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State Library adds new titles to Washington Classics

State Library adds new titles to Washington Classics

Are you a history buff looking to learn more about Washington or Northwest history? The State Library just updated its “Classics in Washington History” collection, adding eight new titles.  Go here for more info about the latest books, which cover exploration and early travel, geography, Native Americans, military history, and territorial and state government. Classics in Washington History is a digital collection of full-text books, bringing together rare, out-of-print titles for easy access by students, teachers, genealogists and historians. All…

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Seattle Public Library, Down But Not Out

Seattle Public Library, Down But Not Out

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: This week’s random article comes from the Jan. 5, 1901 issue of The Ballard News, published at a time when Ballard was an independent incorporated city. But the news itself is actually about Seattle, and the almost total destruction of the Seattle Public Library by fire on the evening where 1900 turned into 1901. According to John Douglas Marshall’s book, Place of Learning, Place of…

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Banned Books Week 2012

Banned Books Week 2012

The American Library Association (ALA) celebrates Banned Books Week from September 30th to October 6th.  Banned Books Week celebrates its 30th year raising awareness about censorship and intellectual freedom by highlighting each state (including Washington) and its history of intellectual freedom.  ALA has also created a YouTube site that features book lovers reading passages from their favorite banned books. The Washington State Library celebrates Banned Books Week by informing everyone that many Washington libraries have policies on intellectual freedom, and…

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Celebrate Book Lovers Day!

Celebrate Book Lovers Day!

Today, August 9, is said to be Book Lovers Day. I can’t find out much about the origins or history of this “holiday,” but it’s all over the web, so it must be true, right?! ☺ Also, I heard it on my local NPR station this morning. I thought I’d celebrate the occasion by posting this picture I took in the Ft. Vancouver High School Library Media Center a while back. The picture features one of my favorite book quotes,…

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3, 2, 1…we have a book launch!

3, 2, 1…we have a book launch!

Our Legacy Project has produced some outstanding biographies and oral histories since it began in 2008, and Thursday night in Seattle saw the official launch of its latest offering. John C. Hughes, chief historian for The Legacy Project, has penned a new book about the long, influential political career of Slade Gorton. Entitled “Slade Gorton: A Half Century In Politics,” Hughes’ book goes back to the start of Gorton’s political career in Washington as a Republican state representative from Seattle…

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New in Genealogy: Stories in Stone

New in Genealogy: Stories in Stone

From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff Did you ever wonder what that symbol on great granddad’s tombstone meant? Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography is just what you need. This is an outstanding resource for deciphering cemetery symbolism. It includes hundreds of beautiful color photographs from cemeteries around the world. The chapter on fraternal organizations and secret societies is especially fascinating.  If you can identify one of these symbols on an ancestor’s grave, it…

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New in Genealogy: Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary

New in Genealogy: Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary

From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff Ever wonder what an anaplerotic is? How about a faldstool or a knockknobbier? If you’ve ever run across strange words in historical records, Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary can help. It defines a wide range of obscure legal and colloquial words and phrases that you may find when researching your family history. In case you’re wondering: Anaplerotic: “Medicine which promoted the healing process and helps renew flesh or wasted parts—often found in medical records.”…

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WSL Updates for December 9, 2010

WSL Updates for December 9, 2010

Volume 6, December 9, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS 2) WALNET RFQ RELEASED 3) WCOG EVENT HONORS BALLARD AND THOMPSON 4) IMLS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS 5) NANCY PEARL PRESENTS – BOOKS THAT MAKE GREAT GIFTS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

WSL Updates for October 7, 2010

WSL Updates for October 7, 2010

Volume 6, October 7, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – SKAMANIA COUNTY HERITAGE 2) WORKPLACE BULLYING SURVEY 3) EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED 4) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS 5) PLA AWARD AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 6) ALCTS LIBRARY METADATA POLICY E-FORUM 7) EVALUATING MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB 8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK