by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Happy nearly-springtime to all those B-Town Bookworms out there!

DID YOU KNOW?

Voters Approve Levy Lid Lift for libraries!!

Thanks to dedicated community advocates and library supporters, voters approved Proposition 1 on the February 9 special election ballot by 52%, authorizing a one-year increase in the property tax level to fund essential library services.

With the passage of Proposition 1, voters restored the full allowable library levy rate of 50¢ per $1,000 assessed property value for 2011.

The additional revenue will sustain library operations, including hours of service, new and replacement materials, computers and software upgrades, and regular preventive maintenance.

Thank YOU VOTERS!!

KCLS WELCOMES RENTON LIBRARIES, PATRONS & STAFF:
Renton Libraries are now part of the King County Library System! Though many details involved in merging the library systems are being worked out, two key changes are now in place for Renton Library patrons:

1. Expanded library hours in downtown Renton.
2. Immediate eligibility for a Seattle Public Library Card.

Welcome!!

PROGRAMS AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES:

• TechConnect!!! Burien Library Saturday March 13th 10am -2pm: TechConnect is an interactive library open house showcasing the many ways KCLS technology connects you to reading, recreation, entertainment and lifelong learning.  Whether you’re tech-savvy, tech-challenged or somewhere in between, TechConnect will enhance your use of the library!  King County Library TechLab van will be in our parking lot demonstrating the latest in downloads available.  TechConnect stations will be set up throughout the first floor of the library demonstrating our databases, how to use the library catalog, children’s story time online, and much much more. There will also be Spanish language station ‘Biblioteca’ showing library technology for Spanish speakers.  Visit every station and enter to win the prize drawings, winners announced on the hour, must be present to win.  Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• Crumac Concert: Burien Library, Sunday March 14th 5pm. This Irish trio creates traditional music on fiddle, uilleann pipes, whistles, and guitar
  Ages 5 and older.
• Get Loose with Seuss! Burien Library, Friday March 19th, 10:30am. Presented by Harmonica Pocket. Sing along with the Doctor’s ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’ and other Seussian favorites! All ages welcome Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! White Center Library, Friday March 19th, 3pm. Presented by Harmonica Pocket. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with stories, songs and silliness. Sponsored by the White Center Library Guild.

BOOK REVIEW:
‘The Eight’ By Katherine Neville

Part historical fiction, part mysticism, part modern day suspense thriller – this tale follows the discovery and disappearance of the powerful Montglane Chess Service. The chess service imbues unlimited power to anyone playing. The task of hiding and protecting the chess pieces from abuse falls upon the novices of Montglane Abby in the year 1790.  In 1972, modern day computer expert Catherine Velis is hired to recover the valuable chess pieces and soon finds herself entangled in a global plot.

Excellent!

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members will receive a briefing at tonight’s regular meeting (7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22) on the King County Library System’s (KCLS) process for siting libraries.

The presentation will be made by Bill Ptacek, director of the King County Library System, and Denise Siers, director of KCLS Public Services.

And odds are good that they will hear an earful during public comments at the beginning of the meeting from North Highline residents – many of whom will become Burien residents on April 1 – concerned about the future of the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries.

The Library Service Area Analysis will also be discussed at the KCLS Board of Trustees monthly meeting at 960 Newport Way NW in Issaquah on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 5 p.m. The document can be accessed here (as a PDF file).

That meeting will include the trustees’ quarterly public forum, during which library patrons can speak on matters of concern for more than the three minutes usually allowed for each person, and library siting is expected to be a key issue for discussion.

Funding for replacement or expansion of both the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries was part of a bond issue approved by King County voters in 2004, which is paying for new and renovated facilities throughout the KCLS service area.

That bond issue included construction of the new Burien library, which opened last June.

But Ptacek signaled last fall that he might be backing away from what library patrons voted for in 2004, when former King County Executive Kurt Triplett offered to sell Puget Sound Park to the KCLS.

Ptacek indicated at that time that the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries could be closed and consolidated in a new library building at the park site – a preliminary move that generated strong opposition from patrons served by the libraries in both communities.

Burien City Council members and City Manager Mike Martin strongly objected to a sale of the park because it is located in southern North Highline, which will be annexed by Burien on April 1. New county Executive Dow Constantine agreed and last month announced that Puget Sound Park will be transferred to the city as part of annexation.

Since then, however, the proposed KCLS Library Service Area Analysis has left White Center and Boulevard Park residents still ill at ease about the future of their community libraries.

Rachel Levine, a member of the White Center Library Guild, recently noted that the siting process is based too much on numbers and not enough on people. Her remarks pose a contrast to Ptacek’s statement in his director’s report for Tuesday’s meeting:

“It was a surprise to hear that the City of Seattle plans to pursue the annexation of the North Highline area. This would extend the current City limits all the way to 112th street. If this occurs, the Greenbridge Library would be in Seattle and the Boulevard Park and White Center libraries would be close to the boundary. Obviously this development would have a major impact on the service area analysis KCLS has planned for the area,” he wrote.

“We are meeting with the Burien City Council on February 22 to discuss library services in the North Highline area that will annex to Burien and will use that occasion to present the current draft of the Library Service Area Analysis Policy. KCLS will use that process before taking any action on library services in the area.”

Burien City Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who is also a member of the KCLS Board of Trustees, told the other council members on Feb. 8 that the library board will not be discussing the status of these two libraries until the question of which city, Seattle or Burien, annexes northern North Highline is resolved.

Burien’s “old library” building is in the midst of a major renovation, and when it’s completed it’ll serve as a temporary new home for the Community Center, as well as offices for Burien Parks & Recreation Department.

Our friends at Burien Parks released this video Monday (Jan. 25th) showing the progress:

by Ralph Nichols

Although Puget Sound Park no longer is under consideration as a potential site for a new King County library, White Center and Boulevard Park residents remain concerned about the future of their community libraries.

And little was said to ease their fears when the Planning Committee of the King County Library System (KCLS), chaired by library trustee Lucy Krakowiak, who is also a Burien City Councilwoman, met at the Burien Library on Thursday, Jan. 14.

Library system Director Bill Ptacek did tell those in attendance from the Highline area “the park is no longer an issue.” In November, the library system considered buying Puget Sound Park as the site for a new facility to consolidate White Center and Boulevard Park libraries.

But the planning committee also got their first look at a list of goals and metrics for a Library System Area Analysis that, Ptacek said, would help determine “the equitable distribution of library resources” throughout the library district.

This process will guide the trustees in identifying what is needed to provide good library service, rather than just responding to “who talks the loudest,” he added.

Board of trustees president Robert Spitzer later observed that if their goal system wide is to be “oriented toward consolidation,” then the most equitable approach would be to “build a 200,000 square foot library in the center of our service area.”

“There is a balance to be reached between efficiencies and meeting community needs,” Spitzer continued. That includes “considering the level of community involvement and access.”

Rachel Levine, a member of the White Center Library Guild, said the “metrics don’t mean anything if they don’t meet the needs” of these under-served communities.

Noting that the 2004 library bond issue, passed by voters throughout the library district, included funds for new or expanded library buildings in White Center and Boulevard Park, Levine asked, “Why should we wait for that new library with the money there?”

Ptacek said the metrics would be only the first step in a process for siting any new library. “The nature of the library business is changing, with outreach and technology,” he noted. “There is more to it than just four walls … it is old fashioned to look at a library building only.”

But, responded Levine, “Library buildings are important because that’s where it happens … we have a very proud history [at the White Center Library] and we intend to keep it.”

Highline residents will have an opportunity to address the library trustees during public comment at board meetings on Jan. 26 and Feb. 23. Both meetings begin at 5 p.m. at the library administration’s administrative offices at 960 Newport Way NW in Issaquah.

The February meeting includes the board’s quarterly public forum at which those speaking can take longer to make their points than the usual three minutes.

North Highline’s community libraries became an issue in November when word got out that former King County Executive Kurt Triplett had entered into an agreement that would sell Puget Sound Park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. to the library system.

The library system planned to use the park as the site for a new facility, where the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries then would be consolidated.

However, Burien objected to the sale of the park, which is in southern North Highline that will be annexed by the city on April 1. Two weeks ago, new King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that the county will cede the park to Burien as part of annexation.

The future of the two libraries, which is a library system and not a city issue, remains unresolved.

Before the Planning Committee meeting started, some in attendance criticized Ptacek and Krakowiak for sitting with their backs to the audience and indicating they would not introduce themselves. Introductions by the trustees and staff subsequently were made.

