Steens Mountain, Oregon. Stueby’s Outdoor Journal: http://stuebysoutdoorjournal.blogspot.com/

From the desk of Rand Simmons

The conflict between the Bureau of Land Management and protesters and ranchers has received widespread attention from the media. The site of the protest is the Malheur Nation Wildlife Reserve located in rural Oregon near the small town of Burns.

What do you know about this beautiful but remote area of Oregon? Want to know more? That’s where a library comes in handy. The Washington State Library is a great place to begin.

Because we are a Regional Library for the Federal Depository Library program we have a comprehensive collection of publications issued by government agencies and distributed by the Government Publishing Office. We also have the responsibility to collect and maintain publications of Washington state agencies. With the exception of older publications ours are listed in our catalog and many lead to digital copies online.

Many maps and other federal publication are published electronically. The State Library catalog points to the online version as well as a print version if one exists.

Federal Publications

Entrance to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon.

Burnside, C. D., & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2008). Malheur’s legacy: Celebrating a century of conservation, 1908-2008 : Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Southeast Oregon. Princeton, Or.: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Available at WSL! WSL Federal Documents I 49.2:M 29/3

Many Federal Documents are available online:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (1995). Birds, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon.
Available at WSL! Call No. I 49.44/2:M 29/2/995-2. This publication can also be found online where it can be downloaded as a .pdf file.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2008). Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: Blitzen Valley auto tour. Online and in print at WSL: I 49.44/2:M 29/11

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Agency : U.S.). (2012). Refuge waters in peril. Available online and in print at WSL: Sudoc No. I 49.44/2:W 31

Fish and Wildlife Service. (2008). Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Available online and in print at WSL: Map Sudoc No. I 49.44/2:M 29/8

Northwest Collection

Word Cloud describing key words for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

From the State Library’s Northwest Collection, two commercially published titles:

Langston, N. (2003). Where land & water meet: A Western landscape transformed. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Available at WSL!: NW 333.918 LANGSTO 2003.

Littlefield, C. D. (1990). Birds of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. Corvallis, Or: Oregon State University Press. Available at WSL!: NW 598.2979 LITTLEF 1990.

Search the State Library’s online catalog and you will find online resources on hunting, wildlife, hiking, biking, and fishing. Set search to subject and key in: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Need help locating information? Try our Ask a Librarian service. You can chat live with an information specialist.

Vol 2 No 1

This publication was prepared by Rand Simmons, Federal Collection Executive Manager, with the assistance of Staci Phillips. For more information contact Rand, [email protected].

What are you Reading in 2016?

Consider adding federal publications to your reading pallet. According to GPO Book Talk here are the  most popular topics of people seeking to purchase GPO publications.

May we help you find a state or federal publication?

Contact Us by phone, email, chat or visit us. Details at http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/ask.aspx 
Washington State Library/Washington Secretary of State

Washington State Library — Your Source for State and Federal Publications

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Vol. 1 no7 December 15, 2015

The Founding Fathers drafted the United States Constitution during the First Constitutional Convention, held from May through September 1787 in Philadelphia. The completed draft constitution, sent to the States for ratification in September 1787, did not include any mention of individual rights. The framers’ focus was largely on structuring a strong government, and getting that structure put into place. Without such a structure, the Founding Fathers feared the country’s collapse into chaos or new attacks from outsiders. They left the issue of individual rights without adding it to the Constitution during that meeting.

As a result of this omission, Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign the Constitution on principle. Maryland delegates, Luther Martin and John Francis Mercer reportedly walked out of the Convention, at least in part because the draft did not include a Bill of Rights. In September, Randolph, Mason and Gerry joined in asking for a second constitutional convention to address the issue of personal rights. All three men advocated strongly for a bill of rights throughout most of the constitutional convention. The people ultimately adopted the Constitution, sans any bill of rights, on September 17, 1787. Eleven states ratified it and it went into effect in 1789.

Image: Bill of Rights depicted in cartoon format from 1971 Young Citizen teacher’s guide transparency. Courtesy: Syracuse University. Found at Government Book Talk http://1.usa.gov/1QHOt32.

