The winner of the 2012 Teen Video Challenge for the state of Washington has been announced!  Own the Night by Teeler brought home first place this year.  His video was created at the Story Lab at the Tacoma Public Library.  He will win $275 and his library will receive $150 from the Collaborative Summer Library Program(CSLP), the organization sponsoring the contest.

The video and accompanying song were created by Teeler.  The beat was provided by PeonBeats and remixed by Teeler.    Teeler would like to show his appreciation to students at the Seabury Middle School and the Tacoma Public Library StoryLab.

There was stiff competition this year as we had six well made and creative entries submitted by teens from across the state.  In addition to Teeler’s winning submission, there were videos from:

San Juan Island Library

Mill Creek Library

Topics:

1) GRANT CYCLE RE-OPENS – TLA50 INITIATIVE

2) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

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1) GRANT CYCLE RE-OPENS – TLA50 INITIATIVE

The Transforming Life After 50 (TLA50) initiative is designed to help libraries better serve and engage midlife adults by positioning libraries as catalysts, resources, meeting places, and partners in creating opportunities for midlife adults to learn, teach, lead, build skills, prepare for new careers, and become civically-engaged. The 2012 TLAA50 grant cycle still has funding available to support a minimum of three additional awards. Applications received from the re-opened grant cycle will form their own application pool and will be reviewed separately from applications received in response to the first application deadline. Applicants that submitted an application to the first 2012 deadline are not eligible to submit an additional request.

Academic, public, and tribal libraries that serve adults over the age of 50 are eligible to apply. Available funding to support this re-opened grant cycle is $15,000, with a limit of $5,000 per application (limit of one application per library system).

The deadline to apply is Friday, June 29, 2012. More details may be found at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/grants. For questions, contact Jennifer Fenton, TLA50 Project Manager, 360.570.5571, jennifer.fenton@sos.wa.gov; or Anne Yarbrough, LSTA Grants Manager, 360.704.5246, anne.yarbrough@sos.wa.gov.

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2) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Once again, the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) called upon teens to create videos telling their friends and fellow teens across the U.S. about libraries and summertime reading for fun. The success of the contest drew participation from 23 states where numerous teens told their story about reading and libraries in different and creative ways.

Teens across the country were invited to create a 30-to-90-second video with their unique interpretation of the 2012 teen slogan “Own the Night” in combination with reading and libraries. The idea was to involve teens in summer reading before and during the summer months by being part of the process. This was an opportunity for teens to showcase their creativity and have their ideas heard before a national audience.

Washington’s winner was “Own the Night – Teeler” submitted by the Tacoma Public Library. The teens involved will receive a $275 award and their associated public library will receive prizes worth $150 from CSLP and Upstart. Runners-up for Washington include the Mill Creek Library, San Juan Island Library, Kitsap Regional Library, Cathlamet Library, and Republic Library. Videos may be viewed at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/teenvideo.

If you would like more information about the CSLP or Washington’s Summer Reading program, please contact Martha Shinners at 360.570.5567 or martha.shinners@sos.wa.gov.

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The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: bit.ly/TwitWSL.

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Library News
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal recently remodeled and moved into Heron Hall on the east end of the tribal campus in Blyn. Now the library will begin the more profound undertaking of becoming a center for lifelong learning, focusing on developing 21st-century literacy themes and skills within the tribal cultural context. Siri Hiltz, tribal librarian, said she hopes the new location and focus will meet the needs of the community and help library users become more self-sufficient information creators and consumers. (Photos) (The Sequim Gazette, 4.11.12) http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2012-04-02_new_location__new_focus

The Chewelah City Council tabled discussion on annexing into the Stevens County Rural Library District due to insufficient information. Annexing would give the library district control over the Chewelah Public Library rather than the city, but would add another layer of taxation for city residents. (The Independent, [Chewelah] 4.12.12)

Cathlamet town officials are looking for support from Wahkiakum County commissioners for a plan to assist temporary relocation of the Blanchard Bradley Library and encourage connection to an unused sewer main. The town wants to relocate the library temporarily later this year while the old Town Hall is remodeled. (The Wahkiakum County Eagle, [Cathlamet] 4.12.12) http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2012-04-12_town_proposes_cut_in_sewer_connection_fee

The Goldendale Community Library will celebrate its 100th birthday this year. The library will release a list of events they have planned as part of their celebration of 100 years of library services at the beginning of June. A team of people will be collecting stories from the community about the library.
(Photo) (Sentinel, [Goldendale] 3.18.12) http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/story/2012/04/18/features/goldendale-library-celebrates-100th-year-festivities-kick-off-in-june/579.html

Timberland Regional Library will be hosting seven Community Conversations, held in each of the five counties TRL serves. Participants will be able to provide input and ideas on four major library-related topics, including services and programs, technology, collections and facilities. Community Conversations will be held at 5 p.m. May 10, at the Shelton Timberland Library. (Shelton-Mason County Journal, 4.19.12)

The Bellingham Public Library has set up a new donation fund. The new fund, administered by the Whatcom Community Foundation, gives three options: donations to a capital, or building fund; a materials fund; or an unrestricted fund. Library Director Pam Kiesner said the fund was established last year and recently received its first major gift: a $50,000 donation to the capital account from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library. (Bellingham Herald, 4.21.12) http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/20/2489986/donors-have-new-way-to-help-bellingham.html

The use of software to filter Internet content for library patrons received support in a recent federal court ruling. Officials at the King County Library System filter Internet content at public computers, although library patrons can have the filter deactivated. In April, Eastern Washington Federal District Court Judge Edward F. Shea ruled the Wenatchee-based North Central Regional Library did not violate the First Amendment by installing Internet filtering software on computers for all library patrons. (Issaquah Press Online, 5.8.12) http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/05/08/local-library-systems-internet-policy-is-unchanged-after-court-ruling/

Elections
During its next two meetings, the Renton City Council is drafting a ballot measure that will give voters the decision where to build the new library in downtown. The council is taking these steps after deciding two weeks ago to stop a citizens’ initiative to keep the library over the Cedar River. (Renton Reporter, 4.13.12)

Ocean Shores’ voters appear to be split on two levy requests in results from Tuesday’s special election: the Emergency Services levy is passing but voters are rejecting a levy to support the city’s public library. (Daily World, [Aberdeen} 4.18.12)

Buildings
Thanks to numerous hours provided by the “Landscape Angels,” the Ilwaco Community Building landscaping project is now complete. Spearheaded by former Ilwaco Library Board chair Ann Saari and ecologist Kathleen Sayce, the project was funded by the Friends of the Ilwaco/Ocean Park Libraries, Timberland Regional Library, the Templin Foundation, and community donations. (Chinook Observer, [Long Beach] 4.11.12)

The King County Library System has issued a request for proposals for developing “nature discovery areas” on library grounds. Library officials want a design that can be adapted to a variety of sites and libraries. Proposals are due May 14. (Daily Journal of Commerce, [Seattle] 4.17.12)

Letters & Editorials
I am very concerned about the Rural Library District’s struggle with paying the Walla Walla Public Library each year for county residents to use the city’s library. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 4.16.12)

Some people question the need for a bigger library in Chelan. Why do we need it? Well, according to the National Institute for Literacy, success in school and life starts with literacy. (Lake Chelan Mirror, 4.18.12)

This letter is in reference to the article in the April 11 Methow Valley News, concerning the library filtering case. I am concerned about a press release, by the North Central Regional Library that states, “Rural Library Wins Porn Battle Against Seattle ACLU.” That release could not be further from the truth! (Methow Valley News, [Twisp] 4.18.12)

A great big thank-you to everyone who attended and gave so generously at the Branch Out Gala hosted by the Whatcom County Library Foundation. The gala netted over $11,000 to support library programs.
(Lynden Tribune, 4.18.12)

Are you aware that the Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s bookmobiles are going to stop operating this June? If you have not yet let your feelings/needs be known, you can fill out a survey about your library usage for FVRL. (Reflector, [Battle Ground] 4.18.12)

In addition to the reduction of space, staff and hours in our Mall library, the Board of Trustees is contemplating elimination of the programming. There will no longer be any reference materials available in the Mall location. No public input was allowed before the board made these decisions, and it’s a shame. (The Columbian, [Vancouver] 4.20.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/apr/20/04-20-col-fri-letters/

Awards
The King County Library System has been named the Organization of the Year by the Municipal League Foundation. The Municipal League is a volunteer-driven organization that promotes government that is open, effective and accountable. (Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter, [Kent] 4.13.12)

The Pierce County Library System acknowledged 110 adults and teenagers during National Library week. Each volunteer was given a certificate of acknowledgement and thanks. (Tacoma Weekly, 4.13.12) http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/city-briefs23/

The President’s Volunteer Service Award has been presented to 49 Sno-Isle Libraries volunteers for service in 2011. Honored volunteers came from throughout the Sno-Isle district. (The Herald, [Everett] 4.17.12)

Programs & Displays
Holly Petersen is an artist who grew up in Quincy. Her work ranges from Disney figures to abstract and modernist paintings. Her present showing in the Quincy Library has Disney drawings and large acrylic canvases. Her art will be in the art gallery at the library through June. (Photo) (Quincy Valley Post Register, 4.12.12) http://www.qvpr.com/articles/petersens-art-display-quincy-library

Local photographer Marilyn Santiago is showing images from travel around the world at the Sequim Library, a part of the North Olympia Library System, through May. (Photo) (Peninsula Daily News, [Port Angeles] 4.13.12)

Friday afternoon youth activities at the Yelm Timberland Library are getting a good turnout says Kelsie Raddas, library associate and event coordinator. Playing video games on Kinect through Xbox 360 is a lot of fun and a great way to form bonds with others in the community. (Photo) (Nisqually Valley News, [Yelm] 4.13.12)

Librarian Audrey Barbakoff of Kitsap Regional Library’s Bainbridge Island branch recently launched “Ferry Tales,” a book club aboard the Bainbridge Island ferry for literati on the go. The idea, addresses Kitsap Regional Library’s goal of reaching people who don’t typically visit libraries. (Photo) (The Kitsap Sun, [Bremerton] 4.15.12) http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/apr/14/library-takes-book-club-on-the-water/

[This summary of library news was created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. It represents a selection of newspaper clippings about Washington libraries from Washington newspapers received on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or carolyn.petersen@sos.wa.gov ]

Although this article found on page 3 of the Feb. 24, 1905 issue of The Marysville Globe wasn’t exactly local in nature, it had the potential to have a local impact.  Plus it was interesting. So I decided to track down the story behind the story.

