Newsletter - Port Townsend Public Library

Friends of the
Port
Townsend
Library
Fall 2014
Newsletter
The Carnegie Library’s next chapter
Bev Shelton
Interim Library Director
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Teddy Roosevelt
A
typical afternoon in the Carnegie Room: eleven
people are using the library’s public access
computers; two more are reading newspapers at
the long table; three are browsing the maritime collection;
one person is looking at the classics; another seven are
scattered around the room reading, using Wi-Fi or quietly
discussing the affairs of the day. Twenty-four people
busily engaged and still the atmosphere is calm and quiet.
Downstairs, it’s a livelier scene. At any given time there
will be families in the children’s room browsing, listening
to books or playing at learning “playscape.” The teen
room will probably have a browser as well as one or two at
the “computer bar.” Staff will be helping people check out
books, place holds, use the Express-Check, and navigate
the catalog and the collection. The phones will be ringing
and there might be people in the foyer exchanging
magazines or viewing art and poetry displays.
Is this what we imagined our “new” old library would
look and feel like? Yes. Are we surprised? Maybe, a little.
We had great expectations for what could be done. The
surprise comes from how much we actually were able to
do and how well it all works. We aren’t finished. Of
course our use of the space will grow and evolve along
with our services. But we have a great start.
I
still say a quiet
“wow” when I
walk through
the door each day,
and a “thank you”
to all involved.
Getting here
required vision, careful planning, generous support, talent,
hard work and a spot of serendipity. (Read the President’s
column for more about this.) Fortunately, we had an
abundance of all.
Our attendance for August was double that of August
2013. Children’s and Adult services have lined up
programs for every interest, from authors, World War I to
robots. The process for hiring a new library director has
begun. I am looking forward to great things from the Port
Townsend Library and will soon be enjoying them from
the other side of the Help Desk.
Morgan Hanna reads to her five-year-old, Kenenisa, in the
spacious new Children’s Library. On Aug. 3rd, more than
500 patrons attended a “soft opening” at the Carnegie
featuring poetry readings, live music by several local
groups and treats, hosted by the Friends of the Library.
President’s Letter
The library staff and contributors to
the Foundation have done a
spectacular job squeezing the library
back into a beautiful, updated
Carnegie. All the public spaces are
inviting; the upstairs, especially, is
quiet and comfortable with an
expanded reading room, special
collections and computers.
Special thanks are in order to people
who donated many extra hours to
making the spaces so inviting:
□ Ian Keith, Library Advisory Board
member and volunteer extraordinaire,
donated hundreds of hours
deconstructing and reconstructing
interior library spaces.
□ All the library staff did lots of work
with special mention due to Bev
Moore, Bev Shelton, Cris Wilson,
Jean-Marie Tarascio, Keith Darrock
and Lori Lisowski.
□ Foundation Board Members
Chelcie Lui, Janie Kimball, Mari
Friend, Polly Lyle and Susan
Hargleroad.
□ Friends Board Members: All eleven
of us!
The entire staff is still working to fit
all the other library services and
materials into the back rooms and the
Library Learning Center (aka the Pink
House). Although the Friends are
challenged with how to collect, sort
and box donated books since there is
no longer an on-site space, we're
looking forward to our next big book
sale on October 11. There will once
again be many additional books that
the library has withdrawn for various
reasons.
I hope you enjoy our new space "back
home."
Geralynn Rackowski
A quiet morning in the Carnegie Room can feel like a time-warp – 1913 -- when
the library first opened to the public. Filled with natural light and graced with
original art loaned by Northwind Arts Center, the space is comfortable and
contemporary, with free Wi-Fi throughout, 15 public computers, and 10 customconfigured iPads to check out and use throughout the library. Patrons are invited
to use automatic check-out stations as they leave. The renovation cost the City
only about $160,000 thanks to extensive volunteer labor and discounts. The
Library Foundation contributed an additional $125,000, according to librarian
Keith Darrock, who was the construction manager for the project.
