Volume 5, September 3, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WSL HARD TIMES RESOURCE GUIDE GOES LIVE

2) LCW PUBLIC LIBRARIES POSITION OPEN

3) FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS

4) PREPARING FOR H1N1 (SWINE FLU) INFLUENZA

5) AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANTS

6) CATCH THE INFORMATION EXPRESS – WLMA CONFERENCE

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1) WSL HARD TIMES RESOURCE GUIDE GOES LIVE

We’ve spent the last few months exhaustively scouring the web and compiling quality resources to help library users across Washington State. The result? A thorough guide with detailed resources and techniques to help you and your users navigate this tough economy. We’ve covered numerous subjects, including health and nutrition, family and parenting, finances, job-seeking, and a whole lot more.

Check it out now at www.secstate.wa.gov/library/hardtimes.

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2) LCW PUBLIC LIBRARIES POSITION OPEN

Applications are currently being accepted for one Library Council of Washington position. This position represents public libraries serving over 100,000 persons. Applications must be submitted by Friday, September 11, 2009 to be considered. Service for this position is anticipated to begin in January 2010 although the first meeting of the Council will not be until March 2010.

More information is available at www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/vacancy. If you have questions, please feel free to contact, Jeff Martin, at 360-704-5248, [email protected], or Anne Yarbrough at 360-704-5246, [email protected].

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3) FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS

Spaces are still available in the Protecting Library & Archive Collections: Disaster Preparedness, Response & Recovery workshops, which are designed to train staff for disaster preparedness.

Who should attend? Administrators and staff from all types of libraries and archives responsible for emergency preparedness, response and decision-making. By registering for the workshop, the institution commits to supporting the attendee(s) to achieve the workshop’s disaster preparedness goals. When possible, please send two attendees from a library or archive so they can work together on the disaster preparedness activities. Participants will prepare short assignments prior to the first session; between sessions, they will undertake additional assignments resulting in a completed disaster plan at the end of Part 2.

The workshop instructor is Gary Menges, Preservation Administrator at the University of Washington Libraries, Seattle. He is a member of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Collections Emergency Response Team (AIC CERT).

The workshops are scheduled in two Washington locations as follows:

• Seattle: Part 1 September 16; Part 2 November 3.
• Vancouver: Part 1 September 21; Part 2 November 16.

The workshops run from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days.

There is no cost to attend, as funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The workshops are co-sponsored by the Washington State Library and the Washington State Archives. For more details, including exact locations and registration information, follow this shortcut link: tiny.cc/ZePOL.

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4) PREPARING FOR H1N1 (SWINE FLU) INFLUENZA

As children return to school, a national communications campaign has begun to prepare for the H1N1 influenza. Libraries and museums can play important roles in helping to spread the word about the H1N1 flu and can engage in strategies to ensure continuous learning for children whose education may be interrupted by H1N1 flu conditions. We would like to draw your attention to two important resources:

1. www.flu.gov provides comprehensive government-wide information on pandemic and avian influenza for the general public, health and emergency preparedness professionals, policy makers, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities. The information is meant to be widely disseminated and along with important advice for library and museum professionals to use in managing their institutions, the site provides a host of web and social media resources that can help your institution play a role in raising public awareness about H1N1 preparedness and response.

2. The Department of Education Recommendations to Ensure the Continuity of Learning for Schools During Extended School Dismissal or Student Absence (Press Release) is available at www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08242009.html. This guidance was released on August 24 by Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan and includes a recommendation to involve community organizations in continuous learning strategies. Libraries and museums are part of the educational network and now is the time to get involved.

This notice was provided by IMLS (The Institute of Museum and Library Services) www.imls.gov.

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5) AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANTS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation have announced the 2010 guidelines for the American Heritage Preservation Program. This public-private partnership will fund the preservation of endangered and fragile art works, rare books, scientific specimens, and historical documents (photographs, maps, deeds, etc.) held in small and medium-sized museums, archives, and libraries.

The grants of up to $3,000 are aimed at completing stand-alone conservation projects that convey the essential character and experience of the United States. Examples of fundable projects are provided in the grant guidelines. The deadline for application is September 15, 2009. Read more at www.imls.gov/news/2009/071609.shtm.

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6) CATCH THE INFORMATION EXPRESS – WLMA CONFERENCE

The 2009 WLMA (Washington Library Media Association) Conference is coming, October 8 – 10, 2009. Online and paper registrations are now being accepted. The conference theme is “Catch the Information Express! Connect, Engage, Inspire.”

Visit the conference website at www.wlma.org/storage/conference2009/Index.html.

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