So…what do YOU think the King County Library System should do? Please take our Poll, or leave a Comment below…

Burien Parks has released photos of the remodeling of the former Burien Library, which will be the new home for the Burien Community Center.

The re-purposed facility is scheduled to open in late April of 2010, with a total cost of just under $1.5 million.

Here’s what the friendly Parksfolks say:

This collection of photos will document the remodel of the former Burien Library as the new home for the Burien Community Center.

The repurposed facility will open in late April 2010.

The general contractor on the project is McKinstry Essention; architectural design services provided by James Cary, Architect pc.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow courtesy Burien Parks:

Click to View Photo Slideshow

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members and Highline-area residents made their case on two issues of considerable local concern to trustees of the King County Library System (KCLS) at their Dec. 15th meeting in Issaquah:

1. Puget Sound Park is an asset that rightfully should go to Burien when the city annexes about half of the North Highline unincorporated area, perhaps in early March.
2. Neighborhood libraries in White Center and Boulevard Park should remain open and not be consolidated in a new library building, perhaps at Puget Sound Park.

And both matters should be discussed openly, with affected citizens given ample opportunity to express their views at conveniently located public meetings.

KCLS Director Bill Ptacek and several trustees responded that, until this meeting, they were unaware of the facts supporting Burien’s claim to the park, and of community concern about their neighborhood libraries.

They apparently lacked both information and perspective on these issues despite the fact that Burien City Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak is also a member of the KCLS Board of Trustees.

The comments were made during a scheduled public forum. No action was expected or taken. However, both Ptacek and trustees assured the representatives from Burien and North Highline that an involved public process will precede any decision on either the park or the libraries.

Puget Sound Park is located at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St. just two blocks beyond Burien’s current northern city limit. Residents of the southern half of North Highline, which includes that five-acre site, voted in August to be annexed by Burien.

But before leaving office late last month, former King County Executive Kurt Triplett put in his 2010 county budget $600,000 from a planned sale of the park to the KCLS.

Triplett included that item after a letter of intent for the purchase of Puget Sound Park was signed by the library system in early November.

He also budgeted the one-time anticipated revenue to pay for maintenance of parks in other unincorporated areas of the county next year.

Burien city officials were never told by Triplett about the pending sale, learning of it only in a second-hand way on Friday, Nov. 20.

The new budget was approved by the county council on Monday, Nov. 23; new Executive Dow Constantine took office the next day.

In the past, Constantine has strongly opposed efforts by the executive’s office to sell Puget Sound Park.

Ptacek has expressed an interest in the library system acquiring the property and consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries, which would be closed, in a new facility at that location.

Asked earlier this week about this conflict, Constantine said, “Clearly we need to have an arrangement that works for the city of Burien … as well as for King County. We need to slow this process way down to hear from everybody.”

Constantine said the county is “entering into a conversation with the city of Burien” – something that was not done by Triplett – “with everyone at the table … to make the best of the situation that I inherited.”

Burien City Councilwoman Rose Clark told the library trustees, “I’m heartbroken that such a deal could be struck [by the county] with the library without anyone coming to us [the city council] and … the two libraries in North Highline that would be closed.”

“I had a lot of [negative] emotions when I learned the county wanted to sell Puget Sound Park. No one came to us to ask our interest … it was presented to us as a done deal.”

“I encourage you to have a good public process … before final decisions are made about the park and the neighborhood libraries,” added Councilwoman Kathy Keene.

“We have some real concerns,” Keene said. “The park needs to go back to the people where it belongs.”

“This kind of 11th-hour dealing by the county really gives the county a bad name in its dealings with the city,” Councilman Gordon Shaw declared.

“Many details remain unanswered should the library system eventually buy the park,” Shaw continued. “Would the library system build a new facility on part of the land and give the rest to Burien? Would it use the entire park? Would it leave the land undeveloped?”

“This whole thing doesn’t seem to be well thought out,” he said, voicing the hope that the issue is settled with the park going to Burien.

“Just to set the record straight,” Ptacek interjected, “I was led to believe there was communication … between the city and the county [executive’s office]….

“I was told if we were able to purchase the park, some of the money would go the city” for park maintenance along with the rest of that property for use as a park. “Now,” he said, “we hear that Burien considers this an asset….

“I assure everybody in this room that we will not proceed without a full public process,” Ptacek added, noting the letter of intent has expired so it no longer is an issue.

Burien “never asked anybody for money for [city] parks,” Clark advised the library trustees.

White Center resident Rebecca Wells said “to take away the White Center Library and move it to Puget Sound Park would be a prohibitive distance for White Center residents,” including students who use it after school.

Ed Dacy, a member of the Burien Parks Board, highlighted the importance of this park to east Burien, which is underserved by parks. Then, pointing to a wall map of the library district, he reminded the trustees that distances appear closer than they really are.

If the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries were consolidated, residents of both neighborhoods would have to take buses into downtown Burien and transfer – just a few blocks from the city’s new library – to get to another new library at the park site, Dacy said.

“To close both of these libraries would really be a disservice to both communities,” he concluded.

White Center Library Guild member Rachel Levine told the trustees that the 2004 library bond, which was approved by county voters, includes funds for new or remodeled libraries in both White Center and Boulevard Park.

“Maybe it’s not the most efficient or economic thing to have small community libraries, but libraries are part of the people infrastructure of a community,” Levine said. “People depend on them. So it was a shock to us to hear about a possible consolidation … [that] would be very inconvenient for many.”

She said people “still need libraries that serve the community, that are within walking distance, that are within biking distance, that are within busing distance.”

“The bottom line,” said Liz Giba of White Center, “is that there is a lot of poverty, a lot of people who walk to the library. To consolidate these libraries would really put at risk a lot of my neighbors and would really put at risk a lot of kids.”

Closing the two neighborhood libraries and using Puget Sound Park for a library “would take away three assets” from the Highline area,” Giba continued.

“Please do the right thing,” she urged the library trustees. “Please stand up for the people of White Center and Boulevard Park. Please show that you really do care.”

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Happy Holidays to each and every one of our fine bookworms out there!

Can you believe it’s almost 2010? (and isn’t that the “Year We Make Contact“?)

Please note that all King County Libraries will be closed on Thursday, December 24th and Friday, December 25th for the Christmas Holidays.

Also, all King County Libraries will also close at 5pm on Thursday, December 31st for New Year’s Eve and remain closed on Friday, January 1st 2010, New Year’s Day.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Burien Library Guild is now sponsoring the ongoing book sale at the Boulevard Park Library. Bring your donations of gently used books to the Boulevard Park Library, all sales collected from this book sale will be used to sponsor programs at the Boulevard Park Library.

The Burien Library Guild continues to sell used books in their ongoing sale at the Burien Library as well.

The Guild is also selling ‘Book Lover’s Calendar’ 2010 for $8 each at the Burien Library – a great bargain and a wonderful gift!

The King County Library System selection department has put together a list of the Best Books of 2009 - check it out here.

PROGRAMS:

Burien Library:

• Opera Preview : Verdi’s  ‘ll Trovatore’ presented by Norm Hollingshead
• Wednesday December 23th beginning at 7pm
• Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild
  Visit http://www.kcls.org/events/opera.cfm for a complete list of Opera Preview times and locations.

• Holiday Magic, for children ages 5 and older.
  Thursday December 31st beginning at 11am
  Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.

White Center Library:

• Fiestas – Early Literacy Parties in Spanish
  December 10th & 17th 6:30pm-8pm
  The ‘Fiestas’ are workshops designed for Spanish-speaking families to prepare their children for Kindergarten. Las ‘Fiestas’ son talleres disenadow para los padres hispanos que preparan a sus hijos para el Kindergartern
  Sponsored by the KCLS Foundation

Visit http://www.kcls.org/programs/ for a complete list of programs throughout the library system.

BRANCH LOCATIONS:

• Burien Library – 400 SW 152nd St Burien (206.243.3490)
• White Center Library – 11220 16th SW (206.243.0233)
• Boulevard Park Library- 12015 Roseberg Ave S (206.242.8662)
• Greenbridge Library -9720 8th Ave SW (206.762.1682)

BOOK REVIEW:

“My Dream of You” by Nuala O’Faolain

When middle aged travel writer Kathleen de Burca returns to her native Ireland to research a scandalous love affair between a landlord’s wife and an Irish peasant during the potato famine she finds herself examining her own desires and needs as passion comes to her in the form of a married man.

The story is both an historical account of Irish history and a contemporary novel.

