Camano Community

Library tax holds slim approval

A tax increase proposal that would help maintain library services across Snohomish and Island counties gained a little breathing room Wednesday as another large batch of ballots was counted.

via www.heraldnet.com

Sno-Isle Library pins hopes on levy increase

The Sno-Isle library system is seeing tough times, from the inside out.

More people are using the libraries in the 21-branch system in Island and Snohomish counties, and officials from Sno-Isle Libraries say the sputtering economy is the main reason why.

But the library system is itself ailing in this economic downturn. It’s facing a $2.5 million shortfall, and library officials are freezing salaries, cutting the pay for their highest-paid employees and chopping the budgets for new materials and equipment. Officials are also pushing back the replacement of a library computer system until 2011.

via www.pnwlocalnews.com

Libraries cut pay, ask for levy hike

“Our last ballot measure was in 2003,” said Mary Kelly, director of community relations and marketing for the library system. “We are limited to a 1 percent revenue increase each year, but our expenses have risen by well over 1 percent a year.”

via www.pnwlocalnews.com

For today...

Today, Tuesday, September 22, 6:00 pm, Camano Senior and Community Center, Public Hearing.  CARE, Camano Action for a Rural Environment, wants to let you know about the public hearing on Tues, Sept 22 regarding the new Camano Gateway Zone affecting commercial property along highway 532 in the Gateway. The new proposed zone says no to gas stations and yes to small motels.

The Yes for Libraries campaign committee needs your help

Over the next couple of weeks, volunteers are needed to call voters on Camano Island and identify those who will vote "yes" on the levy lift for Sno-Isle Libraries. We will focus on those precincts that have voted favorably in the past which include Country Club, Livingston Bay and Utsalady. 

Sno-Isle Libraries scales back, looks to tax increase

From the Herald:

The Sno-Isle Regional Libraries Board of Trustees has come up with more than $1.2 million in budget cuts for 2010 and will ask voters to consider a tax rate increase that would raise about the same amount next year.

Cuts approved for 2010 include a 3 percent salary cut for the top six highest-paid Sno-Isle employees and three other senior staff members.

There also will be a salary freeze for all other employees as well as cuts in spending on materials and equipment. In addition, improvements to the libraries' computer system have been delayed until 2011 and more than a dozen full- and part-time positions will remain vacant.

Continue reading...

Sno-Isle Libraries to seek 9 cent levy increase in November

From the Whidbey News-Times:

Sno-Isle Libraries officials are hoping to use a combination of a levy increase and cutbacks to close a multi-million-dollar budget hole.

The Sno-Isle Board of Trustees unanimously approved a proposal Monday to ask voters to approve a 9 cent per $1,000 property tax increase.

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Library seeks community feedback on possible cuts

Facing a $2.5 million deficit in 2010, Sno-Isle Libraries is looking to its public for feedback on possible cuts that would impact library service at a meeting tonight from 7-9pm  at the Stanwood Library 9701 271st. NW.  The meeting will provide customers with information on the library district’s budget and an opportunity to weigh in on service reductions under consideration. In addition, there will be discussion about the viability of a library levy lid lift election later this year. 

Those who are unable to attend are invited to participate virtually, through the Sno-Isle Libraries web site: www.sno-isle.org.  The site includes an interactive budgeting process, as well as an opportunity to share comments on the possibility of a library levy lid lift election this year. 

Feedback from the public, staff, and community stakeholders will be shared with the Sno-Isle Board of Trustees at its June 22 meeting.  

For more information on library services in your area, please call the Sno-Isle Libraries Service Center at 360/651-7000 or 1-877-SNO-ISLE (1-877-766-4753), or visit the web site at www.sno-isle.org.

Book lovers question library budget

From the Whidbey News-Times:

With a levy election on the table to help Sno-Isle Libraries close a budget shortfall, Whidbey Island residents expressed concerns that such a tax increase wouldn’t pass.

They were attending a meeting Thursday night at the Oak Harbor Library, pressing library officials about salary information and how much those costs are expected to increase.

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Fear in the Night

As part of Sno-Isle Libraries “Big Read,” of Dashiell Hammett’s detective classic, “The Maltese Falcon,” teens are invited to a tribute to film noir at 7:00 p.m., Friday, May 15th at the Stanwood Library.  This after-hours party will include a screening of the 1955 film “Kiss Me Deadly,” as well as electronic gaming, and teens are encouraged to dress as 1950’s detectives and gangsters. 

Contact the library for more information, 360-629-3132.

