Welcome to the 1st quarter edition of the 2023 Employee e-newsletter!
Welcome to the 1st Quarter Issue of the Employee Newsletter!
As we enter the 4th year in TRL’s 2020-2024 Strategic Direction with a focus on increasing our presence in under-served communities; equity, diversity and inclusion; and children from birth to five years of age, I want to thank each and every one of you for superb work during January – March of this year. Here are many (not all!) of the highlights we accomplished together:
- Staff participated in customer service training, EDI training, and Youth Services Pathways training
- 1st Staff Wellness Program of the year – Happy Trails completed
- McCleary and Olympia Refreshes completed
- Land purchased for the new Randle library!
- Elma went live with expanded access hours
- Hawks Prairie Timberland Library opened Sundays, 10-6 beginning February 5
- MyTRL – added Napavine, Ocosta, Taholah, North River, Hoquiam, Grapeview, Mossyrock and Southside School Districts
- Organizational EDI Audit completed
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program launches, supporting the three affiliates: Grays Harbor United Way, Lewis County United Way and Child Care Action Council
- New website – Bibliocommons – implementation under way!
Here are several highlights to look forward to in the second quarter:
- Healthy Living Bingo Challenge, April 1 – May 12
- New evaluation process launches April 3 – moving towards real-time check-in meetings
- New Sunday hours, 10-4, at Shelton begins May 1
- Raising Awareness of TRL – monthly presentations underway by Library Managers
- Ilwaco Refresh with expanded access hours capabilities
- Mountain View architectural design work
- Anywhere Library – staff hired and vans retrofitted – we are getting there!
Here’s to a great second quarter, thank you in advance for your efforts and teamwork as we move the district forward together.
-Cheryl
Lacey Loves to Read - 20th Year!
People of all ages got to meet Washington State author, Dan Gemeinhart, at the 20th "Lacey Loves to Read" event. Congratulations to Raina who, with the partners, did a fantastic job organizing this multi-day event!
TRL Celebrations
In February and March, Black History Month and Women's History Month were celebrated, respectively. TRL Celebrations are observed with book displays available in all libraries, programming, and resources provided on the Celebrations webpage.
Black History Month Book Displays
February 2023's theme chosen by ASALH: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, was 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 which recognizes the historic and ongoing oppression that Black Americans have faced and resisted.
Women's History Month Book Displays
The National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), which spearheaded the movement for March being declared National Women’s History Month, announced the women’s history theme for 2023: “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
TRL Social Media Highlights
Since becoming active in December, TRL's TikTok has garnered over a MILLION views! Thank you to the branches and staff members who have contributed and collaborated on our social media video content! These videos are increasing visibility, engagement, and getting our message across in a creative new way!
TikTok Follower Comments: "This is the best thing I've seen today!! Please do more", "Commenting to stay on Library Tiktok" ,"Librarians are wizards and you can't convince me otherwise", "This TikTok speaks to me. HAHA honestly I was laying in bed last night and thinking about how wonderful interlibrary loan is" ,"I love libraries and librarians more than anything else" ,"I love library tiktoks wow", "Timberland on TikTok is the happiest combination of things I love."
Instagram Highlights
TRL's reach on Instagram has gone up by 261.3% in Qtr 1, with follows up 90.9% compared to the previous quarter.
Instagram Comments: "GOLD! Social media gold" ,"The blonde person with the "read more" knuckle tattoos and the person with a cute brunette ponytail and headband were SUPER helpful today! Thank you for always being a safe place!", "Losing my mind because my local library chain is SLAYING their content game"
McCleary Grand Reopening
On March 2, 2023, the McCleary Timberland Library was filled with excited members of the community and Timberland Regional Library to celebrate the grand-reopening of the branch exhibiting new flooring, lighting, seating, mobile shelving, fresh paint, and more. "An argument could be made that the library interior is more modern in its design than any other building in the rural East County town."- Allen Leister, The Daily World
View the article, "McCleary Timberland Library hosts grand re-opening ceremony" from The Daily World.
Before & After photos of the McCleary Refresh
TRL Highlights: Renovations and Refreshes
Watch our youtube video highlighting exciting TRL Renovations and Refreshes!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Expands Statewide
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is now available in all 5 counties that TRL serves! DPIL aligns with TRL's strategic direction through it's focus on local communities, diversity, inclusion, and children birth to five.
Thanks to the new and existing affiliates for making this possible: The United Way of Lewis County, The Lewis County Rotary Foundation, Child Care Action Council (CCAC) for Thurston and Mason Counties, and the United Way of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.
So far the Child Care Action Council has registered over 2,000 children in Thurston County, and over 500 children in Mason County!
Library Giving Day 2023
A total of $11,676 was donated on Library Giving Day this year! That's double of last year's total!
Some of the comments attached to donations were: "Yay TRL! Thanks for your presence online and in branch!", "Keep the libraries and their many services alive and well! Love my library system.", "I appreciate the library and the kind, helpful staff!", "The best people are librarians!", "Thank you! TRL was a beacon of hope for me when I moved to WA in 2007. Keep doing wonderful things.", "The Timberland Library system is a community treasure. Our family loves going to branches and online and exploring. Staff are wonderful."
Thank you for your efforts in fundraising for this annual one-day event benefitting TRL!
TRL Awards
Lacey South Sound Chamber of Commerce awarded the Lacey Timberland Library Business of the Month for January!
“Each month the Chamber’s Ambassadors nominate a Business of the Month. This award was created as a way to give back to our amazing members that influence the lives of customers or fellow members in our community.”