Wonderful, sad, uplifting.

Fiction.

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

KCLS Board of directors

Greetings,

Please cease any discussions with King County in regards to transferring any ownership or easement rights in Puget Sound Park prior to the annexation of the park area into the City of Burien.  The proposed action is akin to buying (Burien as buyer) a car (Puget Sound Park), having the dealer (King County) sell all four tires to a third party (KCLS) prior to delivery and offering the original buyer the price of one tire!  If not illegal, it is certainly morally bankrupt on the part of the dealer.  Any third party would also be morally if not legally culpable for taking possession of property that rightfully belongs to the original buyer.

The possibility of purchasing the rights offered by King County to the Puget Sound Park should be negotiated in an open manner with input from the affected communities.  With the upcoming vote on the Library levy lid, KCLS can ill afford to alienate voters in White Center, Boulevard Park and Burien.

Sincerely,
Douglas and Maria Sykes
Burien

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us your "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review, we'll most likely post it. Otherwise, feel free to leave a Comment below...]

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members had their first face-to-face discussion with a representative of the King County Executive’s office on the divisive issue of Puget Sound Park at their Dec. 7 meeting – and they didn’t blink.

Following a lengthy – and amicable – exchange of views with new Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett, the council agreed to delay once again setting March 2 as the formal date for annexing the south half of the North Highline unincorporated area.

City lawmakers made it clear to Jarrett that they consider the latest attempt by King County to sell the park – which was in the works before Executive Dow Constantine took office on Nov. 24 – a breach of trust.

And they remained equally adamant that Puget Sound Park, located at 1st Ave. S and SW 126th St. in the unincorporated area, is a county asset that rightfully should be transferred to Burien with annexation.

Jarrett appeared before the Burien council at the request of Constantine, who sent his regrets at not being able to attend the meeting. Prior to his election as county executive last month, Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council and served as council chairman this year.

“We’re all in a place that we would really choose not to be,” Jarrett told the Burien council. “Our goal in all this is to be good partners and to reach an accommodation that meets the needs of both” the city and county.

Constantine, who in the past has strongly opposed efforts to sell Puget Sound Park, “is constrained by prior action of the [county] council,” he continued.

Before leaving office, former Executive Kurt Triplett included in his 2010 county budget an anticipated $600,000 from a planned sale of the five-acre park to the King County Library System. This one-time revenue is expected to pay for maintenance of county parks in unincorporated areas next year, Jarrett said.

Constantine had nothing to do with putting revenue from the sale of Puget Sound Park into the new budget and, Jarrett noted, “Dow did slow the [sale] process down” by asking Triplett not to act on a letter of intent with the library system.

Triplett complied with that request and, Jarrett said, the time to exercise the letter of intent has now elapsed.

However, Constantine presided over the county council meeting on Nov. 23 – the day before he was sworn in as executive – when it unanimously approved a $5 billion county budget for 2010.

“The Council has crafted a budget that protects public safety [and] keeps parks open in the unincorporated areas,” Constantine said following that vote.

Earlier this year, he wrote then-Executive Ron Sims, strongly objecting to any sale of Puget Sound Park for low-income housing, which was under consideration at that time.

Constantine also told the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council that the property should remain a park and should go to Burien if annexation took place.

King County Library Director Bill Ptacek has expressed interest in the library system acquiring Puget Sound Park and consolidating the White Center and Boulevard Park libraries, which would be closed, in a new facility at that location.

City Councilwoman Rose Clark told Jarrett it is “really reprehensible that at the 11th hour [before annexation] – 11:30 almost – the county says, “Oh, by the way, we’re going to sell the park and use the money for parks in other areas … and not tell you about it until the [county] council has voted” on it.

“To do that is a disservice to the Highline area,” Clark said. She then asked if the only way to keep other county parks open “is to take this park from Burien?”

Jarrett said that since anticipated revenue from selling the park is already in the new county budget, if the park is not sold cuts would have to be made or a source of replacement revenue would have to be found.

Nevertheless, he added, “We want to work with you. We want to be partners. We want to stop unilaterally actions by the county.”

“We would welcome that,” Clark replied.

Later, Jarrett said he and Constantine want to settle the park issue “in a different way. We just want to do this in a way that meets the needs of both sides.”

Clark insisted that as city and county officials discuss this matter, all meetings should be public, involve the city council and not just staff, and be held in Burien, which is a more convenient location than downtown Seattle for local citizens with a direct interest in the park.

Mayor Joan McGilton emphasized the important of parks in bringing the diverse cultures in Burien together. “We have [no parks] on the city’s east side,” she said.

And Councilman Gordon Shaw observed that the pending action by King County “proves the old adage that ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ … the whole thing doesn’t feel right.”

Burien officials learned about Triplett’s attempt to sell Puget Sound Park just days before the city council was scheduled to set March 2 as the formal date for annexing much of the North Highline unincorporated area – and just days before Triplett left office.

The city council then put the setting of an effective date for annexation on hold – and City Manager Mike Martin has declared that annexation won’t happen until Burien gets this park as part of the deal.

During public comment prior to the council’s discussion with Jarrett, Russ Pritchard, representing the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, noted that the council has twice voted unanimously to oppose the sale of Puget Sound Park.

Yet, Prichard said, the county is now attempting to sell the park without first receiving public comment.

Burien resident Ed Dacy said “a park is a jewel, and that “sale of a park, even for a library, should not happen without an extensive public hearing. What else are they [the county] trying to sell in the back room?”

Dacy also said City Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who also is a member of the King County Library System board of trustees, “must recuse herself” from voting on this park-or-library issue “due to a conflict of interest.”

Krakowiak later said while she wears two hats, she represents the city first and as a library system trustee recuses herself from votes involving Burien.

Rachel Levine, a member of the White Center Library Guild, said the pending sale of Puget Sound Park and possible closure of that library took them by surprise.

White Center was promised a new or expanded library through the library bond issue that was approved in 2004, Levine said. And the library, which “gets lots of use” with many patrons arriving on foot or bicycles, remains essential to the academic success of many Evergreen High School students.

“We can’t let go of the social network of our community,” she added. “We’ve already lost the Evergreen Pool – for the moment.”

Pat Price of Boulevard Park said residents there from students to the elderly “really need their library … we can’t find this acceptable to close two libraries to build one.”

North Highline resident Liz Giba said “to take away libraries from two communities that need them … is an ugly, ugly approach. We need libraries that are accessible … [and] the county told us this park would be saved.

“It’s time for King County, please, to treat us with a little bit of respect. We’ve been working for annexation for a long time. This is the latest step by the county to make it more difficult.”

City council members also agreed to delay adoption at Monday’s meeting of an amended budget for 2010 that would reflect both revenue and expenses associated with annexation. Instead, they will vote on Dec. 14 on a revised budget that does not include annexation unless the park issue is resolved before then.

So…what do YOU think? Please take our Poll, or leave a Comment below…

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting will be a potluck on Sunday, Dec. 13th from 2pm to 4pm at the main floor conference room of the Burien library.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting: “Join us for potluck and a roundtable discussion.  Bring ideas and a dish to share.”

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 13th from 2pm to 4pm – doors open at 1:30pm

WHERE: Main floor conference room of the new Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd

INFO: “Come join us for learning, exploring and more…”

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

All King County Libraries will be Closed Thursday, Nov. 26th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

DID YOU KNOW?

The King County Library System offers a variety of databases to help you with everything from business information and directories to homework help.  See our featured database at http://www.kcls.org/databases/

Testing & Education Reference Center:
Get ready for the big tests in your life – AP, SAT, GED, MCAT, and civil service – with practice tests, ebooks, and planning advice from #1 names in college and vocational prep, Peterson’s and ARCO.

BOOKS & READING:
Visit http://www.kcls.org/booksandreading/index.cfm for a list of books we recommend, new books, and book club resources.

PROGRAMS:

Literary Feast
LOCAL AUTHORS Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck will be at the Burien Library Saturday, Nov. 21st  from 2pm- 4pm.

Northwest authors Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck will visit the Burien library on Saturday Nov. 21, for a book-reading and signing event. The best-selling local authors are featured in the book, “Literary Feast, The Famous Authors Cookbook,” which is a compilation of 100 food, drink and dessert recipes from scores of well-known authors and writers.

Singing Thanksgiving at the Burien Library Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 10:30am! Presented by Harmonica Pocket
. All ages welcome.
 Celebrate the holidays with American Folk tunes including Over the River and Through the Woods, Turkey in the Straw, and This Little Light of Mine. This dynamic musical duo will have everyone singing and dancing along.

