not being counted. Circulation staff is confident that the problem has been completely resolved. In addition, the number of holds placed increased 13% for the month, which appears to indicate that patrons have returned to using the catalog. The Kenmore Library continues to see significant activity since opening last summer. Circulation increased 134% for the month and 49% for the year. The Newport Way Library had an even higher percentage increase, especially when it’s taken into consideration that the branch was closed part of the year for renovations.

Digital downloads, most of which were eBooks, increased 193% for the month and 142% for the year. At last month’s Board meeting, staff reported that Penguin had suspended distribution of current titles to Overdrive until licensing issues with Amazon were resolved. Penguin has now restored all of the titles that KCLS had previously purchased and plans to offer new titles in the near future. KCLS has also been told by Baker & Taylor that Axis 360, a digital media circulation platform that allows libraries to order both physical and digital content, will be fully functional by the end of December. The Axis 360 collection features Blio, an eReading platform that enhances color and animated eBooks. KCLS has been selected to be an Axis 360 beta site.

OTHER

The 2011 Library Journal Directors’ Summit was held in Columbus, Ohio. This year’s Summit focused on outcome measurements for public libraries. KCLS was invited to present its method for measuring budget outcomes that KCLS initiated last year as part of the annual budget process. Attendees also heard from representatives in the fields of healthcare and higher education who are also using outcome methodologies to quantify community impacts.

The annual KCLS Service Awards Reception was held on December 7. Thirty five staff members were honored for 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service. Many of the honorees expressed appreciation for their co-workers and the pleasure of working for KCLS where they get to see the results of their efforts every day. Jane Nelson, Lead Library Assistant at the Des Moines Library was KCLS’ 45-year honoree. Jane is a remarkable, young-at-heart woman who still has a great many years ahead of her at KCLS.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

UPCOMING DATES

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, January 12, 12pm at the Mercer Island Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, January 24, 4pm at the Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, January 24, 5pm at the Service Center.

November 2011

2011-12-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Join us for a wealth of holiday happenings in our libraries this month, many of them sponsored by our Friends:

Sunday, December 4, 1pm, Kent Library               Erwilian Concert   Instrumental folk and acoustic music from around the world. An audience of 120 people enjoyed this concert sponsored by the Kent Friends.

Friday, December 16, 3pm, Des Moines Library
    After School Movie about a businessman who inherits six penguins and transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland. Sponsored by the Des Moines Friends.

Sunday, December 18, 2pm, Des Moines Library
Wednesday, December 21, 11am , Kent Library
  Journey through the Season of Rock by the Not-Its.
Music, movement and skits for kids and families.

Tuesday, December 20, 7pm, Woodmont Library   A Season for Singing by well-known northwest singer Nancy Stewart. Holiday music from around the world

Wednesday, December 28, Kent Library   Joyful Noise! Charlie Williams, the Noiseguy presents a holiday sound adventure. Sponsored by the Kent Friends

Thursday, December 29, 2pm, Des Moines Library     Cougars and Bears, Oh My! Hands-on program with Nature Vision for ages 5-12 (please register). Sponsored by the Des Moines Friends

For a complete list of December programs at your library, click here: http://www.kcls.org/programs/index.cfm or open the attachments to this email.

eReader Demos
Is there an eReader on your holiday list? Wondering which one to choose? Come to an eReader Demo at your library and try out some of the most popular models that are available. Drop in during any of the following times, no registration necessary.

Woodmont Library:        Thursday, December 8, 10am-12noon
                                                Saturday, December 10, 1-3pm
Des Moines Library:       Tuesday, December 13, 6-8pm
                                                Thursday, December 15, 10am-12noon and 3-5pm

December Meetings:

Kent Friends                      Friday, December 2, Christmas luncheon at the Kent Senior Center
Des Moines Friends        Wednesday, December 7, 7pm, at the Des Moines Library. Discussion and approval of the 2012 budget
Woodmont Friends         Thursday, December 8, 6:30pm, at the Woodmont Library. Discussion and approval of the 2012 budget and bylaw changes.

The InfoToGo topic for December is Tell Me A Story, which is a story time companion for parents and caregivers. Refresh your memory or learn a completely new rhyme to use with your child. Couldn't make it to story time? See what books were read or revisit a favorite story time session from the past.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM NOVEMBER

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete November report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS
Last spring, KCLS staff, Foundation board members and community members attended KCLS’ Technology Summit to talk about long range technology planning. Those discussions provided the framework for the recent Technology Forums that have been held with cluster staff throughout the System. Five themes have emerged from the meetings: Using existing patron technology, leveraging the library catalog, supporting and building local communities, making KCLS services more accessible and extending and repurposing existing programs and services for the digital age.

Staff has been very energetic and engaged. Some ideas that have emerged from their discussions include establishing discovery centers for online services, incorporating social media into the catalog and webpage, creating a single portal that merges information, installing online services kiosks throughout the community and developing touch screen technology. Many of the discussions revolved around a larger social media presence for KCLS. Toward that end, librarians within KCLS will be recruited to implement a plan to highlight services and expand patron contact on Facebook, Twitter and in other social media interaction zones.

KCLS’ eBook collection continues to grow in response to growing demand. Digital downloads increased 191% in October due in large part to eBook circulation. The new Kindle Fire is out and will likely increase the number of patrons accessing the collection. In order to help educate patrons who are purchasing eReaders, Virtual Library Services has distributed kits that contain the most popular devices that cluster staff can use to demonstrate KCLS’ digital download process to patrons. Despite the eBook frenzy, there is a continued reluctance on the part of publishers to sell eBook content to libraries. KCLS is particularly concerned to learn that Penguin has joined Simon & Schuster and Macmillan Publishers in the decision to discontinue selling current books in eBook format to libraries. The three companies comprise a substantial segment of the publishing marketplace. With the increase in digital download circulation, total monthly circulation increased 2% over the same period last year but decreased 4% year‐to‐date. Holds account for 23% of total circulation and holds filled through October are running even with last year. Circulation at the Bellevue Library decreased 6% as patrons have begun using other libraries in anticipation of the parking garage construction project, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 28.

KCLS will be issuing a request for bids for four new outreach vehicles to supplement the current Library2Go fleet. The new vehicles should be in operation by May or June and will be outfitted with technologies geared towards students but flexible enough to include collections targeted for kids, teens and adults.

Thanks to the advocacy of KCLS Foundation board member Emily Rollins, KCLS received $70,000 in pro bono consultation from Deloitte to assist KCLS with the development of tools to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of librarians’ activities. After spending time with staff and reviewing the Future Services Strategy, Deloitte devised systems for tracking activities, made recommendations for using KCLS’ Intranet for collaborating and sharing best practices and developed methods to align activities with System priorities. KCLS’ Public Services Team is working on implementing the recommendations by the second quarter of 2012.

KCLS had more than 80 participants at the 2012 Preliminary Budget Public Hearings held at four community libraries in early November. The expansion of KCLS’ eBook collection and developing an expanded social media presence were topics that were well received at the meetings. Staff will share feedback from the hearings at the November Board meeting for the Board’s consideration prior to approval of the final budget in December.

OTHER
KCLS continues to be in high demand since being named 2011 Library of the Year. At the end of October, Darien Library invited me to speak at their annual meeting in Darien, Connecticut and attendees were quite interested to hear about KCLS’ programs and services. In the meantime, Kent District Library (KDL) in Michigan has expressed interest in forming a relationship between
the administrative staffs of our respective libraries to share thoughts, ideas and best practices. KDL’s Information Technology Director visited KCLS earlier this month and not only toured KCLS’ facilities but also sat in on the Auburn cluster’s Technology Forum. Seven members of the St. Louis County Library System’s management team also spent two days touring library facilities and meeting with KCLS Administrative Planning Team counterparts. The following week, staff from Fraser Valley Library System in British Columbia was onsite to tour of KCLS’ Library2Go vehicles and to learn about KCLS’ efforts to expand outreach services.

Friends Day was held on October 22. This year’s theme, “World’s Greatest Friends: Setting a Course for the Future” tied in with the 50th anniversary of the Century 21 World’s Fair in Seattle. More than 100 Friends attended and learned more about technology, new library buildings, outreach efforts and shared best practices. As is customary at Friends Day, the KCLS Foundation honored outstanding members of the Friends of the Library organizations. Congratulations to all the recipients.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Ed Heineman and Jeanne Thorsen,
KCLS Foundation Executive Director at the
Friends of the Kent Library meeting.

The KCLS Foundation presented a Special Award to the Great Books Foundation Discussion Group on Vashon Island. The group originated 61 years ago in the home of Grace Crecelius (center), a long‐time member of the Vashon Friends. The group now meets at the Vashon Library. Grace and fellow members pose with Jeanne Thorsen, KCLS Foundation.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Renton City Council of the Whole reacted favorably to the initial design concept for the new Renton Library, which was presented by the architects and KCLS staff. In general, the building will include a transparent facade to the public spaces surrounding the new Library. KCLS also had a chance to inform the Council that in addition to the 15,000 square foot downtown Library, a new Renton Highlands Library is taking shape, the Newcastle Library will open in May, the 5,000 square foot expansion of the Fairwood Library should begin next year and acquisition of property for a new Skyway Library is being finalized.

The City of Renton has placed a measure on the February 2012 ballot to annex the West Hill area. Given the State’s current budget crisis, the Governor has recommended that 10% of the sales tax incentive to annex unincorporated areas be withdrawn. The cut was not nearly as deep as some cities feared but it will be interesting to see if it affects the City of Renton’s decision to annex West Hill or the City of Burien’s decision to annex North Highline.

The City of Bothell had a measure on the November ballot to annex a portion of Snohomish County. The assessed value of the area is $3 billion and would have generated $1.5 million for KCLS, which would have helped balance the cross use between KCLS and Sno‐Isle Library System patrons. One of the fire districts in the area determined that annexation might have a negative impact on fire service so they campaigned vigorously against the measure, which failed by 55%. City of Bothell officials have indicated that they may try to clear up the issues with the fire district and try again in the not too distant future.

Although KCLS received a very positive report from the State Auditor’s office on its 2010 Financial Statement, Accountability and Federal Grant Compliance Audits, there have been some troubling reports that an auditor in another library district determined that a library’s Foundation must act within the same statutory limits as the public library. For example, the KCLS Foundation funds books and other incentives that are given away as prizes for the Summer Reading Program. Based on the above interpretation, Foundations would be banned from making gifts of public funds under the same prohibition that governs public libraries. The auditor also took a strict interpretation of allowable activities for library spending. For instance, gaming programs for teens were viewed as recreational and not within the scope of legitimate library activities, and also indicated that programs conducted outside of library facilities are not appropriate use of funds. The Washington Library Association’s Legislative Committee will be reviewing these opinions and developing a course of action against such limited restrictions being imposed on library Foundations and library activities.

Library Advisory Board Forums were held before each of the public budget hearings the week of November 7. Participants were charged with clarifying and expanding the role of Advisory Boards to encompass broader community engagement to correspond with KCLS’ services strategy. Board members had lively and productive conversations and KCLS will be using their feedback to revise Library Advisory Board job descriptions to better define roles moving forward. The input is especially timely as discussions are underway about establishing Library Advisory Boards for the cities of Newcastle, Federal Way and Black Diamond. The City of SeaTac is also examining the roles and mission of its Library Advisory Board.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Upcoming Dates

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, December 13, 4pm at the Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, December 13, 5pm at the Service Center.

November 2011

2011-11-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Congratulations! To Ed Heineman, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the KCLS Foundation last month. The award was presented to him at the October meeting of the Kent Friends of the Library. Ed has been a member of the Friends for 25 years, and takes charge of the set-up and take-down for the annual book sale each year at the Kent Library. He is pictured here with his wife, Mary Gene, and other members of the Friends.

The Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board will attend the KCLS Board Forum/Budget Hearings for their November meeting. The first half of the meeting will be the Board Forum, which begins at 5:30pm. Board members will have the opportunity to meet with other library advisory boards from KCLS, and to discuss what should be the role of the board in the library system and in the community. The second half of the meeting will be the Budget Hearing, which begins at 7:15pm. Library Director Bill Ptacek will present the proposed budget for 2012, and opportunity will be given for questions and discussion about the budget.

Dates and locations are given below in this newsletter. The south county location will be Kent Library, on November 10. Please RSVP for the date and location you plan to attend. Friends members are also invited and encouraged to attend.
November Programs

Don’t miss these free programs for adults, happening at the Des Moines, Kent and Woodmont Libraries in November:

A Reader’s Journal

Create a unique journal for recording the books you read, using decorative papers, text, clip art, rubber stamps, and more. Bring a blank journal to decorate and register in advance, please, at your library.
Kent Library, Sunday, November 6, 1:30pm
Woodmont Library, Saturday, November 12, 1pm

Beyond Ancestry.com: Searching for your Ancestors Online
Kent Library, Saturday, November 12, 1-4pm

Things to Come: Visions of the Future on Film
A look at how movies have imagined what the future would look like, from utopian visions to dystopian nightmares.
Des Moines Library, Sunday, November 13, 2pm

For a complete list of November programs at your library, click here:
http://www.kcls.org/programs/library_programs.cfm
or open the attachments above.

The InfoToGo topic for November is InfoBiz, which is the new KCLS resource center for small business owners. Whether you’re starting a new business, or looking for ways to grow the business you already have, InfoBiz will connect you to resources and advisors who can help you find the information you need to succeed.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCTOBER

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT(To view the complete October report, please lookhere.)

OPERATIONS

At a Board meeting earlier this year, Outreach staff reported on the first year of Library2Go (L2G) service, presenting survey results from staff who work on the vehicles and from daycare providers who use the service. Nearly 50% of daycare providers who responded gave L2G a 9.66 out of 10 rating for overall service and a 90% approval rating of the collections, especially the availability of themed kits. Most respondents indicated a preference for visits later in the morning and liked the newsletter, activity sheets and programming that have been incorporated into the visits.

The eBook phenomenon continues. Digital downloads increased 155% in September and 130% for the year, due mostly to eBook circulation. As mentioned last month, Amazon has announced it will release its new Kindle Fire at the end of November. Amazon’s preorders are very high and will likely drive circulation even higher. At the end of October, Baker & Taylor will soft launch new eBook content, mostly non-fiction and children’s materials, that will be accessible through its Blio platform.

KCLS has one full year of data since Evergreen launched and circulation for the month of September was up 3% over last year. Most libraries experienced increases except for the Bellevue Library as patrons have been encouraged to use other libraries during construction of the parking garage. The Kenmore Library which opened on July 9 has seen a 34% increase for the year and a 128% increase compared to September 2010.

More than 1,800 students are participating in this year’s Global Reading Challenge. Staff is still accepting students from schools that made late decisions to participate. KCLS will once again host the “Grand Challenge” at the Service Center next spring where top schools answer challenge questions and compete for the title of Grand Champions.

Godbe Research is conducting community surveys to identify subjects of interest to patrons in order to inform KCLS programming. The surveys will also assess the level of interest in online or virtual programming as well as the best times and locations for programs to be held throughout the System. Godbe will present their findings to the Board later this year.

KCLS has 1,295 active volunteers who serve as library, Study Zone, NetMasters, Talk Time/Citizenship and Outreach volunteers. Since the beginning of May, volunteers have been able to record their hours online and 706 have entered a total of 7,439 hours. Beginning January 2012, all volunteers will enter their hours online and will also complete their application process online.

OTHER

The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) is taking the lead in encouraging public libraries to take on a greater role in fostering civic engagement in their local communities. Next month, ULC is hosting “Partners for Success: Civic Engagement and Building Community” in Miami, Florida. The conference will create a conversation between public library directors in North America, key civic leaders that share the public library’s commitment to civic engagement, thought leaders and young people who will shape the future of American communities. KCLS has earned professional development credits from ULC to cover all conference-related expenses, which will allow Julie Brand, Community Relations & Marketing Director and incoming KCLS Foundation Board President Kari Glover to attend the conference. KCLS’ expanded programming in 2012 will likely include a focus on civic engagement.

Nadine Strossen’s presentation on Intellectual Freedom and civil liberties in public libraries was well received at the 2011 Board Retreat. The court case she mentioned involving the North Central Regional Library (NCRL) is scheduled in federal court on October 25. In a 6-3 decision, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in favor of NCRL in a 2006 lawsuit brought by the ACLU, which opposed NCRL’s internet filtering policy, arguing that the policy “bars adult patrons from reading tens of thousands of constitutionally protected Web sites.” The case is back in federal court for further rulings, including the plaintiffs' claim that the state ruling abridges free speech under the U.S. Constitution.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Bellevue Library parking garage project started this week. The entrance

from the street to the temporary parking lot adjacent to Ashwood Park will be constructed first. During construction, parking will be limited to approximately 50 spaces in the temporary lot and any available on-street parking. The City of Bellevue has approved all of the permits that are necessary to start the garage project but has not been as prompt addressing an issue affecting the sale of the property where the old Lake Hills Library is located. The Boys & Girls Club has made an offer to purchase the property but the purchase is contingent on the City revising its land use requirements for that area. The process has taken longer than anticipated and the City Council is not scheduled to consider the matter until December. In the meantime, the building is vacant and KCLS continues to maintain the grounds.

KCLS met with the Mayor of Tukwila to discuss how to get the Tukwila Village project moving forward. Marie Parrish, a member of the Tukwila Library Advisory Board attended the meeting and reinforced the community’s interest in seeing the project get started. At the Mayor’s request, KCLS submitted a memo to the Mayor and City Council members, which outlined KCLS’ preference to own the property where the new Library will be located and work directly with the Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) to develop the site plan. The Mayor responded favorably to that concept and KCLS hopes to hear back soon so that KCLS’ architects can resume design work prior to the end of the year.

Progress is being made on both the Renton and Renton Highlands Library projects. Design work for the downtown Library is underway. The building will be 15,000 square feet and KCLS’ architects are considering input from last month’s public meeting. The building will be oriented towards several public amenities, including a nearby Park and Ride, Renton High School, a civic plaza and the Renton Pavilion Event Center, which serves as the site of the Downtown Renton Farmers Market. The Renton Highlands Library will be part of a mixed use development and the concept has been explored in some detail. The current plan places the Library above an underground shared parking facility with housing units located immediately adjacent to the Library. The plan also calls for KCLS’ architects to design the Library and the City’s developer to design and build the parking and housing. Both projects will be reviewed by the Renton City Council at their meeting on November 14.

The Burien City Council voted on October 10 to file a “Notice of Intent to Annex” the remaining unincorporated area of North Highline. City Manager Mike Martin said that the City must first work with King County to address several issues surrounding the potential annexation and must also receive approval from the Boundary Review Board in order to proceed. An election could take place as early as next spring but a summer or fall election is more likely.

You’re Invited! 2012 Preliminary Library Budget Meetings

The King County Library System (KCLS) is holding community meetings to discuss proposed strategic plans and budget allocations for the coming year. It is an opportunity for public discussion to help shape the way KCLS provides service in libraries, online and in the community.

2012 Budget priorities include:

Effectively delivering service goals
Enhancing print and digital collections
Providing innovative technology, software and equipment
Maintaining current staffing costs as KCLS moves toward the Future Services Model
Continuing responsible fiscal management to sustain quality libraries
Conserving revenue to cover annual operating expenses for several years to come

Please join in the conversation:
Tuesday, November 8, 7:15pm Kenmore Library 6531 NE 181st Street Kenmore 98028 425.486.8747 Wednesday, November 9, 7:15pm Redmond Library 15990 NE 85th Street Redmond 98052 425.885.1861 Thursday, November 10, 2pm Mercer Island Library 4400 88th Avenue SE Mercer Island 98040 206.236.3537 Thursday, November 10, 7:15pm Kent Library 212 2nd Avenue N Kent 98032 253.859.3330

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, November 17, 12 noon at theBurien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, November 29, 4pm at theService Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, November 29, 5pm at theService Center.

October Insights

2011-10-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Friends Day Reminder – Saturday, October 22!

Don’t forget to put it on your calendar. If you need transportation to the Service Center in Issaquah, please call me at the Woodmont Library (253-839-0121). More details about the program are given below in this newsletter. Hope to see many of you there!

Friends Lifetime Achievement Award for Ed Heineman

Several Friends Awards are given out each year on Friends Day. This year one of the recipients is Ed Heineman, long time member of the Kent Friends, who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ed has been a valuable member of the Kent Friends for 25 years. He is a tireless worker at the annual book sale and for the past 15 years, has been in charge of the setup and takedown. At the age of 85, he now recruits younger family members, his sons and grandsons, to help. According to Rose Ann King, chair of the book sale, the problem with Ed is getting him to slow down. He is the one who is always called when there is a problem or help is needed.

Ed will be presented with his award at the Kent Friends meeting on Thursday, October 13, by Jeanne Thorsen, director of the KCLS Foundation. Congratulations, Ed!

Laptop Winner from Kent Library

The Kent Library celebrated with Anna Voloshina, age 10, as she accepted the very cool notebook computer that she won in the drawing at the end of the Summer Reading Program this year. She and her family, along with a few friends and her school librarian from Soos Creek Elementary, joined staff for the celebration which took place in the small meeting room Saturday, September 17 at 11am. This is the first time that a student from the Kent Library has won the laptop.

KCLS Board Retreat

Library Advisory Board members and Friends are invited to attend the annual KCLS Board Retreat, which will be held on Friday, October 14, from 1-5pm at the Service Center in Issaquah. The topic for this year’s retreat is Intellectual Freedom and the role of public libraries in a democracy.

If you have any questions, please contact Maria Hatcher at 425.369.3233 or mshatcher@kcls.org

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM AUGUST

The InfoToGo topic for October is Study Zone Online. This service allows students in grades K-12 to join an online Study Zone session for help in math, science, English and social studies. It is now possible to access online tutors from library computers or from home.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT(To view the complete September report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

The Literacy Garden at the Mercer Island Library was unveiled this month. The Garden surrounds two sides of the Library and has spaces for story times and impromptu programs.The Pomegranate Center awarded a grant funded by Tully’s Coffee to create nature spaces throughout the community for people to gather and explore. Officials from Tully’s and thePomegranate Center recognized Library staff and community volunteers who worked on theproject.

KCLS and Seattle Public Library were the first two Library Systems to launch the Amazon Kindle Library Lending platform. Patrons report that downloading content works fairly well. Amazon is poised to launch a new version of theKindle later this year. It is bound to be a huge seller and increase the demand for library eBooks.

Last month, eBook and audiobook downloads increased 132%. Nearly 400,000 titles have been downloaded so far this year, increasing circulation in these categories by 126%. At the same time overall circulation continues to slow. Circulation declined 7% last month and 5% for the year. Holds placed were down by 12%, representing about a third of the 7% System‐wide decline in August. Circulation at the new KenmoreLibrary is still booming. Usage is 122% higher than last year. The Renton Highlands Library also stands out with a 35% increase in circulation over the prior year.

Karen Forys, Superintendent of the Northshore School District and 1999 Superintendent of the Year passed away in 2007 while still serving in the position. Her husband Ed was an avid library patron and the couple lived in Woodinville for 37 years. After Ed passed away, his family decided to fund a small renovation project at the Woodinville Library in the couple’s honor. The meeting room will be opened up into the Children’s area, which will greatly enhance the general reading and seating areas in the Library and make the meeting room a more integral part of the Library.

Last month, Information Technology Services (ITS) performed an Evergreen database upgrade. This month, ITS will install a new version of the software on Sunday, September 25. The new software will include many of the feature developments that staff has been working on the last few months.