Founding Father James Madison was a delegate from Virginia who had been a key actor and speaker at the First Constitutional Convention. He had held onto the idea of the individual freedoms as discussed at that Convention. Although Federalist Madison was originally a skeptic about needing a Bill of Rights, like Randolph, Mason and Gerry he came to believe that the inclusion of personal rights was imperative to be added to the United States Constitution.

The first ten amendments to the US Constitution are known as the “Bill of Rights.” Listen to retired Washington Chief Justice, Gerry Alexander, and nine others read these ten amendments.

“Enlightened statesman will not always be at the helm” (James Madison)

There are many federal publications about the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. To locate these in the State Library’s catalog set your Internet browser to http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/catalog.aspx.

Search the Library Catalog: Set Search By to keywords. In the Search Words box enter U.S. Constitution. Click on the Federal Publications radio button and press search.

The list of resources will tell you the collection in which the title is housed and give you it’s “call number” which indicates where it is located on the shelf.

Here are some other resources you may find useful:

Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society. (1990). The Western frontiers of the Bill of Rights. Portland, Or: Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society.

“This special issue of Western Legal History reflects the bitter-sweet story of the Bill of Rights in the American West”–P. [175] Published as the summer/fall 1990 issue of Western legal history, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.Available at WSL:WSL Historic Research  R 347.78 WESTERN 1990 v3 no2  LIB USE ONLY WSL Northwest Collection NW 347.78 WESTERN 1990 v3 no2

Douglas, W. O. (1961). A living Bill of rights. Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday.

Available at WSL:WSL General Collection 323.4 DOUGLAS 1961 WSL Governor’s Awards GWA DOUGLAS 1961   LIB USE ONLY

This publication was prepared by Rand Simmons, Federal Collection Executive Manager, with the assistance of Staci Phillips. For more information contact Rand [email protected].

From the desk of Rand Simmons

December 2015

Because of recent events in the media there is national concern over active shooting and keeping family and friends safe. Here is one list of resources, many of which focus on children.*

Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990. The helpline is also available in Spanish, by text and by TTY. http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/

Talking to Children about the Shooting http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/talking_to_children_about_the_shooting.pdf

How to talk to your child about the news. http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/news.html

Tips for Parents on explaining media coverage to children http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/tips_for_parents_media_final.pdf

Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals http://www.cstsonline.org/resources/resource-master-list/restoring-a-sense-of-safety-in-the-aftermath-of-a-mass-shooting-tips-for-parents-and-professionals

Psychological First Aid for Schools Field Operations Guide http://www.nctsn.org/content/psychological-first-aid-schoolspfa

Coping with Crisis – Helping Children with Special Needs http://ubhc.rutgers.edu/tlc/guidelines/educators/CopingwithCrisisHelpingChildrenSpecialNeeds.html

Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Tragic Events – for ages 5 to 7.
http://www.redcross.ca/crc/documents/3-7-2_Tools-for-Teachers_Facing-Fear-Module-1-(ages-5-7).pdf

Activity Book for African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crisis https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/cope_with_crisis_book/Pages/index.aspx

After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal – checklist http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/helping_young_children_heal_crisis.pdf

Parent Tips for Helping Preschool-Age Children after Disasters http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/appendix_tips_for_parents_with_preschool_children.pdf

Coping with Disasters, National Library of Medicine
English:   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
Spanish: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/copingwithdisasters.html

Original list compiled by Andrew R. Roszak, JD, MPA, Senior Director, Emergency Preparedness, Child Care Aware® of America as posted to the ARSL Membership, December 10, 2015, posted by Susan Hanks, California State Library

*These resources are not vetted or endorsed by the Washington State Library / Office of the Secretary of State.