Rock! Rock! Rock! at the White Center Library Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 6:30pm! Presented by Rowbes.
 Ages 2 and older welcome.
 This original children’s rock concert is performed by some crazy puppet musicians. 
Rowbes is better known as Dewy the Dog from Story Time with Dewey and Sketch: Season 2.

Visit http://www.kcls.org/season/ for a complete list of all upcoming library programs!

Why Can’t You Behave? Ideas for Handling Misbehavior at the Greenbridge Library Saturday, Nov. 21st at 1pm

Presented by Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed., Priceless Parenting, LLC
 – Learn ways to set effective limits, deal with adult-child control issues and use positive techniques for dealing with issues like tantrums, tattling, begging at the store and bedtime. 
Provides 2 hours STARS credit in Child Guidance.

BOOK REVIEW:
‘Wild Swans; Three Daughters of China’ by Jung Chang.

From turn of the century China through the 1980s Chang traces 3 generations of women.

Her grandmother, born in 1907, was a concubine as a young girl, her mother was a Communist party member and official, and she was a member of the Red Guards in the late 60s.

China’s evolution from a feudal society to present day told through the experiences of one family brings to life the incredible hardships and successes that have shaped the country.

Non-fiction, and definitely worth a read!

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

It’s “Binational Health Week” and the Sea-Mar Community Health Center is holding a FREE Health Fair at the Burien Library Saturday, Oct. 10th from 11am to 4pm.

There will be clinical screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, weight, asthma, vision, HIV, dental and cholesterol, as well as a presentation by Mayor Joan McGilton, fire truck (and photo ops), kids activities, a raffle with prizes and much more…all FREE.

Here are the details:

Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting this Sunday, Oct. 11th from 2pm to 4pm at the Burien library.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 11th from 2pm to 4pm – doors open at 1:30pm

WHERE: The new Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd

INFO: Jeff Kelley-Clarke from Seattle City Light will be the guest speaker. He will be speaking at 2 p.m. on how Seattle City Light can help residents and small businesses with energy conservation.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Sustainable Burien Holding Garden/Birthday Party At B/ IAS On Saturday, Aug. 8th
• Sustainable Burien Installs Community Gardens At B/ IAS

by Ralph Nichols

Just over six months from now, a new Burien Community Center will open to the public in the old library building at SW 146th Street and 4th Ave. SW.

Remodeling of the 20,000-square-foot library building is expected to begin in late October or early November, following the permitting process, with completion anticipated by the end of January, says Michael Lafreniere, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

McKinstry Co. of Seattle has been awarded the contract for general construction, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and electrical improvements. The building was vacated in June when the Burien library moved into the new library/city hall building at SW 152nd and 4th Ave. SW.

The new community center will include programs for seniors; the remodel will include a small kitchen for catered meals for seniors.

Lafreniere expects his department will begin the move from the existing community center at SW 144th and 4th Ave. SW in February, and that staff will have everything “ready and running come April” for the start of Parks and Recreation’s spring program schedule.

The total cost of transforming the library building into a community center is just under $1.5 million.

Final approval for spending that amount on this project came on a 4-2 vote by the Burien City Council last month as lawmakers authorized transfer of $425,000 from the city’s general fund and Parks and Recreation budget and another $75,000 from the Capital Projects Reserve Fund.

Councilman Gordon Shaw strongly dissented, calling it “foolish” spending, and Councilwoman Rose Clark cast a “reluctant” no vote because of financial realities.

The remodeled library is expected to house the community/senior center only for three to five years, when plans call for a new community/senior center to be built at the current site – if the economy improves and if voters approve a bond issue to finance construction.

Shaw argued that instead of spending over a million dollars on a temporary facility, that money should be put in the bank, which when make a new community/senior center building more affordable when that day comes.

Kristy Dunn, the department’s recreation supervisor, says the remodeled library will house seven rooms for a variety of arts, learning and recreation programs, a larger “gathering space” for the community, an area for teenagers, possibly a dedicate space for exercise equipment, the catering kitchen, and staff offices.

“The new facility will cater better to the idea of a gathering space for all the community,” Dunn observes. The space will be “welcoming and integrated into an all-ages community center.”

Less than two years ago, preliminary plans called for construction of a new $35 million Burien Community Recreation Center that would include senior programs, with work beginning last July and a grand opening projected for January 2011.

But those plans were put on hold when the federal and state economies tumbled in 2008 and local sales tax revenue also declined.

City Manager Mike Martin says that following the move of the Parks and Recreation programs to the remodeled facility next spring, a number of non-profit programs will continue to operate out of the current community center building.

These include the Burien Little Theatre, Para Los Ninos, and Pre-School Cooperative, and White Center Head Start until its facility is rebuilt.

So what do YOU think about this? Please Comment or take our poll below…

An informational meeting regarding Health Care Reform Options is coming Sunday, Sept. 20th, from 2pm – 4pm at the Burien Library.

Sponsored by Heath Care For All -WA, South King County Action Team, it will include:

• Video Presentations
• Commentary
• Q & A’s

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Have you visited the new Burien Library yet? Do you have a group who would like to meet at the Library? Did you know you can book a meeting room online?  Click here to do it: www.kcls.org/meetingrooms/index.cfm. Library tours are also available for groups upon advance request – call  206-243-3490 for more information.

DID YOU KNOW?
The Burien Library Guild needs your help!  We are seeking donations of used books in good condition for adults and children. Please remember us when cleaning out your closets! Your donations support the wonderful programs we are able to have at the Burien Library including our ‘Opera Previews’ and ‘Sing Into Reading’ listed below.

You can now follow the King County Library System on Twitter!  Check it out at www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/widgets/ for all the details and linkage.

We have made it easy for you to keep track of your library materials, track what’s due, what’s overdue, and what items are ready for you to pick up using this new feature called ‘Library Elf’ – find out how to sign up at www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/catalog_help/library_elf.cfm.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS:

• Opera Preview: Wednesday, Sept. 16th beginning at 7pm – “La Traviata’ by Verdi, presented by Norm Hollingshead, sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• Burien Book Group: Wednesday Sept. 16th – “Omnivore’s Dilemma: Search for a Perfect Meal in a Fast-food World” by Michael Pollan. The book group meets in the conference room on the second floor of the Burien Library beginning at 2pm…everyone is welcome
• ‘Barking Buddha: Yoga for You and Your Dog’ demonstration presented by author Brenda Bryan in conjunction with the City of Burien’s ‘Wellness Fair’ Saturday, Sept. 19th at 1pm in the Burien Library.

PROGRAMS FOR TEENS & CHILDREN:

• SAT Prep: Five FREE sessions to help you prepare for the SAT. Practice exams will be scored. Participants must attend all five sessions and will receive an official SAT Study Guide. Registration is Required beginning September 5th; Saturdays Sept 26th, Oct 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 10AM; Presented by Sandwiess Test Prep.
• ‘Sing Into Reading’: Saturday Sept 12th, 10:30AM & 11:30AM; Presented by Nancy Stewart. Ages 5 and younger with a parent. Registration begins Saturday August 29th. Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild

For a complete list of programs and story time events at our libraries visit the KCLS homepage at www.kcls.org/programs/index.cfm.

BOOK REVIEW:
“The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seekers Guide To Making Travel Sacred” by Phil Cousineau.

This beautiful little book will make you look at the way you travel in a whole new way.  Every journey you take, be it long or short, can become a part of your personal spiritual development.  If you are looking for a more focused or deeper meaning to your travels this lovely book will instruct and inspire.

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting on Sunday, Sept. 13th from 2pm to 4pm at the library.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 14th from 2pm to 4pm – doors open at 1:30pm

WHERE: The new Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd

INFO: From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Sustainable Burien Holding Garden/Birthday Party At B/ IAS On Saturday, Aug. 8th
• Sustainable Burien Installs Community Gardens At B/ IAS

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Summer is here dear Readers, which means it’s time to slather yourself with gobs of SPF750, cover your nose with zinc oxide, then find a shady spot and read a great book borrowed for FREE from your brand new library!

DID YOU KNOW?
All of the public-use computers in the King County Library System are being updated to Microsoft Office 2007! Visit our webpage for tutorials on all Office 2007 software here.

TEENS & SUMMER:

• “Read Three, Get One Free Summer Edition & Video Book Review Contest” is going on! Be sure to get your entries in by August 31st to be eligible to win fabulous prizes, like a laptop computer and cool Flip Video cameras! Check out our website to get all the details and entry forms here.
• Study Zone – keep your brain tuned up for school! Burien Library Wednesdays this summer beginning at 3:30pm.