The Library Foundation
is in overdrive as we try to acquire
items recommended by the library
staff. We’re determined to make the
best use of remaining capital
campaign funds, including our
McEachern and Gray Wolf grants.
Kit Ward-Crixell, the new Youth
Services Librarian, has come up with
a wish list that includes mobile
shelving needed to maximize use of
limited space in the Children’s area
and components for state-of-the-art
computer classes for youth. Keith
Darrock, Technical Services Manager,
worked with Kit to propose
installation of technical infrastructure
for multi-faceted programming in the
Pink House (now known as the
Library Learning Center). The plan is
preliminary, but looks promising.
Meanwhile, we are awaiting the
staff’s sign-off on final signage for the
library interior. The Foundation
Board recently retained a consultant
to look at ways to upgrade interior
lighting in the Carnegie Building. We
want to keep the lighting user friendly
and retain its historic character.
Exterior items paid for by the
Foundation include landscape cleanup, pressure washing of stairs and
sidewalks, restoration of the historic
lampposts, and the installation of
planters by the Harrison Street
entrance. Anyone interested in
joining a Sunday morning landscape
team, please contact Polly Lyle at
[email protected].
Lastly, if you have any personal or
group purchases that you intend to
make on Amazon, please start at
“Amazon Smile.” The Foundation
has registered as a recipient, and as a
consequence will receive a small
donation whenever you use it to make
your qualifying Amazon purchases
Chelcie Liu
Library Robotics Teams
Start "World Class" Season
Kit Ward-Crixell
Youth Services librarian
The Port Townsend Public Library’s FIRST LEGO
League competitive robotics team, "The STEAMPunks,"
began its season on Saturday September 20. The ten
students on the team, all between the ages of 9 and 14,
will spend the next three months building and
programming an autonomous, computer-controlled
robot out of LEGO Mindstorms parts. In competition,
the robot will perform missions for points on a playing
field. During the 2-1/2-minute matches, students can
only touch the robot while it is in the "base" area of the
field, and all the robot's actions must be programmed in
advance.
Students will also complete an engineering project
designed to help their community. The students will
research an issue in their community related to this
year's theme, "World Class," and will invent an
engineering solution. This year, students are challenged
to invent something to make learning easier or more fun.
They will present their projects to a panel of expert
judges as well as to members of the community.
As part of a
collaboration
between Port
Townsend
Library and
the Port
Townsend
School
District, the
STEAMPunks have a sister team at Blue Heron School,
called "STEAM Powered." The two teams will share
resources and work together to inspire kids' interest in
science and technology.
The library is a great place for FIRST LEGO League
teams. Ever since the days of Andrew Carnegie, libraries
have been places for people to learn the skills they need
to succeed in careers and life. We know that right now,
Bureau of Labor Statistics data predicts a shortfall of one
million qualified workers in computer science fields by
2020. These are highly-paid jobs in a rapidly-growing
field, and the library can be a leader in making sure that
our kids are ready with 21st-century skills to take
advantage of them. Besides, it's a lot of fun!
FIRST Robotics is a worldwide 501(c) (3). This year, over
267,000 children from over 80 countries are expected to
participate in FIRST LEGO League. For more
information about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org
Diverse Adult Programming coming to the Library Learning Center
Cris Wilson
Adult Services Librarian
This fall we are looking forward to
hosting the following programs in the
large meeting room of the Library
Learning Center (LLC):
Monday, October 6, 6:30 pm
Dr. David Barash, author of "Buddhist
Biology: Ancient Eastern Wisdom
Meets Modern Western Science"
Monday, November 10, 6:30 pm
Tom Nissley, author of "A Reader's
Book of Days"
Tom is an eight time Jeopardy
Champion, former writer for Amazon,
and currently the owner of a small,
independent bookstore on Phinney
Ridge in Seattle.
Monday, December 1, 6:30 pm
Nicola Griffith, author of the award
winning historical novel "Hild: the life
of 7th Century St. Hilda of Whitby.”
In January, we will host a 3-part
program on the history of World War
1 with Lawrence Kerr. It is scheduled
for January 7, 14, and 21.
