The Little Library That Could

The Little Library That Could

On June 30, 2007, The Sno-Isle library system opened the doors on a small Camano Island Library Pilot facility. The objective was to determine the level of community interest in and need for a permanent library on Camano. This was initially established as a three year effort with the intent, if interest was there, of bringing forth a construction bond issue to island voters. Within the first year of the pilot project, the national and local economies began to deteriorate, large job layoffs began, and the housing market declined dramatically, all of which has continued to the present. The opportunity to bring a bond issue forward was considered inadvisable within the three year project period initially established.

When the economic situation became apparent, the Camano Island Library Friends group proposed to the Sno-Isle Trustees that they be granted a two year extension of the pilot project to June 30, 2012 with the expectation that would be enough additional time for the economy to recover in order to bring the bond issue to the ballot in April 2012. To assist the Sno-Isle system as well as demonstrate the community’s long range commitment to a permanent facility, Friends offered to provide partial financial support to the extent of $20,000 per year for the two years. Additionally, to work within the legal restraints of the election finance rules, a Political Action Committee (PAC) was formed to promote a bond issue. The Sno-Isle Trustees approved the two year extension which ends June 30, 2012.

As economic events have unfolded since, particularly the continuing high unemployment rate and a very sluggish housing market with record declines in value, the project has approached the end of the granted extension without a reasonable prospect of going to the voters for funding of the hoped for permanent library facility on Camano. This was confirmed by a designed survey of Camano residents in the fall of 2011. As a result, once again, the Friends approached the Sno-Isle Trustees and proposed extending the pilot project until a bond issue can be brought to the ballot. In support of this proposal, the community, through the Friends, offered continuing financial support in an amount of $5,000 per year. Additionally, Friends has committed to additional efforts to promote a permanent facility within the community. On Feb. 27, 2012, the Sno-Isle board approved an extension of the pilot project for another three years including the community support as noted.

During its existence, the pilot project has proven to be an outstanding success as judged by its steady growth and patronage, the excellent response to programs offered, and the affinity the staff have developed with community patrons. The aforementioned survey also revealed that, while the timing of a bond issue is still not good, over 70% of the residents surveyed wish to have a permanent facility. To be fully informed and prepared, a small study of the attributes of several candidate sites was also conducted at that time.

The recent Trustees approval of a three year extension of the pilot program constitutes a major vote of confidence in the community’s ability to support a permanent library on Camano Island. To make this a successful venture, substantial work remains to inform residents of the relevance of a library to the community. This will require the wide participation of community members, both within the Friends and outside the membership. Recent indications are that the economy is beginning to recover, albeit slowly, which, it is hoped, will permit bringing a bond issue for construction to the voters within this three year window. The Camano Island Library Friends are dedicated to this end and solicit the participation of all Camano residents and patrons to help make it happen. Like the little engine that could, we think we can, we think we can, we know we can, we KNOW we can! WE WILL!

Reflections on a Snowy Day

                       

It’s a snowy day in mid-January. Not as bad here at the beach as it was in Bellingham or Seattle and south, but bad enough to avoid going out. It’s beautiful but treacherous to drive anywhere. It continues to snow off and on and never got above 27 degrees all day, although we never got the high wind and sub-zero temperatures they’re having in Whatcom County. A good day to simply stay in, admire the view, bake bread, eat hot soup or stew and drink hot chocolate. One actual accomplishment today was making reservations to attend my son Chris and his intended, Danielle’s, wedding in July in Roche Harbor thanks to the phone and internet.

I can’t help but feel sorry for Buggsy, my “resident” seagull. Most of the day he has just stood on the bulkhead, up to his knees in snow and shifting from standing first on one leg, then the other. With the opposite leg tucked under his wing and feathers sort of fluffed up, it’s what he has to work with to stay warm, poor guy. He looks miserable. It might actually feel good to him to go float in Saratoga Passage. At least it’s not frozen!

                                                      Buggsy on a warmer fall day

After an absence of six months, another visitor this snowy day is the otter that caused such commotion around here last spring. This morning, the tracks in the snow in the yard said she had come in the night and ducked into her hidey-hole under the outer deck. I assume it’s Mom who is no stranger here. If it is the same one, she has had pups in this area each spring for the last three years and this would be her fourth. No sign of her leaving so I’m guessing she is still in there this evening. This is the same environment as when she first showed up last year in the snow. I just hope her boyfriend doesn’t show up like a year ago and then leave her “in a delicate way” again. At least not if she’s going to live here.  

There is also a little family of wrens that have been here for at least the last three years. They appear to have nested in a bush in the yard. Last summer when cleaning up the carport I found they had built a nest deep in a pile of empty boxes and there was a remnant of a tiny shell in it. They routinely forage all day long around the base of dead plants in the fall and winter for seeds that have fallen from the summer plants. It’s impossible to tell whether the current generation are the parents of several years ago or are the kids or grandkids. Today two of them were really busy, not to mention bold. As long as I stood still on the deck, they would even come within a few feet to search out the containers on the deck including several plants with a few remaining, now sun-dried/freeze-dried, grape tomatoes. There are little footprints all over the deck in the snow. Last week I had put out a shallow planter with bird seed in it in one of the flower beds where I could watch it. Of course, the snow piled up four inches or so on this container and, I thought, had obscured the seed. But these little guys have great memories and remembered where the container of seed is even though buried in the snow. They actually tunneled in to the seed and have been coming and going there all day.

Other Uses for a Cold Snowy Day

Cleaning out the e-mail in-box: Did it

Napping: Had one

Reading: Did some

Exercising: Did them

TV News: Watched the snow/traffic mess south of here

Catching up on e-mails from and to friends: Did it

Cooking: Nothing fancy this time

Computer games: Some Solitaire, some Blockbreaker

Paying bills: Maybe tomorrow

Daydreaming: Where oh where is it warm and sunny?

There must be better uses for a snowy day, but, today none came to mind that were motivating!