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The New and Improved Online Index to the Olympian Just Released!

April 25th, 2012 Matthew Roach Posted in Articles, Digital Collections, For Libraries, For the Public, News, State Library Collections, Technology and Resources 2 Comments »

The webpage intro modestly states: “Produced by Washington State Library, this index contains citations to articles in The Olympian (Olympia, Washington) and other Washington state newspapers. Dates covered are from 1993-2009. Subsequent Olympian issues will be indexed as time allows.”

In reality this amazing finding aid is the result of thousands of hours of labor by dedicated WSL staff. Not only is this a valuable research tool for local Olympia area history and genealogy, but as The Olympian covers the State Capital in some detail this index has a value of statewide significance.

The new improved index includes more sophisticated searching options, as well as an opportunity for the library user to request the article once it is located. Crystal Lentz, one of our Public Services librarians, summarizes:

“All the records from the old database were imported into the new one and a new front end/search page was created.  A new feature of the database is a ‘Request this article’ link in each citation.  When customers click on the link they will be asked for their name, email address, zip code, and the name of the deceased person if the request is for an obituary article.  When the request is submitted, the citation and customer information are automatically sent to question queue where it will be claimed and filled by a librarian.”

Many thanks to Public Services librarian Mary Schaff for spearheading this upgrade,  Crystal Lentz, and Head of Public Services Lori Thornton for setting the wheels in motion. We also extend our gratitude to Webmaster Matthew Edwards for listening to our ideas and making the new index a reality in a very short time.

The online Olympian index can be found at:

http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/newspaperindex.aspx

We also have an Olympian index for 1989-1993 available in print, but the data is also stored on ancient 5 and half inch square Bernoulli tapes. If anyone out there has a device that will help us extract this information so we can convert it to an online finding aid, we would love to talk with you!

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Washington Librarian Goes to Washington

April 25th, 2012 Will Stuivenga Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, News No Comments »

The “other” Washington, that is, Washington D.C. Mark Ray, Washington’s 2011 Teacher of the Year, and a librarian and media specialist from Skyview High School, Vancouver, WA, is currently in the nation’s capitol where he, along with the teachers of the year from the other states, got to visit the White House, and shake the president’s hand. While in town he also plans to meet with Washington’s senators, and others to advocate for school libraries. In this picture, Mark is in the back row, far right. The full story is printed in today’s Columbian. We previously saluted librarian Ray when he won his award, back in October, 2011.

President Barack Obama congratulates Rebecca Mieliwocki, the 2012 National Teacher of the Year, Tuesday  at the White House. Skyview High School's Mark Ray, Washington's Teacher of the Year, is in the back row far right.

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SNAPSHOT: A Day in the Life of the Washington State Library

April 17th, 2012 Evan Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public No Comments »

WTBBL book recording supervisor Theresa shares a laugh with volunteer narrator Rick.

On Monday, April 9, the Washington State Library participated in Washington Library Snapshot Day–a statewide effort to promote the important work libraries do every day.  We collected usage statistics, customer comments, and photographs depicting everyday activities at the Washington State Library, its 16 branches, and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

On Library Snapshot Day, the Washington State Library, including its branches throughout the state:

  • Was open for business for a total of 96.83 hours.
  • Answered 524 reference questions.
  • Was visited by 1,108 patrons (in-person).
  • Received 927 unique visitors to its website.
  • Circulated 4,493 items.
  • Provided 307 individual sessions to persons needing to use computers or access the Internet.
  • Provided one-on-one help with computers/technology 86 times.
  • Borrowed 66 items by interlibrary loan and lent out 17.
Jeannie Remillard and library assistants at SCCC

Jeannie Remillard and her crew at the Stafford Creek Correction Center Library in Aberdeen, WA.

A few more  numbers:

  • Washington library patrons asked 121 questions using the Ask-WA virtual reference service; libraries across the state answered 115 questions from around the world.
  • Our Digital Collections and Resources received 1,102 visits.
  • The WSL-coordinated Washington Anytime Library saw 575 new checkouts/downloads made by 421 unique patrons.  Of these, 389 transactions were eBooks, and 186 were audiobooks.
  • The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library saw 54 volunteer hours for the day.

All in a day’s work!

For more great snapshots of life at the Washington State Library, click here.

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WSL Updates Special Edition for Monday, April 16, 2012

April 16th, 2012 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates No Comments »

WSL UPDATES SPECIAL EDITION FOR MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Note: The next edition of WSL Updates will appear on Thursday, April 26, 2012.

