Volume 6, April 15, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS – MONEY STILL AVAILABLE

2) ASK-WA – ALL YOUR REFERENCE IN ONE PLACE

3) IN THE NEWS – RENEW WASHINGTON

4) ALA ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

5) HOW LIBRARIES STACK UP – 2010

6) NW DOCUMENTARY FILM RELEASED

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1) SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS – MONEY STILL AVAILABLE

There is still a limited amount of funding available for Small Projects Supporting Student Success grant applications. The Small Project grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis for those applications that meet the criteria. If you’re considering submitting a Small Project grant, do so soon.

Total funding for the Small Project grants is at least $90,000 with individual grants awarded up to $4,000. Total funding for Competitive grants is at least $140,000 with individual grants awarded up to $35,000.

The deadline for both Small Project and Competitive grant applications is Friday, April 30, 2010, 4 p.m. See www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/grants for guidelines, applications and FAQs. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

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2) ASK-WA – ALL YOUR REFERENCE IN ONE PLACE

It’s not too late to join Ask-WA for free and put all your email, chat, IM, and other electronic reference (telegraph?) into one place. Thanks to the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Washington State Library, Ask-WA is fully subsidized through September of 2010. That means you’ve still got some time to hop on board and try your hand at virtual reference, completely risk-free.

Ask-WA is a virtual reference cooperative of more than 60 libraries and library systems. The service utilizes QuestionPoint software to provide libraries with email, chat, and IM reference solutions. Ask-WA will soon begin piloting text-message (SMS) reference for participating libraries.

If you’re interested in participating in Ask-WA or if you’d like more information, contact Ahniwa Ferrari, Online Resources Consultant at the Washington State Library, at [email protected], or by phone at 360-570-5587.

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3) IN THE NEWS – RENEW WASHINGTON

Libraries with Renew Washington projects are hitting the headlines. From Goldendale to Seattle, news media are promoting the excellent resources, classes, and services that libraries are providing to their unemployed and underemployed residents in these difficult times.

With funds from IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Washington State Library awarded grants to 17 public libraries and 3 academic libraries to help residents in their communities find jobs. The Gates Foundation provided additional funds to help public libraries with communication and online peer learning.

To see the wide range of programs the libraries are conducting, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/renew; follow the link for “Grant Libraries and Projects”. To see the media coverage of some of the projects, select “News Articles of Projects.”

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4) ALA ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

The American Library Association (ALA) and its divisions offer a variety of online learning events. Costs vary, and membership discounts are available. Group registration is also an option for some classes. A sampling of topics includes

• Back to Basics . . . Service to 21st Century Teens;
• Influencing Without Authority;
• Fundamentals of Acquisitions;
• Implementing Online Teaching and Learning;
• Business Reference 101.

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

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5) HOW LIBRARIES STACK UP – 2010

This new report from OCLC examines the economic, social and cultural impact of libraries in the United States. As the current economic environment is impacting library budgets, and library usage is increasing, particular attention is paid to the role that libraries play in providing assistance to job-seekers and support for small businesses. Information includes statistics on:

• Americans receiving job-seeking help and career assistance at public libraries;
• Libraries as a resource for small businesses;
• The prevalence and scope of library activity in the United States;
• Libraries as providers of free services to the community such as Wi-Fi access, technology training and meeting rooms;
• Comparisons of library activities to various retail and entertainment businesses.

This information may be useful to librarians as they develop budget proposals and discuss the value of library services in the context of community needs. Two versions of the report are available for download; one in color and one optimized for black-and-white printing. Visit www.oclc.org/reports/stackup to download the report.

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6) NW DOCUMENTARY FILM RELEASED

Stourwater Pictures, a Washington-based award-winning documentary production company that specializes in meticulously crafted historical films, has released a new film, Fumiko Hayashida: The Woman Behind the Symbol. This short documentary tells the story of Fumiko Hayashida, relocated with her family from Bainbridge Island, Washington to the Manzanar relocation camp during World War II. A photo of Hayashida and her daughter became a national symbol of the internment experience. The film is both a historical portrait of Fumiko and her family as well as a contemporary story of how the iconic photograph became the impetus for Fumiko to publicly lobby against the injustices of the past.

The film will air on KCTS 9 Sunday, May 2nd at 6 & 10:30 p.m. in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month. Other showings include KYVE 47 Yakima on Sunday, May 2 at 10:30 p.m., and Friday May 7, 12:00 p.m. on both KYVE and KCTS. The film is suitable for library collections focusing on the Northwest experience and is available for purchase at www.stourwater.com/fumi.html.

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