Volume 5:  March 26, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1)  LIBRARY JOURNAL MENTIONS WSL’S HARD TIMES & LIBRARIES BLOG

2)  HUMANITIES WASHINGTON SEEKING PARTNERS

3)  APRIL FIRST TUESDAYS FEATURES LIBRARIES AND HARD TIMES

4)  PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS FROM NEH

5)  A REPORT ON OLDER AMERICANS MOVING TO RURAL COMMUNITIES

6)  GRANTS FOR BOOKS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

7)  SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES GRANTS AVAILABLE

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1)  LIBRARY JOURNAL MENTIONS WSL’S HARD TIMES & LIBRARIES BLOG

Pardon us if we pat ourselves on the back: the March 19^th Library Journal, www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6645323.html, recognized the work the State Library has been doing in helping Washington libraries find resources to cope with users flooding in to search and apply for jobs online and to prepare resumes. The article also recognized our work to help Washington libraries understand and take advantage of federal stimulus funding. Although we supplied the information for the article (at the author’s invitation) it is rewarding to have a prominent national library journal focus on us. But what really matters is what you — Washington library staff — think. We’d be delighted to receive your comments, which you can leave on our blog: blogs.secstate.wa.gov/libdev/; the LJ entry is here: www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/LJ.

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2)  HUMANITIES WASHINGTON SEEKING PARTNERS

Humanities Washington, www.humanities.org, is seeking potential partners to deliver its My United States program in Washington State. Because of a particular grant opportunity, we are looking specifically for organizations located in communities with a high concentration of legal immigrants who are (potential) naturalization applicants.

My United States is part of the nationally recognized Motheread program, which combines the teaching of literacy skills with child development and family empowerment issues. Parents and children learn to use the power of language to discover more about themselves, their families, and their communities. The My United States curriculum trains instructors to teach students civics, history and government as part of a literacy skill development course. The goal is to enhance students’ knowledge and skills so they can be more productive members of their families and communities. My United States is designed for use with ESL, GED, or High School Diploma students.

If you are interested in participating, please send a short e-mail with the following information to [email protected]:

– Name of your organization

– Location (City, State)

– Immigrant population served

– Number of potential participants for My United States Training at your location.

Information must be received by April 5 to be considered.

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3)  APRIL FIRST TUESDAYS FEATURES LIBRARIES AND HARD TIMES

The First Tuesdays program on April 7 at 9:00 a.m. will discuss Libraries and Hard Times, with Jennifer Fenton and Rand Simmons of WSL. Listen in on your computer at webj.horizonwimba.com, select the First Tuesdays room when you reach the lobby. If this is your first use of Wimba, you will need to go through a quick download of the software first.

The March First Tuesdays program, on Virtual Reference, and all the other programs we have done, are still available for your listening pleasure at www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/tuesday. For more information, contact Susan Barrett at [email protected] or toll free at 1-866-538-4996.

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4)  PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS FROM NEH

Applications for Preservation Assistance Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities are due May 14; see www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html. Grants of up to $6,000 will be awarded, beginning Jan. 2010 for up to 18 months.

Grants will fund the assistance of preservation professionals in doing preservation assessments of your collection, or may assist with specific tasks such as completing a disaster plan or advising on the conservation of humanities collections. Training in humanities conservation or purchase of archival supplies or furniture may be possible after a preservation assessment has been completed.

Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant are especially encouraged to apply. Applications must be sent using www.grants.gov only. An early application might be prudent. If your institution has never before used grants.gov, you will need to first establish an account, which might take a few weeks.

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5)  A REPORT ON OLDER AMERICANS MOVING TO RURAL COMMUNITIES

The Carsey Institute of the University of New Hampshire has issued a report on older Americans retiring to rural communities and the social, rather than economic, results of this activity. For an area which is becoming a Rural Retirement Destination (RDD), the authors conclude that older in-migration should be seen as neither a burden nor a boon for rural areas but rather as a source of both challenges and opportunities. Mason County, Washington, was one of the 14 counties nationwide where the study survey was conducted. The 4-page policy brief can be found at www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/PB-Glasgow-Brown-GreyGold.pdf.

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6)  GRANTS FOR BOOKS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. annually awards grants for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 12. Grants for 2009 will range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for children’s book purchases rather than administrative or operational uses. Public libraries, school libraries, and tribal libraries may apply.

The Foundation gives to libraries or organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. In order for a library to be considered, it must have been in operation for at least three years. County or district library systems cannot apply as a whole; public or school libraries within a county or district system are eligible to apply individually.

See www.loislenskicovey.org/6.html for details and www.loislenskicovey.org/4.html for a grant application.

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7)  SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES GRANTS AVAILABLE

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in cooperation with the National Park Service and other federal agencies, is seeking applicants for the Save America’s Treasures 2009 grant program. These grants support the preservation and conservation of nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts such as collections, documents, sculpture, art, and historic structures and sites.

In 2009, grant amounts range from $25,000 to $700,000 for collections and from $125,000 to $700,000 for historic property and sites projects. A dollar-for-dollar, non-Federal match is required and the collection or historic property must be nationally significant. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c), U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.

The deadline for applications is May 22, 2009. See www.imls.gov/about/treasures.shtm and www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures for more details.