1) GRANT CYCLE OPENS – BROADBAND

2) GRANT CYCLE OPENS – TLA50 INITIATIVE

3) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Clippings for the week of April 6, 2012

April 13th, 2012 Leanna Hammond Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, News, Updates No Comments »

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

WA State Library News
A recent grant awarded to the Camas Public Library will help it serve its patrons ages 50 and older. According to Assistant Library Director Sandy Glover, the $1,153 Washington State Library Transforming Life After 50 grant will help get several classes and programs started. (Camas-Washougal Post-Record, 3.20.12)

Library News
Alpha Nu, the Cheney/Medical Lake chapter of active and retired teacher organization Alpha Delta Kappa, has donated $200 to each elementary school library in the Cheney School District. Alpha Nu chooses a different way each year to use the money raised at their annual holiday fundraising auction. (Cheney Free Press, 3.15.12)

A total of 135 residents donated $1,020 in non-perishable food for the 12th annual “Food for Fines” drive conducted by Whitman County Library. Donations came in throughout Whitman County. Almost one third of the donations were not involved with waiving overdue fines. (Whitman County Gazette [Colfax], 3.15.12)

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WSL Updates for April 12, 2012

April 12th, 2012 Diane Hutchins Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, News, State Library Collections, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates No Comments »

Volume 8, April 12, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SHARING THE JOY OF POETRY

2) WANTED – SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 ISSUE OF REDMOND REPORTER

3) SOCIAL MEDIA DEMYSTIFIED

4) TARGET EARLY CHILDHOOD READING GRANTS

5) CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK WITH FREE WEBINARS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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2012 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 04/11/2012 Sine Die

April 11th, 2012 Jeff Martin Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Updates No Comments »

 

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

This posting reflects the status of bills at the end of the conclusion of the regular and first special 2012 legislative session.

 

  04-11-2012 Sine Die          
Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills
ESHB 1478 City & county fiscal relief Springer C 353 L 11 5/16/2011 Mar 24 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections at 10:00 AM. SB 5360(SRules X)
3ESHB 2127 Operating sup budget 2011-13 Hunter Del to Gov 4/11/2012 Apr 6 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM. ESB 5967(SRules 3)
SHB 2177 Child sexual exploitation Ladenburg C 135 L 12 3/29/2012 Feb 23 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Judiciary at 5:30 PM.  
HB 2441 Retirement/excess comp. Bailey H Rules 3C 3/8/2012 Feb 21 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30 PM.  
EHB 2602 Junior taxing districts Eddy H Rules 3C 3/8/2012 Feb 21 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections at 1:30 PM.  
SHB 2608 Early learning guidelines Kagi H Rules 3C 3/8/2012 Feb 16 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 PM. SB 6293(SEL/K-12)
HB 2801 Local govt fiscal matters Hunt H Ways & Means 2/27/2012 Mar 1 Public hearing in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 10:00 AM.  
HB 2813 Local effort assistance Hunter H Ways & Means 2/27/2012 Mar 1 Public hearing in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 10:00 AM.  
HB 2825 New PERS, TRS, SERS members Hunter H Ways & Means 4/3/2012 Apr 4 Public hearing in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 1:00 PM.  
HB 2834 Reporting requirements Alexander Del to Gov 4/10/2012    
             
2SSB 5355 Special agency meetings Morton C 188 L 12 3/29/2012 Feb 20 Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs at 1:30 PM.  
2SSB 5553 Public agency web site info Roach S Rules 3 3/8/2012 Jan 24 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections at 1:30 PM.  
ESB 5967 Operating sup budget 2011-13 Murray S Rules 3 3/8/2012 Feb 28 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 5:30 PM. HB 2127(Hsubst for)
SB 6109 Closed exec. sess. meetings Pridemore S Rules 3 3/8/2012 Feb 20 Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs at 1:30 PM. HB 2406(HSGTribalAff)
ESB 6141 Lifelong learning program Kilmer C 33 L 12 3/7/2012 Feb 21 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development at 10:00 AM. HB 2580(HRules R)
ESB 6257 Sexually explicit act Roach C 144 L 12 3/29/2012 Feb 21 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness at 10:00 AM.  
SSB 6277 Multiple-unit dwellings Conway C 194 L 12 3/29/2012 Mar 7 Public hearing in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 10:00 AM. HB 2489(HWays & Means)
2ESB 6378 State retirement plans Zarelli Del to Gov 4/10/2012 Feb 2 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30 PM.  
ESB 6589 Direct patient-provider care Kastama S Rules 3 3/8/2012 Feb 20 Public hearing in the House Committee on Ways & Means at 3:30 PM.  
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Clippings for the week of March 30, 2012

