A “Jill of All Trades” describes Diane Hutchins. But, not only is she capable, she’s willing to help wherever needed!

Need help hosting and producing First Tuesdays, or any other webinar? Ask Diane. How about helping out with the Institute of Museum and Library Services outcome-based assessment Measuring Success project? “Sure,” and just like that Diane became the State Library’s representative.

Trustee Manual needs updating?  Diane is currently in the process of revising the document, adding web links, and making it available in a wiki format. Other states have already expressed interest in the State Library’s wiki version (there was a leak) and it has not even had a soft rollout! Diane has showcased her editorial skills through grant reviews, planning documents, grant proposals, contracts, and serving as the editor to WSL’s weekly WSL Updates. “We are grateful for her analytical and research skills,” notes Program Manager Jeff Martin.

Diane joined the Washington State Library in 1999. Caught in the “Great Layoff of 2010” when Diane’s program, Preservation and Access Services, was eliminated, Diane accepted a position in the Library Development program.

Managing an early learning project, Connecting the Dots, became her primary role. With no expertise in the subject area, but thanks to Diane’s ability as an incredibly dedicated and fast learner, she picked up on the complexities of early learning in Washington State and the role of libraries in supporting early learning. Her colleague Martha Shinners states, “Diane’s ability to process and gather information, make connections, and put it all together in a manageable format has allowed the Washington State Library to develop a proposal for Race to the Top funding from the Department of Early Learning. Without Diane’s help, the proposal wouldn’t have happened.”

Oh, by the way, Diane continues to support libraries around Washington State with preservation advice and still occasionally presents The Conservation Kitchen which speaks to basic tools for preservation of library materials.

Acting State Librarian, Rand Simmons, notes, “Diane is a joy to work with – agreeable, unflappable, and so competent that we don’t know what we would do without her.” We are fortunate indeed to have Diane as part of our Library Development program.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Recently I blogged that we had received an extension on our National Endowment for the Humanities grant to allow us an extension of time to continue to digitize Washington historical newspapers. The project is the National Digital Newspaper Program of the Library of Congress (LoC). Washington State Library’s contributions appear in Chronicling America.

The project requires collaboration between the Washington State Library and the University of Washington Libraries Microfilm and Newspaper department. At UW we have two students helping us evaluate and process necessary metadata for each page posted to LoC’s public website. In our UW office at Suzzallo Library Britta Anson, a doctoral student of history, is helping us with title research for essays that accompany the newspaper titles and Ashley Fejeran, a second year library and information student, will be helping with page evaluation. Ashley took a break in her busy schedule to write about her experience this summer with the Washington program:

Each day, tucked deep in the cozy basement of Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, my colleagues and I are working to prepare Washington newspapers from the late 1800’s to 1922 for OCR (optical character recognition) software that will make each paper searchable. I am working with the Washington State Library as a part of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP); a project that will digitize many historic newspapers across the United States. Now in the fourth year of the program we are deep in the midst of processing important Washington State newspaper titles. Papers like the Industrial Freedom from the tiny town of Edison, the Yakima Herald, and the Aberdeen Herald are already on their way to being published on the Chronicling America Website which holds over four million pages of already processed papers. Our Washington program has already processed over 25 titles, with more to come in the next two years!

While enrolled in the University of Washington’s Master of Library and Information Science program this project has given me invaluable exposure to the principles of digital librarianship and a new perspective on the age old question of preservation versus access. In classes, forums, and over drinks I’ve had countless discussions on the merits of each with my library colleagues, and I’ve seen my own feelings roam the spectrum between these seemingly disparate ideas. It wasn’t until I started work on the National Digital Newspaper Program that I began to see that it is possible to both preserve historically significant artifacts and offer increased access to these interesting and important documents.

As an aspiring librarian this program has much professional appeal; however, it has become of personal interest to me as well. A few days ago on the radio program This American Life I heard a story about the mysterious disappearance of a little boy named Bobby Dunbar in the summer of 1912. As the story unfolded, the whole nation was captivated by the tragedy of this lost boy and the controversy that ensued with his eventual recovery.

Not long ago (before working on the Washington NDNP project) this story might have just remained an interesting episode of This American Life. Because of the work I’ve been doing on this project, I knew that many of the newspapers from the time of Bobby Dunbar’s disappearance were probably available online. Through Chronicling America I searched for, and found, many articles covering the disappearance of Bobby Dunbar. Reading the story as it was actually reported was fascinating, and brought a new level of depth to what happened for me. These were real people!

