Volume 6, January 21, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) STATE LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS DOCUMENTED

2) BROADBAND STIMULUS FUNDING ROUND TWO ANNOUNCED

3) NEW POSTER FEATURES SKIERS PHIL, STEVE, AND ANDY MAHRE

4) KID’S STUFF ON THE WEB: FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP

5) ONLINE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP OFFERED BY WSL

6) TEDX FOR LIBRARIES: DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING FOR FREE

7) WEBINAR DISCUSSES LIBRARY ROLES IN WORKFORCE RECOVERY

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1) STATE LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS DOCUMENTED

Documents telling the budget and service story of the State Library for the past ten years are now available on the State Library’s website. They explain the implications of the cut for libraries and vulnerable populations across the state. In order to receive federal funds for libraries from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), each state must spend a certain amount of money on library service in approved areas. These cuts will affect the State Library’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and will affect the amount of federal funds libraries in Washington receive. To view these documents, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/cuts.

For additional information, visit the Friends of the Washington State Library’s web site at wslfriends.org or the new “Save the Washington State Library” Facebook page at apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/435648/about.

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2) BROADBAND STIMULUS FUNDING ROUND TWO ANNOUNCED

Public Libraries: The federal government released its Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for both the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP). $4.8 billion in broadband stimulus funding is available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Washington State Library is working with the Department of Information Services and other anchor institutions to participate in a statewide, multi-organization application. Applications are due by March 15, 2010. We will build on information collected from Washington public libraries last fall. You can view the BTOP NOFA and BTOP Fact Sheet at Broadband USA, broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov. See the Friday, January 15, 2010 press release.

For more information regarding the State Library’s involvement please contact Rand Simmons at [email protected], 360.570.5585, or toll free in Washington at 1.866.538.4996. We will be in touch as additional information becomes available.

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3) NEW POSTER FEATURES SKIERS PHIL, STEVE, AND ANDY MAHRE

In anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Washington State Library’s latest Washington Reads poster features two Olympic medalists, twins Phil and Steve Mahre and Steve’s son, Andy. Phil Mahre won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics; Steve Mahre won silver, and Andy is an acclaimed freeskier.

Due to budget constraints, there are no free printed copies of the new poster available. However, you can download it for free from the State Library Web site: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Mahre. You can also buy 11” x 17” print quality posters for a small fee from the Washington State Department of Printing General Store. Order and cost information is provided on their Web site: https://fortress.wa.gov/prt/printwa/wsprt/.

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4) KID’S STUFF ON THE WEB: FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Today’s society is concerned with children accessing inappropriate material when searching the web. The main internet access point for many children is the library, and library staff are constantly on the lookout for appropriate sites for kids to search.

This class will look at a variety of evaluated sites for kids and teens in grades K-12. Reviewed sites include search engines, science fair projects, and homework help sites. This three-hour online class is especially useful for public and school librarians. Featuring an Amigos trainer, this workshop is available at no cost to Washington libraries, thanks to LSTA funding from the Washington State Library, provided by IMLS.

This is a 2 part course and attendance is required on both days. Dates and times are January 26 and 27, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. each day. For more information and to register, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/kidstuff. Registration deadline is Friday, January 22.

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5) ONLINE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP OFFERED BY WSL

Staff at the Washington State Library (WSL) will host two sessions of a free online grant-writing workshop on January 27. The one-hour presentation with time following for questions will give attendees an insider’s look at several of our grant cycles, including Washington Rural Heritage, Supporting Student Success, and Hard Times. WSL staff will discuss project requirements as well as tips and helpful advice for successful grant applications. This presentation is perfect for anyone considering a grant-funded project with the State Library as well as those wanting to brush up on their applications skills.

The presentation will be January 27 from 9–10:30 a.m. and repeated at 3:30–5 p.m. Please register at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/grant-writing. If you have any questions, contact Kirsten Furl at [email protected].

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6) TEDX FOR LIBRARIES: DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING FOR FREE

Times are tough. Your programming budget (if you still have one) has probably been slashed. Yet customers are relying on the library more than ever for free, quality programs that entertain, challenge and educate them. What’s a busy librarian to do?

TEDx events give libraries a great way to provide top-notch programming to their communities, for free! Using free content from A-list TED conference speakers and a proven program model, you can tailor an event to your community’s needs, whether you’re planning for 15 or 100 people.

Date and time: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 12 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time. There is no charge for this webinar. Pre-registration is not required. For more information and to participate, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/TEDx. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check the archive listing at www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived.

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7) WEBINAR DISCUSSES LIBRARY ROLES IN WORKFORCE RECOVERY

As part of Project Compass (www.webjunction.org/project-compass), a grant-funded initiative by WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina, research has been conducted to assess the type and extent of current patron needs and the response to those needs by state and local public libraries. An hour-long webinar January 28, 11 a.m. PST will introduce the project and the initial research. The session will cover strategies for triaging social services, new ways to create partnerships with community agencies, and tactics that can be implemented on a shoestring budget. You will also learn about Workforce Resources, a new section on WebJunction created to collect library-specific resources and responses to these tough times.

For more information and to register, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/compass.

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