April 6th, 2012 Leanna Hammond Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, News, Updates No Comments »

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Library News
The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees voted to continue operation of the Camano Island Library Project, accepting a $5,000 per year pledge of community support from the Camano Island Library Friends. This decision extends library services for the pilot project until a bond measure is brought forward to voters or for a period of three years, whichever comes first. (Stanwood/Camano News, [Stanwood] 3.6.12)

Pierce County Library System’s fully owned properties became tobacco-free April 2. The library’s Board of Trustees adopted a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy in January. (The Herald, [Puyallup] 3.7.12) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/14/2065212/pierce-county-libraries-go-tobacco.html#storylink=misearch

A $337,000 Internet broadband fiber link just completed between Blyn and Sequim will significantly benefit the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and Sequim Library. Tacoma-based NoaNet, is in the process of extending Internet broadband infrastructure across the North Olympic Peninsula. (Peninsula Daily News, (Port Angeles) 3.9.12) http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120310/news/303109999

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WSL Updates for April 5, 2012

April 4th, 2012 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library No Comments »

Volume 12: April 5, Year for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WSL RELEASES LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION

2) DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR LIBRARY COUNCIL VACANCIES

3) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN

4) YOUTH SERVICES & OUTREACH POSITION AVAILABLE

5) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) WSL RELEASES LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION

As required by law, the Washington State LSTA Five-Year Evaluation Report was submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services on March 27, 2012. The purpose of conducting an LSTA Five-Year Evaluation is to independently evaluate the activities supported with federal LSTA funding. The evaluation provides an opportunity to measure progress in meeting the targets set in the approved five year plan and is designed to help state libraries make more effective resource allocation decisions in their upcoming five year plans.

As stated in the report’s executive summary, “The WSL’s most significant strength is their ability to convene and promote collaboration between and among libraries of all types in the state. Building on this strength, analysis of past performance, and emerging priorities for WSL and Washington libraries has surfaced six main recommendations for the Washington State Library with regard to future activity funded through LSTA.” Visit www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/dev to read the entire LSTA Five-Year Evaluation 2008 – 2012 report.

For those of you who have contributed to the development of this report through your participation in focus groups, telephone interviews or surveys, thank you. If you have questions, contact Jeff Martin, Acting Library Development Program Manager at 360.704.5248 or at jeff.martin@sos.wa.gov.

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2) DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR LIBRARY COUNCIL VACANCIES

Applications are currently being accepted for two Library Council of Washington positions. One position represents Special Libraries; the other represents Public Libraries serving fewer than 100,000 persons. The Library Council of Washington advises the State Librarian and the Office of the Secretary of State on statewide library issues and the expenditure of federal LSTA funding.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, April 6, 2012 to be considered. These positions begin September 2012. More information is available at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/vacancy. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jeff Martin, at 360.704.5248, jeff.martin@sos.wa.gov, or Anne Yarbrough at 360.704.5246, anne.yarbrough@sos.wa.gov.

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3) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN

The purpose of the Connecting Libraries through Resource Sharing (CLRS) grant cycle is to provide grant funds for collection development with materials that are rotated between partnering libraries, thus encouraging cooperation among public libraries in counties, or those with contiguous borders, where inter-local agreements to share materials do not exist, or did not exist before participation in a previous CLRS grant cycle.

Grants of up to $715 per library may be awarded qualifying partnerships. A single application from each group of partnering libraries is required. A partnership must include two or more public libraries; with one library acting as the lead library in both the application process and, if awarded, the grant implementation.

The application deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012. More details may be found at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/grants. For additional information or questions, contact Carolyn Petersen, CLRS Project Manager, 360.570.5560 carolyn.petersen@sos.wa.gov or Anne Yarbrough, LSTA Grants Manager, 360.704.5246, anne.yarbrough@sos.wa.gov.

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4) YOUTH SERVICES & OUTREACH POSITION AVAILABLE

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), a program of the Washington State Library and the Office of the Secretary of State, is seeking a Youth Services & Outreach Librarian. This part-time (30 hours per week), permanent, entry-level position is located in Seattle. Statewide travel will be required to implement outreach events and activities.