The Technology Summit discussions that were held earlier this year are continuing with staff throughout the System. Technology Forums are being conducted in every Cluster and at the Service Center to brainstorm ideas for new technology programs and services to implement. Staff in each cluster will spend a morning talking about the five themes that emerged from the initial session, including using existing patron technology, leveraging the library catalog, supporting and building local communities, making KCLS services more accessible, and extending and repurposing existing programs and services for the digital age.

OTHER
This year, a record 76 KCLS staff members used a vacation day to participate in United Way King County’s Day of Caring on Friday, September 16. Two projects benefited from the energy and talents of this group: the Jubilee Reach Center in Bellevue, which provides services and after‐school programs for children, and Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation (SERR) in Maple Valley, which is dedicated to the rescue and recovery of horses.

Twenty‐nine volunteers helped out with painting and yard clean‐up at Jubilee REACH. By day’s end, the facility was sparkling and the grounds and gardens looked remarkably improved! The remaining 47 volunteers spent the day at SERR helping to fix fences, pressure wash stalls, groom and photograph horses, remove weeds and clear rocks. Day of Caring is the annual kick‐off event for United Way’s Workplace Giving campaign and KCLS is proud to once again sponsor a LoanedExecutive for this year’s campaign. John Tun, a librarian from the Bellevue Library will work with companies and organizations on their Giving Campaigns through December.

KCLS is one of several partners to revitalize Northwest Bookfest. This two day event will be held October 1‐2 at the Peter Kirk Community Center adjacent to the Kirkland Library. KCLS and the KCLS Foundation are sponsoring several programs and author visits. Northwest Bookfest was held for several years in Seattle. Lagging attendance and lack of financial support caused the event to go dormant until it was resurrected by several writers and publisher groups along with the City of Kirkland and 4Culture, King County’s culture services agency.

Friends of the King County Libraries will descend upon the KCLS Service Center on Saturday, October 22 for the annual Friends’ Day event and celebration. This year’s theme centers around the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and activities and presentations will be organized in various pavilions. The main program will include a presentation by Book‐It Repertory Theatre about the Fair which gave us, among other things, the Space Needle and Seattle Center.

The Foundation is pleased to announce that bestselling author Lee Child will be the keynote speaker at the Literary Lions Gala on March 10, 2012. Child, a former television director in Britain, is the author of the popular Jack Reacher series. His new book, The Affair, will be available this week. As mentioned above, Friends Day is Saturday, October 22 and the Foundation will present its annual Friends of the Library awards. Six Friends will be honored this year, including:

 Leslie Stevenson‐Johnson, Friend of the Year, Burien Library Guild
 Ed Heineman, Lifetime Achievement Award, Friends of the Kent Library
 Noreen Johnson, Hall of Fame, Friends of the Covington Library
 Donna Jean McGee, Hall of Fame, White Center Library Guild
 Bob and Kris Nelson, Hall of Fame, Friends of the Covington Library
 Susan Nyman, Hall of Fame, Friends of the Vashon Library

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The City of Enumclaw recently inquired whether KCLS is still open to Enumclaw annexing to KCLS. If the City Council decides to move forward, an election is envisioned for April 2012. If voters approve annexation, KCLS would take over library operations in May and the remainder of the City’s Library budget would be allocated to KCLS. The City’s current budget situation is very severe with only enough funds to keep the Library open two or three days a week.

The City of Bellevue is pursuing annexation of a pocket of unincorporated King County that is in the Eastgate area, which includes the area where the Newport Way Library is located. Annexation could lead to better infrastructure, including sidewalks along Newport Way that lead to the Library. The City requires that 50% of affected property owners sign the petition. To date, the City estimates that 30‐35% of the required number of signatures has been gathered.

More than 130 people attended the public meeting to kick‐off the new downtown Renton Library project. While there were a number of people who expressed concern with the new location for the Library, the meeting primarily focused on the design for the new facility. The architects received good input and City staff seemed to think the meeting went well.

Last month it was reported that the City of Federal Way is considering the appointment of a Library Advisory Board. Some of KCLS’ existing Advisory Boards are feeling the pinch of reduced City support. For instance, the City of SeaTac was investigating whether it could continue to support their Library Advisory Board but Board members at this month’s meeting indicated a strong interest in continuing. KCLS committed to provide administrative support as it currently does in several jurisdictions. Armed with that information, the City Clerk planned to talk with City Council members who raised the issue. KCLS expects to hear
a status report in the near future.

The Tukwila Library project is still on hold until the City sets forth its terms and conditions for the sale of the property for the new Library. As previously mentioned, the developer accepts KCLS’ general plan for the property. The architect was selected last year and the Council reviewed KCLS’ preliminary plan earlier this year and it was hoped that the project would be well into the design phase by now with construction beginning next year. A meeting with the Mayor and a Library Advisory Board member is scheduled for October 3. KCLS hopes that the Mayor can help get the project back on track.

The Burien City Council continues to discuss annexation of the remaining unincorporated area of North Highline. However, the Council has not yet set a date to make a decision whether to move forward or not.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Upcoming Dates
The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, October 13, 12 noon at the Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 25, 4pm at the Renton Library.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 25, 5pm at the Renton Library.

September Insights

2011-09-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

The Friends of the Kent and Des Moines Libraries are having their annual used book sales in September. The Des Moines Library book sale starts Friday, September 9th and proceeds through Sunday September 11th @ Des Moines Library. The Kent Library Friends’ book sale starts Friday, September 16th and proceeds through Sunday September 18th @ Kent Library.

Kent, Des Moines and Woodmont Libraries will start their fall programming the week of September 12th. This includes Study Zone, ESL, citizenship, computer classes, story times, book groups, Game-On!, and others.

At Woodmont Library teens are invited to join the Manga and Anime Club at Woodmont. New Baby & Young Toddler Story Times have been added at Woodmont library. For adults an, “Effective Resumes for the New Job Search” presentation is scheduled for Sept. 22nd.

Des Moines Library is offering a “Tween Iron Chef” competition on September 30th, and for adults a, “Midlife Career Changing in the New Economy” presentation is scheduled for September 19th.

Upcoming Meetings and Dates: Library Advisory Board Report to the Des Moines City Council will be September 22nd. The KCLS Friends Day is October 22nd.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM AUGUST

The InfoToGo topic for September is Little Pim, a KCLS database which provides language learning lessons for children.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete August report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

Earlier this year, the Washington State Legislature cut $84 million from community and technical college budgets. It has been reported that in addition to tuition increases, there might also be reductions in basic skills classes such as GED, citizenship and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. KCLS partners with community and technical colleges to offer these programs. Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, including ESL, are not revenue generators and often the $25 student fee is waived. Despite this, ABE will not receive disproportional cuts. However, KCLS lost partnerships with Bellevue and Shoreline Community Colleges due to low enrollment and budget cuts for offsite classes. Partnerships with Cascadia, Green River and Highline Community Colleges are currently unaffected due to high enrollment and KCLS’ ability to pay the student fee. The landscape for larger organizations that have traditionally provided these services is mixed. Goodwill offers free ESL classes in Bellevue, Burien and Shoreline and is expanding services, as most of their funding comes from store sales. Jewish Family Services, which offers free ESL classes to low‐income residents in East King County has maintained their programs but a large part of their support comes from eastside cities that are having significant budget issues. Hopelink is offering more ESL classes in workplace settings as part of the Washington Workforce Initiative but they are decreasing citizenship classes which are tied to community grants. Similarly, smaller
organizations are eliminating programs as funding declines.

The federally funded Literacy*AmeriCorps program is being sustained for another year. Literacy*AmeriCorps staff support many of the ESL and citizenship programs KCLS offers, which are likely to be in even greater demand throughout the County given the
conditions mentioned above.

At last month’s Board meeting, Federal Way staff members talked about programs and services they have been working on since the implementation of Future Services in the Federal Way cluster. One such program was the Flavors of the World
Cultural Fair at the Federal Way Library on August 20. The
event attracted more than 1,000 people and featured story times in Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian and English, the Ukrainian American Club Choir, Colombian folk dancers and a Chinese Lion Dance group. In other Federal Way news, based on a recent meeting with the Mayor of Federal Way, Cluster Manager Donna McMillen reported that there is growing interest among city officials to appoint a Federal Way Library Advisory Board.

The 2011 Summer Reading Program is winding down. A total of 45,324 kids signed up for the program through the first three weeks of August, representing one of the highest turnouts ever but still about 1,800 fewer than last year’s record‐setting total.

KCLS saw another drop in circulation last month, down 7% compared to July 2010. Year-to‐date circulation is down about 5%. The decline is consistent across the System and is mirrored by a 38% decline in KCLS catalog hits. On the other hand, there has been an
18% increase in hits to kcls.org and Audio Book and eBook downloads are running 139% higher than last year. The first 19 days of operation at the new Kenmore Library saw a 150% increase in daily circulation compared to a year ago.

Facilities Management Services (FMS) solicits rebids of major service contracts every three to five years. This year, bids were solicited for art maintenance, vehicle maintenance, janitorial services, HVAC services and landscape maintenance. Art maintenance is tied to prevailing wages and therefore costs have increased. Bids for HVAC and landscape services have come in nearly $200,000 per year lower. FMS will report on all categories during the 2012 budget process.

OTHER
KCLS was invited to speak at the Gale Cengage Learning national sales meeting in Las Vegas. Gale Cengage Learning supplies many of the online reference resources KCLS uses and is also the company that owns Library Journal, which presents the Library of
the Year award. Their sales force was interested in hearing about all of the recent developments at KCLS, especially Future Services. Many of the smaller libraries they work with are having a difficult time time transitioning from traditional library services
and programs and KCLS serves as a model for many of their clients. I was pleased to inform the audience that KCLS plans to use the $10,000 it received for being named Library of the Year to support Study Zone services in KCLS’ community libraries.

Outreach Services submitted a proposal for a $100,000 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to plan a prototype library learning lab for middle and high school students to increase educational achievement through the use of digital
media. Given that the grant is considered a “planning grant,” KCLS has formed consultative partnerships with Microsoft Research, Brainfuse, University of Washington and the Tukwila, Federal Way, Highline, Bellevue and Northshore School Districts. Grant recipients should be announced later this year.

Foundation board members, KCLS Trustees, library leaders and their guests enjoyed the KCLS Foundation’s annual summer reception, which included a tour of the new campus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Planning is under way for the 2012 budget, including discussions with major granting organizations and internal review of programs and activities.

The Literary Lions Gala will be held March 10, 2012 at the Bellevue Hyatt. More details will be available soon.

The KCLS Foundation will host the internationally popular Jez Alborough at a special fundraising breakfast on September 29. Mr. Alborough, who lives in London, is the author and illustrator of over 45 children’s books, including the Eddy and the Bear trilogy, Hug and other immensely popular books. The Foundation is also sponsoring his appearances at the Sammamish and Covington Libraries and the Northwest Bookfest at the Kirkland Library. For more information, visit www.kclsfoundation.org.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The City of Enumclaw has not had any further deliberations on the topic of annexation to KCLS. In discussions with the City, KCLS indicated a preferred timeline that would minimize the length of time between an annexation vote and the effective date of tax
collection. Because of that, the City does not plan to even begin considering the issue until the early part of next year. The Enumclaw Library received a minimal materials budget primarily funded by a grant from the local Rotary Club and assessed values in the Enumclaw area declined by 15.2%, one of the steepest drops in all of King County. A cross‐use study was conducted and indicated that cross‐use is approximately level. The study will be presented to the Board at the August meeting.

The City of Burien continues its deliberations about annexing the remaining unincorporated area of North Highline. The City Council reviewed a financial analysis of a potential annexation prepared by Berk Consulting. The City Council had a robust
discussion and will continue talks at their next meeting on August 22. Further discussions on the topic are scheduled for September and October so it is unlikely that a decision whether to proceed with annexation will be made before November. If the Council decides to put the issue on the ballot, a vote would not occur until late 2012. KCLS staff will update the Board on these developments at the August meeting.