PROGRAMS:

• The Summer Reading Program for elementary and preschool kids is underway. There are lots of free and fun programs coming to a library near you. Check out ALL KCLS Summer Reading Programs on our website here.
• “Up Up & Away” – spellbinding scientific experiments for ages 4+ at the White Center Library Tuesday July 21st 2pm, Sponsored by the White Center Library Guild.
• “Create a Puppet” – come and build your own puppet for ages 3+ at the Boulevard Park Library Tuesday July 28th 11am.
• “Rock Out with Recess Monkey” – blast off with imaginative rock n’ roll – all ages at the Burien Library Wednesday July 22nd 11am.

FOR ADULTS:

• Master Gardeners at the Burien Library every Wednesday beginning at 5pm and Saturdays beginning at 11am in the lobby.
• ESL (English as a Second Language) Tuesdays & Thursdays through August 16th at the Burien Library, class starts at 6:00pm, presented by Highline Community College.

BOOK REVIEW:
“Marco Polo, from Venice to Xanadu“ by Lawrence Bergreen: Marco Polo has fascinated readers since his ‘Travels’ first appeared for European readers in the 13th century.

At the age of 17, Marco Polo’s travels began when he accompanied his father and uncle to the court of the infamous Mongol leader Kublia Khan. Essentially held captive by Kublia Khan for over seventeen years, Marco served as an emissary for the great Khan during his ‘coming of age’ years. Marco kept a journal of his travels and years later collaborated with Rustichello da Pisa to compile ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’. Many revisions and additions were made to the ‘Travels’ over Marco’s life time, the original manuscript did not survive.

Though many did not believe much of what Marco Polo claimed to have witnessed (some still don’t), Bergreen, in this most recent book, uses 19th and 20th century Chinese scholars to verify many of facts and events that Marco Polo claimed to have witnessed. An extremely readable and fascinating book that most vividly brings to life the fabulously wealthy and powerful Kublia Khan.

This biography is available on CD too, which makes it not only worth a read, but worth a listen as well!

‘Til next time, we’ll see you on the beach with a great book (and plenty of sunscreen)!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

This Saturday, June 27th, at 2:30pm a PBS Frontline documentary called “Sick Around the World” will be shown at the new Burien Library’s multipurpose room on the first floor.

A discussion on health care in the US will follow.

There is no charge, and the screening is open to the public.

Here’s a trailer of the video:

Here’s some info on the film from the PBS website:

Four in five Americans say the healthcare system needs fundamental change. Can the U.S. learn anything from the rest of the world about how to run a healthcare system, or are these nations so culturally different that their solutions would not be acceptable? FRONTLINE correspondent T.R. Reid examines the healthcare systems of other advanced capitalist democracies to see what ideas might help the U.S. reform its broken healthcare system.

In Sick Around the World, FRONTLINE teams up with veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent T.R. Reid to find out how five other capitalist democracies — the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland — deliver health care, and what the United States might learn from their successes and their failures.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

The Grand Opening of the beautiful new Burien Library will be this Saturday, June 13th beginning at 10am!

The Library (along with the new Town Square) will open its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony, programs throughout the day, food, giveaways, story times, building tours, and lots more! The new library also features an automated materials handling machine that will check your items in, give you a receipt, and sort the item for shelving.  Check out www.kcls.org/bond/groundbreakings.cfm for all the details.  Our new address is 400 SW 152nd Street.

If you have books you need to return before this Friday, June 12th, please drop them off at one of our sister libraries:

• White Center Library is located at 11220 16th Ave SW
• Boulevard Park Library is located at 12015 Roseberg Ave S
• Des Moines Library is located at 21620 11th Ave S (in Des Moines)

We Thank You for your patience during this transition period!!

COMING UP:
“Be Creative @ Your Library” is this year’s Summer Reading Program theme.  The Summer Reading Program kicks off on Monday, June 15th.  Our children’s librarians are busy right now making school visits and preparing programs.  See www.kcls.org/srp for complete details.

BOOK REVIEW:
“Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague“ by Geraldine Brooks:

Based on the true story of Eyam, the “Plague Village”, located in the rugged mountains of England in 1666.  As a young widow with small children, Anna Firth, finds herself intensely involved in caring for the sick and dying residents of her small mountain village.  The townsfolk make the decision to quarantine the village in hopes of stopping the plague from spreading.  As the disease ravages the village fearful villagers react with fear and jealousy as Anna and the town’s minister try to keep the town from falling into complete chaos.

This is a riveting novel that really brings to life the ethical and emotional impact dealing with the plague must bring.

Highly recommended!

See you in the brand new stacks this weekend!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

As everyone has shown time and time again, we’re a strong community here in Burien, whether we’re using our beloved library or whacking invasive weeds in a local park or helping neighbors in need, and the month of May will show everyone just how strong we are with this upcoming, helpful, community-oriented event:

‘Look to Your Library’ job-hunting help from May 1st – May 8th at ALL KCLS Libraries!

Across the county people are feeling the economic pinch: layoffs, reduced hours, decreased benefits and mounting bills. To help people cope and get back on their feet, KCLS is hosting how-to demonstrations of the latest job search and financial tools.

All libraries will open one-hour earlier than normally scheduled each day that week.

Look at our website for all the details.

The Burien Library Guild has generously agreed to bring coffee and donuts for Burien Library patrons May 1st and May 2nd.

COMING UP:
Japanese Paper Cutting Workshop Presented by Aki Sogabe:

• Saturday May 2nd at 2pm at the Burien Library
• Ages 7 and older
• Using her books as an introduction to the ancient art of Japanese paper cutting, this book illustrator will help participants create an origami and paper cut project.
• Please bring scissors. Registration required.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
Grand Opening of our New Burien Library is set for Saturday June 13th!

This will be an all day event, with music, speeches, food, and programs throughout the day – Don’t miss it!

The New Burien Library is located at 400 SW 152nd St (corner of 152nd & 4th), and the Burien Library Guild is sponsoring refreshments inside the library for the celebrations.

For news and pictures of library construction projects throughout the county visit http://www.kcls.org/bond/

On May 15th at 6pm the current Burien Library will close its regular operation.

On Saturday May 16th we will be open limited hours for book returns and holds pick up. We will not have public use computers or reference services during this time (May 16-June 8th).

From June 9th until our Grand Opening on June 13th the Burien Library will be completely closed. Please visit our nearby libraries for reference services and public computers during this time.

Visit our webpage at http://www.kcls.org/locations/index.cfm for a complete list of library locations and open hours.

We appreciate your patience during our move, and we look forward to seeing you in our new digs!

BOOK REVIEW:
“Autobiography of a Face“ by Lucy Grealy:

Ms. Grealy tells her life story from age 9 when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. In stark and touching detail Grealy shares her remarkable strength, humor, and resilience as the cancer progresses.

The cancer eventually takes 1/3 of her jawbone.

Her struggles to remain ‘normal’ and continue to give and receive love are beautifully written in this moving story.

In “Truth & Beauty: A Friendship,” Ann Patchett writes about her long and special relationship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy (author of ‘Autobiography of a Face’). A heartbreaking and tender story of friendship and commitment.

Read together these two books provide special insights on love, laughter, and the beauty of life.

Highly recommended!

See you in the (new) stacks soon!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Despite tough economic times, interest rates are low, you can get tax credits, and home prices continue to drop, so believe it or not – now is a good time to buy a home, and this Saturday, April 18th there will be a free Home Buying Class at the Burien Library from 10am to 11am.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Opportunity Knocks: A Home Buying Class”

WHEN: Saturday, April 18th from 10am — 11am

WHERE: Burien Library, located at 14700 6th Avenue SW

INFO: In this class you’ll learn:

• Current market conditions
• Steps in the home buying process
• How to negotiate price, terms & conditions
• What’s in a credit report
• How to improve a credit report
• Loan approval process

RSVP: Pre-registration required; call 206-419-6950. More info at this meetup website.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Happy Spring my sprouting B-Town Bookworms from your Empress of Information!

LIBRARY CARD CONTEST:
Create the next new Library Card!

That’s right – your art can grace the new library cards, so get busy!

Winners will be announced May 29th, and there are three levels of competition:

• Elementary, Grades 3 and up
• Middle School/Junior High
• High School

Entries may be submitted until April 30, 2009.

Winners will be selected by a panel of children’s and teen librarians and other KCLS staff.

