Category Archives: Books (Libraries and Bookstores)

libraries, bookstores

Local Treasure, King’s Books

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King’s Books is a Tacoma treasure. It’s not the largest bookstore I’ve been in (that would have to be Powell’s in Portland), but they have a great eye towards purchasing, an inviting space and they have made themselves part of the community. King’s is located at 218 St Helens Ave Tacoma, WA 98402 and they are open every day from 11 to 7.

Today we went to the Artist Craft Fair and walked away with a darling pair of earrings, some pie on a stick and an interesting new book. But more importantly I walked away with the feeling that in my small little way I was supporting the local community.

Their website is here
http://www.kingsbookstore.com/

An article about the store can be found here
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/culture/kings_books_an_old_favorite_revamped/

As a side note, I just heard today that one of my other favorite bookstores in Seattle is closing because of the economy. It is so important to support quality local businesses!

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is Closing

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For Martin Luther King Day, I went to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at 1902 South Cedar Street, Tacoma, WA 98405 . As of January 31, 2011, this branch of the Tacoma Public Library System will close, leaving eight locations. The Swan Creek Branch is also closing and the main branch will also have its hours reduced from 66 to 54.

There are news reports of the closures here http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/16/1467131/2-small-tacoma-libraries-to-close.html?storylink=rss

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/16/1504222/library-to-serve-fewer.html

The library’s previous sign has been replaced with the sign in the photograph. There is also a notice on the door that states “Tacoma Public Library Service Alert. As a result of a $1.8 million dollar shortfall in the Library’s 2011 – 2012 budget, the Tacoma Public Library will close two branch libraries and reduce hours at the downtown Main Library effective Monday, January 31, 2011.” Per the news report, the MLK Branch has some of the lowest circulation figures and has considerable deferred maintenance. While I an see the logic of the closure, it is a certain loss to the families in the area.

The closing of this branches no doubt would have saddened Dr. King, who is know to have said “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Sounds like the function of a public library to me.

For information on the Swan Creek Library closure, go to http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2099

 

Swan Creek Library will be closing

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As of January 31, 2011, Tacoma Public Library System will have eight locations instead of its current ten. Both Swan Creek Branch and M.L. King, Jr. Branch will be closed. The main branch will also have its hours reduced from 66 to 54.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/16/1467131/2-small-tacoma-libraries-to-close.html?storylink=rss

Swam Creek is the smallest of the libraries and shares its space with Tacoma Community House, which runs a literacy center for the local population. Per the library’s website, Tacoma Community Center has significant experience working closely with persons with little or no English language and comprehension skills, or without significant education experiences. Classes include English as a Second Language and computer skills. The library has an expanded foreign language materials selection and bilingual assistance is available in Russian and Cambodian, as well as Spanish and Vietnamese upon request. The door count (patrons entering the building) was over 4,000 in November, the last full month available. Many of the patrons walk to the branch and will soon need to take one or more buses to reach the next closest branch. It is true that Swan Creek had the lowest circulation statistics, which makes sense since they also had the smallest collection size.

http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us/Page.aspx?nid=58

Library materials and equipment from this branch will be redistributed to other branches, but the fate of the building and the Tacoma Community Center lease remains unknown. Although the building was built in 1989, there is deferred maintenance.

The closing of these two branches made me think of this Asimov quote. “When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself.”

More info about the Martin Luther King Library closure can be found here

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is Closing

Libraries are always good — Mottet Library

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Today I stopped at the Charlotte White Mottet Library, one of the 10 libraries that make up the Tacoma Public Library System. The library was built in 1930, a gift to the city from Mr. Mottet, a local businessman. The architect for the building was Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the McCormick Branch Library, the Everell S. Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, the Tacoma Mausoleum, the Johnson Candy Co. Building and the Tacoma City Light Administration Building.

Library Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday 12 – 8
Thursday – Saturday 10 – 6

3523 East G Street Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 591-5666

For more information on this property, including some older photos, go to http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1up.asp?n=15057

Note that Mottet Branch is one of the libraries that could potentially be eliminated depending on the budget option recommended by the library trustees.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/11/06/1412177/board-weighs-closing-library-branches.html

Cherie Priest@Garfield Book Company

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Today my dear daughter and I went to an author event at Garfield Books at208 Garfield st, Parkland, WA, 98442. The delightful Cherie Priest was there to talk about her new books, living in Seattle and an extensive variety of other topics. Dear daughter and I had read her Boneshaker and just loved it! The book is in the Steampunk genre and has determined characters in an alternate history version of Seattle. Her website is here http://www.cheriepriest.com/

The bookstore itself has a thoughtful selection of books, as well as a sundry items that college students might need. http://luteworld.plu.edu/

 

Update: Garfield Books closed in the fall of 2016. I hear that the students can purchase books at a new store in the PLU Library.

A Third Place, The Library Connection

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I was delighted to find a well used public library at the Crossroads Shopping Center in Bellevue today. Everything about the library clicked for me. The good things include the location in a busy enclosed shopping, the hours (Sunday!), the colorful, art filled decor, the materials selection (lots of foreign language books and books for the kids) and plenty of computers.

It’s worth noting that there is also a King County Library Connection at the South Center Mall and that many of the other free standing, more traditional libraries are open on Sunday.

http://www.kcls.org/crossroads/

This much used library branch made me think about the importance of having community space. Ray Oldenburg discussed this need for community area, which he called Third Places in his book The Great Good Place.