Planning for the new Renton Libraries is moving ahead rapidly. The first public meeting to present initial plans for the Renton Library is scheduled for September 13 at the Renton Pavilion Event Center, which is located directly across the street from the new
site. Undoubtedly there will be a lot of comments about the change in location and City officials will be on hand to address some of the public’s concerns. KCLS’ architects will facilitate a discussion about the design elements of the new library and will gather input from the audience. There are no new developments in the City’s attempt to acquire the adjacent property where the Roxy Theater is located. The Renton Highlands Library will be part of a mixed use development. In initial conversations with the developer selected by the City, KCLS has learned that City officials would like to build about 100 housing units on the site. It is difficult to imagine that the site can contain that many housing units, a library and the necessary parking to accommodate both. In the meantime, KCLS is trying to clarify the roles of the respective architects involved. KCLS’ architects were selected to design the entire library. The developer envisions that their architect will design the entire exterior and KCLS’ architect will design the interior. That assumption may not be shared by the City of Renton.

KCLS has not yet reached an agreement on land acquisition for a new library at Tukwila Village. As reported last month, the developer is willing to sell KCLS a portion of the property but it might not be theirs to sell as the City has retained ownership of the site. City officials have not yet revealed how KCLS can obtain the property or indicated a price. Instead they are focused on design issues and that has delayed KCLS’ ability to move forward on the project.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Upcoming Dates
The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, September 15, 12 noon at the Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 27, 4pm at the Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 27, 5pm at the Service Center.

August Insights

2011-08-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

costume? Thank you, Friends!
LOCAL NEWS

Teen Summer Program Highlights
In addition to funding programs for children, our Friends groups have provided enormous support for a variety of teen programs in our libraries this summer. Here is a sampling of those programs:
Henna Body Art – at Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont: Enthusiastic girls, and even a few boys, learned about this ancient art and got temporary henna body art.
Making Manga – at Kent and Woodmont: Teens learned how to create their own manga and tell a story in comic form.
Photography Contest – at Des Moines. The best photos will win prizes funded by the Friends.
Video Game Tournaments – at Des Moines and Woodmont. Always a smashing success.
End-of-School Parties, Movie Programs, and End-of-Summer Parties – at Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont. The Friends provide the snacks for these events.
On behalf of the teen librarians, a big thank you to the Friends for their support of teen programs!
A complete list of August programs at Des Moines, Kent and Woodmont Libraries is attached.
Children’s Summer Reading Update
Clifford the Big Red Dog has been seen around the town on several occasions for story times and also in the Kent Cornucopia Days Parade. This is a recent sighting at the Woodmont Library during story time. Wherever Clifford goes, the children come to see him. Did you know that the Friends funded the purchase of the Clifford
Number of SRP Sign-ups:
Des Moines 635; Kent 1348; Woodmont 637

Upcoming Meetings:
Des Moines Friends – meeting date changed from August 3 to August 17. 7pm at the Des Moines Library
Kent Friends – Thursday, August 11, 12 noon at the Kent Library
Woodmont Friends – Thursday, August 11, 6pm at the Woodmont Library

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM JUNE

The InfoToGo topic for August is the Mobile Catalog, the text-only version of the KCLS Catalog. The Mobile Catalog is a fast and simple way to access accounts and search for items from any mobile device without Java.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT(To view the complete July report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

Construction has finally started on the Lake Forest Park Library expansion. The Library is anticipated to open during the holidays.

As reported last month, the Pomegranate Center in Issaquah awarded KCLS one of four Gathering Places grants to create a literacy garden on the grounds of the Mercer Island Library. Initial clearing is complete, hard landscape elements will be installed in August and final landscaping will happen in September. The garden will provide spaces for story times and feature elements for children to learn about the environment. The grants are funded by Tully’s Coffee.

More than 50 people attended the final public meeting for the Federal Way 320th Library. The audience responded favorably to the announcement that in lieu of opening a temporary facility during construction, the Federal Way Library will have extended open hours instead. Given that the Federal Way Library was recently expanded, has ample parking and is within proximity to the Federal Way 320th Library, it makes sense to utilize the existing facility.

Circulation was down 7% for the month of June and 5% for the year compared to 2010 but there are a few notable exceptions. Library2Go circulation is up 15% and circulation of downloadable eBooks continues to be more than double over last year. While catalog use is down 58% from last year, visits to kcls.org are up 9%.

More than 40,000 kids have signed up for the Summer Reading Program compared to 42,500 at this same time last year. Last year’s program had a record number of participants, ending with more than 47,000 total sign-ups.

Ever since the Snoqualmie Library opened in 2007, the building has not had physical access to I-Net, a fiber optic network which connects almost all KCLS libraries along with approximately 300 public facilities in King County. Consequently, the internet connection at the library has been far less robust than other KCLS branches, resulting in slower response times, more downtime and limited wireless access. With the development of Snoqualmie Ridge, the City of Snoqualmie invested in an infrastructure around the new area, including the Library, to provide access to the City’s fiber optic network. Thanks to efforts by the Snoqualmie Library Advisory Board, an agreement principle was reached in which KCLS will pay a one-time fee for proportional compensation for installation of the network infrastructure.

OTHER

KCLS was the talk of the town at the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. Staff in attendance received numerous congratulations for KCLS being named 2011 Libraryof the Year. In addition, Cluster Manager Angelina Benedetti received the prestigious Allie Beth Martin award, the Sammamish Library was named a Landmark Library and materials produced by the Community Relations and Graphics Departments took top prizes at the Best of Show Awards for five print/promotional pieces: Hello packets in seven languages, 2010 Year in Review, Take Time to Read Booklists, Inside KCLS newsletter and InfoToGo cards.

The Foundation is pleased to announce that four scholarships havebeen awarded to KCLS staff members who are expanding theirknowledge, skills, and horizons as they pursue their Masters ofLibrary and Information Science degrees. “The KCLS Foundation Board of Directors is honored to provide support to these talentedand committed staff members in their pursuit of their degrees,” saidKathy Brown, Board President and retired Boeing attorney whochaired the Scholarship Committee this year. Other committee

members included fellow Board members Merrill Chertok, Microsoft Library Site Manager and Ann Polk Ewel, Director of Library Services at the Overlake School; KCLS Human Resources Manager Kathy Tarli, Public Services Specialist Amber Slaven and Jeanne Thorsen, KCLS Foundation Executive Director. Since 2002, the KCLS Foundation has provided 52 scholarships totaling $75,000.

The lack of parking during construction of the Bellevue Library parking garage prompted the KCLS Foundation Board of Directors to look for an alternate site for the March 2012 Literary Lions Gala. After reviewing valet parking and shuttle bus options for 400 guests, staff recommended moving the event to a hotel. While the Board’s preference is to host the event at the Bellevue Library, board members supported the move. Information on the location, keynote speaker and program details will be available later this fall.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Bellevue City Council approved an agreement that allows KCLS to use Ashwood Park during the Bellevue Library garage expansion. At the same meeting, Library Advisory Board Chairperson Loretta Lopez gave an annual report on the Bellevue Libraries. She focused on the need for communication to patrons as there will only be fifty parking spots available during

construction. KCLS has provided information on public parking lots in the area as well as public transportation options. Arrangements have been made for staff to park off-site and patrons are being encouraged to choose alternate library branches for holds pick-up.

The City of Renton is moving forward on both the downtown Renton and Renton Highlands Libraries. TheRenton Highlands Library will be part of a mixed-use development planned by the RentonHousing Authority that will include housing and a park. KCLS is also talking with Renton officialsabout the location and development of a new Skyway Library. While Skyway is not part of theCity of Renton, it could eventually annex.

The City of Tukwila selected Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) to develop Tukwila Village. SHAG is amenable to the idea of a standalone library and has agreed that it can be located on the corner of South 144th Street and International Boulevard.

City of Kenmore officials were beaming as more than 2,000 people streamed through the doorsof the new Kenmore Library on Saturday, July 9. The street in front of the building was closedand the event was so successful that some officials began contemplating other communityevents to host at the Library.

The long-awaited groundbreaking for the new Duvall Library took place on Thursday, July 14. More than 200 people braved overcast skies and light rain to turn out for the event. Mayor Will Ibershof and King County

Councilmember Kathy Lambert were among the dignitaries on hand to

mark the occasion. Excavation is well under way and the Library is anticipated to open next summer.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, August 18, 12 noon at the Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, August 30, 4pm at theService Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, August 30, 5pm at theService Center.

July Insights

2011-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

SRP Highlights:
At Woodmont’s “Yes to the World Concert,” presenters Lorraine Bayes and Angie Bolton had a group of 50 children and adults up and dancing around on June 28^th! The concert was funded by the Woodmont Friends.
At Kent, Linda Severt’s Very Silly Tourist Show was the kick-off event for the Summer Reading Program. An audience of 70 children and adults enjoyed this program, funded by the Kent Friends.
And at Des Moines, Alex Zerbe kicked off the summer with his juggling, music, and comedy show for an audience of 100 plus! Once again, it was the Des Moines Friends who funded this event.
We Love Our Friends!!
A complete list of programs at each of our libraries is attached to this email. As of today, July 7, there are 1974 kids signed up for the summer reading program in our 3 libraries.
Our Libraries Out in the Community
Des Moines Library will be at the waterfront Farmers Market on Saturday, July 16. Staff members will be there with the DDZ (Digital Design) van to showcase the computer software on the van and to hand out information about other library resources and events.

Kent Library participated in the International Fest on June 18 in the park across from the library. Staff members from Kent and Covington showed off the Library2Go van and handed out information about KCLS. Kent Friends will also be participating in the Cornucopia Days parade on July 10 (rumors are that Clifford the Red Dog may make an appearance).
Fall Book Sale Dates
Friends of the Des Moines Library Annual Used Book Sale: Friday, September 9, 10am-5pm; Saturday, September 10, 10am-5pm; Sunday, September 11, 1-3pm
Friends of the Kent Library Annual Used Book Sale: Friday, September 16, 10am-5pm; Saturday, September 17, 10am-5pm; Sunday, September 18, 1-3pm.
Upcoming Meetings
Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board: Thursday, July 14, 7pm at the Woodmont Library
SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM JUNE

The InfoToGo topic forJuly is eBooks, a KCLS service which offers downloadable books for your computer and portable device. Why buy when you can borrow? Digital downloads for your eReader, tablet, phone, and computers are free for King County Library System users. In most cases you will need to download and install free software to manage your downloads.For more informationon the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete June report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

The Pomegranate Center in Issaquah announced that KCLS was one of four Gathering Places grant recipients. The grants, which are funded by Tully’s Coffee, facilitate thedevelopment of projects that will highlight “gathering places where people can linger,

chat, and celebrate.” KCLS will design a literacy garden on the grounds of the Mercer Island Library. It will take over 700 volunteer hours and $15,000 in supplies to complete the project, which is anticipated to be done by the end of August.

KCLS received a $500,000 donation of software from Microsoft as part of the grand opening of the new Microsoft Store in Bellevue Square last November. Since the opening, Microsoft Store staff has hosted a KCLS Foundation Board meeting and has also offered its meeting room as an alternative space for the Bellevue Library meeting rooms, which will be closed during construction of the parking garage. Towards that end, 21 KCLS programs for kids, teens and adults will be offered at the Microsoft Store throughout the summer, providing great visibility for KCLS in the busiest shopping center in the region.

KCLS’ Digital Signage program will promote KCLS programs, services and events through a series of short, 20 second video clips displayed on monitors in select libraries throughout the System and at the Service Center. Over the next nine months, monitors will be placed in 20 KCLS libraries. The monitors replace the plasma screens that were initially funded by local Friends of the Library groups.

Circulation was down 5% across the system for the month of May and down 4% from the previous year. Digital downloads continue to grow by more than double compared to last year and KCLS anticipates another sharp increase when Baker and Taylor introduces its new Blio platform at the American Library Association meeting this month. Holds filled have declined 11% for the year but that figure may change now that patrons are able to freeze their holds until they are ready to pick up, a feature that was

not available in the previous catalog. Despite the decline, holds represent 23% of all KCLS circulation.

