Few Washington State Library employees have had to adapt and grow as much as Shirley A. Lewis (a.k.a. SAL) in the course of the past three years. But the series of events that led her into the unexpected positions of Head of Acquisitions and then Head of Technical Services has given WSL an opportunity to benefit from the many facets of her professional experience.

In her nearly quarter century of service at WSL alone, SAL has worked in Library Development, which gave her the skills to handle RFPs and grants as well as a state-wide view of our profession, and in Public Services, giving her frontline experience in information delivery as well as collection development experience. When she is approached by another WSL staff member to help with a project or solve a problem, the odds are high SAL has been in the shoes of that person herself.

She has a great institutional memory, particularly in the complicated area of microfilm. As the newspapers on microfilm collection is our most popular in terms of circulation and public use, her knowledge in this area has proven invaluable.

She has demonstrated an ability to grow, i.e. learning the basics of supervision, the technical tricks of Excel and Access, and has applied her learning to developing and/or supervising projects such as creating new finding aids (audit reports, microfilm vendors).

“SAL is a fun partner in brainstorming and in the course of doing so it is clearly evident she loves WSL,” notes Steve Willis Manager for Central Library Services.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

President Obama proclaimed November 2012 National Native American Heritage Month and November 23, 2012 Native American Heritage Day http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/01/presidential-proclamation-national-native-american-heritage-month-2012. Native American Heritage Month celebrates and honors American Indians and Alaska Natives, their history, identity, struggles, triumphs, and leadership.

This month the Washington State Library and the Washington Secretary of State’s Heritage Center and Legacy Project will discuss our relationship with the tribes of the Pacific Northwest through posts to our blog, our Facebook Page, and to our Twitter account. We will talk about programs, collections, and services. Our friends will not be surprised to see the depth of our resources relating to the tribes – some from a biased viewpoint – but may be surprised to learn how we serve our tribal constituents.

A good way to begin is to visit our Heritage Center.  The Heritage Center and Legacy Project collaborated on an exhibit currently displayed in the lobby of the Office of the Secretary of State, Legislative Building, Olympia. We’re Still Here discusses the survival of Washington Indians. The exhibit runs through April 2013.

Acknowledging the early and continuing story of the Washington tribes, the exhibit has four major themes: relationship with earth and struggle over land; assimilation practices and conflict over Native identity; treaty fishing rights; and cultural revival. The exhibit includes rare baskets, tools, feather hats, ceremonial colorful clothing and drums. Its stories are compelling and personal.

You can view the images from the exhibit opening at http://www.sos.wa.gov/heritage/gallery.aspx?l=werestillhere.

For those of you who cannot visit the exhibit in Olympia take a virtual visit at http://www.sos.wa.gov/heritage/werestillhere/.

The Legacy Project released Where the Salmon Run, A biography of Billy Frank Jr. by Trova Heffernan in June 2012. To learn more about the book and Billy Frank Jr. visit http://www.sos.wa.gov/legacyproject/oralhistories/billyfrankjr/.

To learn more about the Heritage Center go to http://www.sos.wa.gov/heritage/Default.aspx or contact them at [email protected]. More about the Legacy Project is at http://www.sos.wa.gov/heritage/LegacyProject/default.aspx.

I will do my best to keep you informed and point you to new information. Rand Simmons, Acting State Librarian.

“Jeannie Remillard is one in a million! She steals your heart the moment you meet her and you’ll never get it back. She’s truly an inspiration.”

“These statements from a co-worker couldn’t be truer,” notes Laura Sherbo, manager of Library Branches for the Washington State Library (WSL). “Jeannie has been the DOC and DSHS branches’ cheerleader for over 20 years, keeping spirits up in spite of devastating cuts to staff, resources, and the closure of several branches.”

Jeannie began her career with WSL at the Penitentiary (WSP) in 1991 and worked there until 2010 when she decided to leave eastern Washington for the Washington coast. The move from the tiny WSP-MSC Library to the spacious branch at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC) was a good one, though it took some time to adjust from the dry climate of Walla Walla to the rainy climate of Aberdeen.

