The True Cost of eBooks and Audiobooks for Libraries
Friends of the Spokane Public Library Offer Decades of Support
MAC Museum Passes Can Be Your Ticket Into the World of the Samurai
12 The True Cost of eBooks and Audiobooks for Libraries
On the cover: Enjoying the magic of an eBook comes at a price for the library.
Credit: Emily Eliza Photography.
SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
All Spokane Public Library buildings sit on the traditional homelands of the four bands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians: sntútʔulixʷi, snxʷmeneʔi, s̓qesciłni, and slʕʷotéw s̓ i (Upper Band, Middle Band, Lower Band, and Chewelah Band). Since time immemorial, the Spokane Tribe of Indians has lived and cared for these grounds. Identifying themselves as “sqélixʷ,” or “Flesh of the Earth.” We pay our respects to their Elders—past, present, and emerging. We show gratitude to the land, river, and peoples who have been fishing, hunting, harvesting, and gathering here for generations. May we learn from one another’s stories so that we may nurture the relationship of the People of the Spokane Tribe and to all those who share this land.
Lilac City Local
A Spokane Public Library Publication
Editor-In-Chief
Amanda Donovan
Managing Editor
Alina Murcar
Copy Editor
Skyler Noble
Contributing
Writers
Alina Murcar
Sharma Shields
Adriana Janovich
Vanessa Strange
Leonard Kransdorf
Marit Fischer
Mason Neil
Robert Roose
Cozy up and read something new
As we enter the heart of winter, when the days are shorter and the nights longer, it’s the perfect time to slow down, reconnect with loved ones, and rediscover the things that bring you joy. Whether that means bundling up with a cozy book by the fire, exploring a new hobby, or simply savoring quiet moments, Spokane Public Library is here to make your winter memorable.
If you’re looking for inspiration, our shelves are brimming with winter reading recommendations to match every mood. From heartwarming tales to gripping mysteries, there’s something for everyone. And for those ready to embrace the season outdoors, our Library of Things includes snowshoes to help you enjoy Spokane’s beautiful winter landscapes.
This edition of Lilac City Local celebrates the many ways the library connects our community. Discover the rich culture of the samurai with museum passes to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, immerse yourself in the story of the AIDS epidemic with the Surviving and Thriving exhibit at Central Library, or join us in celebrating Lunar New Year through an exciting display of cultural dances.
Winter can also be the perfect season to explore new hobbies. If you’re searching for your next passion, check out our Library Learning Week festivities meant to expand your thinking and teach you something new. Let this winter be a time for growth, creativity, and togetherness. However you choose to spend these shorter days, Spokane Public Library is proud to be a part of your journey.
Spokane Public Library Staff Picks
Executive Director
Andrew Chanse
Board of Trustees
Danielle DeJaegher
Gary Stokes
Lara Hemingway
Mari Margil
Shelby Lambdin spokanelibrary.org
It should come as no surprise that our staff reads thousands of titles a year. Here are some of our favorites from 2024.
Andy Rumsey, Music Education Specialist at Spokane Public Library, hands a fabric bin filled with special books to Alisha and Lisamerie Meyer for their daughter Aurora after hearing their very own lullaby.
This gift, purchased with funds from the Friends of the Public Library, is given to all participating families in The Lullaby Project, an annual program connecting parents with professional musicians to create their own lullabies for their children.
“They were truly overjoyed. Having books to accompany this already special occasion puts the icing on an unforgettable experience for these families,” said Andy. “We can’t thank the Friends enough for their contribution.”
The Friends have a long history of providing support to the library. The group was officially formed in May 1952 with seven main goals. Those Articles of Incorporation were drafted by local attorney Wellman A. Cark, who became the Friends’ first President.