Federal Documents for Everyday Living
Vol. 1 no3 December 1, 2015

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

Kids.gov – A safe place to learn and play – is the U.S. government’s official web portal for kids. Here you find resources for teachers and parents to use with kids grade K-5 and Teens Grade 6-8. We all know that Christmas is for kids … of all ages … and for those of you who are interested try: NORAD. There are games, videos and more plus it tracks Santa on his Christmas Eve route delivering packages. Kids.gov has more than links to Christmas sites. Here are some examples:December Calendar. (2015). https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/calendar/december/index.shtml

National Hand-Washing Awareness Week is in December! Who knew? Find other great December things here too! Kids.gov Winter Holidays. (2015). https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/social-studies/winter-holidays/index.shtmlAvailable at WSL! Call No. J F KOONS 2004

Federal publications and web sites

Christmas Day, December 25. http://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/christmasday.pdf

The Christmas Tradition in America | IIP Digital. (n.d.) http://1.usa.gov/1QfAbpW

Christmas Traditions with VOA Learning English. (2014). http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/christmas-usa/2571170.html

The Gift of Holiday Traditions: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas | EDSITEment. (n.d.) http://edsitement.neh.gov/feature/gift-holiday-traditions-kwanzaa-hanukkah-and-christmas

Priceless Holiday Gifts! (n.d.). http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=132&cat_id=20063&article_set=39386
Kids love holidays for more than the gifts!

President Obama Delivers Remarks at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony | The White House [Video file]. (n.d.). http://1.usa.gov/1MXbcp8

Statement on the Observance of Hanukkah. (2014). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/DCPD-201400930/pdf/DCPD-201400930.pdf

Statement on the Observance of Kwanzaa. (2014). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/DCPD-201400956/pdf/DCPD-201400956.pdf

State Publications

Christmas Tree Diseases, Insects & Disorders In The Pacific Northwest: Identification And Management. Chastagner, Gary A. (1997). Washington State University, Cooperative Extension.
Available at WSL! Call No. WA 378.5 Ex8em 186 1997

Pesticide Use in Christmas Tree Plantations And Potential Water Quality Impacts Progress Report. Foss, Steve. (1994). Washington State Dept. of Agriculture.
Available at WSL! Call No. WA 630 Ag8pes u1 1997

Local Government

Kwanzaa: A Working Research Guide Robinson, S. E. (1999). Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History.

Gift Suggestions from the GPO Bookstore

The GPO Bookstore has suggestions of gifts to give for the holiday season including calendars and event planners. These are publications of federal agencies. The site includes a section for kids, and for military and veterans. Here are some examples:

The Civil W[a]r ends, 1865 Bradley, Mark L., author. (2015). Defense Department, Army, Center of Military History. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00587-5?ctid=1333 Many people mistakenly believe that the American Civil War ended when Lee’s army evacuated Richmond and Petersburg after a long siege and surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on 9 April 1865.

National Park System (Wall Map Poster). Interior Department National Park System. (n.d.). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01274-5?ctid=507 Handsome color map showing the locations of parks in National Park System; suitable for large wall map displays.

Coyote and the turtle’s dream. Lofton, Terry. (2011). Atlanta, GA: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation, Native Diabetes Wellness Program.
https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/017-001-00577-1?ctid=510 A mystery novel aimed to middle schoolers ages 10 to 13. Coyote and Turtle tell about storytelling traditions while passing on messages about healthy eating and physical activity.

Owlie Skywarn\’s Weather Book. (n.d.). Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/003-017-00563-1?ctid=510 Easy to read pamphlet about storms: hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, lightning, emergency preparation kits, safety at school, and more. Children ages 8 to 12 but also useful for parents, teachers and other adults.

The world factbook United States. Central Intelligence Agency. (2014). 2013-14. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency. https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/041-015-00311-9?ctid=1312 The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

Underground Railroad. United States. National Park Service. Division of Publications. (1998). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01185-4?ctid=507  Describes the many ways that blacks took to escape slavery in the southern U. S. before the Civil War. It includes stories of famous African American women.

Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down? | U.S. Government Bookstore. (n.d.). https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/001-000-04759-1 Shows children the life cycle of trees, a renewable resource as their seeds can be planted to make new trees grow. Discusses the need to remove sick, flammable and other dangerous trees as well as the various uses for wood from cut trees. Available at WSL! Call No. W  A 13.2:T 71/65 and online at http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo47133/whycutatree-web-book.pdf.

 Many more gift suggestions can be found at the GPO Bookstore website

Selections of titles and website do not indicate endorsement by the Office of the Secretary of State

This publication was prepared by Rand Simmons, Federal Collection Executive Manager, with the assistance of Staci Phillips. For more information contact Rand at [email protected].