Each winner receives a $100.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble-funded by the King County Library System Foundation.

Check out www.kcls.org/librarycardcontest/ for all the details

DID YOU KNOW?
From the KCLS Homepage you can access practice tests for the WASL and SAT tests.

We have partnered with Brainfuse to offer this new online tutoring service.

Visit www.brainfuse.com for all the details.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:

• Saturday, April 4th at 1pm: ‘Recess Monkey’ Live! Will Hop Bump and Bounce into Spring! All ages. Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild
• Wednesday, April 29th 10:30am: ‘Nursery Rhymes & Tales’ Puppeteer Peter Allen tells the story of ‘The Little Duckling Who Couldn’t Quack’ All ages. Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild.
• To see our entire list of upcoming events and programs, click here.

Visit the KCLS Programs page for a complete list of programs throughout the Library System.

BOOK REVIEW:
“Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America” by Erik Larson.

A true ‘thriller’ in every sense of the word!

Local writer Erik Larson’s research illuminates the genius behind the innovative 1893 Chicago ‘World Columbian Exposition’.

Daniel H. Burnham, architect of the fair, was responsible for the construction of the famous ‘White City’ around which the fair was built. There were numerous obstacles, including the death of this partner, that had to be overcome.

At the time the Exposition was going on another sort of genius was busy in Chicago as well – serial murderer, H.H. Holmes, was entrapping young women in his home and executing them in a sealed room while he watched them die.

Larson weaves these two stories together as skillfully as any novelist, but the difference here is that these two stories really happened.

Absolutely gripping!

Comes in large print, on CD and is available for download as an ebook from the KCLS homepage as well.

See you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting on Sunday, April 5th at the Burien Library, from 2pm-4pm (with doors opening at 1:30pm), speaker Susan Casey will talk about community gardening.

WHAT: Sustainable Burien gathering with Speaker Susan Casey discussing community gardening; She has been involved with P-Patches, composting, transportation issues and parks since 1985 in the Seattle area. She served on Friends of P-Patch [including as chair] for over 10 years; more info on Susan here.

WHEN: Sunday, April 5th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm (doors open at 1:30pm)

WHERE: Burien KCLS Library, located at 14700 6th Ave SW (see map below)

INFO: Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

View Larger Map

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Greetings and salutations to all B-Town Bookworms from your Empress of Information!

DID YOU KNOW?

• The King County Library System now offers downloadable books, audio books, video, and music from several sources. Just visit: http://www.kcls.org/ecollection/ for all the downloadable details.

• February is “Black History Month” so be sure to check out Burien’s book display celebrating the event. The Burien Library also houses the “African American Achievement” collection located in the Teen Zone.

• Our brand new Burien Library is really taking shape! Have a look at all the construction pictures at http://www.kcls.org/bond/burien/ and get ready for our Grand Opening Celebrations!! Date to be announced. To whet your appetite, here’s a photo – check out the nice curved windows and view:

• FREE Job Hunting Seminars @ the Burien Library. Monday evenings 6:30-8:30pm, Feb 23rd, Mar 2nd, Mar 9th, and Mar 16th. Don’t miss this great series that brings experts from the human resources and recruiting world to share job search tips, resume do’s and don’ts and information on online applications and government jobs. Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild. Call or visit the Burien Library for seminar details.

• “Your Money or Your Life” presented by Liesbet Trappenburg @ the Burien Library on Saturday February 28th beginning at 1pm. This program is part of KCLS’s ‘Fiscal Fitness’ series, visit http://www.kcls.org/events/fiscalfitness.cfm for all program listings.

• 2009 ‘Literary Lions Gala’ March 7th beginning at 6pm at the Bellevue Library. Nancy Pearl of ‘Book Lust’ fame will emcee the event and Garth Stein author of ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ is the keynote speaker. See http://www.kcls.org/literarylions/ for all the details.

• Check out all the fabulous programs in our ‘Many Voices, One Land’ series ‘celebrating the traditions of many cultures that bring us together in community’ including:

• The Burien Library will host ‘Discovering Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, a Community Research Project’ Saturday March 21st 1-3pm, visit http://www.kcls.org/manyvoicesoneland/ for a list of all the programs being offered throughout the King County Library System.

• The White Center Library will host ‘Songs & Stories of the Coast Salish Peoples’ on Wednesday March 4th at 6:30pm

• PLEASE NOTE: Story Time at the Greenbridge Library is now at 2pm every Wednesday for ages 2-6 with an adult. More info here.

BOOK REVIEW:
“Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” by Alice Schroeder.

Ever wonder how to become a billionaire?

Read how Warren Buffett, a decidedly low key and down home personality became one of the richest men in the world.

Author Alice Schroeder gets up close to the highly private and personal life of Mr. Buffett. Includes insights on his personal and business friendships and dealings with such persons as Kay Graham (owner of the Washington Post) and Bill Gates.

Buffett, an Omaha native, lives a very unconventional life, from ‘elephant bumping’ with the world’s elite to maintaining his marriage to Suzie Buffett who lives separately in California.

A great read!

(Also available on CD).

See you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting this coming Sunday, Feb. 8th at the Burien Library, from 2pm-4pm (with doors opening at 1:30pm).

WHAT: Sustainable Burien Gathering; “come join us for learning, exploring and more…”

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 8th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm (doors open at 1:30pm)

WHERE: Burien KCLS Library, located at 14700 6th Ave SW (see map below)

INFO: Please call Lucy @ 206.242.8378 if there are questions

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are planned for the second Sunday of each month – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). This is a new day and start time. At our November meeting it was decided that beginning in January 2009 meetings will be on the second Sunday of each month, except for April 2009. For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

View Larger Map

According to Robert’s Rules of Order, “parliamentary procedure” is based on the consideration of the rights:

• of the majority
• of the minority (especially a large minority greater than one-third)
• of individual members
• of absentee members
• of all of these groups taken together

“The application of parliamentary law is the best method yet devised to enable assemblies of any size, with due regard for every member’s opinion, to arrive at the general will on the maximum number of questions of varying complexity in a minimum amount of time and under all kinds of internal climate ranging from total harmony to hardened or impassioned division of opinion.”

With that in mind, here’s a great way for you to learn more about Parliamentary Law – a free workshop being conducted on Saturday, Jan. 24th, from 10:30am-Noon at the Southwest Branch Library:

WHAT: A Free Public Workshop Presented By POINT OF ORDER PARLIAMENTARY LAW UNIT; The Secretary and Treasurer: Minding Your Minutes, Money, and More. Facilitated by: Robert Dolan, PRP (Robert is Treasurer for the National Association of Parliamentarians and has served the Washington State Association of Parliamentarians as Treasurer, President and Parliamentarian).

WHEN: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 10:30 A.M. – Noon

WHERE: Southwest Branch Library, located at 9010 35th Ave SW, Seattle (see map below)

INFO: http://ptoforder.googlepages.com/thesecretaryandtreasurer

Everyone is Welcome!

View Larger Map

Seattle-based Environmental Artist/Photographer Chris Jordan will be speaking tonight (Thursday, Nov. 13th at 7pm) at the Woodmont Branch of the King County Library, located at 26809 Pacific Highway South in Des Moines (phone: 253-839-0121).

Chris Jordan uses digital photography to look at contemporary American culture and consumerism in his current series, Running the Numbers. Jordan will talk about his work, with special attention to his piece Paper Bags 2007, recently installed at the Woodmont Library.

Jordan’s work has been featured on The Colbert Report, Rachel Ray, and Bill Moyers Journal, and you can view some of his amazing work here.

The following quote is from Jordan’s website, www.chrisjordan.com:

Running the Numbers looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper (five minutes of paper use); 106,000 aluminum cans (thirty seconds of can consumption) and so on. My hope is that images representing these quantities might have a different effect than the raw numbers alone, such as we find daily in articles and books. Statistics can feel abstract and anesthetizing, making it difficult to connect with and make meaning of 3.6 million SUV sales in one year, for example, or 2.3 million Americans in prison, or 32,000 breast augmentation surgeries in the U.S. every month.

This project visually examines these vast and bizarre measures of our society, in large intricately detailed prints assembled from thousands of smaller photographs. Employing themes such as the near versus the far, and the one versus the many, I hope to raise some questions about the role of the individual in a society that is increasingly enormous, incomprehensible, and overwhelming.

Here’s a video about Chris that shows the whys, hows and whats of his truly impressive work:

Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting this Sunday Oct. 26th at the Burien Library, from 2:30-4:30pm (with doors opening at 2pm).

