Browsed by
Tag: libraries

Wayfinder is way cool…No way!! Way!

Wayfinder is way cool…No way!! Way!

The folks at the State Library are offering a new and very helpful online program called Wayfinder that can let you search for something among millions and millions of items found in many libraries throughout Washington. Wayfinder is an online catalog that provides a single search for locating materials owned by the participating Washington libraries. The catalog contains information on the collections of more than 250 public, academic, government, law, medical, corporate, special and tribal libraries throughout the state. Combined,…

Read More Read More

Helping to get through Hard Times

Helping to get through Hard Times

You might know a relative, friend or neighbor who lost a job or is having trouble making ends meet due to the tough economy. Chances are, that person is scrambling to figure out what to do next and how to stay on his or her feet financially. The State Library has a very helpful tool for Washingtonians who are struggling in today’s shaky economy. It’s called the Hard Times Resource Guide. This online guide has information and tips on finances…

Read More Read More

“Talking books” are going high-tech

“Talking books” are going high-tech

There is exciting news coming out of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in downtown Seattle: WTBBL just received its first shipment of digital talking book machines. These new machines (DBMs) represent a huge transition for WTBBL and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and it marks a major advancement in technology. In fact, WTBBL Program Manager Danielle King said it’s the biggest thing that WTBBL and the NLS have done in 30-35 years. As you…

Read More Read More

Castle Rock Library levy passing

Castle Rock Library levy passing

Last June, we blogged about a fun run/walk event in Castle Rock to help raise money for the Castle RockLibrary, which has been struggling to stay open since voters there narrowly defeated a levy measure last November to help finance it. It appears that the second time might be the charm for the library. Updated elections results Thursday afternoon show the library levy is passing, with 342 voters (62.3 percent) supporting it and 207 (37.7 percent) opposing it. The levy…

Read More Read More

Do you like green cassettes and ham?

Do you like green cassettes and ham?

If you like anything that is green, you would be in nirvana if you saw one of the back rooms in the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in downtown Seattle. In this storage area are literally thousands of green cassette cases that are used for shipping “talking books” (on audiocassettes) to the library’s thousands of patrons throughout the state. WTBBL has more than 60,000 book titles on cassette and it circulates statewide about 2,000 audiobooks a day (via free…

Read More Read More

Updates from the Road

Updates from the Road

The Washington Rural Heritage team has been criss-crossing the state consulting with project participants, meeting with potential contributors and scanning, scanning, and scanning some more. In the last month, we’ve seen three out of four corners of this state — and a few spots in between — and though we’re a little road-weary, we can’t wait to feature these incredible historic finds on our site. We started the month of July on Lummi Island, capturing some large reef-netting maps and…

Read More Read More

Yikes! Tough times for libraries …

Yikes! Tough times for libraries …

Many Washington libraries are in trouble. The recession and failed levy measures mean less money — and that means cutbacks. Some libraries are having to reduce hours, services and staff. Case in point: A library in the Cowlitz County town of Castle Rock might soon close its doors for good. That would be a terrible loss not only for the children and families relying on that library, but for libraries in general. As Secretary of State, Sam Reed oversees the…

Read More Read More

Country is cool

Country is cool

Washington’s Rural Heritage program (see news release), creatively run by the folks at the Washington State Library, is a free online showcase for collections of photos and other cool materials that help tell the story of our rural past.  Evan Robb, project manager, sends us some examples that illustrate the enormous value of digitizing older photos.  The first photo, taken in 1945, is from the  Stevens County Heritage collection. The photo description reads: Fred Guenther and his son Vernon doing chores…

Read More Read More

ILS to Host British Recipient of “Travelling Librarian Award”

ILS to Host British Recipient of “Travelling Librarian Award”

“An award jointly sponsored by the English Speaking Union and The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is granted each year to a professionally qualified librarian working in British libraries or information centres. The programme is designed to encourage US/UK contacts in the library world and the visit is for two weeks and normally takes place in the autumn.” We are very excited to be hosting this year’s recipient who works in a privately managed women’s prison in…

Read More Read More

Diversity in Washington State Library – Institutional Library Services

Diversity in Washington State Library – Institutional Library Services

  Staffing consists of 16 women, 3 men, and 4 members of the staff have an MLS, and 2 vacancies. Institutions in Washington State with library services provided by ILS include 1 prison that houses women, 9 prisons that house men, 2 state hospitals, and 11 camps that receive ILL service from staff of ILS. Age range of staff 31-65 355 years of combined library experience   The above are just basic facts, which are important, but they don’t really tell you what…

Read More Read More