KCLS is one of 65 libraries nationwide to be awarded a grant from the American Library Association with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a scholar-led book and discussion series: Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War. Five discussions will be led by Dr. Lorraine McConaghy of the Museum of History and Industry and will be hosted by the Mercer Island Library in 2012. The discussions will focus on the Civil War and its impact on the Washington Territory and western states.

Evaluation of the Future Services Staffing pilot clusters continues. In the Federal Way cluster, staff is developing closer and more frequent contact with schools. KCLS’ Children’s Librarians will visit students atWildwood Elementary School to talk about the “Ready. Set. Read.” program and participate inbuilding PTA Reading Nights throughout the year. KCLS will also staff a table or host DigitalDiscovery Zone sessions during select Parent/Teacher conference weeks. In the Bothell cluster,Librarians at the Kingsgate Library have developed a series of programs entitled “Walk to Your Library” (http://guides.kcls.org/walkwithyourlibrary) to encourage patrons to get physically and mentally fit by exploring variouspoints of interest while walking to the libraries in their area. The program also provides recommendations for audio books that walkers can listen to along the way.

OTHER

KCLS was named 2011 Library of the Year on June 7 by Library Journal and Gale and was recognized at a special reception at the American Library Association annual conference in New Orleans on June 26. This prestigious honor is awarded to a public library in the United States that most profoundly demonstrates creativity, leadership and innovation in developing programs and services for the community, especially ones that can be emulated by others library systems. Everyone connected to KCLS is proud of this acknowledgement, including KCLS’ patrons, whose use and support of KCLS inspired this award. A $10,000 prize that comes with the award will go to the KCLS Foundation. See the celebration photos at http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/891156-264/ala_annual_2011_king_county.html.csp.

Bruce Adams, Director of Collections Management Services has announced that he will retire from KCLS at the end of July. After a long career with public libraries in New York, North Carolina and New Mexico, Bruce is going to take time to tend to his numerous

interests, including gardening, antiques and horse racing. He will be relocating to Portland, Oregon.

The KCLS Foundation Board of Directors recently held its annual retreat. Topics for the day included KCLS History and Governance, Emerging Trends in Technology, a review of the OCLC report “Perceptions of Libraries 2010,” a discussion on the Tukwila Library project and a new idea for outfitting Library2Go vehicles with math and science materials.

Author J.A. Jance recently hosted a dinner at her home for 30 guests. Jance, a former school librarian, talked about doing research for her early titles at the Newport Way Library, where she often requested books through KCLS’ interlibrary loan service. A fan of KCLS, she noted that the Library System is a valuable resource in our community. The dinner was a popular auction item at the recent Literary Lions gala.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The Renton City Council approved an Inter-local Agreement with KCLS that allows work to begin on the development of the new downtown Renton and Renton HighlandsLibraries. The Council agrees to move the downtown Library from its current site over

the Cedar River to a new location near the Transit Center. The new Renton Highlands site is under the control of the Renton Housing Authority, which has issued a Request for Proposal to develop the entire area into a mixed-use development. The Library will be located on Sunset Boulevard in a visible and accessible location.

After KCLS selected Perkins+Will Architects to design a stand-alone library at Tukwila Village, the City of Tukwila decided to hire Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) todevelop the entire project. KCLS must now negotiate with SHAG to determine if a

portion of the property will be sold to KCLS to build a new library or whether a new library will be located in leased space.

The City of Bellevue released its report on the Bellevue Library parking garage expansion project last month. No appeals were submitted prior to the June 9 deadline so the project can now be bid. The City has reviewed the arrangement and will

make its recommendation to the Council in June. Construction will start in August and will take approximately nine months. KCLS has developed a number of strategies to reduce the demand for parking as there will only be fifty public parking spaces available

during the construction, including reduced availability of meeting rooms, alternate locations for holds pick-ups and offsite staff parking.

As reported last month, KCLS has obtained the building permit for the Auburn Library renovation and expansion project but the City of Auburn added a last minute stipulationrequiring KCLS to underground the utilities on property fronting Auburn Way South. The cost was out of proportion to the rest of the project and KCLS worked withCity staff to explore possible mitigation. Fortunately, the City relented and allowed theundergrounding to be deferred until utilities along the entire street are buried, which ispart of the City’s long range capital improvement plan.

The new Kenmore Library will open to the public on Saturday, July 9 and KCLS anticipates a record turnout for the celebration, which starts at 9:30am. Groundbreaking for the Duvall Library will be held five days later on Thursday, July 14 at 2pm. Both events will be attended by the Mayor, City Council and City staff, Library Advisory Boards and Friends of the Library.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Celebrate!

Join us as the new Kenmore Library opens Saturday, July 9, 9:30am.

Groundbreaking for the Duvall Library is scheduled for Thursday, July 14.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, July 14, 12 noon at the Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, July 26, 4pm at the Algona-Pacific Library.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, July 26, 5pm at the Algona-Pacific Library.

June Insights

2011-06-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Author Sharol Louise to speak at Kent Friends Meeting

The Kent Friends will meet on Thursday, June 9, at noon at the Kent Library. The business meeting will be followed by a presentation at 1pm by local author, Sharol Louise. She is the author of three romance novels, most recently RoseHill Manor, published in October 2010. Sharol will be selling her books after her presentation. Library copies will also be available for checkout.

This month, children’s librarians are bringing the library out to the schools with presentations and assembly programs about the 2011 Summer Reading Program—“One World, Many Stories,” which begins on June 13.

The Des Moines and Kent children’s librarians will be accompanied by performer Alex Zerbe, formerly of Brothers from Different Mothers. Zerbe will present a half-hour program of juggling, stunts and laughs, and children’s librarians will follow up with details about the summer reading program. Many thanks to the Friends, who fund these assembly programs.

The “Read-Flip-Win Video Book Review Contest” will be back for teens this summer, as well as “Read Three Get One Free Summer Edition.” Many special programs, from henna to manga to video game tournaments, are planned in our local branches.

Check the KCLS website and click on “One World-Many Stories” for all the details about the reading program and special events throughout the summer.

In Honor of World Refugee Day 2011

In June, on the 10^th anniversary of World Refugee Day, the world will honor the courage, resilience, and determination of refugees. The Kent Library, along with several other KCLS libraries, will offer free orientations to our region’s fastest-growing refugee communities.

Learn about Refugees from Burma

Saturday, June 11, 2-3pm, facilitated by Mona Han, Director of the Coalition for Refugees from Burma

Learn about Refugees from Bhutan

Sunday, June 12, 1-2pm, facilitated by Hem Acharya, Youth Advocate and Interpreter

Learn about Refugees from Iraq

Sunday, June 12, 3-4pm, facilitated by Baidaa Weli, of Jewish Family Services

Staff from the Kent and Covington Libraries will also participate with a booth in the Kent International Fair on June 18.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM MAY

The InfoToGo topic for June is the database BookFlix. This database offers classic video storybooks and nonfiction eBooks for children. For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete May report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

Amazon recently announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow eBooks from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices. Based on this development, in addition to Baker & Taylor’s pending expansion into the eBook market, KCLS has doubled its collections budget for the year.

KCLS has learned that the Sammamish Library has been named a “New Landmark Library” by Library Journal. Landmark Libraries “raise the bar as they respond to trends in green design and shifts in service models.” A team of 16 architects and librarians looked at all new public libraries opened in the last six years and recognized only ten with this award. Mithun Architects has informed KCLS that later this month, the Federal Way Library will also receive an award from the American Institute of Architects during its annual meeting.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/ljinprintcurrentissue/890142-403/sammamish_library__l_.html.csp

Bids for the Duvall Library came back at almost the same prices as last year. That means it will cost substantially more to build the Library than was budgeted. The tightness of the site, which is located on a main road and the amount of earthwork required drove costs that exceeded a typical library of that size. Given that the project has been bid twice, KCLS will adjust the budget and revise the capital plan accordingly. Bids for the Lake Forest Park Library came in under budget and construction is anticipated to start on that project by the middle of June.

KCLS has obtained the building permit for the Auburn Library renovation and expansion project but the City of Auburn added a last minute stipulation requiring KCLS to underground the utilities on property fronting Auburn Way South. Most of the frontage is on property that KCLS acquired to satisfy the City’s request to build additional parking, and would be the only section of the street with underground utilities. The cost is out of proportion to the rest of the project and KCLS will work with City staff to explore possible mitigation before the final permit is released.

City of Bellevue staff should complete their report on the Bellevue Library parking garage project on May 26. If there are no appeals, KCLS can proceed with construction starting in June.

Permit documents for the expansion and renovation of the Vashon Library were submitted to King County this month. In their initial comments, the Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) indicated the existence of a deed restricting the development of Ober Park. DDES is also requiring extensive upgrades to the sidewalk and street along the entire park property. KCLS will explore the possibility of mitigation with the Vashon Park District as the expansion will take up little additional park space.

OTHER
KCLS continues to work with the Community Center for Educational Results (CCER). The Center partners with a coalition of parents, community leaders, private foundations and public organizations to dramatically accelerate student achievement. Using affluent communities in Washington State and across the country as a benchmark, and with significant support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CCER hopes to double the number of students in South Seattle and South King County who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. KCLS intersects with this group in at least two important areas: development of Early Literacy skills and school preparedness, and providing resources and assistance to low income families seeking access to scholarships. KCLS is recognized as a leader on both fronts.

The KCLS Foundation recently struck a deal with Amazon, which has agreed to donate pre-publication galleys that are inventoried at its corporate headquarters in Seattle. After obtaining appropriate permissions from publishers, KCLS will use some of the books to stock Take Time To Read shelves.

The KCLS Foundation hosted 125 guests at the Newport Way Library Preview Party on April 20 and welcomed 50 guests at a Community Leaders Breakfast at the Renton Library on April 28. Thanks to Puget Sound Energy for supporting both events and the Newport Way Library Association for supporting the Preview Party.

In May, the Foundation is involved with two author events that were popular auction items at the recent Literary Lions Gala. Twenty-five guests gathered recently for an evening of “Words and Wine” with authors Bharti Kirchner, Laurie Frankel, Thea Cooper and Boyd Morrison. Later in the month, 30 guests will attend a special event at the home of best-selling author J.A. Jance.

The Foundation encourages Friends of the Library groups to submit nominations for “Friend of the Year.” Friends groups may contact their Community Liaison or Jeanne Thorsen, at www.kclsfoundation.org, for a copy of the form. The award will be presented at Friends’ Day on October 22.

The Board is preparing for its annual retreat. In addition to discussing technology, library trends and new projects, members will visit two libraries and the Materials Distribution Center at Preston to see “The Wizard,” KCLS’ Automated Materials Handling system.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Renton City Council voted to issue bonds for library construction but they have not reached a decision about the location of the downtown Library. There is considerable community interest to keep the Library at its current site. Given that the facility is built over the Cedar River, it will be problematic if not impossible to make necessary improvements. The City is interested in a new Library to enhance its downtown core and has been negotiating for a property near the Transit Center and the Pavilion Exhibit Center.

The Renton Highlands site is under the control of the Renton Housing Authority, which has chosen to use a developer for the entire Sunset Terrace project. Ultimately, KCLS will negotiate with the developer to determine if the Library will be a stand‐alone building or part of a larger complex.

Earlier this month, KCLS had a chance to talk about the Renton projects and present the 2010 Year in Review to 50 attendees at a Community Leaders Breakfast held at the downtown Renton Library on April 28. Renton City Administrator Jay Covington invited KCLS to make a similar presentation at a meeting of City Managers and City Administrators on June 1.