By 1905 Washington State was a decade and a half old. Olympia had already survived numerous attempts to be replaced as the capital city beginning with the formation of Washington Territory in 1853. The Legislature had left the old wooden capitol building, holding their last session in that structure in 1903.

The foundation had been built for a new legislative building in the mid-1890s, roughly on the same site of the present dome, but an economic downturn halted construction. John Rogers, the Populist Party governor who served from 1897-1901, felt it was more prudent to buy the Thurston County Courthouse and convert it to a legislative meeting place. So in 1905 the Legislature met for the first time in what is now the home of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in downtown Olympia. This would serve as the State Capitol Building for over two decades.

The Olympia Hotel, a grand structure that stood just southwest of the present Sylvester Park, burned to the ground on Nov. 16, 1904. By some accounts, this was the real State Capitol Building, where deals were made, laws were decided, and lobbyists reigned supreme.

One of those lobbyists was a gentleman named George Stevenson. More on him later.

This was the setting for the following pair of articles, printed next to each other:

CAPITAL REMOVAL

 HOUSE DECIDES IN FAVOR OF TACOMA

 Voice Was 55 to 36 in Favor of Removal, 3 Being Absent or Not Voting Unless Vetoed by Governor Matter Will be Voted On by People of the State

“Olympia, Feb. 18.–The capital removal bill has now passed both branches of the legislature and unless vetoed by the governor will be placed before the people for their approval or disapproval. The bill was taken up by the house as a special order at 10:30 yesterday morning, was read, the rules suspended, and the bill placed on final passage, adopted and passed. Ayes, 55; noes, 36; absent and not voting, 3.”

“A motion for a reconsideration of the vote will be made.”

“The passage of the bill was bitterly opposed by Booth and Todd of King county, as well as by the Thurston county delegation.”

“Mayor Wright of Tacoma, who appeared before the committee a few nights ago, offered on behalf of Tacoma to present to the state for capitol site purposes Wright park, now a city reservation worth at least half a million dollars, and containing 60 acres.”

“Mayor Wright also offered to provide in Tacoma suitable temporary quarters for all state officers, for the supreme court and state library to be used free of charge to the state until such time as a new capitol building is completed.”

GOVERNOR AGAINST IT

 Said He Will Veto Capital Removal Measure

 “Olympia, Feb. 20–The story is currently here and generally believed that Gov. Mead has stated to his personal friends and political advisors that he will veto the capital removal bill.”

“‘I do not believe the state should further saddle itself with such a burdensome debt at this time,’ is what the governor is quoted as saying.”

“Notwithstanding that there is a question whether the governor has the power to veto the bill, there seems to be no question in Gov. Mead’s mind regarding his authority on the matter.”

Now, back to George Stevenson. He was a campaign manager and lobbyist who had convinced the Tacoma area timber and real estate interests that moving the capital campus to their home region would be mutually beneficial. Although Stevenson was able to persuade the Legislature, the newspapers of the state rose up against the idea. One Olympia newspaper ran a cartoon of Stevenson feeding an overstuffed swine named “Tacoma.”

Gov. Mead vetoed the bill, thus ending the last attempt to move the Legislature out of Olympia. Historian Gordon Newell humorously describes Olympia’s subsequent call for a two year economic boycott of Tacoma, and Tacoma’s gesture of apology by sending down boatloads of citizens and dignitaries, and the resulting reconciliation in his wonderful book, Rogues, Buffoons & Statesmen.

Topics include:

1) 2012 WALE CONFERENCE – REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

2) TAKE 25 FOR MISSING CHILDREN

3) ARSL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

4) LUCY LOVES CHILDREN!

5) A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) 2012 WALE CONFERENCE – REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Program proposals are now being accepted for the 2012 WALE Conference being held from October 29 – 31, 2012 at Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan. All preconference workshops will be held on October 29; all conference sessions will be held on October 30.

The theme for the Washington Library Employees’ 21^st anniversary event is “Coming of Age.” Is there a system, program, or resource that works really well for your library? Show others how to do it, too! Or partner with staff from other libraries to demonstrate multiple approaches to common issues. Or just ask your favorite presenter or instructor to submit a proposal!

