Volume 6, August 19, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) JAN’S FINAL WASHINGTON READS

2) APPLY FOR A POSITION ON THE LIBRARY COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON

3) HISTORICAL PORT TOWNSEND PAPER GOES ONLINE

4) BOOKS FOR BABIES MATCHING GRANTS

5) ARE YOU READY? COMES TO SPOKANE

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

7) LSSC OFFERS COURSE SUBSIDIES

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1) JAN’S FINAL WASHINGTON READS

Jan Walsh, Washington State Librarian, announces her Fall 2010 book selections. Her final theme is “Memorable Reads.” Jan writes: “In the fall of 2003, I began the Washington Reads program of selecting Washington books for all ages on specific themes. I hoped to shine a light on the wealth of excellent books relevant to our state.

“The themes varied from locales within the state (Mount Saint Helens, Olympic Peninsula, etc.), history, genre such as mysteries and beach reads, Washington centric topics such as geology, artists, tastes of Washington, and the themes of Courage, Diversity, Washington Screams, Washington Inspires, Washington Works and others. We discovered Twilight before it became an international phenomenon. I had superb reader’s advisors in Kathryn Hamilton-Wang and Sean Lanksbury, who continue to be experts in northwest history and literature. Some believe I had a ghost reader, but I honestly did read each of these books, and decided that, with the opportunity to do that, I had the best job in the world.

“Now, as I close my chapter as State Librarian, I am issuing the last episode of my favorite selections of Washington Reads. My goal was to select the books that had made an imprint on me and the state. Doing so wasn’t easy, as Washington has scores of incredibly gifted authors, and many of the books will have an impact on future generations. I am surprised to find that, of the books on this select list, two are Lewis and Clark themed, two are set in fictitious islands, two have become major movies, and two involve Japanese internment camps. There are also numerous works of fiction, reflecting my firm belief that the literature of a region mirrors the stories of the state, rounding out our history by showing the feelings and emotions integral to our past.

“I hope that in looking at this list, you are inspired to go back over the past themes or to seek newer books that feature Washington and its exceptional literature. Please join me in continuing the celebration of the remarkable reads of Washington.” Jan Walsh, State Librarian, August 2010. Jan’s comments about each book can be found on the State Library’s web page: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/READS

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2) APPLY FOR A POSITION ON THE LIBRARY COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON

Applications are currently being accepted for three Library Council of Washington positions. These positions represent: (1) academic libraries in two-year colleges, (2) cultural diversity, and (3) public libraries serving fewer than 100,000. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, September 17, 2010 to be considered. Service for these positions is anticipated to begin in January 2011 although the first meeting of the Council will not be until March 2011.

More information is available at www.sos.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) HISTORICAL PORT TOWNSEND PAPER GOES ONLINE

The Washington State Library has added additional issues of a Port Townsend newspaper to its online offerings. The Puget Sound Weekly Argus, which existed from 1876 to 1882, is the library’s latest addition to the Historical Newspapers Online Project, which makes the state’s earliest territorial newspapers available to anyone with an Internet connection.

Indexed by staff and volunteers, topics of interest include excerpts of the Washington State Constitution, accounts of the discovery of a mythological animal on Point Wilson Bluff, and shipping news. National and international news excerpted from other newspapers provides a glimpse of America in the mid-19th century.

It joins Port Townsend’s earlier paper, The Weekly Argus (1870-1875) as well as Olympia’s first papers, The Columbian, The Washington Pioneer and The Pioneer and Democrat, which cover 1852-1861. Also included in the collection are early papers from Lynden, Steilacoom, Seattle, Spokane and Walla Walla. Additional newspapers will be brought online as they are scanned and indexed.

To view the newspapers, please visit www.sos.wa.gov/history/newspapers.aspx. For more information about WSL’s Historical Newspapers Online Project contact Judy Pitchford, Digital Collections Librarian, [email protected] or (360) 704-5254.

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4) BOOKS FOR BABIES MATCHING GRANTS

The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) has a national literacy program that has developed a “Books for Babies Kit” to encourage parents to read to their babies. Twenty grants of $500 are available to help libraries and other nonprofit groups to purchase multiple quantities of these kits. Grants will be awarded to organizations that currently have a “Books for Babies” program in place as well as organizations that are starting a new program. Applying organizations must raise matching funds of at least $1,000. The application deadline is September 15, 2010.

For more information, follow this shortcut: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/babybooks.

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5) ARE YOU READY? COMES TO SPOKANE

“Are You Ready? Scenario Planning & Collaboration among Libraries & Archives to Improve Disaster Preparedness for Collections,” a follow-up to the WESTPAS Disaster Planning workshops, takes disaster preparedness to the next level. Participants will test their institutions’ disaster plans to identify areas for improvement, improve their own ability to evaluate risks, and work together with other participants to build a shared vision for disaster preparedness in Washington. The workshop instructor is Gary L. Menges, Preservation Administrator, University of Washington Libraries.

Although there is no fee to attend, the following are required:

1. A written disaster plan that includes collections response/recovery;
2. A letter of institutional commitment to explore collaboration to optimize preparedness; and
3. A completed 3-page vulnerability assessment (distributed 3 weeks before the workshop).

Friday, September 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane. To register, use this shortcut: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Registration. More information about this workshop may be found on the WESTPAS Web site, westpas.org/courses.html or by contacting Gary Menges at [email protected].

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

• Aug. 24, 26, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDT; Medical Information on the Internet;
• Aug. 24, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT; Webcams for Online Events;
• Aug. 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT; Fantastic Fall Fiction for Youth (Booklist);
• Aug. 24, 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. PDT; Turning Your Databases into Business for your Customers;
• Aug. 25, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT; Tech Talk with Michael Sauers;
• Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT; Controlling Headings in WorldCat (OCLC);
• Aug. 25, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT; “It Takes a Network”: The Power of Cross-System Collaboratives for Youth;
• Aug. 25, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT; Digitization & Preservation Symposium;
• Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT; Microsites and Landing Pages;
• Aug. 26, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT; Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign;
• Aug. 26, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT; Online Collaboration Tools.

For links and more information on these events, visit the WSL Training Calendar: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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7) LSSC OFFERS COURSE SUBSIDIES

The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program is accepting applications for 55 subsidies of $200 from LSSC. Candidates who receive a subsidy award will receive a $200 reimbursement after they pay for, and complete, an LSSC-approved course.

To apply for a subsidy, candidates must be accepted in the LSSC Program by September 15, 2010. Subsidy recipients must successfully complete one of LSSC’s Approved Courses by April 1, 2011. Candidates must apply for the subsidy by September 15. The LSSC Program staff will select recipients using a random selection process and announce subsidy awards on September 27. Application information is available on the LSSC For Candidates page: ala-apa.org/lssc/for-candidates.

LSSC is a national, voluntary certification program administered by the American Library Association-Allied Profession Association (ALA-APA). The LSSC Program is partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, please contact LSSC Program staff at [email protected].

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