Yelm Timberland Library Awarded "Kindness Certified Organization"
Congratulations to Erica and Yelm staff on receiving the “Great Kindness Challenge: Kindness Certified Organization,” awarded to Timberland Regional Library in “Recognition of your commitment to creating a culture of kindness in your district and beyond!” - Cheryl Heywood
Send Your Congratulations!
- Anthony R, Operations Supervisor, Olympia to Assistant Library Manager, Olympia, effective March 1.
- Santina C, Library assistant, Lacey to Public Services Specialist, Lacey, begins effective Feb 1
- Michelle Z, Library Manager 1, Naselle, to Library Manager 2 for Naselle and Ocean Park, beginning February 1
- Beverley W, Library Assistant, Aberdeen to Operations Supervisor, Lacey, beginning February 1
TRL in the News
- The Chronicle: "Timberland Regional Libraries Get New iPads; Tenino Among Branches to Soon Offer Extended Hours"
- The JOLT News: "Zoom into Bilingual Time"
- The Daily World: "Unleashing your Inner Engineer One Brick at a Time"'
- The JOLT News: "Timberland Expands its Books for Kids, by Kids Collection"
Happy Retirement!
Beverly Hastings- Library Assistant
Retired on February 7, 2023
Maralee M - Collection Services Specialist
Retired on March 31, 2023
Congratulations on your 47 years of awesome service and on your retirement, Maralee!
Corene M - Public Services Specialist - North Mason
Retired on March 31, 2023
Thank you for your 33 years of awesome service and congratulations on your retirement, Corene!
Anniversary Milestones
Kitty K - Service Milestone Award 50 years!
Our very own, Kitty K., celebrated a major milestone: working for TRL for 50 years! Congratulations Kitty! We are so fortunate to have you!
"It's been a pleasure and a privilege to work for such a wonderful organization for this long."
Bernard W - 20 years
“Reconnect to what makes you happy and brings you Joy. If there is something that used to make you happy which you have stopped doing, do it again. Seek to find deeper meaning and significance rather than living on the surface.”
Larry G - 20 years
Charlotte S - 5 years
Kinsey C - 5 years
"The past five years working at the library have been amazing! I am so grateful for the friends I've made, and all my coworkers who have supported me. The work we do to support our community fills me with joy and hope every day. I look forward to many more years!"
Santina C - 1 year
Laura S - 1 year
Anne G - 1 year
Meet our Newest Co-Workers
Susanna W - Library Assistant
Hobbies: Adult Lego Club & reading.
Currently Reading (or recently read): The Grace Year
Favorite Quote: “I’ll have you know that I stubbed my toe last week and only cried for 20 minutes.” - SpongeBob
Fun Fact: Look up Brachycephalus pernix gifs.
What do you like best about your job/TRL? Helping patrons & readers find books they will enjoy & making people smile.
What inspired you to work in libraries? I began volunteering within the Timberland libraries as soon as I was old enough to. Libraries are my safe place.
Kate J- Library Assistant
Hobbies: Hiking, Gardening, Printmaking, Cooking, and Reading
Currently Reading (or recently read): “X” by Davey Davis and “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” by Gabor Mate
What do you like best about your job/TRL? I enjoy the variety of patron interactions and hanging out with books all day.
What inspired you to work in libraries? I love reading and being with books, and wanted a job where I could be of service to my community.
Spencer M - Library Assistant
Hobbies: Walking, Reading, Friendship, and Laziness.
Currently Reading (or recently read): "Art Against Despair: Pictures to Restore Hope" by The School of Life Press.
Favorite Quote: “I am neither sad nor gay, the air fills you with a vague exaltation, induces a state which seems as remote from gaiety as it is from suffering; perhaps that is happiness.” by Gide; For me, a perfect quote for overcast days during winter in the Pacific Northwest.
Fun Fact: I went on pilgrimage on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain in 2018.
What do you like best about your job/TRL? I’m not sure yet!
What inspired you to work in libraries? Ta-Nehisi Coates, and how he described his experience of freedom in the library during his education at Howard University.
Kailene T - Library Assistant
Hobbies: Gardening, beach walking, thrifting, playing music
Currently Reading (or recently read): Lots and lots of picture books; currently Dragons Love Tacos on repeat, nightly.
Favorite Quote: "Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it kid, you're on". (found written in lovely calagriphy wihtout credit at a thrift store long ago).
What do you like best about your job/TRL? So far, the beautiful library I work in full of beautiful architecture, art, and lovely people.
What inspired you to work in libraries? The numerous gifts they provide our communities! Storytime, for one - maybe my favorite program.
Asha L - Library Assistant
Patron Testimonials
"My daughter doesn't usually check out books. She's usually so busy with storytime, and then she comes out and does some crafting and drawing and plays with legos, and then we just end up leaving. So the shopping carts are very useful because now she picks out a whole bunch of books. She feels like she's going shopping for books."
"We've been doing storytimes since you started them back up in September. We've been going Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We jump around from Tumwater to Olympia to Lacey at least 3 days a week because story time is very useful in developing her language. My daughter loves going to the library. She wants to go to school, but she's too young. If you can't afford preschool, which we can't, you feel like this is a place you can go with your kids. She's very good socially because of it."
"Appreciate the constant efforts by TRL staff to help the public connect and enjoy wide set of local library facilities in this part of western WA. Our family has used local libraries since 1994."
"I am so grateful for the library. One of the few places that is truly for everyone. Thank you."
"There is no way to imagine the number of hours of pleasure. The library has afforded me. The new Hawks Prairie location, with all its Lucky Day books, is a treasure!"
Credits:
Created with images by sergign - "Gold star trophy for a winner or champion" • Halytskyi Olexandr - "Abstract christmas background" • connel_design - "Public library bookshelf"