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Clippings for the week of March 22, 2013

Clippings for the week of March 22, 2013

Washington State Library News Spokane voters have again proved they strongly support city libraries. Take notice, Olympia. The Washington State Library and the Washington State Archives have about filled up the space available for housing the state’s most important documents and artifacts. In 2007, the Legislature authorized construction of a Washington Heritage Center that would house the archives and library. With the state committed, private dollars might follow, and finally move the project forward. (The Spokesman Review [Spokane], 2.15.13) http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/15/editorial-restore-momentum-for-heritage-center/…

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2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/29/2013

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/29/2013

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above. Library Tracker 3-29-2013 Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills HB 1057 Operating budget 2013-2015 Hunter…

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Mr. Fairweather Goes to Olympia

Mr. Fairweather Goes to Olympia

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Although the word “snarky” wasn’t really used in 1889, the concept was there– as we shall see. In this case study we should start with the 1889 Constitutional Convention held in Olympia, where delegates from across Washington Territory met in order to hammer out a guiding document. When I read through the WSL copy of The Journal of the Washington State Constitutional Convention, 1889, I…

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Dorothy Cutler, 1917 – 2013

Dorothy Cutler, 1917 – 2013

by Rand Simmons and Kristy L. Coomes Dorothy R. Cutler was one of the power-houses of the Washington State Library during the 1950s through the 1970s. Dorothy died on March 20, 2013.  She was 95. Dorothy’s career began in the 1940s with her first job at Salem (Oregon) Public Library. She also served in the Special Services Branch, U.S. Army, in Hawaii and Guam, during World War II (1943-1946), and following at the Contra Costa County (California) Library (1946-1951). She…

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WSL Updates for March 28, 2013

WSL Updates for March 28, 2013

Volume 9, March 28, 2013 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) EVERYONEON IS HERE – HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR TOOLKIT? 2) FIRST TUESDAYS – TAKE THIS JOB AND SHELVE IT! 3) GET YOUR CAMERAS READY FOR SNAPSHOT DAY 4) CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK WITH FREE WEBINARS 5) PAID PRESERVATION INTERNSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDENT 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Spotlight on Staff: Mary Schaff

Spotlight on Staff: Mary Schaff

Since 2005 Mary Schaff has been a positive instigator, relentless investigator, and outstanding professional as part of the Washington State Library Public Services group. A native of the Seattle area, Mary brings to her job a love of Pacific Northwest history and desire to get to the bottom of local mysteries, big or small. She says eradicating the words “I don’t know the answer to that” is part of her mission in providing reference service, which also has the side…

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Clippings for the week of March 15, 2013

Clippings for the week of March 15, 2013

Library News The Pierce County Library system has chosen “The Paris Wife” as the book for this year’s Pierce County Reads program. The program includes a swag of April events themed around 1920s Paris and a May visit by author Paula McClain of Cleveland. (The News Tribune, [Tacoma] 3.19.23) http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/03/18/2518647/author-found-a-friend-in-1st-mrs.html The Spokane Public Library will get new leadership just as its funding stabilizes after years of uncertainty. Pat Partovi, who has led the library since 2003, will retire May 10….

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2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/22/2013

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/22/2013

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above. Library Tracker 3-22-2012 Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills Operating budget 2013-2015 Hunter H Approps 1/14/2013…

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Sea Serpent at Devil’s Head

Sea Serpent at Devil’s Head

 From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Sea serpent stories are developing into a subgenre in this column. Although the creature described here resembles the “DungeNessie” serpent sighted in 1892 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this particular sighting took place very near to the 1899 episode of The Sea Serpent That Got Away.  This article was found in the Dec. 7, 1855 issue of the Puget Sound Courier, published out…

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Breaking News! New titles for Washington NDNP!

Breaking News! New titles for Washington NDNP!

From the desk of Shawn Schollmeyer, NDNP Washington Coordinator This week the Library of Congress uploaded the next set of our long awaited newspaper titles for the National Digital Newspaper Program. Historic Washington state newspapers can now be searched and viewed on the Chronicling America website.  The added benefit, besides being able to search early newspapers from Washington Territory and early statehood, is each title also includes publication information and a short essay about the paper’s history. Take a scroll…

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