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

― John Muir

James Ellenwood and his co-authors have created a magnificent book, The National individual tree species atlas (Fort Collins, CO: United States Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, [2015])

This reference volume covers each tree species in the United States and precisely where each species is likely to grow and not grow.

According to the GPO Bookstore “this illustrated work will benefit silviculturists, foresters, geneticists, researchers, botanists, wildlife habitat biologists, landscape ecologists—essentially anyone involved in natural resources management, monitoring impacts of climate change or visiting America’s forests and landscapes.” (Description from GPO Bookstore.)

But what about people who simply love the beauty of trees or being out and among them? You will be rewarded with wonderful photographs and fascinating maps.

Would you like to look at this book? You are in luck! It is available at the Washington State Library (did I mention it is a rather large book?). Its call number is OVERSIZ A 13.110/18:15-01. You need to call ahead before coming to the library (360-704-5200). It’s at our storage facility.

Can’t get to Tumwater? Ask your local public library to borrow it from us.

You can also view it online at http://1.usa.gov/1LrmQ7H. This is a large file so have patience while it downloads.

If you must have your own copy, the GPO Bookstore will be happy to sell it to you:  .

Federal publications. They are for everyday living!

Rand Simmons is the Federal Collection Executive Manager at the Washington State Library, Office of the Secretary of State.

Federal Documents for Everyday Living:
Vol. 1 no 2 November 5, 2015.

Thanksgiving Resources

Federal publications and web sites

Civil War: Thanksgiving Foods. Terrell, E. (2013) Library of Congress.
Available at WSL! http://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2013/11/civil-war-thanksgiving-foods/

Congress Establishes Thanksgiving. (n.d.). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/thanksgiving/ Note: If this link does not work copy the link and enter it into your browser.

Countdown to the Thanksgiving holiday United States. Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2010). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service. Available at WSL! Online: http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo19074/Countdown-to-Thanksgiving-Holiday.pdf; Print: A 110.29:T 32

Family guide: The winter holidays: National Gallery of Art (U.S.). (1993). Washington: The Gallery. Available at WSL! Print: SI 8.8:W 73

MyPlate holiday makeover: United States. Department of Agriculture. (2013). Visit www.choosemyplate.gov and search “holidays” for healthier options during the holidays.

Prepare a Safe and Healthy Thanksgiving Meal. (2013). USDA. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/11/0561.xml

Preparing for a Safe and Easy Thanksgiving Dinner – One Day at a Time. (2013). USDA. Food Safety and Inspection Service. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/seasonal-food-safety/thanksgiving-recipes

Teacher’s Guide to Thanksgiving. (n.d.). http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/thanksgiving/pdf/teacher_guide.pdf

USDA Invites You to ‘Ask Karen’ to Your Thanksgiving Meal. (2013). USDA. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2013/nr-11182013-01

State Publications

Teaching about Thanksgiving. Ross, Cathy. (1986). Superintendent of Public Instruction. Available at WSL! Call No. 370 Ed8tea a 1986

Thanksgiving Proclamation. Semple, Governor, E. (1888). Available at WSL! http://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/publicationsviewer/?title=Thanksgiving%20proclamation&ID=326

Thanksgiving dinner: serve it safely. Spindler, E. B. (n.d.). Washington State University. Available at WSL!
Call No. 378 e Ex8emz 4076

Other Resources

Proclamation of Thanksgiving Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln, A. (1863). Abraham Lincoln Online. http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm

How to search the online catalog: Set your browser to: http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/catalog.aspx (1) set “search by” to keyword, (2) enter a search term, e.g., bullying, in the “search words box,” (3) set “additional options/search in” to “federal publications” (4) then click on the search button.
You should get a list of federal publications about bullying. Documents may be online, in print or in a variety of other medium. Entries indicating “call ahead” mean you should call us and ask that the document be retrieved from storage and brought to the central library for your use.

Your local library can send us an “interlibrary loan” request and borrow materials on your behalf. In many circumstances, our librarians also are able to scan and send you electronic copies. Contact Ask a Librarian to inquire about specific titles and availability. Our Ask a Librarian service is available at 360-704-5221 (Monday – Friday noon to 5:00 p.m.) or use our chat box at http://1.usa.gov/1OoGTct. It’s easy.

