Now that the inside of the Sequim Branch Library is so lovely, the Friends of the Library and the staff agreed that there are still some spots on the outside that could use some spiffing up. Earlier this week the junipers on the south side of the building were removed, and the rotting retaining wall was demolished and replaced with a poured concrete enclosure. After the soil is amended a bit, staff will be adding ground cover that requires little to no watering, and which will hold the soil in place. Watch this space!
Thanks to Friends of Sequim Library for their support and encouragement of this project.
The February 26th screening of Babe in Port Angeles was attended by almost fifty people, many children dressed in pajamas with pillows and stuffed Teddy bears in tow.
Main Library Manager Keitha Owen created a movie-watching experience better than any movie theatre! Chairs were set up for the adults, and children lounged on carpet squares. Volunteer Kay O'Neill served up tasty popcorn and animal crackers.
Keitha introduced author, playwright, and film critic Rebecca Redshaw who shared interesting tidbits from the film and the book written by Dick King-Smith upon which it was based. One of the Hoggett family members made a surprise appearance—actually, actress Charlotte McElroy from Sequim--who read from the book.
The sheep in Babe had an uneasy relationship with the herding dogs, but when Tim Whetstine from Gentle Paws brought his dog Crikey in, everyone saw how gentle and loving dogs can be!
Look forward to attending a future movie screening based on an excellent book. Tell your friends, and come on down!
All branches of the North Olympic Library System will be closed from Monday, March 29 through Saturday, April 3 as a cost-saving measure. All employees, including non-union and management staff, will be on an unpaid furlough leave during this time. The Library’s website will not be available, bins for returning library materials will be locked, community meeting rooms will not be available, and all NOLS buildings will go dark. All NOLS libraries will reopen for business on Monday, April 5 at their regular times.
The salary savings will amount to about $35,000 for this one-week period. Other savings in such areas as utilities are estimated to be about $1000. The Library Board is implementing this library closure, and a second one in late summer 2010, to help close an anticipated $163,000 budget shortfall. The balance of the shortfall will be made up by other personnel reductions, buying fewer new books and other materials and by transferring approximately $88,000 from the Library District’s reserve funds. The budget gap is the result of the cumulative effects of inflation, the loss of timber revenue, and Washington law which caps the Library’s property tax budget at no more than a 1% increase per year without a vote of the people.
The Library Board is considering asking the voters of Clallam County to approve a property tax levy rate increase from 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 50 cents per $1,000 in November 2010.
The dates of March 29-April 3 and August 30-September 4 were selected for several reasons. Two separate one-week closures allow the Library to maximize the savings derived from shuttering its buildings and technology. These dates also minimize the impact on the Library’s staff by allowing them to spread what is the equivalent of a 3.8% wage cut over four paychecks (March, April, August and September). The Library employs 51 people throughout Clallam County, 45 of whom are members of the union Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The Library Board appreciates the cooperation of the employee union in agreeing to these furloughs.
For more information about the upcoming Library closure, contact me at Director@nols.org or call me at 360.417.8525.