Last month KCLS reported on the controversy that erupted over KCLS’ requirement that Des Moines police officers present a court order to obtain copies of security camera tapes of an incident that occurred at the Woodmont Library. Given that other libraries in Washington State do not utilize security cameras and that in most cases, KCLS’ tapes have not proven useful as evidence in court, KCLS has decided to remove interior and exterior cameras from the ten libraries that have them.

The City of Tukwila is living up to its promise to move quickly on the Tukwila Village project. Perkins+Will Architects who designed the Sammamish Library are prepared to start on the Tukwila Library project and KCLS will be in a position to start negotiations next month. The KCLS Foundation is considering a major development effort for this project.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Celebrate!

Join us as the new Kenmore Library opens Saturday, July 9, 9:30am.

Groundbreaking for the Duvall Library is scheduled for Thursday, July 14.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, June 16, 12 noon at the Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, June 28, 4pm at the Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, June 28,

May Insights

2011-04-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Reminder: eBook Demos Next Week

Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during our Digital Downloads demonstrations. Drop in to look at popular eReaders, OverDrive and Adobe Digital Editions software and ask questions.

Here is the schedule for the eBook demonstrations at the Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont Libraries:

Tuesday, May 3, 3-5pm Kent Library

Wednesday, May 4, 1-5pm Woodmont Library

Thursday, May 5, 1-5pm Des Moines Library

Do It Yourself – Learn how at the Library

Homemade Beer: the Basics of Homebrewing

Sunday, May 8, 2:00pm, Des Moines Library

Have you ever thought about brewing your own beer? This introduction to the world of homebrewing covers the basics of beermaking using malt extract. Topics include: ingredients, equipment needed and the steps in the beermaking process. The instructor for this class is an expert homebrewer and is certified by the Beer Judge Certification Program as a qualified Beer Judge.

Backyard Poultrykeeping

Thursday, May 26, 7:00pm, Woodmont Library

For people who are weighing the idea of keeping poultry in the backyard, this free presentation will give a general overview of some things to consider. Paul Farley, who teaches a more in-depth series on the topic for Seattle Tilth, provides a quick snapshot of backyard poultrykeeping to help people decide whether they might want to keep chickens.

For a complete list of library programs in May, please click on the links below. I am also sending the program documents as attachments, if the links do not work for you.

Des Moines: C:\Documents and Settings\carolvan\Desktop\DESM-May11[1].pdf

Kent: C:\Documents and Settings\carolvan\Desktop\KENT-May11[1].pdf

Woodmont: C:\Documents and Settings\carolvan\Desktop\WDMT-May11[1].pdf

Library2Go Expands to include Community Sites

Library2Go service began in August 2010 with visits to several family daycares in the Kent-Des Moines area. In 2011, we have expanded our service to include visits to several community sites. Our largest site is Appian Way, an apartment complex managed by Mercy Housing between Woodmont and Kent. At this site, the library staff works with an on-site program coordinator, and serves a large after-school population of elementary and middle school students, including many of Hispanic background. Other community sites are Walnut Park in Kent and Shoreham in Des Moines. We hope to add more community sites later this year.

Upcoming Meetings

Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board: Wednesday, May 11, 7pm at the Des Moines Library

Friends of the Des Moines Library: Wednesday, June 1, 7pm at the Des Moines Library

Friends of the Kent Library: Thursday, June 9, 12:30pm at the Kent Library. Special guest speaker: Sharol Louise, author of Rose Hill Manor, a Georgian romance set in the English countryside. Other books by Sharol in KCLS are Secret Sister and Secret Bride. You might want to read one before her presentation!

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM APRIL

The InfoToGo topic for May is Press Display, a database which offers full view newspapers from 50+ countries with 30+ languages represented. Newspapers include up to 2 months of back coverage. For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete April report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

A review of the plans for the Bellevue Library parking garage expansion has been pushed back a month by the City. KCLS had hoped to have the review completed by mid-April in order to bid the project in May. City staff is not able to make that timeline and will issue their review at the end of May. Assuming no appeals, the project will be pushed back to late summer, with excavation likely occurring during the rainy season in the fall.

More than 40 people attended a public meeting to review the initial design alternatives for the Federal Way 320th Library. The audience was generally supportive of the different plans. The next meeting will be scheduled in late summer or early fall after the architects have refined the designs in response to the issues and suggestions raised during the meeting.

Construction of the Kenmore Library is progressing nicely. The new Library will open in the summer. KCLS was pleased to receive a full-price offer to purchase the current library building and property. The sale is contingent on the new owners obtaining a conditional use permit.

Collections Management Services staff and KCLS Foundation Board members had an advance preview of Baker & Taylor’s new e-book program, Blio, which will launch in the fall. Baker & Taylor supplies much of KCLS’ print material and Blio will offer a software platform for delivery of electronic books. Blio allows patrons to easily download eBooks or eAudio materials to a wide variety of platforms.

The 11th annual Global Reading Challenge concluded with the “Grand Challenge” round held at the KCLS Service Center on March 25. The program continues to grow every year and this year 1,757 students from 52 schools in 11 school districts formed 251 teams, with each team member reading 10 books. Teams from the Lake Washington and Auburn School Districts participated in the Grand Challenge and the trophy went home with students from St. Thomas School in Medina. The KCLS Foundation secured a grant from the Stocker Foundation to provide a set of books to all of the 251 teams that participated in the program.

As noted in the Dashboard, KCLS visited 91 home daycare sites during the month of March. This is more than double the number of sites visited when KCLS first launched the Library2Go service. Visits to senior centers and community centers have also doubled in that time. Outreach staff has been meeting with community library staff to identify opportunities in all service areas.

Circulation was down by 5% for the month of March and, year-to-date, circulation is down 3% from last year. As mentioned last month, it is still believed that most of the decline is related to problems with the Self-Check Out equipment not properly recording checked out items. Fixes to the Self-Check Out audible alerts are programmed and being tested. Included

in this month’s report is a column that identifies the percentage of circulation for each branch that comes from books on hold. Most libraries are clustered near the 25% level. Renton Libraries continue to experience amazing growth, especially Renton Highlands which is up 303% over last year.

OTHER

Volunteer Coordinator Terry Claypool and her colleagues arranged for a series of three Volunteer Recognition events during National Volunteer Week and National Library Week. More than 50 community library volunteers were honored at the Bellevue Library and over 20 were honored at an event at the Federal Way Library. More than100 volunteers from around the System were recognized at an event at the KCLS Service Center for helping with Study Zone, NetMaster, Citizenship, Outreach and Talk Time programs. It was a great opportunity to thank folks for their efforts and in the process make them aware of the wide range of volunteer opportunities at KCLS.

KCLS just received word that two Future Services videos produced in 2010 were awarded a Gold Remi and Silver Remi at the Houston International WorldFest. WorldFest, which is the third largest and oldest independent film & video festival in the world, recognizes and honors outstanding creative excellence in film & video.

The KCLS Foundation in partnership with Puget Sound Energy is hosting another Community Leaders Breakfast on April 28. This year’s event will be held at the downtown Renton Library. Community and business leaders will hear about current developments at KCLS and have the opportunity to connect with KCLS Administrators and Foundation Board members.

It was announced at the Washington Library Association Convention in Yakima earlier this month that Jennifer Wiseman, Public Services Project Manager has been elected Vice President/President Elect of the Association. We look forward to a strong KCLS presence during her term in office. We look forward to a strong KCLS presence during her term in office.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Last month the City of Enumclaw decided to withdraw their request to place an annexation measure to KCLS on the April ballot. The City Council is still working through the issue and has involved their local Library Board to investigate all alternatives for supporting library services, which include increasing City taxes to support the Library as well as annexation to KCLS. The local Rotary Club has donated $6,000 this year, which will be their only source of funding for new materials.

The 2011 Legislative Session is not officially over until the budget is approved but there are no outstanding issues relating to libraries. The Washington Library Association has been well served over the last decade by Mike Wirt, Director of the Spokane County Library Association. Mike is retiring next year and will not be chairing the committee that oversees legislative issues, which reviews hundreds of bills each year to determine if they have any bearing on Washington’s libraries. Mike has provided great leadership and an uncanny attention to detail on behalf of the library community.

KCLS interviewed several architects for the Renton Library projects. The pool of applicants was outstanding and the winning firms will be announced once the Renton City Council has finalized its deliberations on the sites for the Libraries. The Renton Highlands Library is slated to be built on Renton Housing Authority (RHA) property on Highway 900. RHA is interested in having the Library be part of a mixed-use project that includes housing. The downtown Renton Library will likely be relocated near the downtown Transit Center and there has been some question about re-purposing the current site over the Cedar River. The Renton City Council will discuss these issues and also consider the authorization of bonds to fund these projects at their meetings in May. KCLS will attend a Council of the Whole

meeting on May 2 to provide KCLS’ perspective on the issues and review the past year of library service in Renton.

On April 15, the City of Bothell filed a “Notice of Intent to Annex” a 3,620 acre crescent to the west, north and east of the City. Most of this area falls within Snohomish County and has a population of over 20,000 people. The assessed value would contribute an additional $1.5 million in property tax revenue to KCLS. KCLS has discussed this issue in the past with Sno-Isle Libraries and it is assumed that many of the residents in that area already use KCLS, which may be contributing to the cross-use imbalance between KCLS and Sno-Isle. Once the Snohomish County boundary review is completed, the City of Bothell plans to place this issue on the November ballot. If approved by voters, it would go into effect in 2013.

Citing the poor economy and current budget problems, a Seattle City Council sub-committee recommended to the full Council that it defer a vote on the North Highline annexation issue and not place the measure on the November ballot. After reviewing the recommendation, the Council concurred, indicating that it would not be opposed to reconsidering the issue at a later date. The Council also indicated that it would not oppose any action by the City of Burien to pursue annexation. KCLS has not heard if the City of Burien intends to pursue this.

· KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/ or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

The newly expanded Newport Way Library reopens on Saturday, April 30 with a celebration at 9:30am.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, May 12, 12 noon attheBurien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 24, 4pm attheNorth Bend Library.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 24, 5pm attheNorth Bend Library.

April 2011 Insights

2011-04-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

eBook Demonstrations Coming in May

At recent staff meetings in the Des Moines – Kent – Woodmont libraries, librarians and library assistants have been learning the basics about downloading eBooks from the KCLS website. They will share this information at eBook Demonstrations, open to the public, during the first week of May. At these demonstrations, you can learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer, look at popular eReaders, and ask questions. Watch for more details about dates and times for the demos.

Spring Break? Visit the Library for these special programs:

At Des Moines Library:

· Family Game On at 1pm, and Super Smash Brothers Tournament for teens at 3pm, on Wednesday, April 6.

· An Afternoon at the Movies, on Friday, April 8, at 3pm. Popcorn will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

At Kent Library:

· The Kid with the Red Juice Mustache Theatrical Performance, on Wednesday, April 6, at2pm. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library

New Program at Woodmont: Play and Learn

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is an organized play group for newborns to age 5 and their grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, nannies, brothers and sisters, parents and other people who take care of them. Every Friday from 10:30am-12:30pm.

Clear Your Clutter

Is your paperwork out of control? Do you want more clarity and joy in your life? Do you want your space to be clutter-free and organized so you can take time to read? Learn strategies for creating spaces that save you time and nourish your spirit. Presented by Karen Roehl, of Clear Living, Inc. at the Woodmont Library on Thursday, April 28, at 7pm.

Upcoming Friends Meetings:

Des Moines Friends of the Library: Wednesday, April 6, at 7pm

Kent Friends of the Library: Thursday, April 14, at 12 noon

Woodmont Friends of the Library: Thursday, April 24, at 6pm

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH

The InfoToGo topic for April is the database Novelist. This database offers fiction recommendations for a wide range of adult, teen and child reading interests, as well as book reviews, author read-a-likes, theme-oriented book lists, book discussion guides, book talks, and feature articles.

For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT(To view the complete March report, please lookhere.)

OPERATIONS

A number of construction projects are moving ahead or nearing completion:

· KCLS will interview architects for the Renton and Renton Highlands Libraries at the end of March.

