November 10, 2008

ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS TOUR THE WINE COUNTRY OF SPAIN

 ROSLYN – The Roslyn Library continues the Armchair Travel Series on Wednesday, November 19^th with “Camino de La Rioja: Touring Spain’s Wine Country.”

Take a tour of the wine country of northern Spain known as "La Rioja" with local resident Julie Miller. Miller spent much of the last year living in Bilbao Spain, and this tour was just one of her adventures. She will present photographs of this stunning region along with her tales of good wine and tasty tapas. 

The presentation starts at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 19^th at the Roslyn Public Library, 201 S. First Street in Roslyn. It is free and open to the public.

###

October 28, 2008

EXPLORE THE FACES AND PLACES OF NEPAL WITH THE ROSLYN LIBRARY’S ARMCHAIR TRAVEL PROGRAM NOVEMBER 5TH

ROSLYN – The Roslyn Library kicks off their 2008-2009 Armchair Travel Series on Wednesday, November 5^th with “The Faces and Places of Nepal.”

Local high school teacher Eric Wickwire spent a month this summer around the Annapurna region of Nepal as part of a group field trip comprised of teachers and scientists. While there, Mr. Wickwire volunteered at a local school teaching English, science and North American geography to high school students. He also worked on land use issues with the locals in the village of Bhulbhule. And he completed an eight day trek within the Annapurna loop of the Himalayan mountains. 

Mr. Wickwire will share his experience of this fascinating country through photographs and stories followed by a question and answer session. The presentation starts at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 5^th at the Roslyn Public Library, 201 S. First Street in Roslyn.

###

October 21, 2008

ROSLYN LIBRARY RECEIVES GRANT FOR NEW CHILDREN’S BOOKS

ROSLYN – Seventy-five brand new, award-winning books for children have been delivered to the Roslyn Public Library thanks to the Libri Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the Washington State Library.

The Eugene, Oregon-based Libri Foundation’s mission is “donating quality children’s books to rural public libraries” and they have donated hundreds of books to the library over the years with matching funds from the Friends of the Roslyn Library. This year, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation provided the matching funds so that rural libraries across Washington, including the Roslyn Library, would receive new children’s books this year.

For a complete list of new books, including the Libri grant’s children’s books, please visit the library online at www.roslynlibrary.org and click the link for “New Books.” Or stop by and see them for yourself! The Library is open five days a week, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Tuesday.

###

October 16, 2008

ROSLYN LIBRARY BOARD HOLDS PLANNING RETREAT

ROSLYN – The Roslyn Library Board of Trustees met last month for their annual planning retreat.

Current trustees include:

• Viva Worthington, Chair: Roslyn resident, Botanist;
• Marc Brodine, Roslyn resident, Writer;
• Susan Johnson, Roslyn resident, Washington State’s Teacher of the Year!;
• Kim Grantier, Roslyn resident, Veterinarian Assistant;
• Tuesday Bosch, Roslyn resident, Pharmacist. (Bosch was appointed to the Board at this week’s Roslyn City Council meeting. Bosch, as a prospective Trustee, was able to attend the retreat.

Librarian Erin Krake facilitated the retreat. Trustees identified their personal goals and expectations, examined current trends, compared the Roslyn Library to other similar libraries, reviewed results of the latest community survey done by the library, and discussed service priorities for the next 1-3 years. These included:

• Facility improvement, including both the renovation in the longer term, and making the current space more comfortable and inviting;
• Expansion of open hours with a long term goal of being open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm every day;
• Continued excellent programming with focus on the new early literacy program “Ready to Read in Roslyn” and more lifelong learning programs for adults; and
  
• Marketing the library collection, programs, and services to increase the use of the library. 

Staff will take the information from the retreat and craft an action plan that the Board can review at their regular monthly meetings. For more information about library goals and objectives, policies and procedures, go to www.roslynlibrary.org and click on “About Us.”

The Library is currently open five days a week, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesday. For more information, call the Roslyn Public Library at 649-3420 or visit the library online at www.roslynlibrary.org. 