In other, local, news I’ve been reading about the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition which happened in 1909 on the University of Washington’s campus. The Exposition is considered the precursor to the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As Seattle paper The Ranch proclaims, “Opening Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Marks and Era In Progress of the Pacific-Northwest!”

What I do is just one step in a long process; it is exciting that my job is to help make these papers available, so that anyone can read for themselves how an historic story played out. As I fuss with text and image zones, and correct page alignment, not only am I gaining valuable professional experience, I also get to take a look into the daily lives of people living 100 years before me. The discussion of preservation and access will certainly continue, and it is likely that there is no perfect solution, working with Washington’s National Digital Newspaper Program has proved a fascinating look at the possibility for both.

On the 4th floor of the central library building you’ll find a man sitting at a workstation in the southeast corner surrounded by numerous chicken figurines. You might hear him talking back to his computer in a colorful manner as he processes yet another book truck of material. Meet Bill Baas.

Bill has been with the Washington State Library (WSL) for nearly two decades. In that time he has performed a variety of tasks in Technical Services including assigning call numbers, processing material in every format, repairing bibliographical accidents, and doing collection inventory. When something odd or weird surfaces in the catalog, it will inevitably find itself on the desk of this biblio-detective.

He also maintains the State Library’s van and has a reputation as the most ruthless weeder of “past due date” food articles in the fridge when Tech Services cleans the staff kitchen. 

Bill was a major part of the WSL retrospective conversion push, 2000-2010. His ability to process numerous book trucks of material is truly amazing. In the 3-year newspaper on microfilm project alone, he was instrumental in helping to make over 40,000 reels of microfilm more accessible to the public. On one occasion a former Head of Cataloging, accompanied by an evil laugh, rolled in no less than five, yes, five book trucks all crammed with microfilm reels of the Spokane Chronicle. “Take no prisoners” Bill hardly blinked. Then he churned them out in record time.

Yes, he’s Bill, but he’s our Bill and we are danged proud of it.

From the desk of Shawn Schollmeyer

We are very excited to announce that we will be able to continue our historic newspaper digitization project for an additional two years. The National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) is a collaborative grant program between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress, seeking to fund state newspaper digitization projects and make select titles available through the Chronicling America website. The long term goal is to provide access to public domain newspaper titles in all U.S. states and territories (1836-1922). The Washington State Library will coordinate scanning and prepping another 100,000 pages from microfilm for remaining titles in Seattle and Olympia. A panel of partner libraries across the state has pre-selected over 25 titles representing large and small communities and historically significant regions to share on the Chronicling America site. Among  the titles already available are  the Aberdeen Herald, Colfax Gazette, Lynden Tribune, San Juan Islander, and Tacoma Times. More information about the state program and other titles is available on our WIKI page.

The microfilm for the three remaining titles is housed in the Washington State Library and University of Washington collections. We will continue our collaboration with the UW Libraries Microfilm and Newspaper department where we have two students helping us evaluate and process necessary metadata for each page posted to the Library of Congress public website.

Shawn Schollmeyer is the project manager for the Washington State Library. Her contact information is [email protected], 360-570-5568.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

Every so often I get to travel to libraries around the state. Last week was such a week when I got to travel for business which was very pleasurable.

For the past three years the Washington State Library (WSL) has partnered with the Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to bring broadband connectivity to Washington public and tribal libraries. A broadband celebration was held at the Mid-Columbia Libraries Kennewick branch with Governor Chris Gregoire as guest speaker. The event was hosted by Executive Director, Kyle Cox, on Thursday, July 26 (see the article in the Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/07/27/2034861/gregoire-hails-expansion-of-broadband.html).

Kyle, who made his remarks before Governor Gregoire spoke, took several minutes to laud the work of the Washington State Library in securing broadband stimulus funding for Washington libraries. The Governor turned around, we made eye  contact and later she shook my hand and thanked me for our work. It was a proud moment.

Prior to the event Jeff Martin, WSL’s Program Manager for Library Development, and I had a chance to interact with Mid-Columbia’s branch managers at a staff meeting. Following the broadband event Kyle, Jeff, and I talked about issues of local concern.

We then moved on to the Richland Public Library where Jeff and I met with Director Ann Roseberry and Lisa Adams. Again, the comment turned to local issues. We also took the opportunity to ask what the State Library was doing that was important to them, what we could discontinue, and what we could do better.