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is a grassroots group of people exploring, communicating and demonstrating ways of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the resources of the future.

For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

For the legions of all my literary (and librarian) fans out there, you may recall that this column was once entitled “Shush!” (a very stereotypical personification of us Librarians, but that’s another story).

Well I have some good news and some bad news – first, the good news:

This feature has now been re-titled “From the Empress of Information”!

That’s right, say goodbye to “Shush!” forever.

The bad news: the smartypants citizen who came up with the original title is still involved as “Editor,” albeit as a much more sheepish one who’s relegated to a secret “Study Room” that doubles as a storage closet.

And now, on with my column:

SUMMER READING PROGRAM A HUGE SUCCESS!

• The King County Library System’s Summer Reading Program was a huge success this year.
• Over 40,000 children signed up!
• Congratulations go to Cathy Ngo, White Center Library winner of the laptop computer drawing for teens – good for you Cathy!!

TEMPORARY LIBRARY CLOSURE:

The following library branches will be closed the morning of Thurs., Oct. 9th for staff training:

• Burien Library
• Boulevard Park Library
• White Center Library
• Vashon Library

The Burien Library will open at Noon, while the Boulevard Park & White Center Libraries will open at 1pm, and Vashon Library will open at 2pm.

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN:

• October Story Times in Spanish for children and families:
  • Thursdays @ the Burien Library beginning at 6:30pm
  • Mondays @ the Boulevard Park Library beginning at 7pm
  • Saturday Oct 4th & 11th @ the White Center Library beginning at 1:30pm
• October Story Times in Vietnamese for children and families:
  • Tuesdays @ the White Center Library beginning at 7pm
• Study Zone @ the Burien Library – Drop in for help with your homework!
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning at 3:30pm (K-12)

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS:

• Front Porch Theater is Wed., Oct 15th starting at 7pm!
  • Participate in an informal dramatic reading of Robert Penn Warren’s ‘All the Kings Men’ (adapted for stage by Adrian Hall) presented by the Intiman Theater.
  • Check out http://www.kcls.org/programs/index.cfm for a complete listing of all programs offered in our Libraries!

DID YOU KNOW?

• The King County Library System offers STARS Training (State Training and Registry System)?
  • Persons requiring STARS-approved continuing education credit can find many of these workshops being offered in our Libraries.
  • Visit http://www.kcls.org/stars/index.cfm for details, listings, and instructions for online signup.

BULLET POINT BOOK REVIEW:

Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring by Richard Preston—(it’s available on CD too)

• A fascinating account of tall tree enthusiasts and scientists who climb and study some of the world’s biggest trees, primarily the Giant Sequoia.
• Until fairly recently no humans were able to venture into the canopy of these huge trees and consequently little was known about canopy ecosystems.
• A ‘wild tree’ is one that has not been climbed nor studied.
• Author Richard Preston (a tree enthusiast himself) follows the work of those few who have developed and mastered climbing techniques that makes study of these amazing trees possible.
• A wonderful addition to the natural history of the pacific coast, reads like an adventure novel.
• Highly recommended.

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the 
Burien Library.

Courtesy our good friends at the King County Library comes this recent photo of the exterior “shell” of the brand spankin’ new library under construction at Burien Town Square:

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

As every faithful library fan knows, the expression “third time’s a charm” was probably first referenced in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Letters Addressed to R. H. Horne (1839) with the expression ‘The luck of the third adventure.‘

But the reason I’m using it here is because this is my third (and henceforth most charming – so far) column for the wonderful B-Town Blog.

Of course I must start out my column by fulfilling my contractual obligation, else risk losing this wonderful soap box/bully pulpit, which I cherish only slightly less than the smell of books themselves, and that is this word:

SHUSH!

Now that that’s over with, let’s move on to the business at hand…

LIBRARIES CLOSED LABOR DAY:
All King County Library System libraries will be closed Monday Sept 1st for Labor Day.  For a complete list of 2008 library closures please visit http://www.kcls.org/usingthelibrary/holidays.cfm.

PROGRAMS:

• Book Discussion Group @ Burien Library
  Wednesday Sept 17th @ 2pm: ‘Three cups of tea: one man’s mission to fight terrorism and build nations– one school at a time’ by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

• Opera Preview
  Wednesday Sept 24th @ 7pm: Norma Hollingshead will be discussing Richard Strauss’ voluptuous epic tragedy of  ‘Eleckra’ – you don’t want to miss this one! Sponsored by the Burien Library Guild

• Programs for teens
  SAT Prep Class Saturdays Sept 20 & 27th, October 4th, 11th & 18th @ 2pm – Presented by Sandweiss Test Prep. Students must attend ALL five sessions.  This series will help prepare students  for all sections of the SAT test.  Practice exams will be scored and returned. Registration BEGINS Sept 2nd.

• Programs for children
  Burien, Boulevard Park, and White Center Libraries ALL have regularly scheduled story times for toddlers and preschoolers, please check the programs page at http://www.kcls.org/programs/index.cfm for dates and times.

DID YOU KNOW?

• King County Library Homepage InfoVote 2008 links to answers for all your election-related questions, from voter registration and polling locations to background on candidates and issues. Start here to find details, context, and analysis to help new and seasoned voters make informed decisions about all candidates and issues on the ballot.
• We Have 2009 Calendars For Sale!
  The Burien Library Guild is now selling 2009 ‘Book Lover’s’ calendars for $7 each. Be sure to stop by the Burien Library for your copy before they are all gone!  All proceeds support library programs and supplies.

BULLET POINT BOOK REVIEW:

Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen (fiction)

• Set in Washington State during World War I
• Plot revolves around the flu epidemic and the advent of organized labor
• A well written tale that knits together dilemmas facing the people of a small logging town
• Spies, union organizers, and fear of disease and death all come into play even as the townsfolk try to shut themselves off from the outside world
• A very good read!

Well, that’s all I’ve got time for this week, but please come back soon for more, and of course come visit your local Library, but in the meantime, please don’t forget to SHUSH!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the 
Burien Library.

Sustainable Burien is having its second meeting on Sunday Aug. 24th at the Burien Library, from 2:30-4:30pm.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our first meeting we created five working Pods [Interest Groups] and developed an action item for each Pod group to work on between meetings. Active Pods will soon have space on the Interest Groups page where they can share information about what they’re doing and what they’ve learned. The current Pods and action items are as follows (listed in alphabetical order):

• Community: Recruit new members for future meetings. Pod members will advertise to our neighbors and throughout the community.
• Energy: Explore incentives for using solar energy looking at a) pay back, b) life cycle costs, c) break even, d) precursors to obtaining solar energy, e) bulk purchases, rebates, tax incentives.
• Environment: Reduce/Reuse/Recycle. Develop a list of environmentally friendly products and practical methods of obtaining them.
• Food: Encourage interest, spread the word on community gardening, gleaning, canning and preserving.
• Transportation: Find out about walking maps of Burien in English. Contact Feet First. Contact Sustainable Ballard and bike stores regarding the Undrivers’ License program. Research pedestrian and bicycle plans.

You can learn more about Sustainable Burien at their website.

Courtesy our friends at the Burien Library comes this slideshow of a behind-the-scenes sneak peak at construction on the new library (located at the Town Square project), scheduled to open in 2009:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

We don’t know how they found us, nor why they asked us, but for some odd reason we’ve been invited to speak on a panel discussion about Neighborhood Blogs for the Seattle City Club on Thursday, Sept. 4th from 6pm-8pm at the downtown Seattle library.

We invite all our Readers to come on down and toss us softball questions, like:

• “What’s a Blog?”
• “Why’d you choose Burien?”
• “What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?”

Heck, it’s only $5 bucks (we don’t get anything…what’s up with that?) and it could actually be interesting.

Here’s the announcement from the Seattle City Club website:

Thursday, September 4, 2008
Neighborhood Blogs: What’s All the Buzz About?
Seattle Public Library, Central Branch – 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle
Registration:  5:30 p.m. • Event: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
$5/general public

Panelists to date:

Scott Schaefer, Author, The B-Town (Burien) Blog
Heather McLeland-Wieser, Manager of Art, Recreation, Literature, History, Travel and Maps, Seattle Public Library

Moderator: Monica Guzman, Online Reporter, The Big Blog, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

purchase tickets here

From Ballard to Burien, from West Seattle to South Lake Union, and from Capitol Hill to Beacon Hill, the proliferation of neighborhood blogs all around Seattle is changing not just the local media landscape but also how community conversations are taking place in an increasingly digital world.