Friends of the Spokane Public Library Offer Decades of Support
By Leonard Kransdorf, Library Clerical Assistant, Spokane Public Library
One of the goals was to “maintain and organize a group of persons interested in the cultural and financial success of the Spokane Public Library and to assist in the securing of funds for the orderly development and expansion of the library and to bring to the attentions of the citizens of Spokane the benefits and cultures to be derived by the use of the library.”
But years before the official articles were approved, unofficial Friends groups were already meeting to plan for the future. On April 26, 1946 a group of citizens met to discuss developing two committees, a Constitution for the Friends of the Library and a program committee.
A year later in September 1947, letters were sent to 800 people and "more than 200 responded and paid their dues of $1," according to an article in the Spokane Daily Chronicle
At that time, Secretary Russell L. Riggin announced that, "The more people who understand what the library has to offer and who make use of its services, the better the library will become.”
Photo credit: Inland Northwest Special Collections Digital Archive. Friends bookstore circa 1970/1980.
That desire today is reflected by Brenda, the current Friends of the Library president since 2011.
"I believe in libraries,” she said, noting today’s membership dues are $10 for individuals and $15 for families. "It is hard work but it is rewarding because we know we are helping people when we fund projects, hold book sales, and just help the library on a daily basis when answering questions.”
In 2024 alone, the Friends provided around $10,000 for Summer Reading Club, book club bags, and The Lullaby Project
Many of the programs funded by the Friends are a prudent way to save taxpayer dollars, according to Spokane Public Library Executive Director Andrew Chanse.
“We have certain boundaries on how we can spend the public’s money, and the Friends of the Library help in more than just selling books, but other areas as well,” he said referring to prize books or snacks at programs.
Library], as recounted in a May 22, 1974 article: “Books will be sold by the pound beginning tomorrow in what’s billed as the largest book sale in Spokane’s history. More than 12,000 books will sell for 20 cents a pound. Proceeds will be used to purchase a tape cassette for persons in nursing homes and hospitals. The proceeds will also be used to purchase large-type books for persons with poor eyesight.”
The book sale is a cornerstone event and sold $4,000 worth of books last year, though books are no longer sold “by the pound.”
“The more people who understand what the library has to offer and who make use of its services, the better the library will become.”
Andrew regularly meets with the Friends board to review the library’s needs and seek financial assistance.
“He gives us a list of the library needs and we try to assist where we can for the biggest benefit of the library and community,” said Brenda, who added that all items sold at all the bookstores are donated from the community.
Wayne has been active since 2015 when he moved here from Texas. “I wanted to get involved in something positive,” he said. “I looked at the website and I saw what they did and I wanted to help.”
Linda is one of the newest members. “I like being here [at the Central Library’s Friends Bookstore] because I get asked questions a lot about the bookstore, and there is always something happening that makes it interesting.”
One of the biggest events for the Friends of the Library is the April book sale held annually at Shadle Park Library. The next one will be April 24-26, 2025.
This sale dates back many years when it was held at the Main Library [the former name of Central
Not only does the sale attract many residents but it is also a chance to showcase Shadle Park Library, said Jordan Hilker, Customer Experience Manager
“We have a lot of free parking which helps bring people here and they are able to see areas like our children’s playspace and Discovery Garden,” he said.
As noted in The Spokesman-Review on November 18, 1956: “Everyone will agree that it’s wonderful to have friends. Those friends can mean as much to institutions and organizations which is the basic idea of the Friends of the Spokane Public Library.”
And when Aurora grows up with her own custom lullaby and collection of special books, she may not know about the Friends of the Library but she is one of many who will benefit from their lasting contribution.
HOW TO SUPPORT FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
• Become a member! Individual memberships start at $10 and family memberships are $15
• Donate lightly-used books for resale
• Volunteer with the Friends of the Library
• Buy books at the book sale displays located at each library or at the Friends of the Library Bookstore at Central Library
• Shop for used books at the Annual Book Sale, April 24-26, 2025 at Shadle Park Library
MAC Museum Passes Can Be Your Ticket Into the World of the Samurai
By Marit Fischer, Chief Marketing Officer, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
Very soon, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) will transport you and your family to the time of the samurai with two exhibitions: Samurai, Sunrise, Sunset (in the main gallery, opening February 1) and The Evolution of the Japanese Sword (opening January 18).