Proposal information:

• Deadline: Friday, June 15, 2012;
• To submit a Preconference Workshop (3 – 7 hours long) proposal, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/WALEprecon;
• To submit a Conference Session (75 minutes long) proposal, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/WALEconf;
• If you have questions regarding the proposal process, please contact Kate Laughlin at kate@wla.org.

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2) TAKE 25 FOR MISSING CHILDREN

Every year, nearly 800,000 children are reported missing to law enforcement. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day. This day serves as a time to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families, remember those who are still missing, and make child safety a national priority.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) launched Take 25, a national campaign encouraging parents, guardians, and others to take 25 minutes out of their day to talk to children about safety. The Take 25 website provides communities and child programs with free resources including safety tips, conversation starters, child ID kits, and event planning guides to help initiate a dialogue with children about safety. Libraries and other community organizations that host a Take 25 event any time in the month of May will receive free materials by registering their event online. To find out more about Take 25, visit www.take25.org.

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3) ARSL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are available for the 2012 Association of Rural and Small Libraries Conference. Information and application forms are available at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/arsl-01. This year’s conference will be in Raleigh, NC. A preliminary conference can be viewed at: arsl.info/registration.

Anyone who has not attended an ARSL conference is invited to apply. Three scholarships will be awarded. Please check out the website for more details. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 15, 2012 to be considered.

If you have any questions about the process or have any trouble with the application form, please contact Shirley Vonderhaar at svonderhaar@dyersville.lib.ia.us.

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4) LUCY LOVES CHILDREN!

Do your dreams for children and youth services programs in your library exceed your budget? Grant funding is one way to find resources to support innovative programming and services for children. But, where to begin?

Come to the free CAYAS webinar, Grant Writing for Libraries Serving Children, presented in collaboration with the Darden College of Education, Old Dominion University, and made possible through the LUCY (Librarianship Upgrades for Children and Youth) grant from IMLS, and you will come away with:

• Advice about finding, writing, and submitting grants;
• Information about specific grants that focus on diversity and literacy that are relevant to school and public libraries.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share related experiences.

Webinar information:

• When: Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Early registration is now open for Washington affiliates by going to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/LUCY.

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5) A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF

Wishful thinking will not keep them away. Disasters will happen – from leaky pipes to fires and earthquakes. Take the time to be aware and prepared!

In honor of MayDay 2012, the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) has posted its free, 2-hour webinar on Disaster Planning, A Matter of When, Not If, to help spread the word on disaster preparedness. To view the recording, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/MayDay2012.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, May 14:

• Bozarthzone! Nuts and Bolts of Social Media (InSync); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• ProQuest Administrator Module (PAM) (ProQuest); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ274;
• eLibrary Curriculum Edition (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ278;
• CultureGrams (ProQuest); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ279;

Tuesday, May 15:

• Discovery Tool Implementation and Selection (Session 1) (ALCTS); 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ALCTSTool;
• Proposal Writing Basics (GrantSpace); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Made in a Library: an Online Innovation Symposium (OCLC/Library Journal); 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ275;
• eBooks: New Models, New Tools & New Approaches – A Discussion of Emerging Options (EBSCO/Library Journal); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Proposal Budgeting Basics (GrantSpace); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• K12 Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ276;
• K12 ProQuest Administrator Module (ProQuest); 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ277;

Wednesday, May 16:

• Discovery Tool Implementation and Selection (Session 2) (ALCTS); 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ALCTSTool;
• Addressing Your Roots – Searching the 1940 Census (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• QR Connections: QR Codes in Libraries (Georgia Library Association); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• TOPIC: Researching “Censorship” in ProQuest K-12 Resources (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ280 (Note: May include resources that are not part of the WA state package as well as some that are);
• Libraries and the Era of the Learner: A Vision for the Future (WebJunction); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Content Management Systems: Drupal (Georgia Library Association); 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. PDT;

Thursday, May 17:

• Creating a Library Aware Community: Making Print Materials Work for You (Library Journal); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Common Core Integration with ProQuest (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ281;

Friday, May 18:

• Copyright Series: Interview with Kenneth Crews, Copyright Advisory Office, Columbia University (TLT Group); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT.

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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The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: bit.ly/TwitWSL.

Office at WSP-EC

It was a typical year for both of the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) Branch Libraries, the East-Complex (EC) and the West-Complex (WC).

In January 2011, our newest Library Associate, Molly Mooney had been on the job for 4 months.  Her training was going well and she enthusiastically participated in special projects:  working with our ILS Wiki pages and Library-Snapshot day.  In March the WC was open full-time again for the first time since February of 2010 and everyone was happy.  In April we said good-by to Molly when she decided to leave ILS.  The WSP libraries were back on half-time schedules.   With all of the going to and fro between EC and WC, Jean still wasn’t getting enough exercise and had to join the gym.

By May we had applicants for the vacant position at WC and in June Laura, Melisa, and Jean interviewed candidates.  In July Matt Roach accepted the position and was at WSP for two days before starting CORE in early August.  Matt was also a very enthusiastic new employee and training was well underway when ILS received the bad news. 

