Volume 5, June 4, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) GOOD-BYE TO SUSAN BARRETT

2) VANCOUVER REGISTER ADDED TO ONLINE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS

3) FIND HEALTH AND FOOD RESOURCES DURING HARD TIMES

4) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS RFP RELEASED

5) FREE PUBMED AND TOXNET CLASSES

6) FREE AUTISM AWARENESS CLASS

7) NEH PRESERVATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS

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1) GOOD-BYE TO SUSAN BARRETT

It is with sincere regret that we report the retirement of long-time Library Development Consultant, Susan Barrett, who for over 36 years served the libraries of Washington State in her positions at the Washington State Library. Susan first joined WSL in 1968, with a little subsequent time off for raising her children. She specialized in working with small and rural public libraries and tribal libraries. She coordinated both the Cultural Diversity Initiative and the highly acclaimed Washington Preservation Initiative, edited the popular Clippings compilation of library news from the state’s newspapers, and more recently, edited this publication, WSL Updates. We miss you already, Susan!

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2) VANCOUVER REGISTER ADDED TO ONLINE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS

The Washington State Library has added an early Vancouver newspaper to its online offerings. The Vancouver Register, from 1865-1869, is the library’s latest addition to the Historical Newspapers Online Project, which makes available the state’s earliest territorial newspapers to anyone with an Internet connection.

Indexed by staff and a group of enthusiastic volunteers, breaking news topics included the invention of velocipedes, the spread of the Order of Good Templars (a temperance organization), the idea of a bridge between Vancouver and Portland, and an editorial promoting “Same Pay to Man or Woman for Same Amount of Labor.”

It joins Olympia’s first papers, The Columbian, The Washington Pioneer, and The Pioneer and Democrat, that cover 1852-1857. Also included in the collection are historical newspapers from the cities of Lynden, Port Townsend, Seattle, Spokane, Steilacoom, Walla Walla, and Yakima. Additional newspapers will be brought online as they are scanned and indexed.

The newspaper website was purposely designed for students, genealogists, and historians to easily access historical information. It provides viewers with the ability to search by keywords, dates, subjects, and personal names. To view the newspapers, please visit www.secstate.wa.gov/history/newspapers.aspx.

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3) FIND HEALTH AND FOOD RESOURCES DURING HARD TIMES

With record levels of unemployment in Washington, many individuals are struggling to afford health insurance and food for their families. WithinReach, a statewide information and referral service, provides www.ParentHelp123.org, an online tool designed to meet library patron’s health and food needs during these hard economic times. This user-friendly website (in English and Spanish) offers a quick and easy screening and application process for state benefits like Medicaid, Food Stamps and WIC, available at www.parenthelp123.org/benefit-finder/programs. The Resource Finder search tool, at resources.parenthelp123.org, connects families to services in their community like food banks and low-cost medical clinics.

WithinReach also connects people in need to health and food resources through its Information and Referral Call Center, a series of toll-free hotlines. Information about state-sponsored benefits and local resources are available in all languages via bilingual staff and free telephone interpreters. Visit www.withinreachwa.org/hotlines for a complete listing.

Libraries are welcome to provide links to ParentHelp123.org on library websites and public computers to provide greater access to state-sponsored health and food programs along with the search tool for local resources. For more information, contact Sue Waldin, WithinReach Outreach Specialist, at [email protected].

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4) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS RFP RELEASED

The Washington State Library is pleased to announce the release on June 1, 2009 of an RFP (Request for Proposals) for downloadable audiobook eContent services. The goal of this RFP is to secure one or more contracts to expand the reach of downloadable audiobooks content to libraries throughout Washington State, including public, academic, and K-12 libraries.

The deadline for proposals is 4:30 p.m., June 30, 2009. During the month of July the project advisory committee (see www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/audiobook) will actively review the proposals that are received and will make recommendations for awarding one or more contracts. Barring unforeseen delays, an actual project launch, with libraries signing up to participate, could occur by August 1, 2009. A “go live” date for any new service(s) would follow as soon as possible, given custom implementation and service development requirements.

The RFP is available online through WEBS (Washington’s Electronic Business Solution) at www.ga.wa.gov/webs and from the Office of the Secretary of State’s “current procurements” page: www.secstate.wa.gov/office/procurements.aspx. All questions about the procurement process and about this project in general, should be directed to RFP Coordinator and Project Manager, Will Stuivenga, who can be reached at [email protected] or 360.704.5217.

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5) FREE PUBMED AND TOXNET CLASSES

Back by popular demand, free, hands-on training classes at the UW Health Sciences Library, are taught by instructors from the National Training Center and Clearinghouse. These classes are appropriate both for those with limited search experience and those who would like a refresher and the chance to explore recent changes to the databases.

• PubMed: Monday, August 17, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• TOXNET (new and improved class): Tuesday, August 18, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

These will be the only NTCC classes in Washington in 2009. The same classes will be offered at OHSU in Portland on November 2nd and 3rd. Full descriptions and link to online registration are available at nnlm.gov/ntcc.

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6) FREE AUTISM AWARENESS CLASS

Julie Ashmun from Project DATA, University of Washington, will help library staff understand the autism spectrum and how libraries can best serve this special population.

• July 8, 2009, 1:30 – 4:30 P.M. at Sno-Isle Libraries Service Center, Marysville, WA

This training is open to all library staff in Washington and requires registration. This is a free training opportunity provided by WSL with funding from IMLS, Institute for Museum and Library Services. Registration will open on June 8 from the WSL Training Calendar at www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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7) NEH PRESERVATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS

This National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) program seeks to help the staff of cultural institutions (large and small) obtain the knowledge and skills needed to serve as effective stewards of humanities collections. Any U.S. nonprofit organization is eligible, as are state and local governmental agencies and tribal governments.

Awards normally are for two years. Grants to regional preservation field service organizations typically range from $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000 per year. For all other applicants, the maximum award is $125,000 per year. Although cost sharing is not required, NEH, is rarely able to support the full costs of projects approved for funding. In most cases, NEH grants cover no more than 80 percent of project costs.

Applications must be received on Grants.gov by July 1, 2009. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number for this grant is 45.149.

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