R
eaders may not know that our
library has a radio show called
Book Lover's Cafe airing several times
a month on our local station KPTZ
91.9 FM. I host the program each
month and we feature current book
reviews, an interview with a visiting
author, and news from the
library. KPTZ has been on the air for
three years and Book Lover's Cafe
was one of the founding
programs. The station has grown in
professionalism and truly offers an
authentic, eclectic variety of
programs. Many of the radio's music
hosts borrow music CDs from the
library to give depth to their playlists.
This past month we interviewed our
new Youth Services Librarian, Kit
Ward-Crixell, and her colleague,
Mirandy Cook.
You can listen to the station on your
radio, streamed live from the website or
select shows of interest from the podcast
list at KPTZ.org. Thank you for
supporting the Adult Services programs
and the book group, Book Lover's Café, all
of which are free and open to all.
What we read this
summer…
The Spirit Level: why greater
equality makes societies stronger by
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
was an interesting and hopeful
read. These two epidemiologists
compared measures of social health in
23 wealthy, developed countries and
found that it is inequality--not
poverty--that contributes to a society's
problems. The size of the gap
between rich and poor members of a
society can determine the health and
well being of all members. While
the US is one of the richest societies
on their list, it is also one of the most
unequal. This inequality leads to high
rates of infant mortality, homicide,
prison incarceration, poor health, teen
pregnancy and other social ills as
compared to more equal
societies. The authors have combed
through mounds of data, but clear
text and easy-to-read graphs make
their point.
The hopeful note: rather than throwing
time and money at each one of society's
ills, working toward a more equal society
will help us all. Renee Bush
Norwegian
by Night by
Derek R.
Miller
features
Sheldon
Horowitz,
an 80 yearold New
Yorker
transplanted
to Norway
to live with his daughter after his wife
dies. Home alone one morning, he
witnesses a dispute involving the
woman upstairs. When the situation
turns ugly, he flees with her young
son in search of a safe haven. This is a
chase thriller that also manages to be
moving, psychologically astute and
incredibly funny. Merilee Clunis
Jeanette Walls, well known for her
best selling memoirs, The Glass Castle
and Half Broke Horses, has written her
first novel, The Silver Star. It is a joy
to read, especially if you’re familiar
with her earlier pieces. Twelve year
old “Bean,” the narrator of a coming
of age story about a struggling family,
reminds me of Jeanette’s role in her
own family saga as she was growing
up. Humor and anger blend and
mold the characters as they try to
figure out how life should be lived.
One tragic event draws it all together.
Macy Mallarky
The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam
Johnson is a fascinating, convoluted
tale of life in North Korea. It follows
the life of Jun Do who is tossed from
one life style and occupation to
another while always trying to
uncover the mystery of his mother’s
disappearance. It gives peeks at many
different facets of North Korean
life. Fantasy, reality, love, fear, and
paranoia intertwine, keeping the
reader off balance and engaged.
Geralynn Rackowski
The River of Doubt: Theodore
Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by
Candice Millard -Theodore Roosevelt turned to extreme
adventure as a way to handle stress in
his life. When he did not get his
party's nomination for his third term
of presidency, he decided to journey
down a never-before traveled
tributary of the Amazon River, the
River of Doubt. This well researched
story of his perilous journey that
nearly cost him and his son their lives
is a page-turner. Each bend in the
river brings yet another unimaginable
situation, whether it be successive,
steep rapids with no place to portage;
huge, menacing fish and snakes;
incessantly biting bugs; skin
infections; canoes loaded with
provisions that washed away;
recurrent malaria; scarcity of food; or
stalking, unfriendly Natives. Whew!
By the end of the book, there is no
doubt as to the formidable character
of Teddy Roosevelt. Ellen Dustman
The Grapes
of Wrath
by John
Steinbeck,
was the
choice of a
book club
I've
belonged
to for
almost 40
years. Once
each year
we select a classic for the summer
read. I was lucky to find (at William
James Bookstore) a Penguin issue
with a fascinating introduction about
how Steinbeck became involved with
the Dust Bowl migrants once they
arrived in California near where he
lived and how he struggled with
writing the book and the initial
reactions to it, especially in California
where it was banned from schools.
