How to use your library card as a ‘digital passport’

October 30, 2019
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Stream TV shows, take digital classes and much more through Spokane County Library

There was a time when the sole purpose of a library card was for checking out books at a specific location bound by four walls. Today, a library card is a digital passport allowing holders to stream “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” for a child, take a creative writing class, evaluate consumer feedback of the latest laptops, unlock research into your ancestry, get personalized help with homework or a job search — and so much more. Of course, a library card can also do the expected: check out audio and digital books onto a personal device.

The better question might be what a library card can’t do. Through the Spokane County Library District, there are more than 50 free digital subscriptions cardholders can benefit from — conveniently, wherever they happen to be.

Take the above list as an example:

1) Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is on Hoopla, a service that allows library patrons to check out and stream popular movies, TV shows, music and audiobooks.

2) “Creative writing” is one of hundreds of online courses available to card holders through Gale and Lynda.com — or learn a new language through Pronunciator.

3) Access up-to-date consumer info on literally thousands of products digitally through Consumer Reports.

4) Interested in genealogy, check out thousands of records through Heritage Quest or Ancestry services.

5) Great student support resources like Tutor.com are available alongside online resources like JobNow, which connects library patrons with live coaches for help with resumes, cover letters and interviews.

6) Just want a great book delivered digitally? OverDrive provides access to thousands of popular titles, and other apps provide access to the latest magazines and newspapers.

“Users love the convenience of these digital options,” Library District Communication and Development Director Jane Baker said. “And there’s no worry of overdue fees with the electronic items, as they simply return themselves when due by disappearing from your device.”

With locations including Spokane Valley, The BookEnd (at Spokane Valley Mall), Otis Orchards and Argonne among its 11 branches, the Spokane County Library District is the primary library for residents of unincorporated Liberty Lake. However, through a cooperative agreement with the Liberty Lake Municipal Library, Liberty Lake residents inside and outside of city limits can get a library card from both the Library District and Municipal Library. Some digital services are only available through your home library, so ask a librarian with any questions getting set up.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2019 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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Throw Down cancelled for 2020

August 7, 2020
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The second annual Liberty Lake Throw Down, a cornhole tournament that raises support for two of the community’s premier nonprofits, is the latest in a series of COVID event casualties. The event was set to return Aug. 29 to Orchard Park.

Note: The text below was written before the event’s cancellation but sheds light on the nature of and spirit of the Liberty Lake Throw Down. Well received in its inaugural year, organizers hope to see the event return. …

The Throw Down is put on by Friends of Pavillion Park and the HUB Sports Center to raise funds for those two organizations.

For Joe Frank, president and CEO of Greenstone Homes and president of the FOPP board, the tournament is a true celebration of how a community comes together. Since its founding in 1992, FOPP has helped build many Liberty Lake amenities and now focuses on “strengthening the sense of community in Liberty Lake by providing safe and affordable opportunities for recreation, education, entertainment and the arts.”

“When we build communities, our goal is to build a socially connected community, not just a collection of houses,” Frank said of Greenstone. “This social connection is the part of community that is ongoing, even after development is done. FOPP has taken on this role for Liberty Lake, and it is a big reason why Liberty Lake continues to be one of the most desired locations in the region.”

After featuring around 100 teams of two in its inaugural year, the 2020 Throw Down hopes to double to 200 teams this year, Frank said. Team registration is open and sponsorship information is available at pavillionpark.org. Divisions have been added this year to “better help us differentiate between competitive players and social players,” Frank said.

“The 2019 event came off better than I could have ever hoped for,” he said. “Starting a new event, you never know how it will be embraced, but we got a lot of great feedback after last year’s event and we hope to see attendance and support grow in 2020.”

Frank said his personal favorite memory from 2019 was the final from the Mini Bagger Division.

“The championship game was back and forth the whole game, and you had a lot of the adult teams make their way over to this court and cheer on the younger players,” he said. “It was awesome to see.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

Feature photo from 2019 event courtesy of Victory Media.

Procedures change lives of patients

November 27, 2020
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Dr. Rob Piñón and Dr. Owen Packard opened Lakeside Dental at 1612 N. Barker Road in 2019. Measured by the number of patient stories and great memories, it seems even longer than that. Here are two favorites.

Dr. Piñón
A 39-year-old from Newman Lake, “Mr. Johnson,” came into our office in early October with severe generalized decay on almost every remaining tooth in his mouth. He suffered extreme GI disorders which contributed to acid erosion of almost all his remaining teeth. He was in pain constantly and embarrassed to even open his mouth, let alone smile.

After the initial comprehensive exam, we came up with an extensive plan of action that would take several months to complete. He responded with tears as he wouldn’t have his mouth back to normal by the time of a special cruise he planned with his wife in December. Knowing how much pain he was in both physically and emotionally, I gave him the option of expediting some of his treatment to get as much as we could before the cruise, and he agreed.

After three appointments, we accomplished the first phase of his treatment. When Mr. Johnson looked in the patient mirror, he broke down sobbing.

“Dr. Rob,” he said, “I’m so happy. I haven’t been able to even look at my teeth for so many years. This is just amazing. Now I will be able to smile and enjoy our cruise without being embarrassed. You are a miracle worker!”

I’m no miracle worker. However, I know I have the ability to change people’s lives through the gift of dentistry and look forward to many more stories just like Mr. Johnson’s.

Dr. Packard
“Jane” was a single adult in her late 40s who didn’t smile much and wanted her teeth to look nicer. We decided together she would benefit from braces and whitening. When her treatment was done, she was very happy with the results.

About 6 months later she came to my office and asked to see me. As I approached her, I could see she was crying, and my first inclination was to wonder if I had upset her somehow.

“Jane, how are you doing?” I asked tentatively.

“Oh, Dr. Owen, I just want you to know how grateful I am for what you have done for me!” she responded through tears.

Since her teeth were straightened and whitened, much had transpired in her life. What started as a confidence to smile more led to meeting a wonderful man who had proposed to her. She was so happy to be getting married. I told her she was so welcome and gave her a big hug.

“Jane, I can’t take credit for your marriage proposal, but I do want you to know how happy I am for you,” I said, thanking her for taking the time to share her news.

As I wished her well, I thought of what a wonderful thing it is for my dental team and I to see how profoundly our work can affect the wellbeing of our patients.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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