The interaction we had with directors and staff from both branches helped us understand where we can improve. These trips are important to the State Library’s vitality. And, I always feel enriched when I return home.

Sharon Brewer is remarkable. She is close to completing her 30^th year with the Washington State Library and she has the dubious distinction of having worked in more branches than anyone in WSL history.

She began her WSL career in 1982 at the Special Offenders Center in Monroe, and then moved on in 1983 to the Fircrest School in Shoreline for one month. Her next move was to Rainier School in Buckley where she stayed until 1992. Sharon then she moved on to Western State Hospital in Steilacoom where she stayed nine years before returning to Rainier School for one year. From there Sharon changed course and joined the Procurement Team at WSL in Tumwater for two years. But the call of the branches was too strong and her next move was to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton where she stayed for over three years. Never one to turn down a challenge, Sharon moved from Institutional Library Services branches to work in an Olympia Area Branch when she accepted her new position at the Natural Resources Building Library in 2007. Another move in 2009 landed Sharon in her sixth ILS branch, the Twin Rivers Corrections Center in Monroe. I’m happy to report that as of the beginning of this month Sharon is back at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton where we hope she will settle down for awhile!

Branch Library Services Program Manager Laura Sherbo says, “Sharon’s quiet, unassuming demeanor masks a keen intelligence and a fierce dedication to customer service.” Laura describes the ease with which Sharon mastered each new challenge over the years as a great asset to the Branch Library Services Program and to the Washington State Library.

Thanks, Sharon, for your dedication to serving those who are institutionalized. 

Alan Bentson is one of the two Readers Advisors at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL). There are not many blind people working as readers advisors within the the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped program of the Library of Congress, so we are proud to have him working here, along with his colleague Wes Derby.

He was born in 1952 in Silver Spring, Maryland, but he grew up and got his education in Colorado. He went to public school until 10th grade, and completed high school at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs. “I benefitted from going to school in both environments,” he said. “I think all blind children would broaden their horizons by experiencing both forms of education.” He later majored in English at Colorado College.

Alan’s start with WTBBL was a natural fit. “When I moved to Bremerton in 1981,” he said, “practically the first thing I did was contact the WTBBL to see if they needed volunteers, and I’ve been there in one capacity or another ever since.” “Now in his 31^st year working at WTBBL, Alan teaches me something every day,” says program manager Danielle Miller.

He worked for WTBBL as a page for two years, and then started as a full-time Readers Advisor in January 1987, a time when talking computers were still in their early stages of development. “When I started, we didn’t have email or Internet or braille displays. I couldn’t even transfer calls or put people on hold. The changes in my job have been amazing.”

Alan takes book requests, searches for titles that aren’t listed in the library’s catalog, enters information into the catalog, adjusts patron files to make sure the computer selects the right books and sends them often enough, and much more. Danielle states, “I think Alan knows our collection better than anyone; he is excellent at identifying books for patrons based on that vast knowledge and the fact that he is always reading, including participating in two book clubs. A fun bit of trivia: Alan’s mother was a librarian!”

“Every time some new innovation comes out like the online catalog, or the ability to download books, people tell me that they’re sorry I’m out of a job. It never seems to happen, though. There are always lots of new questions to answer about the new technologies. That’s what I like about my job, the ability to improve our library service, one patron at a time.”

“Alan is an integral part of our team. He is smart, quick-witted, fun, and a heck of a singer and piano player,” says Danielle.

Thanks, Alan, for your dedication to excellence in serving the patrons of WTBBL.

From the desk of Rand Simmons

On May 1, as Acting State Librarian I filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting the American Library Association’s stand on digital literacy. The FCC is receiving comments on Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization (WC Docket No. 11-42), Lifeline and Link Up (WC Docket No. 03-109), Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (CC Docket No. 96-45), and Advancing Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training (WC Docket No. 12-23).

Digital Literacy encompasses the skills needed to access and use online resources. Per Wikipedia, digital literacy is “the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_literacy. The FCC is looking at funding nationwide digital literacy through the Lifeline and Link Up programs that are part of the Universal Service program. Lifeline and Link Up programs serve low-income consumers providing discounts on basic monthly phone service (Lifeline) and one-time discounts for initial installation fees (Link Up).

There is a part of the Universal Service program that directly benefits public and private schools and public libraries. It is commonly known as E-Rate. The program brings discounts on telecommunications, Internet service provider charges, and some internal connections. It is a very important program for schools and libraries. For the year July 2010-June 2011, Washington State received over $1,300,000 in E-Rate discounts; schools and school districts received over $22,600,000; and consortia received over $4,100,000 million for a whopping total of more than $28,000,000!