Eventually however, it was awarded a
Pulitzer Prize and now is considered
by some to be “the most American of
American classics.” While Steinbeck
was in the early stages of writing the
book, a catastrophic Los Angeles
basin flood stranded hundreds of
migrant families who were living in a
government-assisted labor camp. I
couldn't help recalling the many
homeless victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
Colleen Freidberg
(continued on next page)
Summer reads, continued …
According to
most fictional
accounts and
news media
reportage, serial
killers often
begin their
criminal careers
as “stalkers.”
Authors of this
thriller genre frequently begin their
narrative with a dead body or two. In
The Book of You by Claire Kendal, the
author begins at the beginning,
compelling the reader to live through
the terrifying life of the victim -- a
young woman who knows her
tormentor’s identity, follows all the
“help-line” advice, saves all the
evidence, takes all the precautions,
but still can’t save herself from the
cruel and obsessive behavior of her
manipulative stalker. This first novel
by Kendal, is extremely well written
and may have you carefully weighing
your socially conditioned response to
a stranger’s smile. Linda Martin
Welcome New Friends!
Since our last newsletter was
published in June, the following
people have expressed their support
of our Carnegie library by becoming
valued members of the Friends:
Earl Borought
Sarah Grossman
Deborah Hammond
Dorothy Hoffman and Scott Marble
Trudy Holden
Richard Inman
William James
Landon & Sherry Kimbrough
Margaret & Larry Kincaid
Dale Koenig
Robert Molise
Rico Moore
Jon & Patricia Rossi
Karen Sullivan
Marla & Jeff Tangen
Milena Williamson
Roger Wilson
Evelyn Zimmerman
Beethoven, Joplin, or Jarrett, anyone?
For Sale: Weinbach studio piano. Beautiful finish and sound.
Perfect for a small room. The additional height of the studio piano
gives it a richness and tonal quality comparable to those of many
grand pianos. Includes piano bench and trolley. All proceeds go to
the Friends of the Port Townsend Library. $1,500 or best offer.
Call Ellen @ 379-3727 to schedule a time to see and play it.
We are very grateful for the generous
support from our Business members.
Please visit their websites and
consider supporting them with your
personal and business needs.
David Chuljian, DDS, PS
http://www.chuljiandds.com
Terrapin Architecture/Richard Berg
http://www.terrapinarchitecture.com
Uptown Physical Therapy/Richard
Perez, RPT/DMIN
http://www.uptowntherapy.com
WallyWorks Enterprises/ Malcolm
Dorn http://www.wallyworks.net
Many thanks to our continuing
members and our newest members
for supporting our local library
programs through your membership
dues.
We’re seeking new volunteers
for a few unique jobs …
*** Are you a computer-savvy person who
could help with occasional tasks relating to
using Mail Chimp, PayPal configuration on
our website, MS Office, or cleaning up a
slow PC computer?
*** Do you have some familiarity with
QuickBooks to be a backup for our
Treasurer?
*** Can you help with handling book
donations, which could include pickup,
sorting and boxing the donated books we
receive?
The time commitments are flexible and
variable. Although it would be wonderful
for these volunteers to serve on the Board,
it is not required.
Call Geralynn at 385-1206 or email:
[email protected].
FRIENDS ACCEPTING USED BOOKS AND MEDIA DONATIONS
F
or your convenience, a designated
book and media donation box has
been placed near the library entrance,
by the bike rack, in the front parking
lot on Harrison Street. You can't miss
it.
If you have boxes of books, we
encourage you to pick up a form at
the library or contact the Friends via
email at [email protected].
Someone will respond to you within
24 hours regarding the best way for us
to receive your donations.
Vivian Chapin, special
Friend of the Library
R
ecently, we lost a beloved
friend and patron of the Port
Townsend Library, Vivian
Chapin. A librarian by training,
Vivian shared an amazing gift for
language and literature.