Samurai, Sunrise, Sunset (organized by Contemporanea Progetti, Italy in collaboration with the Museo Stibbert, Italy and the EDG, USA), is dedicated to the powerful military class that ruled Japan for more than 700 years starting in the 12th Century BCE. The exhibition features armor, weaponry, and personal items created between the Azuchi-Momovama period (1568-1600)—the final phase of the Sengoku Jidai time of civil wars and social
upheaval—and the peaceful Edo period (1603–1868) of economic growth, social order, arts, and culture. The samurai always wore their regalia, even in times of peace. Every piece held meaning regarding social class, wealth, leadership positions, and family ties, making them, still today, excellent historic records of the samurai class and Japan.
Samurai, Sunrise, Sunset features suits of armor made of leather and silk as well as iron, steel, and brass.
The armor is adorned with intricate designs, braid lacings, and lacquer finishes. The helmets are eccentric, in spectacular shapes, with ornaments inspired by sacred objects and natural elements. The exhibition also showcases the famous katana—the curved, single-edged, long-gripped sword most favored by the samurai.
Speaking of swords, be sure to also see the complementary exhibition, The Evolution of the Japanese Sword (organized by Jidai Arts). This exhibition considers the iconic samurai sword and accompanying fittings as more than weapons of war, but works of high art that were, and still are, treasured and collected for their beauty and craftsmanship.
The MAC brings history, art, and culture to life through its exhibitions and programs, and is proud to offer Family Museum Passes through Spokane Public Library to ensure that everyone can experience the wonder inside.
The Museum Pass is a great way to visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture! Use your library card to reserve a pass online up to 30 days in advance, then print your confirmation to present when you arrive at the museum. The pass grants access on your selected day for up to two adults and four children. The person who reserves the pass must present it at the museum admissions desk with a matching photo ID. Plan ahead, reserve your pass, and venture into the awe-inspiring world of the samurai before May 4, 2025.
To plan your visit, visit northwestmuseum.org for updated hours, exhibitions, and programs, and see what else is happening at the MAC. There is always lots going on.
FREE MUSEUM FAMILY PASSES FROM SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Up to two adults and four children can attend the MAC (or Mobius Science Center!) with a free museum pass from the library. Check one out today with your library card number. Visit go.spokanelibrary.org/ MuseumPass
AIDS, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Protest over Food and Drug Administration ban on Haitian blood donations, Brooklyn, New York, April 20th, 1990
In the early 1980s, particular types of people were blamed for the spread of AIDS. The theory of the 4 H’s—that AIDS was restricted to homosexuals, Haitians, hemophiliacs, and heroin users— inaccurately assumed that identity, not behavior, put people at risk. with
FICTION
Courtesy AP/Gerald Herbert
Award-winning writer and editor Adriana Janovich has been eating her way across the Lilac City for a decade, including six years as a food editor for The Spokesman-Review. On February 28th, in honor of The Inlander’s Restaurant Week, Adriana will highlight several of the local restaurants featured in her new book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane. Come to the event at Central Library and then head to dinner! Here’s an excerpt from the book, re-printed with permission from Reedy Press and the author.
KISMET: Creative and contemporary Latin-inspired Cuisine
Growing up, Dan Gonzalez observed his grandmothers making tamales while watching telenovelas. He noted how they cooked. Low and slow. That’s how his mom made pork for tacos. “She was survival-skilling mostly,” he says. “My parents had me when they were very young. They worked hard and sacrificed a lot.”