· The expanded and renovated Newport Way Library re-opens Saturday, April 30 at 10am. The opening celebration starts at 9:30am.

· All of the permits are in place for the Auburn Library expansion. KCLS will open the bidding the first week of May. A vacant business next to the existing Library will provide a temporary location during construction.

· Union Bank has finally given the Duvall Church permission to sell a portion of its property to KCLS and bidding will open the first week of May for the Duvall Library. The design plans have been scaled back after initial bids came in 30% over budget.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As mentioned last month, there have been a number of incidents at the Burien Library that have primarily involved teens. KCLS implemented a plan to assist staff and to develop programs that will positively engage young people at the Library. Human Resources provided Burien staff with training and coaching for handling patron behavior and staff from around the System participated in walkthroughs around the Library during after-school hours. The City of Burien agreed to provide a better police presence to help manage patron behavior and two new Teen Librarians will focus on ways to establish positive connections with the large number of teens who are coming into the Library.

The Library world has reacted strongly to HarperCollins’ announcement to limit eBook circulation to 26 loans per copy. While some libraries are banding together to boycott Harper Collins, KCLS Collections Management Services thinks that the decision is a positive sign for libraries, especially considering that some publishers, for example Simon & Schuster and McMillan, still do not sell eBooks to libraries.

For the second month, circulation was down by three percent and down about two percent for the year. Nevertheless, KCLS is only about 70,000 items behind last year’s record-setting pace. One of the reasons KCLS can circulate such a high volume of items is the Automated Materials Handling system at the Shipping Department in Preston. KCLS’ Shipping Manager Tony Miranda and NYPL’s Shipping Manager Sal Magaddino waged a friendly bet to see which system could process the most items in one hour. The “Great Sort Off of 2011” was held on March 8 and KCLS edged NYPL by a slim margin: 12,131 versus 11,998 items.

KCLS Administrators and Cluster Managers baked more than 1,200 cupcakes and delivered them to staff to thank them for helping KCLS achieve the highest total circulation in the United States in 2010. Along with the cupcakes, everyone received a copy of “Library Unshelved,” a comic book written and donated by former KCLS staff member, Michael Denton.

The KCLS Foundation welcomed 425 guests to the 18^th Annual Literary Lions Gala at the Bellevue Library on March 5. Best-selling author Vince Flynn delighted the crowd with his keynote address, including remarks about becoming a reader and writer in spite of his dyslexia. The Foundation presented a Literary Lions Award to Nancy Pearl for her outstanding work in promoting reading. Two dozen popular northwest authors sold and signed books and spoke with guests. The event raised $100,000 for reading and literacy programs.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

KCLS learned that the Enumclaw City Council decided to withdraw its annexation measure from the ballot on April 26. In reaching their decision, Enumclaw’s City Administrator said the City Council “did not commit to another election date… but remains committed to the concept of annexation to KCLS.” KCLS has agreed to complete an analysis of staff positions so that a transfer agreement can be completed and will also begin a cross-use study in the spring to help the City and KCLS understand how much Enumclaw residents are relying on KCLS.

Perkins+Will Architects presented plans to the Tukwila City Council for a stand-alone Library on the Tukwila Village property. KCLS was under the impression that the City was interested in having KCLS move forward with the design and construction of a library as long as the plan did not impede future development of the site. After the architects presented plans that would accomplish this goal, City staff presented a different alternative that involved the City hiring a developer for the site and having KCLS negotiate with the developer to either purchase or lease property for a library. KCLS told the Council that KCLS is not necessarily committed to working with another developer and expressed concern that this new option would further delay the project. The City said a developer could be brought into the project within three months. KCLS will discontinue further design work during this time frame and agreed to explore an alternative plan as long as it fits KCLS’ financial, programmatic and architectural requirements.

The North Highline Service Area Analysis (SAA) was presented to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Community Council (NHUACC) last month. After listening to the presentation and comments from the public, the Council did not take a position but believes that a vote to annex the area to Seattle would likely pass. The Seattle City Council has deferred a decision on an annexation vote to February 2012 and it is unclear whether the City of Burien will now make any attempt to annex the area.

Anticipating the severe parking limitations at the Bellevue Library during construction of the parking garage, the City of Bellevue and Sound Transit agreed to make one of the three bus layover areas available to the Library every day of the week starting at 10am. If there are no appeals to the building permit, the project will bid in May.

After a recent incident at the Woodmont Library, the Des Moines Police Department submitted a Public Records Request for videotape from the Library’s parking lot and interior. As is standard practice in accordance with KCLS policy, KCLS preserved the tapes but asked the Police Department to obtain a search warrant or court order in order to release the records. The Des Moines Police Department, which ultimately obtained a search warrant a week before it was served

on KCLS, is now in possession of the tapes.

· KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Opening day for the expanded Newport Way Library is set for Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, April 14, 12 noon at Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 26, 4pm at Fairwood Library.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 26, 5pm at Fairwood Library.

March 2011 Insights

2011-03-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

We are on Facebook!

Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont Libraries are now on Facebook. Check out what’s new at these links (and be sure to “like” them if you have a Facebook account):

Kent: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kent-Library/111337605588585

Woodmont: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woodmont-Library/185043581516995

Des Moines: http://www.facebook.com/desmoineslibrary

The Des Moines – Woodmont Library Advisory Board is also online. You can find them on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Des-Moines-Woodmont-Library-Advisory-Board/144149458977173

They also have a blog where they are posting intriguing articles about libraries, as well as current events in KCLS. Join in the discussion at http://woodmontdesmoineslibraries.blogspot.com/

WLA (Washington Library Association) Annual Conference – an Invitation to Attend:

You are invited to the Washington Library Friends, Foundation, Trustees and Advocates preconference at the Washington Library Association annual meeting. The date is Wednesday, April 6, 2011 and the place is sunny Yakima.

There is a stellar lineup of topics and speakers and you’ll come away at the end of the day with a new set of skills, a new plan of action and a new enthusiasm for libraries.

The preconference description is below and more information is available on the WLA conference web site, including the registration form. We look forward to seeing you – and getting energized – on April 6.

Energizing Friends, Foundation, and Trustees: Yes to Libraries!

Immerse yourself in a day of learning and networking with your peers from around the state. Join other library advocates and volunteers for this retreat-style preconference that offers participants 4 workshops to attend over the course of the day, with 3 sessions to choose from within each timeslot. No matter how it is you support libraries, we have a customized day of learning for you! Session topics include Board Orientation, Advocacy, Strategic Planning, Lobbying, Foundation Planning, Open Government, Library Law, Recruiting and Energizing Friends and Volunteers, Intellectual Freedom, Robert's Rules of Order, Fundraising, and more! You'll enjoy a networking lunch together during this dynamic conference-within-a-conference, sponsored by WLA's interest group, WLFFTA (WA Library Friends, Foundation, Trustees and Advocates).

http://2011wlaconference.wla.org/files/2011/01/Pre-Conference-Sessions-Times-Descriptions2.pdf

Upcoming Meetings:

The Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board will meet Thursday, March 10, at 7pm at the Woodmont Library.

For a complete list of March programs at your branch, click on these links:

Des Moines: https://intranet.kcls.org/Departments/CommunityRelationsGraphics/Monthly%20Program%20Calendars/March%202011%20Calendars/DESM-Mar11.pdf

Kent: https://intranet.kcls.org/Departments/CommunityRelationsGraphics/Monthly%20Program%20Calendars/March%202011%20Calendars/KENT-Mar11.pdf

Woodmont: https://intranet.kcls.org/Departments/CommunityRelationsGraphics/Monthly%20Program%20Calendars/March%202011%20Calendars/WDMT-Mar11.pdf

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM FEBRUARY

The InfoToGo topic for March is the Testing and Education Reference Center. This database offers test preparation (eBooks and interactive practice for civil service, military, and academic admissions exams), school search, career exploration tools, and Resume Builder.

For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT(To view the complete February report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

Despite a healthy increase in eBook downloads (102%) and heavy circulation at the annexed Renton Libraries, System-wide circulation declined two percent in January from last year’s record high. A problem with patron Self-Check Out may have contributed to the decline. A fix is in the works and has been given priority in the development schedule.

Evergreen software development continues. Information Technology Services and the Web Services Department have developed a three-tiered plan for updates, fixes and enhancements to the system. KCLS will also be issuing a Request for Proposal to solicit individuals or local companies to provide additional programming support.

The Burien Library has had a rash of disruptive incidents over the last few months, many involving young adults. KCLS is working on a plan to augment how staff responds to issues that arise and to develop programs that might positively engage young people at the Library.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Take Time To Read book jacket posters will be unveiled on March 1 in eight cities throughout King County. Kent is one of the communities selected for the posters. The posters include a call-in number to listen to information about the book. The public can also visit www.kcls.org to access an interactive map to find out where book covers are located, print out a map, listen to information or download an audio guide for the entire Tour.

The Washington State Public Library Directors Meeting was held in Federal Way last month. Much of that meeting was devoted to the partnership between public libraries and schools. With the State’s budget cutbacks, many schools have been looking to their local public libraries to provide even more support and services.

As mentioned at last month’s Board meeting, staff throughout the System has received numerous awards and recognition. Renton Cluster Manager Angie Benedetti won the prestigious 2011 Allie Beth Martin Award from the American Library Association. Last week, Redmond Teen Services Librarian Amanda Hirst received the 2011 Community Service Award from the Lake Washington School District PTSA. Amanda was nominated by Redmond High School staff for her ongoing work with teens in the community. Public Services Project Manager Jennifer Wiseman is a candidate for Vice President and President-Elect of the Washington Library Association (WLA).

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The City of Enumclaw submitted paperwork to the King County Council to call for an April election for annexation into KCLS. The Council will vote on February 22 to place it on the ballot.

On February 28, the Tukwila City Council will begin deliberations on the Tukwila Village project. The Council will consider the site of the library in relation to other potential development on the property. The Council will also be advising the City about the cost and conveyance of the property to KCLS.

The City of SeaTac is interested in exploring the possibility of a new library and perhaps a new library location. As the list of 2004 bond projects nears completion, KCLS will have a better idea of what funding might be available for a new library. KCLS will be meeting with City officials in late February to discuss possible locations and support for the development.

Now that sites are almost secured for construction of the Renton Libraries, KCLS will turn its attention to the expansion of the Fairwood Library and the replacement of the Skyway Library. While the Skyway area is part of unincorporated King County, it is within the City of Renton’s sphere of influence and, in fact, citizens may vote to annex to Renton in the next few years.

The Washington State Legislature is having a tough session. As Legislators try to find ways to reduce the State budget, there has been a huge public outcry over some of the contemplated cuts. KCLS and representatives from other Washington libraries converged on Olympia on February 4 for the Washington Library Association’s Legislative Day to convey the message that libraries are busier than ever helping communities deal with the tough economy. School librarians and advocates for the “Read to Succeed” program were the only budget-related issues that were raised in any conversations. The Washington State Library, while suffering from budget cuts, was kept intact in the proposed budget. There are few budget implications for public libraries since they are funded locally.

· KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Opening day for the expanded Newport Way Library is set for Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, March 17, 12 noon at Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, March 29, 4pm at Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, March 29, 5pm at Service Center.

Library Legislative Day February 4th

2011-02-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

This was my second Library Legislative Day in recent decades. It continues to be an exciting and invigorating experience. It is so easy to sit back and see our legislators as out of reach and this WLA sponsored activity quickly puts us face-to-face, or nearly so, in very pleasant circumstances. From our Advisory Board only Virge Staiger and I signed up this time and Virg had to drop out due to complications in recent surgery.

The bus, sponsored by the KCLS Foundation, could have taken a few more of us.


Overall attendance was good, however.

Tim Mallory, WLA President led the intro.

Journalist Peter Callahan, above, and WLA lobbyist Steve Duncan provided great insights into what is happening on the hill and what to expect, even what other grooups are lobbying on the same day.

