National Library Week – April 8-14
Packed With Ways to Celebrate Your Love of Libraries

How can you celebrate libraries? Let us count the ways. We've compiled a quick list of ideas for you to do during National Library Week. We know it's still a month out, but there's no time like the present to start celebrating libraries!

1. Use the library! Help us get rockin' check-out and visitor statistics this week (and every week)!

2. Share the love – tell someone how much you value the library. Write a letter to the editor, tell an elected official, or just tell us; it will make us smile.

3. D.E.A.R. - Drop Everything and Read on April 12 from 3 - 5 pm in all our branches. We're celebrating Beverly Cleary's birthday and we want you to stop by your favorite library, drop everything, and read!

4. Library Snapshot Day - also on April 12. We're taking a one-day "snapshot" of books checked out, questions answered, and visits to the library. We'll share the information with the state library, who will compile statewide statistics so they can show off how important it is to have healthy, well-funded libraries. We're also taking photos that day, so comb your hair and show us your pearly whites.

5. Just shy of National Library Week, on Saturday, April 7, we're joining the Eastern WA Genealogical Society for a roll-out of the 1940 census. This is big news for genealogists and history buffs! See article, this issue, for info about this celebration.

6. "Like" us on Facebook  and "share" us with your "friends."

7. We're planting a tree - join us! See article, this issue, for details.

8. Read a book that features libraries or librarians - see our book list in the Reader's Corner blog.

9. Get tickets for the ultimate library party, You Can't Do That in the Library! - a fabulous, rule-breaking extravaganza on Saturday, April 28.

10. Drop a buck (or two, or a check) into the donation box at the check-out desk to support the Spokane Public Library Foundation - their mission is to support the long-term health of the library.

That's a start. Take us up on at least one of these ideas; we know you won't regret it!

Library Board Bids Farewell to Judge Richard White

In March, we'll say goodbye to a dedicated member of the library's Board of Trustees. Judge Richard White, who retired last year from the Spokane County District Court, will also "retire" from the library Board when his term expires on March 31. We'll sincerely miss his commitment to the library and the city we all serve.

Judge White has served as a Trustee for the full 10 years allowed by state law. He credits his inspiration for doing so to two sources: Ron Miller, a longtime Board member and now Trustee Emeritus, and his own father, whose passion for libraries affected Judge White's youth in ways any child would understand. "When I was a kid, I'd get in more trouble if I didn't return a book on time than for breaking a window," he says. He also recalls the bookmobile visiting his neighborhood and stopping in front of his childhood home.

For Judge White, the pleasures and challenges of serving as Trustee can be two sides of the same coin. One of his favorite moments came amidst a grim episode: the 2010 controversy over whether to close the East Side branch. When the Board met at the neighboring community center to hear from citizens, Judge White recalls how much it pleased him to see the neighborhood's passionate support for the library. Thankfully, the branch remained open, but the event also highlights what Judge White calls a great challenge for Trustees: the impact of financial constraints on library customers--especially children, seniors, and others who benefit from having a library nearby.

Throughout his 10 years of service, Judge White maintained a strong commitment to ensuring the best possible library service for Spokane's citizens. We're sorry to see him go, but we're also grateful he served as long as he did. We'll work hard to continue living up to the standard of service he would expect.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the library's Board, you can get an application at the Mayor's office or from the City's website. For more information, please contact Catherine Gallaher at 625-6250.

Oh Yes, You Can!

It's that time of year again. Get your tickets for the Library Foundation's rule-breaking extravaganza now and you'll definitely have something to look forward to. Tickets are $55 per person, which gets you in to the Downtown Library after hours where we'll have music from 6 Foot Swing, food from David's Pizza and Famous Ed's and beer from River City Red Brewing. This event, now in its sixth year, is made possible by Sterling Savings Bank (our leading underwriter) in addition to Global Credit Union as well as support from David's Pizza and Famous Ed's and River City Red Brewing. We're so grateful to them all!

For tickets and information see the Library Foundation's website or call Foundation Director Sandra Kernerman at 444-5318.

What Do Trees and Libraries Have in Common?

Well, probably lots of things but, in Spokane they have Nancy MacKerrow. Nancy loves both trees and libraries, and she's bringing these two passions together for a tree planting at the Shadle Library. This is not just any tree; it will be part of the Susie Forest. The Susie Forest was started by Nancy in 2003 to honor the memory of her daughter, Susie Stephens (1965-2002), who was killed by a bus while crossing with the light in a crosswalk in St. Louis. She was in St. Louis attending a conference on innovative transportation methods as one of the country's top advocates for pedestrian and bicycle safety. What does a mother do with that kind of grief?! Nancy retired from her job at the South Hill Library and started planting trees. There are now almost 300 trees worldwide that are part of the Susie Forest. When the Shadle Library found they needed a new tree, Nancy asked if it could be donated and become part of the Susie Forest. We responded with an enthusiastic, "yes!"

We want you to help us choose which kind of tree to plant. The City Arborist has chosen two trees that would be appropriate but the final decision is up to library customers. Stop by the Shadle Library (starting mid-March) to vote or do so on our Facebook page.

Be sure to also mark your calendars to join us for this special tree planting on Tuesday, April 10 at 9:30 a.m. outside the Shadle Library. The city arborist will be there to answer any questions you might have about trees (new and old) and Nancy will bring cookies to munch and treegrams you can fill out and hang in the new tree. Pictured above, in another of the Susie Forest trees in Spokane, are some treegrams.

This is just one of the many cool things happening during National Library Week. Plan on stopping by!

We’re Gonna Party Like It's...1940!

What do you know about your family in 1940? Okay, maybe plenty, but now you can find out even more—at a party, no less! The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society and the library will co-sponsor a celebration of the public release of the 1940 census at the Society's regular meeting on Saturday, April 7 from noon-4 p.m. During those hours, you can stop by the Downtown Library's first floor meeting room, discover what the census reveals about your family, and even enjoy cake and beverages. Since the census hasn't been indexed yet, you'll need your family's 1940 residence address so the genealogy volunteers can find their enumeration district number. They can help you with this at the party, or in advance—just bring your family's 1940 address to the library's 3rd floor genealogy section any Tuesday before April 7. Join us and party like it's 1940!

For more information go to the EWGS website at www.ewgsi.org.

Taxes

Tax assistance is available at the Downtown Library! Check here  to see if you're eligible for this free assistance.

Movies!

Join us for A Night at the Opera  on March 14 at 5:30 at the Downtown Library. Free, of course!

Discussion

South Hill's Heart of Spirituality book discussion group continues in March with a discussion of Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies  on March 20 at 6:30.

Job Hunt

Our WorkSource lab is open for those needing assistance with job searches, resume preparation and other employment-related work.

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