This publication was prepared by Rand Simmons, Federal Collection Executive Manager, with the assistance of Staci Phillips. For more information contact Rand at [email protected].

Pentagon in Arlington, Va. View from the SkyDome, Double Tree Hotel (Arlington), FDL Conference, October 18, 2015. Photo: Rand Simmons

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Crystal Lentz and Rand Simmons attended the Federal Depository Library Conference in Arlington, VA, October 19-21, 2015. Crystal manages the Central Library of the Washington State Library (WSL) and also is the Coordinator of the library’s Regional Federal Depository (Regional Library) for the states of Washington and Alaska.

As a Regional Depository Library, WSL receives and houses all publications distributed by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) through its Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Federal publications are published in many mediums including print, digital, microform, video and audio.

There is only one Regional Depository in the states of Washington and Alaska — the Washington State Library. As a Regional Depository WSL selects and retains all FDLP publications indefinitely (unless otherwise allowed by GPO) for use by the residents of Washington and Alaska.  All others are known as “selective depositories” and are less restricted under GPO requirements.

Crystal observed,”The Federal Depository Library conference is my yearly opportunity to network face to face with my colleagues from all states and territories, to learn what they are doing and glean best practices.”

GPO, as a conference teaser, said they had some very good news for participants. “We have been eagerly awaiting news about the regulation on discarding materials and we were hoping this would be the good news,” Crystal stated.

Her wish was granted when Davita Vance-Cooks, Director of the Government Publishing Office and Mary Alice Baish, Superintendent of Documents, announced the congressional Joint Committee on Printing had accepted GPO’s proposal that Regional Libraries be allowed to discard federal publications after seven years when a digital copy exists. The applause was deafening! But, there are “as long as” stipulations. GPO will conduct pilot tests with six Regional Libraries around the nation in 2016 before allowing all Regional Libraries to participate.

“This is wonderful news for us,” Rand noted. “We want to shrink our footprint for federal documents. We cannot house all of our federal collection in our current building. For many years we have leased space from the Department of Printing to house lesser used publications but we are near capacity. Something needs to be done soon. Going digital is desirable because it makes our federal publications available to many more people but the new policy will help us address the storage issue. That’s the good news. The other side of the coin is that with more than a million items and few staff progress in digitizing will be slow.”

Washington, Oregon and Alaska depository librarians enjoy lunch during the Federal Depository Library conference in Arlington, VA. Featured above, left to right, Cass Hartnett, University of Washington; Aimee Quinn, Central Washington University; Oregon Librarian; Crystal Lentz, Washington State Library; Oregon Librarian; Daniel Cornwall, Alaska State Library; Peggy Jarrett, University of Washington Law; Rand Simmons, Washington State Library. Not shown, Barb Massey, King County Library System.

Depository librarians from Washington and Alaska attended the conference. Along with two Oregon, one Alaskan and one Boston depository librarian the group met for lunch to network over pizza. “It was a great opportunity to meet colleagues,” Rand said. “That is crucial if I am to be successful in my new assignment.”

As the Executive Manager of the Federal Collection Rand works collaboratively with Crystal on specific assignments that include focusing on increasing the amount of federal publications available online and implementing a Regional Depository Library model that is shared among selective depositories. WSL will remain the official Regional Library.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

The good ol’ card catalog. How we miss it?

The card catalog was a dominant technology for several centuries harkening back to the French Revolution when after raiding religious houses of their books and manuscripts the revolutionaries established a system of public libraries and the French Cataloging Code of 1791. The bibliographic information for each book was recorded on the blank back of playing cards, hence the card in card catalog.

In the 1960s with the development of machine readable automated cataloging – the MARC record – and the rise of OCLC, a bibliographic utility that stores library information electronically, libraries abandoned their card catalogs seduced by computer catalogs otherwise known as online public access catalogs.

Along came Bill and Melinda Gates and Bill Gates, Sr. with their vision of placing PC’s in every public library in the United States. Thus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Libraries program was born around 1997.

At that time only about 25% of public libraries offered access for the public to the Internet.

