Some of you may have heard over the last few weeks that a good number of children's books have been stolen from the Port Orchard branch library. The total number of books was around 1,300 at an estimated worth of $22,000. This is horrible news and for those of you just finding out, it's shocking. But enough bad news - I want to share with you the good news.

We have experienced an outpouring of concern and help from our community and others not residing in our library district. After the story aired on the news and had hit the papers, we here at the Port Orchard branch have received generous donations of children's books from many people in our community. We have had small contributions from the small people who are the biggest users of this collection. (One boy about six or seven wanted to donate his dollar.) And we have had large, emotional donations from concerned families throughout the county, including a $5,000 donation from a family in Poulsbo who saw our story on the news.

We are privileged to have so many great and caring people in our community and those beyond. I would like to say from myself and the Kitsap Regional Library, Thank You! We appreciate all of you. Without your support we could not be a library.