Coupeville Library Expansion Funded By Voters

Following the wishes of Coupeville voters, Island County Commissioners John Dean, Angie Homola, and Helen Price Johnson Monday, May 4, convened as the Coupeville Library Capital Facility Area Governing Body to pass Resolution 2009-2, providing for the issuance and sale of a $2.3 million unlimited tax general obligation bond, as authorized by state law and approved by voters in Coupeville Library Capital Facility Area at a special election August 19, 2008.

Nearly 65% of voters approved establishing the library capital facility area, which coincides with the boundaries of Coupeville School District , and 60.63% said yes to funding the $2.3 million project. Based on an estimated 7.5-cent levy rate, a $200,000 assessed value household would pay $15 per year. The funds finance the acquisition, remodeling, expansion, furnishing and equipping of the existing Coupeville Library, operated by Sno-Isle Regional Library.

New law will help rural library districts

OLYMPIA — The governor has signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, to provide greater clarification concerning levy rates for rural libraries.

“When propositions to create rural library districts appear on the ballots, there’s uncertainty as to what levy rates will be imposed and the measures could fail by small margins,” Haugen said. “I think this bill will help voters better understand exactly what they’re voting on.”

Library seeks community feedback on possible cuts

MARYSVILLE, Wash. – Facing a $2.5 million deficit in 2010, Sno-Isle Libraries is looking to its public for feedback on possible cuts that would impact library service.  The meetings will provide customers with information on the library district’s budget and an opportunity to weigh in on service reductions under consideration. In addition, there will be discussion about the viability of a library levy lid lift election later this year. 

Camano Island Library Third Thursday Readers

Since everyone else will be reading “The Maltese Falcon” in May as part of The Big Read, we’ve been asked to bump our discussion about the book until May (so we won’t be tempted to tell folks the ending!)

So for our April 16 meeting at 9:30 AM, we’ll talk about “Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood” by Alexandra Fuller. “The Maltese Falcon” will be our choice for our May 21st meeting. Copies of “Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight” available now, “The Maltese Falcon” should be available by April 11th.

Questions? Call the Library at 360-387-5150 (ask for Sam Spade!)

Bev Paulson featured speaker at library meeting

Camano artist, Bev Paulson, will be the featured guest speaker at the April 14th meeting of the Stanwood/Camano Friends of the Library at the Conference Room of the Stanwood Library at 11:00 AM.

Paulson, a Storypainter, paints in exquisite watercolors and acrylics. She finds her inspiration in the company she keeps: furry or feathered creatures, the love and exuberance of children, the wondrous spirit of the aging, and last, but not least, the delicious colors, textures, and moods of the great Pacific Northwest.

She is currently exhibited at the Seagrass Gallery and The Islander Restaurant on Camano Island. Paulson is a member of the Stanwood-Camano Art Guild and The Camano Arts Association.

A second guest speaker, Sno-Isle Library Director Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, will discuss the library district financing.

Get homework help from the library

Get free online tutoring from professional educators.

• "Homework Help" allows one-on-one real time communication with a tutor. 
• "Skills Building" provides lessons in a chosen skill set. 
• "Writing Lab" gives constructive feedback on compositions. 
• "Email Tutoring" sends emailed responses to questions instead of live tutoring.

Online tutoring for grades 3 through 12 is available at HelpNow with a library card.

Ready Readers: Storytime

We'll have stories, songs and crafts for preschoolers and toddlers. Caregiver required. Fridays at 10:30 beginning April 24 at the Camano Island Library Pilot Project at Terry’s Corner.

Branch Manager David Menard 387-5150.

Camano Island Library Friends

Everyone welcome! The Friends are the generous folks who are working to make our Library a permanent fixture on Camano Island . Enrich your community through the library and enrich your life! Thursday April 23 at 7 PM at the Camano Island Library Pilot Project at Terry’s Corner.

Branch Manager David Menard 387-5150.

Restoring the Historic Camano City Schoolhouse

by Roy Lesher

 In the early 1900's, Camano City was a lively community with several stores, a post office, small lumber mills, a ferry dock and the one room Camano City schoolhouse.

Jim Turk will host a discussion on efforts to preserve and maintain the schoolhouse onThursday April 2 6:30 PM at the Camano Island Library Pilot Project at Terry’s Corner.

Branch Manager David Menard 387-5150.

Third Thursday Camano Island Readers

Take part in The Big Read, a community reading event. Join us for a discussion of “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett. In this classic American novel, private investigator Sam Spade becomes embroiled with a mysterious client, avenges the death of his partner, and chases a priceless treasure.

It will be held Thursday April 16 at 9:30 AM, Camano Island Library Pilot Project at Terry’s Corner.

Branch Manager David Menard 387-5150.