State Auditor completes Library audit

The North Olympic Library System was recently audited for the fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The Washington State Auditor's Office spent about two months earlier this spring, reviewing numerous documents, records, and files, and interviewing staff, in order to determine that the Library is complying with all state laws and accounting standards.

NOLS is a junior taxing district, organized under Washington state law and supported primarily by property taxes. Washington has high standards for fiscal accountability, and cities, counties and taxing districts such as fire districts, hospitals and libraries are expected to conduct their business transparently, so that citizens can be part of the process. The State Auditor's office regularly audits public agencies to assure compliance in all areas.

The Board of Trustees is proud to note that the Library district passed the audit with no qualifications or reservations. The auditor's reports can be found here. For more information about NOLS or this audit, feel free to contact me at Director@nols.org.

Summer Reading Program begins June 15

It's an annual tradition at public libraries across the country, and NOLS is no exception. As summer kicks into high gear, libraries launch a major effort to help kids maintain, and even build, the reading skills they mastered during the school year. Summer Reading Programs are just that: a menu of activities and incentives all designed to keep kids' noses in books on a regular basis throughout the summer months, so when they return to school, they haven't lost ground in their reading ability.

This year at all NOLS libraries, kids and the adults who love them are going to be blown away by SRP 2009: Be Creative @ Your Library. Magic, puppets, crafts, snakes will abound, along with lots of fun, interesting and engaging books. All summer, the mission of the staff will be to match every child with just the right books that they will love and remember. And maybe to stretch their interests and reading levels a bit beyond their comfort zones.

The Summer Reading Program would not be possible, this year or any year, without the generous support of the Friends of the Library. The Friends groups in Clallam Bay, Forks, Port Angeles and Sequim each contribute money and person-power to hire the performers, print the publicity, purchase the prizes and take care of all the details that go into a successful summer program. Thank you, Friends of the Library.

Make sure your children, grandchildren and students are signed up for the NOLS Summer Reading Program this year. It's going to be a summer to remember!

Summer Reading 2009 Kicks into Gear!

NOLS is gearing up for another exciting Summer Reading Program at the Clallam Bay Branch, the Forks Branch, the Sequim Branch and the Port Angeles Main Library. This is a great opportunity for children to build their reading skills while enjoying exciting free activities. “Be creative @ your library” is the theme for 2009.

Beginning June 15, children of all ages may pick up an activity sheet at their local library and earn prizes while enjoying fun and interesting reading. Special events throughout the summer include a magician, puppet shows, movement workshops and a reptile expert! Check your local branch for more information. The program ends August 21.

The Clallam Bay Branch is getting a new public service desk. After the expanded building opened in September 2008, many customers asked for a new desk to match the spiffy new surroundings. The Board, staff and Friends of the Library agreed. The new desk is scheduled to arrive next week, and the Library will be closed on Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 28, 2009 to allow staff to demolish and remove the old desk and install the new one. To offset the inconvenience of the Library being closed on these two days, the Clallam Bay Branch will be open instead on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, and Tuesday, June 2, 2009 from 11am-7pm.

The Clallam Bay Branch Library’s normal operating hours are Monday and Wednesday 11am to 7pm; and Thursday and Friday 10am to 5pm. The Branch is closed on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Clallam Bay Branch Library is located at 16990 Hwy. 112 in Clallam Bay. For more information you can call the library at 360.963.2414 or email at ClallamBay@nols.org.

Enhancements coming to NOLS website

Within the next couple of weeks the NOLS homepage will have a new look. A new area on the right side of the page will feature the latest postings from the NOLS blog. An area at the bottom of the page will highlight the latest Library news. There's lots of Library information to share, so we're expanding the capacity of the homepage to allow this to happen. Please let us know what you think.

New Library Board member

The Library has a new member of the Library Board of Trustees. Jim Roberts of Sequim was appointed by the Clallam County Commissioners on April 21, 2009 to complete the 5-year term of Sue Cohn, who resigned because she is moving out of the area. His term will end on December 31, 2013.

Mr Roberts, a retired physician, has lived in the Sequim area for the past 7 years. He serves on the Board of Directors of Providence Health and Services, a regional hospital and health care network, and he has served on the boards of numerous non-profits. He is a past member of the Friends of Sequim Library and he recently chaired the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Sequim Branch Library. His first Library Board meeting will be Thursday, May 28 at the Port Angeles Main Library at 5pm.