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Tag: Ask-WA

In the time of COVID-19, AskWA

In the time of COVID-19, AskWA

AskWA is the Statewide Virtual Reference Cooperative — a team of over 50 academic and public libraries across our state who band together to help provide email and 24/7 chat reference services with the help of a global network of librarians. Never has there been a more relevant time for virtual reference services for library users across our state and our globe, as in person reference services have become impossible due to health and safety concerns. Though many AskWA librarians…

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WSL Building
State Library’s annual report showcases successes

State Library’s annual report showcases successes

Every year, the Washington State Library (WSL) reports on its use of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). On December 21, 2017, the LSTA State Programs Report for use of the 2016 LSTA award was submitted to IMLS for their review, comment, and approval. The year’s report is 126 pages in length. Reporting is a team effort by all those who manage and support projects which use LSTA funding….

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A day in the life of a chat librarian

A day in the life of a chat librarian

Aubri Keleman of Whatcom County Public Library was born to be a chat librarian.  Well honestly she was born to be ANY sort of librarian, but today I want to tell you about one of her evening shifts covering the Ask WA queue for WCLS.  Ask WA, you ask, what is Ask WA? Ask WA is a cooperative of public and academic libraries around the state which work together along with librarians around the world to provide 24/7 access to…

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Seattle Public Librarians Wow Teens in SE Washington.

Seattle Public Librarians Wow Teens in SE Washington.

Believing that a good way to reach teenagers is through that tool they all so dearly love (their phone), in late September, Ask WA Coordinator Nono Burling headed to SE Washington.  With the start of the new school year she hoped to spread the word about Washington State’s Virtual Reference Cooperative and how it could help them. But wait, step back!  What is Ask WA you ask?  Ask WA is a cooperative of public and academic libraries around the state…

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Ask WA- Washington’s Virtual Reference Cooperative

Ask WA- Washington’s Virtual Reference Cooperative

Imagine you are out and about and have a burning question.  Or maybe you have a big paper due tomorrow and there is something you need to cite that defies all logic.  What do you do?   Pull out your smartphone or tablet, or log on to the internet and Ask a Librarian of course.  Ask WA is the statewide virtual reference cooperative coordinated by Washington State Library.  Nearly 60 public and academic libraries around the state take part in the program. …

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Cooperative Projects from Library Development

Cooperative Projects from Library Development

As a further recognition of National Library Week, we offer this overview of several cooperative projects that benefit libraries statewide. The WSL Library Development staff coordinates several cooperative statewide projects which leverage the combined purchasing power of libraries throughout the state to save significant amounts of money for Washington libraries. In addition, LSTA (Library Services & Technology Act) funds provided through IMLS (The Institute for Museum & Library Services) are used to subsidize or kick start cooperative purchasing arrangements, helping…

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Ref22: Mastering the Reference Interview

Ref22: Mastering the Reference Interview

Did you miss out on the live Ref22 webinar this week? Never fear! All Ref22 sessions are archived and available on the website at Ref22: Archived Sessions. For our October session we had Christa Werle  from Sno-Isle Libraries talking about mastering the reference interview. Check it out! Whatever our official status, our users think of us all simply as “the librarian.” Join us during October’s Ref22 to discuss how library staff of all levels can engage (and sometimes disengage) our…

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Ref22: When Teens Attack!

Ref22: When Teens Attack!

Did you miss out on the live Ref22 webinar last week? Never fear! All Ref22 sessions are archived and available on the website at Ref22: Archived Sessions. Last week we had Jen Robinson from the Seattle Public Library talking about serving teens (and other “difficult” patrons) via chat. Check it out! The September edition of Ref22 is proud to present, “When Teens Attack!: Tips for dealing with 12-year-olds and other difficult customers on chat reference” (presented in High-Definition PowerPoint). Jen…

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Thoughts on Innovation in Reference Services

Thoughts on Innovation in Reference Services

Last Friday I had the pleasure of [virtually] being part of a panel at the WLA / PNLA conference in Victoria. The panel was called “Reference Service Innovations: Present and Future”, and my fellow panelists and I were given some excellent questions to consider. Since I wasn’t sure how the technology would play out (I was a virtual presenter on a panel that was otherwise physically present AT the conference), I recorded the questions with my answers and sent them…

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WSL Updates for August 12, 2010

WSL Updates for August 12, 2010

Volume 6, August 12, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) ASK-WA LAUNCHES SMART PHONE APP 2) FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DENVER LIBRARY CONFERENCE 3) TRANSFORMING LIFE AFTER 50 4) ACTIVATE YOUR LYRASIS MEMBERSHIP NOW 5) FALL BOOK BUZZ 2010 6) FREE FUNDRAISING E-BOOK 7) FREE ONLINE CE EVENTS NEXT WEEK