Volume 5, November 25, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2) CONTINUING LIBRARY SERVICE AFTER A DISRUPTIVE EVENT

3) NORTHERN STAR ADDED TO ONLINE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS

4) FUNDING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROJECTS

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1) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This edition of WSL Updates is slightly abbreviated, due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday break. Jan Walsh, State Librarian, and the staff at the Washington State Library Division, Office of the Secretary of State, cordially offer their best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to libraries and library staff throughout the state.

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2) CONTINUING LIBRARY SERVICE AFTER A DISRUPTIVE EVENT

Holidays bring folks closer together—an ideal opportunity for flu and other seasonal illnesses to spread. In the December First Tuesdays program, Gail Kouame from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine will discuss how libraries can continue to provide services after a disruptive event such as widespread flu. First Tuesdays are designed as a continuing-education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State.

This free one-hour First Tuesdays webinar will begin at 9 a.m. on December 1, 2009. Instructions for joining the program can be found at: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/wimba.

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3) NORTHERN STAR ADDED TO ONLINE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS

The Washington State Library has added an early Snohomish newspaper to its online offerings. The Northern Star, from 1876-1879, 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, news topics include:

• “Centennial History of Snohomish County” col. 1-5, page 4, July 8, 1876: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/CentHist1; Page 5 (continued): www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/CentHist2.
• “Hyas Potlatch” col. 1, p. 2, July 22, 1876 (an article written entirely in Chinook Jargon): www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Potlatch.
• Ambitious readers may want to translate, using this “Vocabulary of the Chinook Jargon” from the 8/6/1864 Seattle Weekly Gazette: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Chinook.
• “J.R. Thompson Travel Account” col. 2, page 2, July 14, 1877 (a travel account of the Walla Walla and Snake river valleys by J.R. Thompson with his thoughts on the Nez Perce Indian war): www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Thompson.

The Northern Star 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 La Conner, Lynden, Port Townsend, Seattle, Spokane, Steilacoom, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Yakima. Additional newspapers will be brought online as they are scanned and indexed.

The newspaper Web site 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.sos.wa.gov/history/newspapers.aspx.

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4) FUNDING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROJECTS

On Nov. 12, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 111 projects in 35 states have been selected to receive more than $34.9 million in grants to increase educational opportunities and expand access to health care services in rural areas. The funding will be provided through USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.

Congratulations to Washington recipients!

• Big Bend Community College – $139,273
• Mabton School District #120 – $468,144
• Bridgeport School District #75 – $385,640

For the complete press release, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Vilsack.

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