Volume 6, April 22, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WTBBL WINS NETWORK LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD

2) WASHINGTON READS – TASTES OF WASHINGTON, PART II

3) PNLA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE – APPLY NOW

4) JOIN THE MAYDAY MOVEMENT

5) ALA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST PRESERVATION WEEK

6) DO YOU DEWEY 200? RELIGION & PUBLIC LIBRARIES

7) GEORGE AND JOAN ON SUCCESSFUL MIDDLE MANAGEMENT

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1) WTBBL WINS NETWORK LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD

The 2009 Network Library of the Year is the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL). The award, which comes from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), commends excellence, innovation, and special achievement in providing library service to blind and physically handicapped individuals in a calendar year.

WTBBL was selected based on the following criteria:

• Mission support: the extent to which the library reached or exceeded the ALA Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service;
• Creativity and innovation: the extent to which the library developed new patron services or marketed existing services in an exceptional manner;
• Patron satisfaction: the extent to which the library met the needs of its patrons during the year.

The award will be presented during a luncheon at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. on Friday, June 18, 2010. The award recipient receives $1,000, a plaque, a certificate for the network library, and a copy of the certificate for the administering agency. A separate plaque recognizing the recipients will be displayed at NLS.

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2) WASHINGTON READS – TASTES OF WASHINGTON, PART II

Jan Walsh, Washington State Librarian, announces her Spring 2010 book selections. Her theme this season is “The Tastes of Washington, Part II.”

Jan writes: In the “Summer 2006 Tastes of Washington” list, I promised that I would develop a sequel, as there were far too many appealing culinary books for just one list. These books are more than just cookbooks, including one novel and others that incorporate essential background and fascinating stories around the food. In Washington, the bounty of both our sea and our land provides diverse, fresh, seasonal ingredients that define the cuisine unique to our region. The recipes will whet your appetite for our fabulous regional food. Enjoy!

The list of books and Jan’s comments about each one can be found on the State Library’s web page at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/taste.

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3) PNLA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE – APPLY NOW

The PNLA Leadership Institute is one of the key activities of the Pacific Northwest Library Association. To date, over 100 individuals have gone back to their libraries, library systems, and communities equipped with leadership and management skills to help guide their libraries in this time of tremendous and constant change.

If you are an emerging leader serving in any capacity in a library in the Pacific Northwest and have a desire to network with other leaders and increase your skills, this institute is for you. Applications for PNLA Leads 2010 are available on the PNLA website: www.pnla.org.

Dates: October 17-21 at the Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, Idaho. Application deadline: May 8.

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4) JOIN THE MAYDAY MOVEMENT

What is your institution doing to protect your collections from disasters? Join other libraries, archives, museums, and arts and historic preservation organizations on May 1 to do just one thing to prepare for the unexpected.

For more information, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/TFlessons/MayDay.html.

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5) ALA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST PRESERVATION WEEK

To increase awareness of the importance of preservation for both personal and library collections, ALA is encouraging libraries and other institutions to celebrate Preservation Week, May 9 – 15. Share your stories, find tips for spreading the word, or see what others are doing to reach out in their communities.

For more information, including resources in Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, and Arabic, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/preserve.

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6) DO YOU DEWEY 200? RELIGION & PUBLIC LIBRARIES

This free webinar is co-sponsored by the CLA Public Library Interest Group and is part of CLA’s 2010 Spring Fling. Although public libraries may not support a particular religion, the area of religious inquiry by library users needs as much support as other community and individual interests. Differentiating between support of a particular religious system and support of religious inquiry by any and all is what this session will explore. Refine how the public library can and should:

• Evaluate and build appropriate collections in the Dewey 200’s;
• Respond to religion-specific reference questions;
• Train staff and volunteers to distinguish between their personal beliefs and their role in delivering promulgation-free services;
• Reach out to community partners who may be faith-based affinity groups.

Friday, April 23, 2010, 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Speaker: Francisca Goldsmith. For more information and to participate, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Info200.

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7) GEORGE AND JOAN ON SUCCESSFUL MIDDLE MANAGEMENT

This free Infopeople webinar will clarify the role and responsibilities of the middle manager and describe techniques that will allow you to be more effective in your work. It will also help aspiring managers to decide whether and how you should pursue this career track. Participants in this webinar will learn how to:

• Create shared understanding of the library’s objectives and priorities;
• Improve communication channels across the hierarchy;
• Represent the interests of line staff without creating a sense of entitlement or victimhood;
• Work accountably and take responsible action.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT. The speakers are Joan Frye Williams and George Needham. For more information or to participate, follow this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/middle.

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