###

September 8, 2008

ROSLYN LIBRARY INTRODUCES WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

ROSLYN - There’s a new “WiFi Zone” in town. The Roslyn Library introduced wireless Internet access last week. The new service enables the public to bring their own laptop computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) to the library for work or study via the Internet.

Adding wireless access expands the library’s capability to meet the information needs of the community. The library already offers five (5) public access computer stations that connect to the Internet through fast and dependable DSL service generously donated by Inlandnet. Yet, respondents in their latest community survey said that also having wireless Internet access at the library was a top priority.

“More and more people want to use their own computers for all kinds of reasons,” says Erin Krake, Roslyn Librarian. “Offering wireless service gives the community another way to access the Internet and on their own terms. People have their own machines, so they have all of their own files, their own software, and can stay online as long as they want.”

Krake says that this new service will be especially useful to students at the high school and college level, to travelers and tourists, and to some telecommuters. And, she says, it will be useful to anyone who owns a laptop but isn’t connected to the Internet at home.

 “And they don’t even have to buy a cup of coffee,” she joked, referring to Internet cafes that offer service, at a price. “But, people are always welcome to bring their own coffee in with them.”

The Roslyn Library thanks William Scholten of Learning Access Institute, who helped set the network up and trained staff on how to manage it, and especially John Springer and Inlandnet, who provides Internet service and technical support to the library at no cost.

###

top of page

August 19, 2008

ROSLYN READERS BREAK RECORD

ROSLYN – The windows of the Roslyn Library give you an idea of how much time kids spent reading this summer through the library’s annual Summer Reading Program – each ladybug and flying book taped to the windows both inside and out stands for one hour of reading done.

By August 15^th, the end of the eight-week program, 1,111 reading hours had been recorded. To celebrate, both the Roslyn Library and the Carpenter Library hosted a pizza party in the Cle Elum park. Program participants enjoyed making butterfly masks, meeting Smokey Bear, a water balloon toss (and subsequent water fight), munching on Sahara Pizza, local melon and other snacks, and collecting their reward prizes for reaching the 20 hour reading goal.

“This program helps kids that are reading on their own to maintain their reading skills over the summer months,” said Erin Krake, Roslyn Librarian about the value of the program. “And for the pre-readers, it is just another way for parent and child to stay in the habit of reading together every day. In terms of literacy and learning, I’d say this is a very good thing for our kids. And it’s fun for them too.”

Krake says she relies on local businesses and organizations for funding support to make the program successful. The Board of County Commissioners funds the craft activities portion of the program. Community sponsors include the Friends of the Roslyn Library, Shoemaker’s Manufacturing, and Puget Sound Energy. Community supporters include Fred Meyer, the Roslyn Theatre, Cle Elum Dairy Queen, Central Sundries, and Sahara Pizza.

###

top of page

August 5, 2008

AREA CHILDREN CELEBRATE READING SUCCESS WITH PIZZA PARTY IN THE PARK

ROSLYN – With two weeks left in the summer reading program over a thousand hours have been spent reading or being read to by upper county kids over the past six weeks. To celebrate, the upper county libraries will bring the 2008 Summer Reading Program to an exciting and fun end with a pizza party at the Cle Elum Park on Friday, August 15^th from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, free and open to all who participated in the program this summer.

The party will feature a Sahara Pizza lunch along with snacks and beverages. There will be crafts and an appearance by Smokey Bear (if he’s not out fighting forest fires).

Raffle winners will be announced for all who have spent at least 20 hours reading during the program. Prizes include a $10 Fred Meyer shopping spree and other great prizes for kids of all ages. Kids over ten are eligible for an mp3 player. Participants have until Wednesday, August 13^th to turn in their reading logs to be eligible for the raffle. 

The following generous sponsors and supporters have made this year’s program a great success: Kittitas County, the Friends of the Roslyn Library, Friends of the Carpenter Library, Puget Sound Energy, Shoemaker’s, Fred Meyer, the Roslyn Theatre, Central Sundries, and Cle Elum Dairy Queen.

June 17, 2008

LIBRARIES INVITE CHILDREN TO “CATCH THE READING BUG” THIS SUMMER

 ROSLYN – Area libraries will be hosting kick off events in the next two weeks for their annual summer reading programs for local families. The theme for this year’s program is “Catch the Reading Bug!” and participating children will be treated to lots of buggy stories, crafts, entertainment and treats for the next two months. 