Whenever she participated in
local library events, like the Book
Lovers' Cafe, her thoughts and
comments were always warmly
received. She especially loved
children's books. “When she read
to me,” said her daughter Sally
Chapin, “she read with a passion,
breathing life into ALL the
characters in the books.”
Unfortunately, there is no place, at
this time, to receive boxes of used
books at the library. Also, please use
this email address if you have any
questions.
Your book/media donations are
instrumental in funding many of the
Port Townsend Library programs
offered each year. These programs
include, but are not limited too, the
very popular annual Community
Read, Book Lover's Cafe, author
events, summer reading for kids and
adults, programs for babies and
children and much more.
The used book and media sale
occurs three times a year:
March, June and October.
Our next sale is October 11,
2014.
FALL BOOK SALE -- October 11
This is the final used book sale of 2014 at the Community Center in Uptown. A
great selection of books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes for adults and children will be
available. The sale starts at 8am for members of the Friends and 9am for the general
public and closes at 3:00. If you are not already a member, come early to join and
have first pick of the books and media. If you would like to help with set up at the
Community Center on Friday at 5 pm or lend a hand anytime on Saturday, you can
call Macy Mullarky at 379-1061. All proceeds from the sale go toward funding
library programs. Last year the funds paid for the Community Read and the
summer reading programs for adults and teens …just two examples of the many
programs we support.
We are touched by the
generosity of so many friends
who contributed to our
children's library fund in Vivian's
name.
Thank you.
Photo by Donn Ring, taken at the Carnegie
Library’s “soft opening” August 3rd.
Please become a FRIEND of the Port Townsend Library TODAY!
NAME ____________________________________
ADDRESS___________________________________
□ NEW MEMBER □ RENEWAL
If you would like to volunteer, we’d love to have you. Please
indicate your area(s) of interest:
____________________________________________
PHONE_____________________________________
E-MAIL_____________________________________
Amount of donation $_________________________
(Tax deductible)
□ Individual……. $10
□ Family………..$20
□ Supporting…..$50
□ Sustaining.…. $100
□ Patron……. ...$500 or more
□ Business……$100 or more
(Your business card will be featured in each newsletter for the
membership year.)
□ Additional Gift $______
FOPTL is qualified for tax exemption under
Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and your
contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
□ Book sales
□ Handling book donations
□ Membership drives
□ Fundraising events
□ Newsletter / publicity
□ Computer/ technical support
□ Adult programs
□ Special events/Advocacy
□ I have an idea, call me!
Annual membership runs from June 1st until May 31st.
Dues may be paid at the library, at the book sale, or by
credit card on the Library's website at Friends of the
Library,
http://www.ptpubliclibrary.org/SupportYourLibrary/Frien
dsoftheLibrary.html, or by completing this form and
sending it with your check, made out to "FOPTL."
Friends of the Port Townsend Library
1220 Lawrence St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Friends of the
Port Townsend Library
1220 Lawrence St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.ptpubliclibrary.org
Friends of the Port Townsend Library (FOPTL)
raises funds to provide services, programs, and materials for the library that are
beyond the means of the city budget, for the cultural and educational enrichment
of the community. FOPTL publishes three newsletters each year -- spring,
summer, and fall. Members may receive their newsletter via email or post.
Everyone can read the publication at www.ptpubliclibrary.org or pick up a printed
copy at the Port Townsend Library.
Everyone is welcome to attend an FOPTL Board meeting, held on the second
Wednesday each month, 4:00 pm, at the Library Learning Center (at the corner of
Lawrence and Harrison). If you are interested in any volunteer activity or a
Board position, please phone Geralynn at 385-1206.
Book Donation Coord:
Board Members
Membership: Ellen Dustman
Sheila Khalov
President: Geralynn Rackowski
Newsletter: Linda Martin
Programs: Janet Sweeney
Vice President: Macy Mullarky
Public Information:
Members at Large:
Secretary: Merilee Clunis
Kathleen Hawn
Colleen Freidberg
Treasurer: Phyllis Marckworth
Book Sales Coord: Lois Stanford
Renee Bush