Gonzalez absorbed their work ethic along with flavors of his Mexican heritage. Hard work got him through culinary school, stints at fine-dining restaurants in Seattle, and myriad spots in Spokane’s burgeoning culinary scene. Through it all, the goal of operating his own eatery persisted.
New Orleans and learn from amazing chefs.”
He applied what he learned to food he enjoyed as a kid, putting his own spin on dishes like his mom’s tacos. They’re on Kismet’s menu as “tacos whettos,” slang for “white-boy tacos. That’s what my mom made. Her tacos were crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy in the middle. This is my homage to my family and my culture.”
“When you taste the love that goes into everything we do, you’ll feel like you’ve heard a story about a family,” Dan Gonzalez says. “The best thing about what we do here is you’re not going to get it anywhere else.”
Today, the flavors of his childhood inspire the menu at Kismet which Gonzalez opened with his partner, Monica York, in 2021. He’s the chef. She works the front of the house. Often, it’s the two of them running the show—from tending bar to washing dishes.
York is from nearby Rosalia. Gonzalez moved to Spokane as a child and then left for culinary school in Seattle, where he learned traditional French and Italian techniques and served as a private chef for Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen. In that role, “I did a lot of traveling. I got to go to New York and
His smoked cheese-andblack-bean empanadas are another throwback, representing “being younger and going to Mexico with my family and going to the markets and getting empanadas and wishing the crust was more like a pastry crust and wondering, ‘What if it was like pie dough instead of bready?’” His take features labneh, pickled chiles, salsa verde, and crema.
Look, also, for charred octopus, elote, arepa cakes, and pan-seared cod with mole aioli, curtido, picked veggies, and soy reductions.
3020 E Queen Ave, 509-309-2944, kismetspokane.com
Unique Eats and Eateries of Spokane February 28
Central Library, Conference Room B 4-5 PM
By Mason Neil, Youth Environmental Education Specialist, Spokane Public Library
Think back to your childhood and you may be fortunate enough to remember a time of curiosity, imagination, and possibility. You might recall a time when wooden blocks became vast cities with impossible technologies, where LEGO® cars sped away at unfathomable speeds, and anything could be a spaceship. When given space and opportunity, the world can be limitless to a child.
Last year I began dreaming of a kids’ video series that would combine the childlike belief in the impossible with a curiosity about how our world works, and Let’s Explore Spokane! was born. The videos explore our city’s infrastructure and showcase the skilled and knowledgeable people working together to improve things right in our own backyard. With guests including solid
waste experts, water scientists, compost educators, and other skilled professionals, we’ve begun exploring questions like: Where does my trash go? How does dirty water become clean? How does voting work? How does a park get made?
“
I began dreaming of a kids’ video series that would combine the childlike belief in the impossible with a curiosity about how our world works, and Let’s Explore Spokane! was born.
These videos demonstrate an intentional belief in the possible: when there is a problem, skilled people can work together to find
a solution. Many of us lose that unrestrained optimism as we get older. We begin to understand that possibilities are limited, and to avoid disappointing ourselves we confine our belief into the much smaller, pragmatic space of what we know can happen.
But certain times—urgent times—require more of us. The challenges we face today can feel impossible: the global loss of biodiversity, dizzying technology developments, and unprecedented weather events becoming commonplace. It’s reasonable to feel afraid in the face of these circumstances, but fear shuts down our imagination. We need creativity and a willing optimism to explore how things might get better. Never in the history of our species has the belief in the future been so important.
While maintaining hope is already complex for adults, the challenge is even greater for young people
facing a precarious world while still figuring out the basics of their own humanity. The danger of growing up in these conditions can mean the loss of a child’s hope and belief before it has time to coalesce. Young people deserve to know the truth, but how do you reconcile honesty with the desire to preserve a young person’s right to belief, hope, and their own future? How do you do that for yourself?