Here in the upper county, the Carpenter Library will hold its kick off party on Friday, June 20^th at 10:30 am and the Roslyn Library kicks off their program on Tuesday, June 24^th at 1:00 pm. Kids will sign up for the program and receive their reading logs and schedule of events, along with a free book and ice cream.

The goal of the program is to keep kids reading during the summer months. As incentive, participants receive toys or lottery tickets for time spent reading or being read to by others. 

The program is open to all children from birth through age 17. All children who spend at least 20 hours reading over the 8 week program are entered into a raffle for a chance to win prizes, including a Fred Meyer shopping spree and, for kids over 10, an mp3 player.

In addition, libraries offer stories and crafts every week. For a schedule of events, stop by or call the Carpenter Library at 674-2313 or the Roslyn Library at 649-3420. A schedule of events at the Roslyn Library is also available online at www.roslynlibrary.org. Summer reading program activities will also be held at the Ellensburg Library on Wednesdays (962-7250) and at the Kittitas Library on Thursdays (968-4078). 

The program runs through August 15^th and is free and open to all. Sponsors and supporters for the program so far include Kittitas County, the Friends of the Roslyn Library, Shoemakers Manufacturing, and the Friends of the Carpenter Library.

###

top of page

April 28, 2008

ROSLYN LIBRARY OFFERS NEW ONLINE GRANT-WRITING RESOURCE

ROSLYN – The Roslyn Public Library now provides free access to a powerful and easy-to-use database that helps connect our community with available money.

GrantStation is an interactive website that allows grantseekers to identify potential funding sources for their programs or projects, and mentors them through the grantseeking process.

GrantStation provides access to a searchable database of grantmakers who are actively accepting inquiries and proposals from a variety of organizations; federal grant deadlines, which are updated twice a week; links to state funding agencies; and a growing database of international grantmakers.

To access the GrantStation database of funding opportunities, you must be on a public computer in the Roslyn Public Library. This service is not available remotely. Library staff will log you on to the database and are available to help patrons get started on their searches.

“GrantStation is an amazing resource we can offer our community groups, like downtown revitalization groups, church groups, local government, parent groups, clubs, etc. so they can secure funding for their projects and make our community a better place,” says Erin Krake, Roslyn Librarian.

This new service has been made possible through the Washington State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development with funding from the Washington State Legislature. It will be made available to all libraries in Washington State through 2010, including the Carpenter Memorial Library in Cle Elum, the Ellensburg Public Library in Ellensburg, and the Kittitas Public Library in Kittitas.

“The subscription is already paid for, so it would be wise to take advantage of it while we have it,” Krake adds. “You can’t get this kind of information just out there ‘on the Internet.’ It doesn’t exist for free.”

###

April 28, 2008

FRIENDS OF THE ROSLYN LIBRARY RECEIVES PLUM CREEK FOUNDATION GRANT

ROSLYN – The Plum Creek Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to The Friends of Roslyn Library to support the rehabilitation of the library and Old City Hall building, built in 1902.

Over 70 percent of the building has been closed to the public for decades due to disrepair. The building is considered to be the anchor of the Roslyn Historic District and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Planning and fundraising for its restoration has been undertaken as a partnership between the nonprofit Friends of the Roslyn Library and the City of Roslyn.

“The Plum Creek Foundation grant will help us preserve the historical integrity of Roslyn, while also providing a place for community members to congregate and learn,” said Rachel Carey, president of Friends of the Roslyn Library.

“We’re honored to be active and supportive members of the communities in which we live and work,” said Hank Ricklefs, vice president, northern resources and manufacturing for Plum Creek. “The Plum Creek Foundation recognizes and supports nonprofit organizations that enhance and support the lives of many Washington residents.”

The Roslyn Library and Old City Hall building is  gearing up for the first phase of construction, which will address all immediate stabilization projects needed to address the building’s endangered condition. Upon completion, the building will provide an expanded library and a community hall that will be used for public meetings, classes, events, and art and cultural exhibits.

