November 2012

 

Community Liaison Contact: Carol Van Baalen

LOCAL NEWS

Book Clubs for Kids

Do you know any 9-12 year-olds who love to read?  The Kent and Woodmont Libraries have started new book clubs just for this age group.  Both groups meet monthly after school at the library.  Here are the November dates:

Owls Book Nook Club       Monday, November 12, 4pm at the Kent Library.  This month’s book is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.

Tween Book Club            Thursday, November 29, 4pm at the Woodmont Library.  This month’s book is 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. 

Copies of the books are available at the library front desk.

There are also monthly book clubs for adults at the Des Moines, Kent, and Woodmont libraries.  Check out the attached flyers or call your local library for details.

Get Ready for the Holidays

EReader Demos:  Thinking about buying an eReader for someone on your gift list this holiday season?  Not sure which one to buy?  The library can help.  Come to an eReader demo and try out a variety of eReaders on the market – Kindle, Nook, Samsung Galaxy, iPad.  eReader demos are scheduled for the following dates:

Tuesday, November 13, 3pm at the Des Moines Library

Saturday, November 17 & 24, 10am at the Kent Library

Thursday, November 29, 7pm, at the Kent Library

Monday, December 3, 3:30pm at the Woodmont Library

Green Holiday Ideas

Sunday, November 18, 1:30pm at the Des Moines Library

Presented by Tom Watson, EcoConsumer columnist for the Seattle Times.

For a complete list of programs at your library, click on this link http://www.kcls.org/programs/library_programs.cfm or open the attachments with this email.

 

Choose Mango Languages for adults or Little Pim for kids. Choose from among over 40 world languages. Download the app! Provide your email address and choose a password to track your progress.

 

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

FROM THE OCTOBER DIRECTOR’S REPORT

OPERATIONS

The Newcastle Library will open on Saturday, December 8. Electrical and other utilities have been run to the building and materials for the collection are due to arrive in early November.

KCLS’ Social Media strategy has included an ad campaign for KCLS’ Facebook page, resulting in the number of “Likes” increasing from 6,200 to 9,700 in just a few weeks. On Twitter, award-winning author Neil Gaiman showed his support for KCLS and the principles of intellectual freedom.

REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking announced that KCLS is a recipient of the 2012 Estela and Raúl Mora Award for exemplary efforts promoting El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros. The award will be presented at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Conference in Seattle.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The November 6 election will include two annexation measures which will have implications for KCLS’ Capital Improvement Plan. North Highline residents will decide whether or not to annex to the City of Burien. If the measure passes, the vicinity around the White Center and Boulevard Park Libraries will clearly be in KCLS’ service area. Residents of the West Hill area of Renton will also be voting on annexation to the City of Renton. If that measure passes, the new Skyway Library would likely be permitted by the City of Renton rather than King County.

On September 15, the newly renovated and expanded Auburn Library opened to accolades from the community. The Library is located in Les Gove Park.

OTHER

KCLS staff members once again took a vacation day to participate in United Way of King County’s Day of Caring on Friday, September 21. This year, 18 staff members performed general maintenance, clean up and landscaping at Camelot House in Duvall, which serves developmentally disabled adults. Another group of 54 helped out at the Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation farm in Maple Valley, which is dedicated to the rescue and recovery of horses. 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 Loaned Executive for this year’s campaign. Jennie Westlund, a librarian from the Renton Library will work with other organizations on their Workplace Giving campaigns through December.

  

Friends Day was held on Saturday, October 20 and was aptly named “Welcome Aboard the FriendShip” to follow a fun nautical theme. More than 100 Friends from across the System enjoyed food and camaraderie while “cruising” different “Ports of Call” (workshops) focused on increasing membership, fundraising, storytelling and program funding ideas. Popular local author Robert Dugoni was on hand to talk and the KCLS Foundation honored outstanding members of the Friends of the Library organizations. Congratulations to all the recipients.

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 15, 12pm at the Burien Library.

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

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