Volume 5:  May 14, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1)  TARGETED COMPETITIVE HARD TIMES GRANTS NOW OPEN

2)  TWO NEW WA RURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS—KETTLE FALLS & ORCAS ISLAND

3)  OCLC DROPS PRICE FOR UPCOMING YEAR

4)  FREE ONLINE COURSES FOR REFERENCE STAFF

5)  DEMCO LIBRARY ROOM MAKEOVER CONTEST

1)  TARGETED COMPETITIVE HARD TIMES GRANTS NOW OPEN

The purpose of this grant cycle is to provide grant funds to help libraries initiate new services, enhance existing services, conduct outreach and partnership efforts, or complete other activities that are identified as important to the library in assisting people needing access to employment-related information, resources, and services.

For 2009, a total of $400,000 is available for award. This grant cycle has a limit of $50,000 per application. It is anticipated that eight or more applicants may receive awards. Applications must be postmarked or received by June 26, 2009.

Grant guidelines and application forms can be found at www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/grants.Contact Jeff Martin at [email protected] or 360-704-5248 if you have questions.

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2)  TWO NEW WA RURAL HERITAGE COLLECTIONS—KETTLE FALLS & ORCAS ISLAND

The Washington Rural Heritage initiative is pleased to announce two new collections.

The Kettle Falls Collection, www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/Kettle_Falls_Collection, a sub-collection of Stevens County Heritage, (www.washingtonruralheritage.org/stevens), includes photographs, maps, and family histories from the holdings of the Kettle Falls Public Library. These documents depict “Old” Kettle Falls before the town was uprooted to make way for construction of the Grand Coulee Dam and Lake Roosevelt.

Orcas Island Heritage, washingtonruralheritage.org/orcas, is a project of the Orcas Island Public Library and the Orcas Island Historical Society & Museum. The collection depicts the Island’s early fishing, agriculture, lime-quarrying, and brick-making industries, as well as its development as a resort and recreation destination. Explore Orcas Island’s small communities by viewing items on the Orcas Island Heritage map: www.washingtonruralheritage.org/orcas/index.php?page=map.

Links to some of the WRH team’s favorite images from both collections can be found at the WRH blog: blogs.secstate.wa.gov/wrh/. To learn more about the initiative, visit the WRH main page at: www.washingtonruralheritage.org.

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3)  OCLC DROPS PRICE FOR UPCOMING YEAR

Libraries participating in Washington Group Services will see a decrease in OCLC costs for Cataloging, Resource Sharing/ILL, and Access for the upcoming 2009-2010 fiscal year. The average decrease is 2.45%, with most libraries seeing a drop of at least 2% in basic OCLC service costs, some more. OCLC Western will be distributing the exact cost figures to Washington libraries in the very near future.

Libraries purchasing WorldCat subscriptions through Washington Group Services will see a 4-5% decrease in those costs as well. Final costs for libraries renewing through the Pacific Northwest FirstSearch Group have yet to be determined.

OCLC had previously announced zero price increases for the upcoming fiscal year, but the implementation of “end-user pricing” reduced surcharges, resulting in lower prices for libraries. OCLC has also lowered the projected FY 2011 price increment from 5% to 3%, although in no case will libraries participating in WA Group Services pay an increase that exceeds the one imposed on the OCLC membership at large.

Questions? For more information about Washington Group Services, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/Wayfinder or contact Will Stuivenga [email protected] 360-704-5217 or toll free 866-538-4996.

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4)  FREE ONLINE COURSES FOR REFERENCE STAFF

The Washington State Library is pleased to offer two online courses from Amigos, free of charge to Washington library staff. Each class will be offered in two segments.

Do you have what it takes to be an effective reference provider? The “Core Reference Skills” course helps reference staff identify necessary skill sets needed for any reference interaction whether it is face to face, virtual, or on the telephone. Additionally, learn to recognize common barriers to productive reference interactions, develop techniques to overcome them, and discover how to locate basic reference sources. The first part is scheduled June 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time; the second part June 29 at the same time. To register, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/refcore.

“Tools for the Reference Desk” explores a variety of free online tools, from blogs and wikis, to chat software and web-based platforms from which you can engage your users at the reference desk. Learn how to utilize several free online tools in your reference activities. The first part is scheduled June 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time; the second part June 25 at the same time. To register, visit www.secstate.wa.gov/quicklinks/reftools.

For questions or more information, contact Jennifer Fenton, [email protected], 360-570-5571 or toll free 866-538-4996.

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5)  DEMCO LIBRARY ROOM MAKEOVER CONTEST

Demco Library Interiors has announced an up-to-$10,000 Room Makeover Contest, for “those applicants who truly have a vision for an area of their library or media center that could be more effective in how it serves patrons or impacts their library.” DLI will work with the contest winner from start to finish, to design, furnish, and provide installation for their space.

See demcoservices.com/makeover.htm for entry forms and contest details. Forms must be postmarked by June 5, 2009 or hand-delivered at ALA by July 13.

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