The K-12 contingent (WLMA), part of our group was lobbying to keep teacher-librarians in the schools as a money-saving strategy. Those of us from the public library sector were really only asking to be seen as supporters and part of the solution.

John looks over the House Chamber

John Sheller and I were assigned the 30th, 33rd, and 34th districts. We visited the offices and mostly dropped off some materials and spoke with the legislative assistants. John sent a note and materials to Senator Eide on the Senate floor and we actually talked with a few actual legislators where John had made appointments or where we were lucky. In my own district, I was very glad for a chance to talk with Rep. Katrina Asay, who seems already very conversant with library issues.

This is a year when we so far have no large threats and can't realistically be asking for much. We can be more polite and less demanding than most of their visitors. I think the effort was very good groundwork for what we may need in the future. Another year I'd encourage all of our board members and friends to attend.

Tony Wilson

Februrary 2011

2011-01-30T13:17:00.000-08:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Friends of the Des Moines Library: Wednesday, February 2, 7:00pm

Friends of the Kent Library: Thursday, February 10, 12:00 noon

Friends of the Woodmont Library: Thursday, February 10, 6:00pm

Library Legislative Day, Friday, February 4, in Olympia. Bus transportation provided by the KCLS Foundation will leave South Center at 8:15am. This is a great opportunity to network with library supporters from around the state and meet with State Legislators and their staff to discuss the value of libraries and the impact laws have on them. It’s easy for you to participate: Register online now.

February Programs for Adults:

Effective Networking for Employment: Tuesday, February 8, 10:30am @ Woodmont Library

This is a re-scheduling of the presentation that was cancelled in November because of snow.

Presented by Tanner Phillips, Employment and Training Specialist, WorkSource Affiliate, South Seattle Community College. Participants will learn how to take their job goal and develop a comprehensive approach to professional networking. Topics include myths of networking, developing a network “system,” and the 4 core elements of networking information exchange. No registration.

Tax Preparation Assistance

Available at Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont Libraries, beginning the week of February 1^st and continuing until April 15th.

Trained volunteers will assist you in completing your basic personal income tax returns. Registration is required and may be scheduled beginning Monday of the current week by calling the library or in person.

Appointments will be available at the following times:

Des Moines: most Wednesdays evenings and every Thursday afternoon

Kent: Every Wednesday from 4:45-9 pm and Saturday from 10:30am-5pm

Woodmont: Wednesdays, Noon-5pm; Saturdays Noon-5pm, and some Thursday evenings, 5-9pm

Tax forms are also available at the library. 1040 Instructions booklets have not yet arrived as of 1/26/11, but most other tax forms have been received.

For a complete list of programs at your library, click here: https://intranet.kcls.org/Departments/CommunityRelationsGraphics/Monthly%20Program%20Calendars/February%202011%20Calendars/DESM-Feb11.pdf

https://intranet.kcls.org/Departments/CommunityRelationsGraphics/Monthly%20Program%20Calendars/February%202011%20Calendars/WDMT-Feb11.pdf

Kent’s program flyer is not available online yet, but you can access their February programs by going to kcls.org, clicking on Programs & Classes, “search by individual library”, and choosing Kent from the list.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM JANUARY

The InfoToGo topic for February is Free Museum Passes. KCLS has partnered with these area museums to offer free museum passes: Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest Children's Museum, Museum of History and Industry, Tacoma Art Museum, and Washington State History Museum. For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete January report, please look here.)

OPERATIONS

December circulation reports include some interesting details. KCLS exceeded Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) in items circulated, 22.3M versus 21.9M in 2010. Queens previously held the distinction as the highest circulating public library system in the country, but it appears KCLS may have assumed this position. It will still take a few months to get statistics from other large library systems.

eBook circulation increased 73% in December, much of which occurred right after Christmas. The daily count went from 826 to 1405 after December 25. Collections Management Services added 2,000 new titles in anticipation of this trend.

The Future Services Staffing Pilots went into effect in the Federal Way and Bothell library clusters on January 1. All of the planning, training and scheduling led to a very smooth transition at all six libraries within these clusters. The model evaluation plan is under development with Organizational Research Services (ORS) and data collection will soon commence. The Future Services staffing model will be evaluated and refined as necessary throughout the year. Operationally, patrons have seen little change in the libraries while librarians are working on an extensive list of outreach and on-line projects.

The winners of the Caldecott and Newbery Awards for children’s books were announced at the American Library Association meeting in San Diego earlier in the month. Erin Stead won the Caldecott Award for the picture book “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” and the Newbery Award went to “Moon over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool, a book that was not on the list of candidates for King County kids to choose when voting for the “You Pick the Next Newbery Award.” “Turtle in Paradise” by Jennifer Holm, “Woods Runner” by Gary Paulsen and “One Crazy Summer” were the top choices of KCLS’ young voters. While total votes cast were lower than last year, blog comments about the various books pointed to these younger patrons’ heavy use of social media networks.

Despite some tough winter weather, staff continued to make visits to home daycares throughout King County. At last count, KCLS visited 85 childcare sites serving about 750 kids. Staff reports that few, if any of the children would have gotten to go to a library prior to Library2Go. There are another 420 licensed daycares in KCLS’ service area and library staff is encouraged to expand service so that the vehicles will be fully utilized at each branch location.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
The North Highline Library Service Area Analysis is on this month’s agenda for the full Board to review key trends and conclusions. Final recommendations will not be made until the public and other stakeholders and interested parties have an opportunity to comment through a series of community surveys and focus groups.

KCLS has been working with the City of Renton administrative staff to develop an inter-local agreement which formalizes KCLS’ relationship with the City for the development of the Downtown and Renton Highlands Libraries. The inter-local agreement will identify which party is responsible for site acquisition and construction costs and which party has responsibility for design and construction management. A final draft is being reviewed by attorneys and KCLS would like to issue the Request for Qualifications for both projects next month. City officials are prepared to issue a press release on the location of the library sites once the details of the inter-local agreement are finalized which is anticipated in the next few weeks.

The City of Enumclaw should have all paperwork submitted to the King County Council by January 27 in order to get the annexation issue on the April ballot. KCLS has prepared a draft information piece for the election and the City’s legal counsel is finalizing the inter-local agreement that will go into effect if the annexation passes.

KCLS will be working with the Tukwila City Council on the siting and site acquisition for the new library in Tukwila Village. As reported to the Board of Trustees last year, the City of Tukwila acquired a number of parcels along International Boulevard (Highway 99) on both sides of 144^th Street. With assistance from Perkins+Will architects, KCLS has developed a few alternatives that meet the City’s criteria. If the City Council agrees to the site alternatives and a mutually agreeable price can be determined, KCLS will be ready to proceed with library design.

· KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/ or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Opening day for the expanded Newport Way Library is set for Saturday, April 30, 9:30am.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, February 10, 12 noon at Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 22, 4pm at Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 22, 5pm at Service Center.

KCLS Insights January Edition

2010-12-30T23:08:00.000-08:00

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

New Year’s Resolution: Take Time to Read in 2011! s part of the Take Time to Read initiative sponsored by the KCLS Foundation, KCLS is inviting adults in King county to participate in a Winter Reading program. Participants will be entered to win a $5 coffee card from Starbucks and other great prizes. For more details about the program, click on this link: http://www.kcls.org/taketimetoread/ or check it out at Take Time to Read on Facebook. Or visit your library to pick up forms beginning January 1^st.

If you’d like to discuss what you read with other readers, why not join a local book group at one of our libraries? Here is the January schedule for book groups at Woodmont, Des Moines, and Kent libraries:

January 6, 6-8pm, Woodmont Library: Thursday Night Knit Lit Group. Author of the month is James Michener. If a Michener book sounds too daunting for one week’s reading, you can start on the February selection, Eve Green by Susan Fletcher.

January 12, 1pm, Kent Library: After Lunch Book Bunch. Book to be discussed: Collector of Worlds by Ilija Troyanow.

January 20, 7pm, Woodmont Library: Woodmont Book Group. Book to be discussed: Bright Sided: how the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich.

January 26, 7pm, Des Moines Library: Des Moines Book Group. Book to be discussed: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

Copies of the book selections are always available at each library’s front desk.

For a complete list of programs at your library, click here: https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/DESM-Jan11.pdf https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/KENT-Jan11.pdf https://intranet.kcls.org/calendars/WDMT-Jan11.pdf

Upcoming Meetings:

Des Moines – Woodmont Library Advisory Board: Wednesday, January 12, 7pm at the Des Moines Library.

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS FROM December

The InfoToGo topic for January is Free Computer Classes, a web page that has been updated for ease of use and improved information about how to access these classes at most KCLS libraries. For more information on the current month’s InfoToGo card, click here.

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (To view the complete December report, please look here.)

One of the highly anticipated KCLS traditions is the publication of the annual Best Books list compiled by Collections Management Services (CMS). The list is based on account reviews, awards, popularity and the professional judgment of CMS’ selectors. By some accounts, this was not a great year for Adult Fiction and Non-fiction. As one staff member said, it seemed like many great writers were treading water and not breaking new ground.

A few months ago, KCLS’ Outreach department advised the Board that delivery service to homebound seniors would only be available to patrons with documented medical certification of immobility. The transition has gone smoothly and the use of volunteers to deliver items to homebound seniors has freed up eight staff members to provide additional services to nursing homes, retirement communities, low income senior apartments and rehabilitation facilities, and the numbers continue to grow. Outreach plans to expand services in a manner similar to Library2Go by working with library staff to identify additional senior facilities in need of library services. Anyone interested in helping Outreach as a volunteer can find out more by visiting the KCLS Outreach Volunteers webpage.

Over the last year, Adult Services has developed a number of community partnerships to deliver new programs and services at KCLS libraries, including partnerships with community colleges to deliver citizenship, employment and English as Second Language programs at KCLS libraries. The King County Law Library, which offers programs on Family Law at its facilities, is excited to be able to provide training to the general public at five KCLS libraries. Staff from the Law Library will also provide training for KCLS librarians on legal reference service and later in the year will deliver programs on other topics, such as employment law and landlord/tenant legalities. More information for Adult Learners is available here.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

KCLS will begin the process of negotiating an inter-local agreement with the City of Enumclaw in the event that voters approve annexation to KCLS. The Renton inter-local agreement is being used as the template to outline roles and responsibilities. KCLS will meet with Enumclaw City Administrator Mike Thomas this month and the agreement should be ready for both the Enumclaw City Council and KCLS Board of Trustees to review and approve early next year. The annexation vote is likely to occur in April 2011.

KCLS STAFF NEWS

The annual KCLS Service Awards Reception was held on December 8. Fifty four staff members were honored for 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service, representing a combined 1,265 years of experience. Julia Gibson, Librarian in the Shoreline/Richmond Beach/Lake Forest Park cluster, received this year’s Bradley Award for her “Write Idea” suggestion to provide acrylic holders for posting library closure signs.

KCLS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS

View all at http://www.kcls.org/bond/ or sign up here to receive automatic updates on the KCLS Capital Improvement Projects!

Almost two months after the Newcastle Library groundbreaking, it looks like construction is about to begin. Mayor John Dulcich has been a persistent advocate to expedite the project. KCLS’ contractor is also prepared to get the project underway.

Upcoming Dates

The next Planning Committee Meeting takes place on Thursday, January 13, 12 noon at Burien Library.

The next Finance Committee Meeting takes place on, January 25, 4pm at Service Center.

The next KCLS Board of Trustees Meeting takes place on Tuesday, January 25, 5pm at Service Center.

Woodmont / Des Moines Libraries Advisory Board

January 2012

November 2011

November 2011

You’re Invited! 2012 Preliminary Library Budget Meetings

Please join in the conversation:

October Insights

September Insights

August Insights

July Insights

June Insights

May Insights

April 2011 Insights

March 2011 Insights

Library Legislative Day February 4th

Februrary 2011

KCLS Insights January Edition