After nearly 30 years of operation the EC Library was being closed.  Jean’s position was going away which resulted in very bad news for Matt, who lost his job.  Even so, Matt gallantly worked through October and November to help pack up the EC collection.   His last day at WSP was November 30^th.   The day before that he accepted a job at the State Library, so everyone was happy about that.

The EC library closed for good on November 30, 2011.    When it was all over about 2/3 of the collection had been packed up.  The rest was left for WSP to distribute to the Minimum units.   Using a golf cart pulling a trailer, WSP staff made several trips between EC and WC to move all of the boxes of books, library furniture and equipment which took up every available space in the WC library storage room.  

Now begins the work of unpacking, sorting and cataloging materials for WC.   Here’s hoping the year 2012 will be just as typical as 2011 was.

Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection

Washington State Library News
Are you one of the millions of baby boomers who aren’t even dreaming of retirement yet, much less planning for it? The Everett Public Library is offering two free half-day workshops, thanks to a Transforming Life After 50 grant awarded by the Washington State Library, a division of the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, with funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (The Herald [Everett], 4.9.12) http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120409/LIVING/704099981/1027/SEARCH

Samantha Becker, the research project manager of the U.S. IMPACT Study at the University of Washington’s Information School, noted, “The technology environment in libraries has provided a wonderful opportunity to preserve collections and enhance access to them through digitization, which many libraries are doing with out-of-print and local collections or digital artifacts. The Washington Rural Heritage project is a wonderful example.” That project allows users to search and access digital versions of material from libraries, heritage organizations, and private collections throughout the state of Washington. (PBS Online, 5.1.12) http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/05/what-is-the-role-of-libraries-in-the-age-of-e-books-and-digital-information122.html

Library News
The Timberland Regional Library District, along with hundreds of other libraries across Washington State and the nation, participated in Library Snapshot Day Tuesday, April 10th, to commemorate the contributions libraries make to people’s lives. The nationwide event was part of National Library Week, April 8 through 14. (Chinook Observer [Long Beach], 4.4.12)

The raise granted to Keitha Owens, the director of the Ocean Shores Public Library, may have been handled incorrectly. According to state laws governing open meetings and executive sessions (RCW 42.30.110), “Discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of employment to be generally applied within an agency shall occur in a meeting open to the public … “ The July 2011 action to increase Keitha’s salary was taken during a closed meeting. The Library Board will vote again at their next open meeting to confirm Keitha Owens’ salary increase. (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 4.4.12)

At Western Washington University, the Libraries lost roughly a fifth of their budget and the equivalent of 12 full-time staff in four years. How do organizations like libraries survive and thrive under adverse circumstances? They collaborate. For Western Libraries, this has occurred both internally with campus partners, and with other libraries in the community. (Ferndale Record, 4.4.12)

Grandview Library is special. Still, the value of this library and the success of the partnership between the city and the Yakima Valley Community College, which made the library possible, are not necessarily widely known. And this is about to change. Last week, a pair of Washington D.C. researchers dropped in to ask questions about the library project. In gathering information for a study on the HUD grant given to the project, they also met with library users and workers. (Photo) (Grandview Herald, 4.4.12)

Kitsap library users only had limited access to the KRL catalog Sunday, April 22 to Wednesday, April 25 as the library system transitioned to its new integrated library system (ILS) software. The new system software from Polaris Library Systems went live April 26. (Central Kitsap Reporter [Silverdale], 4.6.12)

New York just can’t keep us with Seattle’s insatiable thirst for e-books. KPLU tells us that Seattle Public Library’s e-book collection is already outpacing the one owned by the New York Public Library system – 100,000 digitized books compared to about 88,000. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Online, 4.18.12) http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/04/18/how-seattle-kicks-new-yorks-butt-at-reading/

Elections
Enumclaw is in the midst of one of its more controversial elections concerning the fate of the city’s public library. Proposition No. 1 on the April 17 mail-in ballot asks whether residents of Enumclaw should allow the King County Library System to annex the city library. One of the central questions is whether the City Council is able to, or willing to, fund the library. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald, 4.4.12) http://www.courierherald.com/news/145989465.html

The library has always been a haven for people with limited resources; now the library system has found itself in the same boat. Budgets for Seattle’s libraries have been slashed every y ear for the past four. To combat these problems, the Seattle City Council is proposing a tax levy to fund the libraries. The $123 million levy would be raised and spent over the next seven years. (Capitol Hill Times [Seattle], 4.5.12) http://www.capitolhilltimes.com/2012/04/when-the-levy-breaks/

After much debate among Renton City Council members and public testimony, the council Monday night opted not to put an initiative on the ballot that could have kept the library over the Cedar River. The council’s 4 to 3 vote was made before a packed City Council chamber, with some of the audience spilling into an overflow conference room. (Renton Reporter, 4.6.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/145877785.html

By now, 3,486 Ocean Shores voters should have received ballots mailed from Grays Harbor County Elections. This “special election” asks for financial support of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Ocean Shores Library, both in the form of “lid lift” levies that would replace similar lid lifts that expire at the end of this year. (Daily World [Aberdeen], 4.6.12)