Please visit www.plumcreek.com, “community involvement” for more information on the Plum Creek Foundation and to obtain an application.

###

top of page

March 3, 2008

LIBRARY DINNER AND AUCTION RAISES MONEY FOR BUILDING RENOVATION AND GARY PARSON BOOK FUND

ROSLYN – Tickets were sold out by 6:30 pm on March 1^st, the snowy night of the Friends of the Roslyn Library’s biggest fundraiser for the Roslyn Library. “Seussapalooza II” gathered 175 people together at the old ballroom next to the Roslyn Post Office for a chili feed, silent auction and local art and entertainment. When it was all said and done, the event raised nearly $7,000 for the Roslyn Library.

The mission of the Friends of the Roslyn Library, a non-profit organization created in 1996, is to raise money and support for the Roslyn Library. Last year, they donated $2,300 directly to the library and invested nearly $20,000 more for the renovation of the library’s historic building and a computer equipment replacement fund they are growing to plan for the future technology needs of the library.

This year, the Roslyn Library has requested that half of the proceeds from Seussapalooza be invested in a new endowment fund the library has created called the Gary Parson Book Fund.

Roslyn Librarian Erin Krake explains:

“This fund was made possible by a bequest from the late, great Gary Parson of South Cle Elum. Those who knew Gary know how much he loved books, almost as much as trains and maybe as much as classic cars. So, in his honor, the Roslyn Library Board of Trustees asked the City of Roslyn to invest the bequest money into a book endowment fund and to call it the Gary Parson Book Fund, which they did late last year. The library’s goal is to grow this fund with community support and use the interest from it to spend money on books and other materials. The more money we add to it, the more we can spend each year. And we will be using a significant portion of it as an “opening day” fund for the day when the building has been renovated and we move back into the building with more room to work with.” 

Hosting a successful fundraising event takes a lot of work, but the small group of auction volunteers does it with uncommon zeal. The event raised more money than last year by over $1,000, thanks to the volunteers’ commitment and the generous support of the community’s businesses and artists.

“There was something for everyone,” says Katia Merkel, auction co-chair. “It’s an event that sort of has it all – good food, funky entertainment, and lots of different items and services up for auction.”

There were more than a dozen kinds of chili to try, including Councilmen David Porter’s famous Texas Chili. Local brew was donated by the Roslyn Brewery while the Spirit Mine contributed wine. Entertainers included elementary school children performing music, comedy and a unicycle act. Millie Radonovich sang the favorites for which she is known, accompanied by Trombone Player Roy. Pharmacist Dave Arnold recited Dr. Seuss poetry. Former Roslyn Mayor David Gerth soloed on his saxophone. Marc Brodine and Art Solbakken played the blues on guitar and harmonica, respectively. And Dr. Sam Schneider juggled fire, a very sharp knife and a potato without burning or maiming any of the little children gathered, openmouthed and bright-eyed, to watch him.

“People come for different reasons,” Merkel continued, “But the bottom line is that it’s for a good cause – the Roslyn Library.” 

Matt Chase, the elementary school principal who emceed Saturday night’s event, left with a smile. “I’ll be back next year!” he promised. He did such a great job, the Friends of the Roslyn Library are certain to hold him to that.

For more information on the Gary Parson Book Fund and how you can contribute to the endowment, call the Roslyn Public Library at 649-3420.  For information on joining the Friends of the Roslyn Library, call the library or visit online at http://www.roslynlibrary.org/Friends.html. The Friends meet at the Roslyn Library on the last Thursday of every month.

###

top of page

February 14, 2008

PUGET SOUND ENERGY FOUNDATION AWARDS $5,000 GRANT TO FRIENDS OF THE ROSLYN LIBRARY FOR RENOVATION PROJECT

ROSLYN – The Puget Sound Energy Foundation presented a check for $5,000 to the Friends of the Roslyn Library to help the grassroots group in their efforts to renovate the historic building that has housed the city’s public library since 1914. The contribution brings the group’s renovation fund up to $25,000 – a small, but locally significant part of the $800,000 raised for the project to date. The first phase of construction is expected to begin this spring.

