While the future of a library’s home beyond 2011 plays-out amongst the political, mine-field filled landscape in Yelm, an annual award granted by the Pacific Northwest Bookseller’s Association was presented to the the Rainier Volunteer Library.

Colin M. Rea, Director of the Fern Ridge Library District in Veneta, Oregon wrote Julie Dallavo, Director of the Rainier Library the following letter:

“Im pleased to name the Rainier Volunteer Library the recipient of the Michael Pritikin Rural Library Program award for 2010!
Last year, material worth approximately $20K was donated — while this amount tends to fall each year, expect 35-50 large boxes of books. During the fall trade show on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, all material is collected and boxed by myself and other volunteers.”

Rainier Library’s Director Dallavo submitted this letter of consideration for the Rainier Volunteer Library to be the recipient of the Michael Pritikin Rural Library Program award for 2010:

“If you are looking for an independent rural Washington library, the all-volunteer library in Rainier just may fit the requirements! We would LOVE to have more books!

I was employed by Timberland Regional Library in Yelm when my neighbor mentioned that the Rainier Historical Societys (RABC) dream was to have a community library in the Old School building they lease from Rainier School District. It didnt appear to be a complicated issue to me! Oops, minor detail RABC had no budget and no funds for the library but they had been saving lots of donated books.

With the help of Steve Coker (librarian/internet guru at Rainier School District who partnered with us early in the library project), RSD agreed to provide access to their fiberoptic network since our six public computers are very busy. We are also partnering with RSD elementary/middle schools and TRL to introduce teachers and students to the huge database of learning on TRLs website.

RABC, our volunteers and our community are very proud of this project and would benefit greatly from being selected to receive PNBAs Michael Pritikin Rural Library Program award.

Ive attached links to our website (another volunteer project) and an article in The Olympian (which is mostly accurate since no funding came from grants and a lot of it came from the volunteers pockets!).”

CLICK HERE for the link to last year’s Pacific Northwest Bookseller’s Association award winner.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIE DALLAVO & THE RAINIER VOLUNTEER LIBRARY!