“She brings laughter and love into her prison library,” says another co-worker. Jeannie’s unique sense of humor is one of the things ILS staff treasures about her and it has helped them through some tough times. It allows her to deal with difficult patrons in a way that disarms them and, coupled with her firm conviction that customer service is a top priority, she has legions of fans all across the state.

Here’s what one inmate at SCCC had to say: “You really made a difference in my life. I hope you are able to work in the library for a really long time because you exceed all of our expectations. You are a great librarian and a great person. Thank you very very much.”

Acting State Librarian Rand Simmons reflects, “Laura and I visited the Stafford Creek library last June. The library was filled with inmates and what’s more the inmates that train dogs were also in the library with their tail-whapping trainees. I constantly heard, ‘Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie.’ What appeared to be chaos was really a chorus of affection for their librarian. But don’t be fooled. Under that smiling exterior is an internal  drill sergeant. When it came time for the inmates to leave they bunched up in the security gates. Behind me bellowed a command, ‘Back up, back up, back up,’ and like  obedient school boys they all backed out of the security gates. ‘Now one at a time,’ and the “school boys” did just as Jeannie said. Then a chorus, “Bye Jeannie; We love you Jeannie.”

Jeannie exudes the wonderful spirit of our DOC and DSHS librarians. Kind when possible, firm when necessary, and always customer oriented. Thank you for your leadership.

Rocio Franklin, as Washington Talking Book & Braille Library’s Receptionist, has one of the most important jobs at the library. Her smiling face and voice greet our volunteers, visitors and patrons when they enter the library and her cheerful voice welcomes all incoming calls to WTBBL’s main phone line.  “Rocio is like a ball of sunshine. She brings a special warmth, kindness, and humor to WTBBL,” says Danielle Miller, WTBBL’s Program Manager. This perfectly describes Rocio and why she is such a treasure to the library. When Rocio’s colleagues are asked to describe her, her willingness to take on new tasks and projects is repeatedly mentioned.  Rocio’s tireless dedication, optimistic spirit and never-ending creativity have made her one of the most celebrated members of the WTBBL team.

While Rocio’s title is Receptionist, she takes on many administrative and clerical tasks to assist the patrons of the library. Since she moved from the position of Custodian to Receptionist in 2009, Rocio has become the point person working with OSOS purchasing to keep WTBBL stocked with supplies, assisted with two summer reading programs and has become a major part of the team that processes donations for WTBBL.

Rocio, a native Spanish speaker, has also become the library’s translator and a lifesaver for our Spanish speaking patrons. “She has made it a special mission to reach out to our Spanish speaking patrons, welcoming them and ensuring their library service is muy bueno!,” adds Danielle Miller. She has since become a de facto reader’s advisor for this important group of patrons, who in many cases did not fully benefit from the service before her efforts.

Rocio translates all of our print material into Spanish and took the initiative to call the parents of our young Spanish language patrons to ensure the parents received materials to remain a part of their child’s reading life. In April of 2012, Rocio suggested and spearheaded WTBBL’s first celebration of Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros, which included packets of her personal story from her childhood experiences of Dia de los Niños in Mexico.  Every WTBBL child received the packet and Rocio created a marvelous display to capture the celebration for visitors to the library.

Tyler Kaye, WTBBL’s Patron Registrar, says it best: “Working at the front desk is often like being an air-traffic controller. You’ve got to efficiently direct telephone calls, visitors, and volunteers to where they need to be. It can be a pretty stressful task, but Rocio always handles it with grace.” Rocio’s graceful handling of all patrons and volunteers and her motivation to assist in all areas of the library has made Rocio an irreplaceable member of the WTBBL, WSL and OSOS team.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Founded in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) differed from other unions of the day in that they proposed one overarching union structure that could unite all working people as a class, rather than smaller craft unions that would be in competition with each other. They welcomed as members women, African-Americans, migrant workers, and new immigrants, when many other unions did not.