How does the 24-7 nature of citizen-driven blogs impact “traditional” news sources and how people are informed?

How do these interactive (and often anonymous) online discussions promote greater civic participation and sense of community?

Who runs these blogs and are they profitable?

Come hear from some of Seattle’s most active neighborhood bloggers and experts about what it takes to start a blog, some of the hot button neighborhood issues generating the most debate on blogs today and ways to participate in the blogosphere.

Stay after to blog with the experts in a library computer lab.

Bring your questions for what promises to be an enlightening CityClub event!

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by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Being that this is only my second column for this upstart electronic media publication, I want to take a moment and let everyone know that I do not believe in the sophomore jinx, and therefore will not even respond to those who wish me ill will for said superstition (knock on wood!).

However, we here at KCLS do have the ability to monitor your every thought, and I know what you’re thinking, so I will now fulfill my contractual vow to the B-Town Blog, and henceforth shout in your general direction the following word:

SHUSH!

Now that that’s over with, let’s move on to the business at hand…

PROGRAMS

• Come to the ABC Afternoon Book Club for 3rd- 6th grade kids! Join Lydia, one of our children’s librarians to discuss The Anybodies by N.E. Bode. Monday, August 4th at 4pm at (where else) your Burien Library.
• Anime & Manga Club for teens.  Come watch anime movies, talk about your favorite anime and manga, graphic novels, or practice drawing manga characters while enjoying snacks at the library.  Wednesday, August 6th at 3:30pm at (duh) your Burien Library.

DID YOU KNOW??

The King County Library System is making the switch to BioBags!

These bags are eco-friendly, 100% compostable and biodegradable.

BioBags are produced from cornstarch and vegetable oil and are designed to decompose in less than one year.

Check out http://www.kcls.org/research/infogreen/bio_bags.cfm for more details.

BULLET POINT BOOK REVIEW

The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber

• Shakespeare buffs take note! This wonderfully written novel of intrigue and suspense is sure to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
• Our story opens with the discovery of an encrypted letter found tucked in the binding of a fire-damaged antiquarian book.
• The letter, written by one Richard Bracegirdle, a 16th century English spy and solider, reveals the existence of a previously unknown Shakespearean play.
• The story revolves around characters both past and present that become, either by design or by circumstance, deeply involved in discovering the location of the Shakespeare manuscript.
• Russian gangsters, English spies, and high profile lawyers with dubious family ties all come to life in this smart and articulate novel by Northwest writer Michael GrubeR.
• Da Vinci Code move over – highly recommended!
• This one is on CD too!

Well, that’s all I’ve got time for this week, but please come back soon for more, and of course come visit your local Library, but in the meantime…SHUSH!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the 
Burien Library.

A new group called Sustainable Burien will be holding their first meeting on Sunday, July 27th, from 3pm-5pm at the Burien Library (at 14700 6th Ave SW; map below).

They describe themselves as:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008.

We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien.

We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

Details on the meeting:

• Suggested arrival time is 2:45pm (they want to get started right at 3pm)
• If the meeting goes long and everyone wants to keep going, after 5pm it will move to another nearby venue like Mick Kelly’s or Elliott Bay Brewpub
• There will be no potluck or movie, as previously announced
• Nametags will be provided, and they ask all attendants to add their primary area of interest for networking purposes

From their website:

We’re excited about the interest in this group forming in Burien. If you haven’t yet checked out the SCALLOPS site to see what other nearby communities are doing, please do so, and take a look at what some of the other Sustainable groups are doing. It’s a great way to get ideas about what might interest you. This organization was a major inspiration for us. Groups are doing so many creative things in their communities — Sustainable Burien will have its own particular flavor, coming from our own needs and the people who get involved. Feel free to invite interested friends and business people who have an interest in creating Sustainable Burien.  Also, if you have questions, please ask and we’ll do our best to respond. 

For more information, visit their website or email them here.

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by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

Welcome to my very first column for the B-Town Blog!

Summer is always a busy time for libraries, and henceforth, Librarians, so please show some consideration of my time and energy.

In other words: “SHUSH! Please be considerate of others – people are trying to read!”

As you know, the Burien branch of the King County Library is located at 14700 Sixth Avenue SW in Burien; our phone number is (206) 243-3490 and our hours are:

Monday-Thursday	10am-9pm
Friday	10am-6pm
Saturday	10am-5pm
Sunday	1-5pm

PROGRAMS:
The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is in full swing.  We have lots programs, activities, and prizes for kids of all ages, including preschool and elementary school age kids http://www.kcls.org/srp/.  The program for teens has a NEW element this summer which we hope really inspires those budding film makers out there, it’s called ‘Read.Flip.Win’.

To enter teens need to create a short video book review and post it to YouTube. See http://www.kcls.org/teens/read_flip_win.cfm for details and to see what you could win!

The Burien Library will be hosting a teen film shoot event on Monday July 21st.

NEW BURIEN LIBRARY:
Construction is fully underway on our joint development project at Burien Town Center; the new Burien Library will share a 3-story building with the City of Burien.  The new library will include more materials, computers, and space for children and teens.  The current library will remain open for business until construction of the new building is completed sometime in mid 2009

DID YOU KNOW?
The Burien Library Guild and the White Center Library Guild are nonprofit organizations that support our local libraries. Both the Burien Library Guild and the White Center Library Guild host an ongoing “book sale” stocked with good quality used books that have been donated to the library.  Both libraries gladly accept donations of good quality used books, and all donations directly support programs and activities at your libraries.

BULLET POINT BOOK REVIEW OF THE MONTH:
Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan’s great pirate army, the epic battle for the Americas, and the catastrophe that ended the outlaws’ bloody reign by Stephan Talty

• Wonderfully readable non-fiction account of pr1acy, buccaneering, privateering, and politics in the Caribbean from about 1665-1700.
• Henry Morgan and his men rampaged from Jamaica’s Port Royal, “the wickedest city in the new world” all across the Spanish Main.
• A British loyalist to the end, Morgan began his career as a “privateer” to disrupt Spanish commerce in the new world (a privateer functions much as a pirate, but with a paid commission and sanction of a government body, in Morgan’s case the British empire).
• This is the real story of the Pirates of the Caribbean and is so bloody, daring, and outlandish that no fiction comes close to the reality.
• No ship, port, or inland city for that matter was safe from an attack by these ‘booty’ hungry and bloodthirsty renegades.
• In one of the most daring episodes of Morgan’s career, he marched his band across Panama to loot and burn Panama City; the city was so ruined that after the attack it was not rebuilt on the same site.
• A truly fascinating history of political intrigue and empire building in the Caribbean during the age of exploration.
• Highly recommended.
• This one comes in LP & on CD too.

Well, that’s all I’ve got time for this week, but please come back soon for more, and in the meantime…SHUSH!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the 
Burien Library.

Found today on seattle-tacoma craigslist > south king > groups:

“Hello, my name is Laura and I can not stop buying books.”

I am a book-aholic. They accumulate faster than they get read. So I thought about a way to get at least one new book a month read … start a book club!

How brilliant is that? Hang out with like minded people once a month and talk about a great book. I figure I’d have to read it so I don’t get embarrassed during the discussion of the book.

Q: How many people?
A: I don’t know – it will probably flux. If you want to bring others, it’s fine with me.

Q: What type of people?
A: My kind. The type that are fun, witty and into learning more about themselves and the world.

Q: What type of books?
A: Personal development, spiritual and self help related topics with some science tossed in for fun.

Q: Possible Authors:
A: Wayne Dyer, Brian Greene, Carolyn Myss, Dan Millman, Richard Bach; Some Books we Have Read:  Blink, The Field, The Hidden Gospel, Loving What Is, Animal Vegetable Mineral, There Are No Accidents, Eat Pray Love (The group at the meeting selects the next month’s book. Please bring along ones you’d like to include in the “to read” list)

Q: How often does it meet?
A: Monthly – the 1st Monday of every month.

Q: How many books will we read?
A: One per month

WHAT: The Burien Book Club

WHEN: Monday, May 5th, 7pm to 9pm

WHERE: Burien Library, Conference Room 14700 Sixth Ave SW

Our book to be reading between now and then is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (better get busy folks!).

CONTACT: Please email or call Laura at 206-818-8592 if you are planning to attend. She would like to get an estimate of how many people will be there.

Final comment from Laura: You will WANT to be part of this because it will be FUN … AND you will meet new people … and maybe even GROW!!

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