The nation’s state libraries partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and by 2004 the Foundation had invested $240 million in placing computers in libraries and had connected 99 percent of U.S. public libraries to the Internet.

However, as wonderful and as crucial as the U.S. Libraries Program was, it was just the beginning of libraries adapting new technologies.

Over a period of time, roughly 1998 to 2014, the Washington State Library through its administration of federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds invested $4.2 million in technology-related grants to libraries.

These grants have helped bring connectivity to libraries; have provided laptop and tablet training labs; and we helped libraries dip their toes into the pool of digital imaging.

Later we taught local libraries how to digitize their historical treasures, how to make the images find-able through metadata, and hosted these digital collections for libraries who retained the originals.

In the early 2000s the State Library helped create a “virtual reference network.” The concept was to create a network of participating libraries across the state that would, by collaborating with and linking to a national network, share responsibility for providing customers with information 24/7/365 – that is, to anyone, anywhere they might be, and at any time. Customers are served even when the library is not open. That program lives on as Ask-WA.

Perhaps the most ambitious project we have undertaken was joining a loose-knit collaborative of anchor institutions (schools, hospitals and libraries), non-profits, state and local government agencies and others to apply for Broadband Technology Opportunity Program grants. Two successful applications, one in summer 2009 and the other in Spring 2010 netted $138 million awarded to the Northwest Open Access Network to bring higher bandwidth connectivity to rural Washington communities. When in the second round application the federal government added a matching fund requirement to the application our friends the Gates Foundation stepped up and provided the match for several state libraries including Washington.

We have also provided professional development grants to individuals to take technology courses and have provided technology-related training.

Lately we have engaged in the provision of free online technology training by partnering with Microsoft. With funding from the Washington legislature and large discounts from Microsoft the Washington State Library is able to offer the Microsoft IT Academy free to any resident of Washington through public, two-year, and tribal libraries. Schools also offer the Academy and it is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

We are taking the Academy to a deeper level by pairing with Workforce Development and supporting training among the tribes using the Academy to address digital literacy needs on the reservations.

So while the card catalog remains an object of fond memories, one which many of us lovingly display in our homes, if we were lucky enough to snag one, I doubt any of us would go back.

Technology will change libraries. The Washington State Library, as a change agent, is committed to lead the charge.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Amy Ravenholt recognized by a National Library Service Award for Knowledge, Creativity and Expertise

Keystone Systems announced today that Amy Ravenholt, Assistant Director at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is the recipient of the 2014 Julie Klauber Award.

Individuals honored with this annual national award must provide noteworthy service to their library and community and use KLAS (Keystone Library Automation System) to perform their daily job responsibilities.

WTBBL Director & Regional Librarian, Danielle Miller, says Amy “exemplifies knowledge, expertise, and creativity that benefit our patrons and all aspects of library services.” “She is kind and patient and makes learning new processes and technologies fun.”

Danielle says Amy’s position and expertise as WTBBL’s KLAS Administrator enhances the library’s overall service. As an example of her creativity, she cites Amy’s project “to use tablet computers running KLAS to streamline some of the circulation procedures that were cumbersome with desktop computers on carts. She worked closely with Keystone and our local IT department to make this happen and it has been a huge benefit to our circulation process.”

Amy says this year’s award is an acknowledgement of all of the work WTBBL’s circulation and advisory staff do with KLAS. “They identify the problems, they help develop and test solutions, and they use the software to its fullest extent every day.”

The award includes a trip to the 2014 KLAS Users’ Conference in Boston, MA, where Amy was recognized for her outstanding service to WTBBL and its patrons.  Keystone Systems, CEO, Kay Holloman presented the award during a special ceremony.

“It means I get to go to conference and geek out with people who care about what I care about,” Amy says. “We use specialized software to get our readers the books they want as fast as possible.  We make a lot of patrons happy on a daily basis, and the conference is the place to be to find out how to do that even better.”

“Amy is well deserving of this award,” observed State Librarian Rand Simmons. “Her dedication to serving WTBBL patrons and her leadership in the use of KLAS makes this award spot on. Job well done, Amy!”

Amy has been with the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library since July 2008. The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library is a program of the Washington State Library, Office of the Secretary of State.