October 11th, 2012 Diane Hutchins Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, State Library Collections, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for October 11, 2012
Volume 8, October 11, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) A MESSAGE FROM ACTING STATE LIBRARIAN, RAND SIMMONS
2) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2013
3) ZINIO GROUP PURCHASE
4) 2013 TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE
5) LOOKING FOR DATA ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH?
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
May 17th, 2012 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for May 17, 2012
Volume 8, May 17, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE – NATIONAL WINNERS
2) CE GRANTS FOR STARTING STRONG
3) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT DEADLINE APPROACHING
4) WORKING TOGETHER TO MANAGE DISASTERS
5) GRANTS FOR LEARNING LABS
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
April 4th, 2012 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library Comments Off on WSL Updates for April 5, 2012
Volume 12: April 5, Year for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) WSL RELEASES LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION
2) DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR LIBRARY COUNCIL VACANCIES
3) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN
4) YOUTH SERVICES & OUTREACH POSITION AVAILABLE
5) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
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1) WSL RELEASES LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION
As required by law, the Washington State LSTA Five-Year Evaluation Report was submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services on March 27, 2012. The purpose of conducting an LSTA Five-Year Evaluation is to independently evaluate the activities supported with federal LSTA funding. The evaluation provides an opportunity to measure progress in meeting the targets set in the approved five year plan and is designed to help state libraries make more effective resource allocation decisions in their upcoming five year plans.
As stated in the report’s executive summary, “The WSL’s most significant strength is their ability to convene and promote collaboration between and among libraries of all types in the state. Building on this strength, analysis of past performance, and emerging priorities for WSL and Washington libraries has surfaced six main recommendations for the Washington State Library with regard to future activity funded through LSTA.” Visit www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/dev to read the entire LSTA Five-Year Evaluation 2008 – 2012 report.
For those of you who have contributed to the development of this report through your participation in focus groups, telephone interviews or surveys, thank you. If you have questions, contact Jeff Martin, Acting Library Development Program Manager at 360.704.5248 or at [email protected].
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2) DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR LIBRARY COUNCIL VACANCIES
Applications are currently being accepted for two Library Council of Washington positions. One position represents Special Libraries; the other represents Public Libraries serving fewer than 100,000 persons. The Library Council of Washington advises the State Librarian and the Office of the Secretary of State on statewide library issues and the expenditure of federal LSTA funding.
Applications must be postmarked by Friday, April 6, 2012 to be considered. These positions begin September 2012. More information is available at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/vacancy. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jeff Martin, at 360.704.5248, [email protected], or Anne Yarbrough at 360.704.5246, [email protected].
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3) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN
The purpose of the Connecting Libraries through Resource Sharing (CLRS) grant cycle is to provide grant funds for collection development with materials that are rotated between partnering libraries, thus encouraging cooperation among public libraries in counties, or those with contiguous borders, where inter-local agreements to share materials do not exist, or did not exist before participation in a previous CLRS grant cycle.
Grants of up to $715 per library may be awarded qualifying partnerships. A single application from each group of partnering libraries is required. A partnership must include two or more public libraries; with one library acting as the lead library in both the application process and, if awarded, the grant implementation.
The application deadline is Friday, June 1, 2012. More details may be found at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/grants. For additional information or questions, contact Carolyn Petersen, CLRS Project Manager, 360.570.5560 [email protected] or Anne Yarbrough, LSTA Grants Manager, 360.704.5246, [email protected].
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4) YOUTH SERVICES & OUTREACH POSITION AVAILABLE
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), a program of the Washington State Library and the Office of the Secretary of State, is seeking a Youth Services & Outreach Librarian. This part-time (30 hours per week), permanent, entry-level position is located in Seattle. Statewide travel will be required to implement outreach events and activities.
For more information, including job description, qualifications, and application instructions, visit www.sos.wa.gov/office/employment.aspx.
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5) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED
“Letters About Literature” encourages young readers to write letters to their favorite authors, competing at the national level to win a $500 Target gift card and $10,000 for their community or school library. This is the seventh year Washington State Library has sponsored the competition as part of Washington Reads.
