This past summer the innovative staff in eleven of our Institutional Libraries tried something new. They formed a Summer Reading Program for the inmates and patients. Starting with the theme “Spark a Reaction” used in Public Libraries around the country. Every month had a theme. In June: Controversies & Music; July: Science Fiction Trivia; and in August: Spark a Reaction Chemistry. The inmates and patients were encouraged to keep a reading…
Joyce retires today after a long tenure with the Washington State Library. She is our branch manager at the Airway Heights Corrections Center, one of our largest institutional library branches. Joyce was one of the first branch managers to establish a Read Together program. The community reading program became very popular and inmates who regularly attended the programs frequently asked what the next book would be. Last year Joyce fought, and beat, cancer! While undergoing treatment she kept the Airway…
From the desk of Rand Simmons Washington State Librarian Based on an OSOS Press Release, 6/9/2014. In-person service hours at the main Washington State Library in Tumwater will be reduced by four hours a day, effective June 16, as the service-and-research institution grapples with continuing significant budget challenges. The Library at 6880 Capitol Blvd. in Tumwater traditionally has been open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. But like other states facing budget difficulties, the State…
Kathleen Benoun, long time Library Associate at the Western State Hospital Library in Lakewood, WA, is an amateur historian who spends a lot of personal time researching the history of the hospital, and the library itself. Kathleen recently shared this interesting story about opening day of the library back in 1950. Can you imagine opening day at a library without a book or librarian in sight? That’s exactly what happened in 1950 on the grounds of Western State Hospital. The…
Volume 10, January 16, 2014 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) 2014 TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE 2) YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD 3) HUMANITIES WASHINGTON PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES 4) JOHN COTTON DANA AWARD 5) RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO SPECIAL POPULATIONS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
The CBCC Branch Library was given a check this month in the amount of $1000.00 to spend on any and all kinds of books for the library. The check was donated by the CBIT (Clallam Bay Improvement Team) which is made up of offenders serving life without parole. The money comes from them holding fund raisers, such as pizza sales or baked goods made in the bakery by inmates and purchased by inmates through the whole institution. The bakery is…
WSL UPDATES SPECIAL EDITION FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 Note: The next regular edition of WSL Updates will appear on Thursday, September 12, 2013. ————————————————————————————————————— WANTED – THREE BRANCH LIBRARY ASSOCIATES The Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library, is recruiting for three permanent full-time Branch Library Associates. One position is available at each of the following locations: Washington State Reformatory in Monroe; Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell; Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. All applications are…
This is a long overdue post about the wonderful staff of McDonald’s Book Exchange in Redmond. As our budgets have been cut over the last several years we have looked for alternative sources of material and the staff at McDonald’s Book Exchange have really come through with 1000’s of books donated to the Institutional Libraries. These books have ranged from bestsellers to old favorites, fiction and nonfiction filling many empty spaces on our shelves. I want to personally thank them…
I was told on 12/3/12 that the WCCW State Library branch and the WCCW law library were going to trade spaces. On 12/10/12 we closed the branch library and began to pack up and move 542 boxes of books to storage in a warehouse on the grounds. We were told the transition would take 30 to 60 days. I relocated to a dismal cubicle in another building. As it turned out the original estimate of 60 days turned into 90…
Libraries are never so much fun as when the four legged patrons come to the library. Not all prison libraries in Washington State have animals as part of their loyal patron base, but those that do find joy in getting a ‘pawshake’ and handing out a biscuit. Airway Heights Corrections Library and Stafford Creek Corrections Library both share anecdotes of their “favorite” patrons. He is so cute. Shakes and gives High 5. He sits up tall and will stay up…