However, their vision of class warfare, their protests against World War I and their involvement in countless strikes, prompted severe and sometimes violent responses on the part of employers and the government. These responses plus an internal schism caused their numbers to drop significantly in the mid-1920s.

The IWW was active in Washington and its members were involved in the Everett Massacre of 1916 and the Centralia Massacre of 1919.

This collection of items was assembled from the materials collected for the trial that followed the Everett Massacre, and many of the books and pamphlets bear stamps reading “Plaintiff’s Exhibit” or “Defendant’s Exhibit.” The collection includes economics, philosophy, propaganda, posters, newspapers and broadsheets.

All these resources are available online at Classics in Washington History, a free online collection of full-text books. (http://www.sos.wa.gov/history/publications.aspx). Look under the subject heading “Industrial Workers of the World Collection.”

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Washington State Library remembers former staff Harris Clark McClaskey who died September 21, 2012 at his home in Ocean Park, Washington. Born in Trenton, NJ, Harris received his BA degree from Wooster College (OH), attended Princeton Theological Seminary (NJ), then turned to librarianship, earning his MA and PhD from the University of Washington.

McClaskey worked for 20 years at the Washington State Library. Former State Librarian Maryan E. Reynolds described McClaskey in her seminal work, The Dynamics of Change: A History of the Washington State Library.

In the 1960’s the State Library agreed to facilitate a Washington Library Film Circuit and McClaskey was appointed its director in 1962. During Governor Rosellini’s administration, and working with Dr. Garret Heyns head of the State’s Institutions, McClaskey designed what is known today as Institutional Library Services. Despite devastating budget cuts Washington State Library still provides library services in the State’s psychiatric hospitals and maximum security facilities. While working on his PhD at the University of Washington Library School McClaskey developed a bibliotherapy program working with residents of Western State Hospital. The State Library has three of McClaskey’s publications including his University of Washington PhD thesis.

Former State Librarian Jan Walsh noted, “This man was an amazing personality. He remained interested in the State Library. When Governor Locke proposed closing the library, Harris called me and told me of his support for the State Library. He once stopped at my brother’s house to tell him how honored he should be to have a State Librarian in his family. (My brother called me to tell me he was highly amused!) Harris also created wonderful Christmas cards and letters that he sent to friends and acquaintances. With Mary Ann Reynolds, Dorothy Doyle, Dorothy Cutler and Harris McClaskey, WSL had some formidable staff.”

After 15 years implementing programs through the Washington State Library focusing on serving the underserved, Harris joined the graduate school faculty at the University of Minnesota to teach and mentor students for work in public and medical libraries, especially sharing his love for children’s literature, book illustration and story-telling.

After 20 years in Minnesota, Harris returned to Washington to be near his daughter and pursue his artistic interests. You can read more about Harris McClaskey’s years in Minnesota at the Star Tribune article cited below.

Resources

Star Tribune, September 30, 2012, Obituary: Harris Clark McClaskey.

Maryan E. Reynolds. The dynamics of change : a history of the Washington State Library / Maryan E. Reynolds, with Joel Davis. Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University Press, c2001.

Marlys Rudeen is the Deputy State Librarian at the Washington State Library. Rand Simmons, Acting State Librarian observed, “It is the responsibility of the State Librarian to envision wild schemes that may rile up the staff. It is the responsibility of the Deputy to help him see the ramifications of those visions.”

“It usually begins something like this: Well, let’s think about the implications of doing that . But when an idea is a good one I can count on Marlys having my back!” 

The Deputy State Librarian oversees budget issues and is the primary contact for the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the Legislature and legislative staff regarding fiscal impact of legislative and budget information. Simmons stated, “I know I will get good advice from Marlys regarding approaching the Legislature. She listens well and I listen when she speaks. We are a good balance for each other.”