The Puget Sound Energy Foundation is committed to energizing communities by supporting programs that deliver meaningful and measurable community impact. The renovation of Roslyn’s old city hall / library building is just such a project. Not only will the historic building be saved from demise and made safe, efficient and accessible, it will be brought back to its original and full life, with a bigger library and a unique space for cultural events and community meetings in the old gymnasium. The expected impacts will be cultural and economic, and, most importantly, meaningful to the community, as the expanded use of the building honors the past, addresses the needs of the present, and looks forward to the future of the upper county.

###

top of page

 January 29, 2008

PRESCHOOLERS GET “READY TO READ IN ROSLYN”

“You are your child’s first and best teacher” was the message to parents and caregivers at the Roslyn Public Library’s “Ready to Read in Roslyn” party for preschoolers and their parents last week at the Harold Weis Memorial Building in Roslyn.

Fifty free tote bags filled with books, toys and early literacy materials and information were handed out by the library at the event, which was funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation through Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State / Washington State Library with a match from the local Kiwanis Club.

Information for parents included the six skills that children need to get ready to learn to read and write – what is known as “early literacy.” And a special “story time” with Erin Krake, Roslyn librarian, was fun for the kids and educational for the parents, as they learned how to develop those six skills in their children through story telling and spending time with books.

Parents as Teachers, a parent educator organization that offers one-on-one and group parenting classes, provided entertainment and education with parachutes and songs, and children and parents sang and played together. Lunch and snacks were provided to the parents and children who attended. All of the Headstart and Upper County Cooperative Preschool classes and their parents were invited to attend the special event and party, and many of the children under five who attend Busy Buddies Day Care Center also received the free tote bags.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” Krake said, “one in which all of the parents of this area’s children under five learn of their role in early literacy and the resources available to them to boost those pre-reading skills and get their kids ready to read.”

Krake added that the county’s libraries are the number one resource for parents with young children, because they have the materials, programs and expertise related to literacy and early literacy. Both the upper county libraries have weekly story times, summer reading programs, and special collections for children from birth to five.

Children enrolled in preschools, taught in the upper county by Annie Buchanan at the Upper County Cooperative Preschool and Brianne Rouse at Headstart, will likely be much more prepared to read and learn when they enter kindergarten, Krake said. That is why she wants to make sure the parents with kids at home or in private day care are reached. She hopes to expand the “Ready to Read in Roslyn” project in the coming years to include them. 

“Reading and literacy is so very important,” Krake says. “More than ever, success in life depends on our ability to read and write well. At the Roslyn Library, we have the resources parents need, and this early literacy program is our way of reaching out to those who may not think of it, or may not know how to access all we have to offer.”

As for now, there are fifty households in the upper county that have new books and literacy materials in them, and those parents know about their own important role in their child’s early literacy as well as the resources in their community to help them.

The Roslyn Library’s weekly story time is on Tuesdays at 10:30 am and the Carpenter Library’s is 10:30 am on Fridays. With the new reciprocal borrowing agreements in place, residents of all cities in the county with existing library service may borrow materials from the other libraries in the county free of charge. This means there are thousands of books for preschoolers available to borrow for free within a 25 or 30 mile area.

“This first event was a great kick-off to what we hope will be a long-standing community program,” Krake concluded. “The children really enjoyed it, and so did the parents and teachers. All of us did.”

###

top of page

December 11, 2007

FREE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN @ THE ROSLYN LIBRARY 

There couldn’t be a better time to bring your children to the Roslyn Library. More than 100 free books are waiting there for every child who walks in the door, thanks to a donation from Inland Telephone Company made by Lisa Weis just last week.

“She said the company had won some money from a golf tournament, and that Inland wanted it to go the community,” explained Erin Krake, Roslyn Librarian. “So, they gave the Friends of the Roslyn Library a check for $250 so every kid who came to the library could walk out the door with their very own book to keep.”

Krake says she was able to immediately buy over 100 books with the money through the school’s book fair last week, which offered brand new books for all ages at two-for-one prices. Children of all ages will be able to explore the big box of books to find their book of choice, until the box is empty.  

For more information, call the Roslyn Public Library at 649-3420 or visit the library online at www.roslynlibrary.org.  The Library is open five days a week, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Tuesday.

###
top of page