The pro-library annexation proposition on the special election ballot increased its lead to 34 votes Monday after bouncing between a 22 vote lead to as low as 14. On election night, April 17, Proposition No. 1 – asking if the King County Library System should annex the Enumclaw Library – was leading by a slim 22 votes. The final result will be posted Friday, April 27, when the canvassing board certifies the election. (Enumclaw Courier-Herald Online, 4.25.12) http://www.courierherald.com/news/148599025.html

Buildings
A public hearing regarding the proposed road improvement project for the west side of town was held at the City Council meeting on Monday night. The only topic on the discussion of the project was the Goldendale Community Library’s trees. Librarian Naomi Fisher asked the council to consider the trees that are outside the Library building when they plan the project. The Goldendale Community Library is part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. (Sentinel [Goldendale], 4.4.12) http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/story/2012/04/04/news/road-project-hearing-focuses-on-trees/504.html

The Spokane Valley City Council is expected to learn a little more about a potential land partnership with the Spokane County Library District next Tuesday night. While there won’t be any firm decisions made at the regular April 10 meeting – the items appear on the “administrative report” section of the agenda – city staffers will brief council members on new information that could result in a future land purchase on the property, which is owned by Pring Corp. (Valley News Herald [Spokane], 4.6.12)

University of Washington Tacoma officials recently conducted a site tour of the new $16 million Tioga Library Building currently under construction and shared photographs on its Flickr site. The four-story building designed to complement the historical brick architecture of the city and campus will be connected to the library by a skybridge and will address both library and campus functional needs. (Photo) (Tacoma Daily Index, 4.10.12)

The Vancouver Mall Community Library will be looking at a smaller facility and reduced services in 2013. The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Board of Trustees announced at Monday night’s meeting that it has tentatively agreed on a new 10-year lease with Westfield Mall management for a library about half the size of the current branch at about the same cost. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 4.11.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/apr/10/mall-library-to-shrink-in-13-slightly-less-than-ha/

Letters & Editorials
In order to expand the library by moving to another site, the city of Chelan and the Chelan Friends of the Library have applied for a state grant, asking for $490,000. If Chelan is chosen to receive this (federal) grant, the agency will give the library the money only if the community raises $160,000. At this time, the total raised is $72,000. Even small donations help. Every dollar counts! (Lake Chelan Mirror, 4.4.12)

What hasn’t been said in all this talk about a new library is the effect it will have on families. I am a mother of two toddlers. Each week we attend library storytime, all without crossing a single street. Now the city wants me to park in a parking garage, walk by a crime-ridden transit center and cross a busy street to get to the library. Don’t make me and my children a test case for a making a problematic city center safer. (Renton Reporter, 4.6.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/letters/146308525.html

Monday night’s City Council meeting was a lesson in civics and a demonstration of the understanding by some in the community that what the council does matters. The council stuck to its guns, honoring a vote by the people in early 2010 to annex to the King County Library System that would ensure Renton residents would have library services for decades to come – all investment in the future. (Renton Reporter, 4.6.12) http://www.rentonreporter.com/opinion/146432125.html

I was pretty excited to take my grandchildren to the library after work last week. We arrived at the Lacey Timberland Regional Library and headed to the Children’s area to find that there were several really fun toys to distract the children. There were about eight other children already playing with the toys, and NOT ONE CHILD was looking at books. I hope the libraries will seriously consider removing the toys, or at least limit it to a few puzzles or other types of activities. (The Olympian [Olympia], 4.11.12) http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/11/2064907/toys-dont-belong-in-the-library.html

Jeers to the shrinking size of the Vancouver Mall Community Library. Library district officials announced this week that the mall branch will go from 7,215 square feet now to 3,575 square feet under a new 10-year lease taking effect next year. The library will close temporarily late this year for the downsizing to occur. (The Columbian [Vancouver], 4.14.12) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/apr/14/cheers-jeers/

Awards
The North Olympic Library System has been named a Science Champion for its support of advancing science education in Washington through its innovative science-based programming and collections. Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform will honor awardees at a ceremony on May 10. (The Sequim Gazette, 4.4.12)

Lake View Elementary School students have added yet another chapter to their successful saga as champion readers. The Cardinals recently captured their third consecutive Auburn School District and South Regional titles in the King County Library System’s 12th annual Global Reading Challenge. (Photo) (Auburn Reporter [Kent], 4.6.12) http://www.auburn-reporter.com/community/146202435.html

Programs & Displays
Settling into a new community can be daunting for new military families. Sno-Ilse Libraries is often one of the very first stops when exploring a new neighborhood and the library can help families get oriented to their new surroundings. Because April is the month of the Military Child, Sno-Isle Libraries put together a special book list with a military theme as a tribute to these dedicated families. (Millcreek View, 4.2012)