When the responsibilities of being the Deputy State Librarian become too burdensome Marlys finds relief by working on digital projects. She is the Head of Digital and Historical Collections which is a part of the Central Library Services program.

“I would say that Marlys is warm, open, welcoming, helpful and receptive,” commented Pam Griffith, new to the Digital and Historical Collections group.

You can’t help but love working with Marlys. When asked about that, veteran Judy Pitchford quipped, “Oh, I have lots of Marlys stories, but I can’t share most of them. But I can share that she is very passionate about the work we do in Digital Collections and she is a very hands-on manager. She loves historical materials and can give you specific details about each item and the people/events they are about. She especially  has a huge interest in historic maps. I think she sees them as more of an art form than just a visual representation of the land around us. Marlys makes our work meaningful. I guess that’s my favorite part about working with her. That and she has a great sense of humor, a must when you work with me.”

Steve Willis, Manager of Central Library Services said, “I love brainstorming with Marlys. She is not afraid to run with a thought through undiscovered countries and imagine all kinds of possibilities and potential. And then, to balance it out, she provides practical reality checks in a very positive way.”

So hats off to Marlys, veteran of many a dreadful budget cut. Simmons say, “When it comes down to final decisions, Marlys and I make the decisions based on recommendations of the Program Managers, and then send them to Executive Management for review.” As Sam Reed once told me, “It’s lonely at the top.”

Thanks, Marlys. You make the Washington State Library a better, kinder, gentler place to work!

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Miles Hewitt of Vancouver Washington was one of five student poets chosen as finalists in the National Student Poets Program. Miles represents the West region of the United States. The awards were announced at the 2012 National Book Festival in Washington DC in September.

The National Student Poets Program is in its inaugural year. It is a joint project of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Miles is a student at Vancouver (WA) School of Arts and Academics. A writer since the third grade Miles turned to song writing in the eighth grade penning more than 100 songs in the years since. With musical mentors such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Miles has self-recorded two albums that reflect his generation’s sounds and feelings.

Now a junior at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics Miles in into poetry. He is a member of a small group of burgeoning writers that come together to workshop each other’s writing and offer support.

Miles will appear in an evening program on November 29 with the Washington Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken. The program is sponsored by the Washington State Library. During the program Kathleen and Miles will converse with each other about their writing and will read selections of their poems. Hopefully, Miles will bring his guitar and sing a few songs for us.

We are extremely proud to have a National Student Poet in our State. Right on, Miles! Write on.

If the first rule of management is to hire well, then the Public Services group of Washington State Library got off to a good start when reference librarian Kim Smeenk was invited to join the staff over half a decade ago.

Kim, who is a specialist in genealogical research and a fine reference librarian as well, is amazingly prolific in answering online queries. This is an especially desirable trait in light of significant loss of librarians the Public Services unit has experienced in the last few years.

Kim, who has been in the field for 16 years, originally became a genealogical librarian by circumstance. While part of the public library staff in Michigan City, Indiana, she realized she enjoyed the critical thinking and detective work involved in answering the queries, and the other librarians were more than happy to let her have this subject area exclusively. As fate would have it, she learned on the front lines how to use the online tools while those resources were in an embryonic state. Kim’s research skills have grown as the Web-based content has evolved.

She has also been active in promoting WSL’s genealogical resources (online and in person) to Washington State genealogical and historical societies, helping our citizens learn about and celebrate their cultural heritage and the role of their families in the development of The Evergreen State. Kim says, “Educating the library patron to the myriad of resources available to them just within the digital world of WSL/Archives alone can be a major eye-opener for them.”

Kim enjoys discovering new areas of the Pacific Northwest, connecting geographic names she has researched in the course of her work with a real place. And she likes to read, a lot.

One of the most surprising facts about her? Interestingly, Kim, whose North American roots trace to very recent Dutch ancestors, has little interest in researching her own family history. For Kim her work is the biblio version of Ars gratia artis.

Thanks you, Kim, for showing leadership in genealogy research at the Washington State Library.