Friends of the Olympia Library

NOTES BETWEEN FRIENDS

Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library
Eighth and Franklin, Olympia, WA
October - November 2005

The library will be closed:
Nov. 24 and 25;
Dec. 24, 25, and 26.

“SYLVESTER’S WINDOW” UNVEILED
The Olympia Timberland Library presented the series of water-colors depicting downtown Olympia in a ceremony held at the library on October 25th. The eight paintings view Olympia from the perspective of the third-floor window of the home of Edmund Sylvester, founder of Olympia. The scenes cover the period 1841 to 2001. Sylvester Park is shown in most of the paintings. Cheryl Heywood, Olympia Community Librarian, Jodi Reng, Director, Timberland Regional Library, and Mark Foutch, Mayor of Olympia, welcomed the audience. Drew Crooks, historian for the Lacey Museum introduced Lynn Erickson, project director and Robert Chamberlain, the artist.

Lynn Erickson developed the idea when she attended a social services conference in 2001 where a “Cityscape Project” showing changes over time in an imaginary city was displayed. She thought it would be a wonderful idea to do the same in Olympia. She found the sponsors, consulted with local historians and persuaded Bob Chamberlain to do the paintings. “I’m ecstatic to be at this point in the project” she told the audience. When asked how he felt about doing the project Chamberlain said, “It was a lot of work but very satisfying. I’m proud of it.” Chamberlain, a Thurston County native and area resident, did a similar project depicting the history of the timber industry.

Over twenty five educational and business groups and individuals sponsored the project. Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library paid for the framing of the 30 by 67 inch paintings now displayed in the library. The library will have several kits with smaller versions of the pictures and narratives about them available for the public. Local downtown Olympia bookstores will have them for sale. The kits will be used in local schools to educate children about the history of Olympia.

At the end of the ceremony Erickson and the mayor removed the wrapping from the eighth painting which shows the 2001 Art Walk. A reception was held in the meeting room.

COMING EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY

PageTurners
PageTurners will meet December 2nd to discuss “Vienna Kisses” by Wilfried Lippman, a local resident. The novella was inspired by a cook book that Mr. Lippman bought at a Friends of the Library book sale. The recipes brought back memories of his boyhood in Vienna. The stories are about the struggles to survive after WWII. The discussion will begin in the library at 10:00 a.m. The Senior PageTurners will discuss “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent” on November 15th, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Olympia Community Center.

Maisy the Mouse Visits the Library*
Pre-schoolers will enjoy having their pictures taken with Maisy, a popular book character and television star. (Parents, bring your cameras). There will be other fun activities as well on November 16, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Insect Safari*
Entomologist Don Ehlon will display his collection and talk about what bugs are and what they do on November 12, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Registration is required. Call 352-0595.

A Holiday Show with Marionettes*
Puppets Please presents a holiday puppet variety show for pre-school children on December 12, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Registration is required. Call 352-0595

Science Magic with Jeff Evans*
Jeff Evans returns with his popular science show with a little magic on December 28, 11:00-11:45 a.m. Free tickets will be available at the Information Desk approximately 20 minutes before his show. Space is limited to 52.

*Sponsored by Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library

DATABASES ADDED TO THE LIBRARY
Timberland has added seven databases which can be accessed through the Timberland Regional Library website. These data bases include:

• Columbia Gazetteer of the World—An encyclopedia of geographical places and features.
• Daily Life Through History—Portrays daily life for ordinary people in different cultures throughout history.
• Grantselect—Provides name and contact information for grants offered by government agencies, commercial organizations, and private foundations.
• Newsbank—The Centralia Chronicle—Content of local and regional news.
• Culturegrams—Articles about the cultures of 182 countries and territories, the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Find out about the people, land, customs, lifestyle, recipes, and more.
• Ethnic News Watch—An interdisciplinary, bilingual (English and Spanish) and comprehensive full text data base of newspapers, magazines and journals from ethnic, minority and native presses.
• Alt-Press-Watch—Comprised of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the alternative and independent press.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER MEETINGS

• During the September meeting a guest, Annie Cubberly, from the Child Care Action Council described the “Raising a Reader” program. The children in the program are provided a book bag filled with three books they may borrow for one week. Each week they return the books and receive new ones. She requested $1,000 to expand the program. The request was approved.
• Jean Finely was elected to serve the remainder of Mary Campbell’s term as secretary.
• Cheryl Heywood announced that Timberland has added seven databases.
• “Sylvester’s Window” project paintings are framed. Lynn Erickson is producing kits with reproductions of the paintings and biographical information. Cheryl asked the Friends to purchase four kits: two kits to be laminated and accessed in the library, one to circulate and one to hold as backup.
• Cheryl presented the Timberland Regional Library 2005-2010 Strategic Plan. A flyer has been produced which describes the plan and how it was developed. Copies are available on the web site www.trlib.org or by phone 704-4636.
• The board approved $1,000 for upcoming expenses.
• Carrie Dye, Coordinator of Youth Services, reported on the success of the summer reading program and requested $3,295 for the Fall/Winter programs. The request was approved.
• Members of the board were taken on a tour of the library to see some of the changes which took place over the summer, most of which were funded by the Friends.
• Approximately $3,700 gross was made at the Fall book sale.
• It was reported that 20 people regularly attend PageTurners at the library; 18 attend the Senior PageTurners at the Olympia Center.
• Friends will purchase another bike rack for the library.
• The Adult Winter Reading Program will take place in January through March, 2006.. Friends will provide book bags and books off the sales shelf as prizes. TRL will also have prizes.
• Timberland submitted a grant application to the Gates Foundation for $93,000.