The new nonprofit organization, The Grays Harbor Institute, presented Community Librarian Christine Peck with a television monitor with built-in DVD and VHS player this month for use in the Rosalie N. Spellman Meeting Room at the Aberdeen Timberland Library. "The new equipment will enhance programming at the library. It replaces cumbersome equipment involving a three-step process and is much easier to use," said Mrs. Peck. An anonymous donor specified this donation was to be for the library.

As a service to the public, the Spellman Meeting Room is made available to as many groups as possible. Priority is given for library, municipal, and publicly funded educational purposes as well as meetings that are open to the general public. For more information on reserving the room, groups may call the library at (360) 533-2360.

The Grays Harbor Institute was established in August to bring speakers, lectures, seminars, round-tables and other presentations to the general public with an emphasis on investigating, analyzing, and promoting democratic ideals consistent with ending poverty and racism and advancing human, civil, environmental, educational and health rights. Board members include Gary Murrell, President, Fred Rakovich, Vice President, A.D. Grunbaum, Treasurer, Anneka Vondoorninck, Secretary, and Linda Orgel.

In October, the Institute brought noted journalist, Alexander Cockburn, to Aberdeen. He is a columnist for The Nation magazine and the author of several books including, Imperial Crusades; Five Days that Shook the World: Seattle and Beyond; and Corruptions of Empire. The group is planning for another speaker in April. Among those invited to speak is journalist Molly Ivins.

Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 5 cooperative library centers. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, people in Grays Harbor County can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians toll-free at 1-800-562-6022. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at www.trlib.org. TTY users can contact the library at 1-800-603-6104. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program can contact the library a week in advance.