There are many ways the FCC can fund a national digital literacy program but I believe it should not come out of the E-Rate program as some have suggested. To do so would be detrimental to the ability of Washington schools and public libraries to help students and the residents of Washington access information vitally needed to thrive in a virtual information world (access information that is vital to daily living, decision-making, participating in a democratic society, and planning for the future, for example.)

In the best of worlds, a national digital literacy program would provide funding to public libraries so that their staff can train individuals in their communities on how to access and use today’s technology. The ability for Washingtonians to function in our virtual information world is critical and digital literacy is the first step.

One in three Americans use computers in their community library to look for jobs, connect with friends, and improve their lives according to a University of Washington Study (Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at US Libraries, http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/OpportunityForAll.pdf). People already go to their local libraries for access to information. Libraries are already training people on 21st Century digital skills. High speed connectivity is coming to Washington communities and with it comes new technologies. It is a natural fit that Washington libraries should play a prominent role in a national digital literacy effort.

That’s my opinion. What is yours?

PS – you can read my comments at: http://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/FNPRMcomment_WSL_corrected050112.pdf.

Laura Sherbo, Program Manager for Branch Library Services at the Washington State Library, has been awarded the Professional Achievement Award award by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association. The announcement is at http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/washington-state-library-s-laura-sherbo-receives-leadership-award-ascla. Laura’s staff (former and current) nominated her for the award.

Melisa Gilbert manages the Coyote Ridge Correctional Center branch. In her nomination letter she wrote, "Laura Sherbo is one of those people who works hard but never draws attention to herself . I am going to describe the characteristics that make Laura a great leader and professional in the world of library services to incarcerated populations throughout the state of Washington."

Kathleen Benoun, Manager of the Washington State Hospital Library wrote about budget cuts, "Despite such devastating setbacks to library services, Laura Sherbo inspired her division team to re-prioritize library functions to meet the most critical needs of the institutionalized." (See her letter.)

Finally, Neal Van Der Voorn, a former WSL employ wrote, "As long as I have known Laura, she has dedicated her professional career as a leader of professional and paraprofessional staff, demanding that inmates of correctional centers, patients at the two state hospitals, and residents at the residential institutions for the developmentally delayed receive highest quality library services." (See his letter.)

Acting State Librarian Rand Simmons stated, "I am so pleased that Laura is being honored for her leadership. She is dedicated to library service to prison inmates and to mental hospital patients through the Washington State Library’s Branch Library Services program. In addition Laura also oversees our branches in state agencies. Laura’s leadership is apparent in the dedication of the staff who manage our branches. It is an honor to Laura that she was nominated by staff. Laura is a delight to work with and I appreciate her involvement in the management team."

Laura, job well done and award well deserved!

Faster than a speeding book truck .

Strong enough to move mountains of newspapers.

Able to scale tall shelving in a single bound.

Look! —Working in the Stacks.

It’s a whirlwind.

It’s a library paraprofessional.

It’s Kathleen Roland, aka, “The Page”!

After years of conquering reference, circulation, and stacks maintenance challenges in public and academic library settings, Kathleen brought her superpowers to the WSL in 1997. Since then she has honed her skills by working in all of WSL’s off-line collections, supervising staff in Stacks Maintenance, Preservation, and Paging, and supporting staff specialists on projects that have improved customer access to materials.

When Kathleen’s staff of 4 and the program they worked in was eliminated in 2010 due to budget cuts, she grabbed a walkie-talkie, threw on her cape and running shoes, and moved to Public Services as the sole Library Page. Today, she performs many of the duties her staff once did, such as pulling materials for customers, shelving, and maintaining order in collections. She also fills obituary requests and assists with newspaper microfilming projects.

“Kathleen is a super hero,” says her supervisor, reference librarian Crystal Lentz.  “She regularly does what once was the work of a team of staff with a positive attitude and she is always looking for ways to improve processes and provide better service to our customers.  She is a wonderful addition to Public Services.”

So, when you need:

– rare maps, state publications or any one of the 1+ million collection items housed by the WSL;

– an obituary from Washington State newspapers;

– a place for collection items, and every item in its place,

you can count on Kathleen to deliver top notch service with a smile!

After all, going the extra mile is all in a day’s work for “The Page”.

“You can’t be around Kathleen for very long and not feel better about yourself and about your day” Rand Simmons