For more information, including job description, qualifications, and application instructions, visit www.sos.wa.gov/office/employment.aspx.

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5) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED

“Letters About Literature” encourages young readers to write letters to their favorite authors, competing at the national level to win a $500 Target gift card and $10,000 for their community or school library. This is the seventh year Washington State Library has sponsored the competition as part of Washington Reads.

Clare Doran, a sixth grader at The Bush School in Seattle, is the 2012 Level 1 champion. Samantha Smith, an eighth grader at Blue Heron Middle School in Port Townsend, is the Level 2 champion. Oliver Reed, a tenth grader at North Central High School in Spokane, is the Level 3 champion. The three champions’ letters have been sent to the Library of Congress for the national competition. The results of the national judging will be released in early May. Read the winning letters at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/LAL2012.

Approximately 5,500 Washington students entered the 2012 contest. 98 semifinalists advanced to round 3 state judging. All state semi-finalists will receive an award certificate in the mail. There will be a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia at 11:00 a.m. May 11 during which the winners and semi-finalists will be acknowledged for their achievement.

To learn more about the 2012 competition, judging, and to see a list of the participating schools, use the link provided above. Thank you to all the students, teachers, librarians, and families who participate in Washington’s Letters About Literature program. Keep reading and writing!

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, April 9, 2012:

  • Deflection on WorldCat Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Everything I Need and Want is in the Teen Section: YA Spatial Practices in New U.S. Public Libraries (SJSU SLIS); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Tuesday, April 10, 2012:

  • The New Science of Building Great Teams: Analytics for Success (Harvard Business Review ); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT;
  • 25 Twitter projects to engage your community and benefit your business (O’Reilly Community); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
  • Custom Holdings on WorldCat Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
  • ProQuest Research Library – With so many publications, how do you find the right one to search? (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT; www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ245;
  • Virtual Connections (WebJunction); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Picture These: What’s New with Graphic Novels (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Apps for Speech Therapy and Autism (Accessible Technology Coalition ); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Spring Adult Book Buzz (Library Journal); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Wednesday, April 11, 2012:

  • Snapshot Day: What It Is and How Your Library Will Benefit from Participating (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
  • Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ242;
  • Intermediate Tips & Tricks for Microsoft Office 2010® Level 200 (New Horizons ); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
  • Patron-Initiated Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits (GrantSpace ); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Information Professional to Intelligence Analyst: Translating your LIS Skills (SJSU SLIS); 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDT;

Thursday, April 12, 2012:

Friday, April 13, 2012:

 

For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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Spotlight on Staff: Laura Sherbo

April 4th, 2012 Rand Simmons Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Institutional Library Services 2 Comments »

Laura Sherbo2012 Laura Sherbo, Program Manager for Branch Library Services at the Washington State Library, has been awarded the Professional Achievement Award award by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association. The announcement is at http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/washington-state-library-s-laura-sherbo-receives-leadership-award-ascla. Laura’s staff (former and current) nominated her for the award.

Melisa Gilbert manages the Coyote Ridge Correctional Center branch. In her nomination letter she wrote, "Laura Sherbo is one of those people who works hard but never draws attention to herself . I am going to describe the characteristics that make Laura a great leader and professional in the world of library services to incarcerated populations throughout the state of Washington."

Kathleen Benoun, Manager of the Washington State Hospital Library wrote about budget cuts, "Despite such devastating setbacks to library services, Laura Sherbo inspired her division team to re-prioritize library functions to meet the most critical needs of the institutionalized." (See her letter.)

Finally, Neal Van Der Voorn, a former WSL employ wrote, "As long as I have known Laura, she has dedicated her professional career as a leader of professional and paraprofessional staff, demanding that inmates of correctional centers, patients at the two state hospitals, and residents at the residential institutions for the developmentally delayed receive highest quality library services." (See his letter.)

Acting State Librarian Rand Simmons stated, "I am so pleased that Laura is being honored for her leadership. She is dedicated to library service to prison inmates and to mental hospital patients through the Washington State Library’s Branch Library Services program. In addition Laura also oversees our branches in state agencies. Laura’s leadership is apparent in the dedication of the staff who manage our branches. It is an honor to Laura that she was nominated by staff. Laura is a delight to work with and I appreciate her involvement in the management team."

Laura, job well done and award well deserved!

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