Technology is on the rise at the Columbia County Rural Library District. Library patrons can now access eBooks from the Washington Anytime Library through eReaders, such as a Kindle, according to Janet Lyons, library director. The service has been available at the library since November 2011. Lyons encourages anyone interested to visit the library to find out how to access the service. (Dayton Chronicle, 4.4.12)

The La Conner Library is now a part of the Washington Anytime Library, and patrons can download audio books and e-books for free. You can set up an account from the library’s website. If you have any difficulty, there are excellent help screens, or come in and library staff will walk you through the process. (La Conner Weekly News, 4.4.12)

Washington Poet Laureate Kathleen Flennikin will welcome visitors at a “Coffee with the Washington Poet Laureate” at 3:30 p.m. May 14 at the Lowe Columbia College Bookstore, located in the Student Center at 15th Avenue and Maple Street. Flennikin will present a reading at 7 p.m. that evening in the Periodicals Room (main floor) at the Longview Public Library. Both events are free. (The Daily News [Longview], 4.28.12) http://tdn.com/lifestyles/library-corner-as-poetry-month-winds-down-sample-these-powerful/article_980c8944-91a5-11e1-a95e-001a4bcf887a.html

Amy Walden, author of “The Submission,” the Seattle Public Library’s “Seattle Reads” pick for 2012, will discuss the book at various locations. Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m. at the Ballard Branch, and 4 p.m. at the Columbia Branch. At the downtown library she will appear in conversation at 7 p.m. Friday, May 4. All events are free and open to the public. (The Seattle Times Online, 4.30.12) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2018085915_litlife30.html?cmpid=2628

[This summary of library news was created by Bobbie DeMiero and Leanna Hammond of the Washington State Library Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. It represents a selection of newspaper clippings about Washington libraries from all Washington newspapers received on the dates shown. For more information about any of these stories, contact Carolyn Petersen at 360.570.5560 or carolyn.petersen@sos.wa.gov ]

He was born in 1952 in Silver Spring, Maryland, but he grew up and got his education in Colorado. He went to public school until 10th grade, and completed high school at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs. “I benefitted from going to school in both environments,” he said. “I think all blind children would broaden their horizons by experiencing both forms of education.” He later majored in English at Colorado College.

Alan’s start with WTBBL was a natural fit. “When I moved to Bremerton in 1981,” he said, “practically the first thing I did was contact the WTBBL to see if they needed volunteers, and I’ve been there in one capacity or another ever since.” “Now in his 31^st year working at WTBBL, Alan teaches me something every day,” says program manager Danielle Miller.

He worked for WTBBL as a page for two years, and then started as a full-time Readers Advisor in January 1987, a time when talking computers were still in their early stages of development. “When I started, we didn’t have email or Internet or braille displays. I couldn’t even transfer calls or put people on hold. The changes in my job have been amazing.”

Alan takes book requests, searches for titles that aren’t listed in the library’s catalog, enters information into the catalog, adjusts patron files to make sure the computer selects the right books and sends them often enough, and much more. Danielle states, “I think Alan knows our collection better than anyone; he is excellent at identifying books for patrons based on that vast knowledge and the fact that he is always reading, including participating in two book clubs. A fun bit of trivia: Alan’s mother was a librarian!”

“Every time some new innovation comes out like the online catalog, or the ability to download books, people tell me that they’re sorry I’m out of a job. It never seems to happen, though. There are always lots of new questions to answer about the new technologies. That’s what I like about my job, the ability to improve our library service, one patron at a time.”

“Alan is an integral part of our team. He is smart, quick-witted, fun, and a heck of a singer and piano player,” says Danielle.

Thanks, Alan, for your dedication to excellence in serving the patrons of WTBBL.

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library:

This rather biting review of a circus appeared in the Stevens County Reveille, June 28, 1900, page 3:

That Circus, Saturday

“The circus came, conquered, and ‘went,’ as circuses usually do; the richer, perhaps, by a few dollars from Colville and surrounding country, but not sufficiently so to give the proprietors any large attack of ‘fat pocketbook.’ There was quite a crowd in town last Saturday, but there have been larger ones here on eventful occasions. The tent was at no time seriously crowded, the afternoon attendance being of course the largest. In the evening there were not more than 250 persons present. As for the show itself– well, there was a large amount of tent for a very small amount of performance. The institution had some very nice horses, poorly trained; there was no plowed ring, as is usual with a circus; a small plat of ground was inclosed in a circle, and within this was given one of the snidest attempts at a show we have yet seen. There were the usual side shows, including the naughty Hootchie dancers, but we heard of no efforts of the skin game to ply their trade. Our city officers wouldn’t allow it. Altogether, those who missed seeing the ‘Great English-American Syndicate’ are one dollar ahead and those who did attend are that much poorer and wiser.”

The critic was newspaperman Rufus Wood. No, not Rufus Woods, that other newspaperman, the one in Wenatchee who was famous as the “Father of the Grand Coulee Dam.” Although both of the Rufuses had brothers named Ralph and both had a preoccupation with the circus, they were different people.