Two principles have guided me in my own personal search for balance: look for the helpers, and keep a local perspective. A local point of view is manageable—without burying my head in the sand, I can focus my energy on caring for my immediate context and the neighbors within my community. The instruction to “look for the helpers” is a proverb from Fred Rogers: when the going gets tough, look to the people who are finding solutions.
Let’s Explore Spokane! follows this wisdom to find nearby examples of hard-working problem solvers. Our city relies on the cooperation of thousands of skilled people who are motivated to create a better world every day. As I explore the workings of our city, a hopeful image of the world begins to emerge for me. If others are working hard to make a brighter future, how might I be able to contribute, too?
The future may be unknown, but collectively we can work together to see that it becomes a reality worth living for. Whether you’re a young kid figuring out the world for the first time, or young at heart and looking to remember the feeling of possibility, tune in to Let’s Explore Spokane! from the Spokane Public Library.
Learn how Spokane’s infrastructure works!
Where does your water go? How does voting work? What happens to your trash?
Watch Let’s Explore Spokane! on YouTube to find out:
go.spokanelibrary.org/ explorespokane
Filipino Heritage & Community in Spokane
During the 1960s and ‘70s, the Downtowner Hotel in Spokane served as a vibrant gathering place for Filipinos, owned by a beloved community member, Manang Dely. It was a space where Filipinos connected over food, laughter, and shared culture. Out of this sense of community, the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire (FAAIE) was born, thanks to the leadership of Norma Mangindin Gavin, a Medical Technologist who immigrated to the United States in 1956. Following Expo ’74, the Filipino Sisters of Providence encouraged Norma to establish a group dedicated to friendship and the preservation of Philippine heritage through humanitarian, educational, and cultural events.
A notice in the Spokane Daily Chronicle led to the first FAAIE meeting in 1987, held in the basement of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral. Today, the FAAIE remains a beacon of inclusion, bringing together Filipinos, Filipino Americans, allies, and friends to celebrate and share cultural traditions.
Celebrating Philippine Dance & Culture
The FAAIE dance group is a cornerstone of this cultural preservation effort, offering training in traditional Philippine dance and music. The dancers, all volunteers, have performed
By Marilyn Llano Myers, Page, Spokane Public Library
across Spokane and the Inland Empire at schools, churches, fundraisers, retirement homes, private events, and venues like the library. Their performances showcase a wide repertoire of vibrant cultural dances, including:
• Ragragsakan: A traditional Kalinga tribal dance where women gracefully balance clay pots on their heads. The movements reflect daily life tasks—gathering water, balancing goods on mountain trails, and celebrating community harvests— symbolizing strength, grace, and a connection to nature.
• Tinikling: One of the most iconic Filipino dances, Tinikling mimics the nimble movements of tikling birds as dancers step between bamboo poles rhythmically clapped together. This lively dance highlights agility, coordination, and Filipino resilience.
• Pamaypay de Manila (pahmy-pie): A festive folk dance featuring decorative handheld fans (pamaypay). Adapted from Manila’s traditions, this elegant and synchronized dance symbolizes joy, cultural pride, and Filipino artistry.
The FAAIE dancers are available for performances at charity events, schools, and other community gatherings, sharing the richness of Filipino heritage with the public.
Ragragsakan—dance costumes from the Kalinga mountain province of the Philippines.
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Saturday, January 25
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire and experience the beauty of Filipino culture through music, dance, fashion, and food!
1:00 PM – Filipino Music & Dance
Enjoy a captivating performance of traditional dances and music that bring the stories of Philippine heritage to life.
2:00 PM – Filipino Fashion Show
Discover the diversity of the Philippines through a showcase of traditional costumes from various provinces. This vibrant display highlights the artistry, color, and craftsmanship that celebrate Filipino identity and regional traditions.
2:30 PM – Learn to Make Lumpia
Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn how to make lumpia, a beloved Filipino dish often served at celebrations. Delicious, versatile, and surprisingly simple to make, lumpia is a crowd-pleasing treat you’ll want to recreate at home.