Topics include:

1) SDL PROQUEST RENEWAL

2) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN

3) FREE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SUMMER READING

4) WESTPAS NEEDS YOUR INPUT

5) WEBWISE 2012 WEBCASTS AVAILABLE

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SDL PROQUEST RENEWAL

The WSL Statewide Database Licensing Project (SDL) announces the July 2012 – June 2013 ProQuest renewal for all participating Washington libraries. Barring significant cancellations, pricing is not expected to change appreciably for the upcoming year.

For public, academic, and special libraries, the renewal is automatic. Invoicing from ProQuest will occur in June or July. For school libraries, renewal (or cancellation) is through your local ESD (Educational Service District).

If a library wishes to cancel its ProQuest subscription through the statewide contract, please fill out, sign, and return a cancellation form by or before May 27. The cancellation form can be found on the SDL ProQuest renewal page: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Renewal.

As a reminder, descriptions of the ProQuest database package can be found at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ. For questions please contact project manager Will Stuivenga will.stuivenga@sos.wa.gov 360.704.5217 or toll-free 866.538.4996.

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2) 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 to 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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3) FREE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SUMMER READING

Summer is fast approaching and with it, the opportunity to connect young readers with books. To help libraries to prepare, Upstart, in partnership with TeachingBooks.net and the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), are offering free resources to support Dream Big – Read!, the Collaborative’s 2012 program, including:

• Links to author and illustrator websites;
• Audio recordings of authors pronouncing and telling stories about their names;
• Book discussion and activity guides;
• Audio book talks with authors, illustrators, and professional narrators;
• Meet-the-Author Movie and Audio Interviews.

Materials may be used in a number of ways including:

• Staff development – Prepare for the summer by learning more about featured authors and books;
• Programming – Integrate ready-to-use activities and audio book talks to round out your sessions;
• Book groups – Stimulate conversation with book guides and novel units;
• Technology integration – Enable patrons and staff to listen online to brief performances of books, watch authors in their studios, and access authoritative web-based material about the featured books and authors.

Free online resources that support the 2012 CSLP bibliographies are available for the following categories:

• Early literacy (grade level PK – 2): TeachingBooks.net/CSLPEL;
• Children (grade level 1 – 5): TeachingBooks.net/CSLP;
• Teens (grade level 7 – 12): TeachingBooks.net/CSLPT.

Questions? Contact Nick Glass at nick@TeachingBooks.net or 800.596.0710.

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4) WESTPAS NEEDS YOUR INPUT

The Western States and Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS) offers free (grant-funded) workshops on developing disaster response and salvage plans for collections in heritage institutions. The workshops are two days in length. The first day and the second day are separated by 4 to 6 weeks to allow time for attendees to prepare a very basic draft plan between workshops. While attendees have found this training to be quite helpful, it is becoming increasingly difficult for staff and/or volunteers from smaller institutions to travel and make the time commitments necessary to participate.

WESTPAS is considering an alternative workshop model in hopes of enabling more institutions to participate.  This model would be comprised of two separate sessions:

• Session one: A short series of webinars in lieu of in-person training, culminating in the drafting of very basic response plans by participants;
• Session two: An in-person event to review draft plans created at the end of session one and to allow participants to get hands-on experience in the salvage of wet materials.

WESTPAS would like your feedback on this proposed workshop model. If you or someone from your institution is interested in creating a disaster response plan for your institution, please respond to the very brief (2-minute) survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/westpas no later than May 15, 2012.

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5) WEBWISE 2012 WEBCASTS AVAILABLE

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has posted webcasts of WebWise 2012. An IMLS signature initiative, the WebWise Conference annually brings together representatives of museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields to explore the many opportunities made possible by digital technologies.

WebWise 2012 took up the theme of “Tradition and Innovation,” investigating how libraries and museums have used digital technologies to help scholars, students, educators, and the general public understand history and the humanities. This year’s conference took special note of the unique contributions that historical societies, public libraries, and other small and local organizations make to humanities scholarship and education.

View the Webwise 2012 webcasts at www.tvworldwide.com/events/webwise/120229.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, May 7:

• eLibrary BookCarts & Quizzes (ProQuest); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ267;

Tuesday, May 8:

• Selecting A Conservator (C2C Online Community); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/C2C8May;
• Lerner Fall 2012 Librarian Preview (Lerner Publishing Group and School Library Journal); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• CultureGrams (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ268;
• eLibrary for Schools (ProQuest); 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ269;

Wednesday, May 9:

• History Study Center (ProQuest); 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ270;
• All About ALTAFF: A conversation with Sally Gardner Reed (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• K-12 Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ272;
• K-12 ProQuest Administrator Module (ProQuest); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ273;
• Grantseeking Basics (GrantSpace); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;

Thursday, May 10:

• Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ265;
• Ally with WTBBL (WSL); Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center, Toppenish, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT;
• Introduction to Finding Funders (GrantSpace); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Research Essentials with eLibrary’s Essential Pages (ProQuest); 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ271;

Friday, May 11:

• Ally with WTBBL (WSL); Richland Public Library, Richland, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT;
• My Research (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ266.

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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