Through events like these, the FAAIE continues to share its mission of preserving and celebrating Philippine culture with the Spokane community and beyond.
If you’ve borrowed eBooks or audiobooks from the library in the past few years, you’ve been a part of the biggest change in library lending in recent history. At Spokane Public Library, circulation of digital materials surpassed circulation of physical materials starting in 2023.
Given the popularity of eBooks and audiobooks, you may have wondered why the library doesn’t just buy more eBook or audiobook content to reduce hold wait times. When you personally want to buy an eBook or audiobook—it’s often cheaper than the physical book, right? Well, for libraries it’s the opposite. Libraries often pay much more for digital copies than individuals do. Unlike print books, which often come with discounts, digital content rarely does. In fact, digital books can be up to three to four times the cost of physical books for libraries. Take Kristin Hannah’s popular book, The Women, for example. In order to buy enough eBooks and audiobooks to satisfy the hold list at the time of this writing, it would cost the library $21,718.
The average cost the library pays for a print book can range from $8–$30 and we get to keep that book in our collection forever (hypothetically) whereas the average cost for an eBook is around $40, and for an audiobook, it’s about $73, and we have to renew these licenses regularly. To maintain a varied collection, we aim to spend approximately $8,000 each week on digital books alone.
Digital books can be up to three to four times the cost of physical books for libraries.
Since subscribing to OverDrive in 2012, which includes the Libby app (our primary eBook and audiobook platform), we’ve spent $3.3 million to buy or lease almost 87,000 copies. However, due to licensing terms that limit how long we can keep certain titles, we currently have just over 42,000 copies still available.
The portion of our budget allocated for OverDrive content alone makes up more than a third of our
annual $1.5 million materials budget. We could invest even more, but the return would only temporarily meet demand before new requests come in.
Like most libraries, Spokane Public Library simply cannot afford to buy as many digital books as we need to meet the demand, but a great deal of thought and effort goes into balancing the budget and doing our best to supply the materials the community wants.
Why are audiobooks and eBooks so expensive for libraries?
Early on, book publishers had no idea how to price digital content which led to varying costs. In the early 2010s, we could purchase digital titles outright with no timeline restrictions.
Book publishers now use a licensing model for selling eBooks to libraries. We have to buy a license for each digital book title. There are many types of licenses, but the most common type is purchased and re-purchased every year to maintain access to that title. “The higher prices are assigned to libraries by publishing companies who fear unlimited access to eBooks would damage sales,” said Alan Inouye, the American Library Association’s executive director of public policy and advocacy in a 2023 article in Government Technology.
How you can help us maximize the digital collection when you checkout eBooks and audiobooks
• Return items early when you can so more people can read the book while we have it.
• When you see a hold available, check it out right away or schedule it to deliver later if you don’t have time to read it. Sometimes very popular titles have up to a third of copies sitting waiting for a customer to check it out.
• Use the ‘Notify Me’ feature if we don’t have an eBook available to let us know which books are most popular amongst our customers.
What’s being done to make digital content more affordable?
Efforts are underway to make digital content more affordable for libraries. Organizations like ReadersFirst and the American Library Association (ALA) are lobbying publishers for fairer terms and lower prices. However, libraries account for less than 2% of digital sales, so our influence remains limited. In an age of seemingly near-universal access to content on the Internet, libraries struggle to maintain a toehold in this realm.
What does the future of digital content look like for Spokane Public Library?
Libraries work hard to provide access for everyone. At Spokane Public Library, we are committed to evolving our services to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. That’s one of reasons libraries continue to stay relevant in the digital age.
We know providing free access to both physical and digital books is invaluable to our customers so we’ll continue to work on finding a balance.
If you’re interested in helping fund our digital collection, you can make a cash or check donation to Spokane Public Library and indicate that you’d like your donation to go toward our digital collection. Donations can be dropped off at any Spokane Public Library location.