Clare Doran, a sixth grader at The Bush School in Seattle, is the 2012 Level 1 champion. Samantha Smith, an eighth grader at Blue Heron Middle School in Port Townsend, is the Level 2 champion. Oliver Reed, a tenth grader at North Central High School in Spokane, is the Level 3 champion. The three champions’ letters have been sent to the Library of Congress for the national competition. The results of the national judging will be released in early May. Read the winning letters at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/LAL2012.
Approximately 5,500 Washington students entered the 2012 contest. 98 semifinalists advanced to round 3 state judging. All state semi-finalists will receive an award certificate in the mail. There will be a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia at 11:00 a.m. May 11 during which the winners and semi-finalists will be acknowledged for their achievement.
To learn more about the 2012 competition, judging, and to see a list of the participating schools, use the link provided above. Thank you to all the students, teachers, librarians, and families who participate in Washington’s Letters About Literature program. Keep reading and writing!
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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
Monday, April 9, 2012:
Tuesday, April 10, 2012:
Wednesday, April 11, 2012:
Thursday, April 12, 2012:
Friday, April 13, 2012:
For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.
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March 28th, 2012 mschaff Posted in Articles, For the Public, Letters About Literature, News Comments Off on Washington’s 2012 Letters About Literature Champions Announced!
From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff
Clare Doran, a sixth grader at The Bush School in Seattle, is the Level 1 champion. Samantha Smith, an eighth grader at Blue Heron Middle School in Port Townsend, is the Level 2 champion. Oliver Reed, a tenth grader at North Central High School in Spokane, is the Level 3 champion. Read the winning letters here!
There were approximately 5,500 Washington students who entered the 2012 contest. There are 98 semifinalists who advanced to round 3 state judging. All state semi-finalists will receive an award certificate in the mail. There will also be a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia on May 11 at 11:00 in the morning during which the semi-finalists will be acknowledged for their achievement.
From the 98 Washington semi-finalists, the state judges selected the three aforementioned champions, three second place runners up, and ten honorable mentions. The three champions’ letters have been sent to the Library of Congress for the national competition. The results of the national judging will be released in early May.
Click here to learn more about the 2012 competition, judging, and to see a list of the participating schools. Thank you to all the students, teachers, librarians, and families who participate in Washington’s Letters About Literature program. Keep reading and writing!
November 17th, 2011 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, State Library Collections, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for November 17, 2011
Volume 7, November 17, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2012
2) WANTED – OCTOBER 1, 2008 ISSUE OF DEER PARK TRIBUNE
3) GRANT TO HELP THE UNDERSERVED
4) NEED HELP WITH COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS?
5) DO YOU HAVE AN OUTSTANDING YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM?
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
October 6th, 2011 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for October 6, 2011
Volume 7, October 6, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2012
2) BUILDING COMMON GROUND
3) YOUR TABLE IS WAITING – USING 2010 CENSUS DATA
4) 2011 NATIONAL FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES WEEK AWARDS
5) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
September 8th, 2011 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Letters About Literature, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for September 8, 2011
Volume 7, September 8, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2012
2) FREE WEBINAR – BOOK REPAIR BASICS
3) LAST CHANCE FOR FREE WESTPAS WORKSHOP
4) MINING FOR HEALTH INFORMATION AND FINDING GEMS
5) CHECK OUT E-READERS WEBINAR
6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
September 1st, 2011 mschaff Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Letters About Literature Comments Off on Washington State’s Letters About Literature 2012
From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff
Letters About Literature encourages young readers to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book changed their view of the world. This is the seventh year Washington State Library has sponsored the competition as part of Washington Reads.
Please click here to see and/or print the Letters About Literature Participation Guidelines and School or Library group entry form.
Please click here to see and/or print the Letters About Literature Participation Guidelines and Individual entry form.
All entries must be postmarked by January 6, 2012.
Pictured: This year’s national honor winner Abby Bateman with Secretary of State Sam Reed
May 12th, 2011 Diane Hutchins Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Letters About Literature, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for May 12, 2011
Volume 7, May 12, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE – NATIONAL WINNER
2) TIPS AND TRICKS FOR COMMUNITY READS
3) WTBI TRAINING – LAST CHANCE FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON
4) CELEBRATE ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
5) SHARPEN YOUR WEBSITE – HTML, CSS, AND BEYOND
6) ONLINE CLASSES IN PRESERVATION
7) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK
May 10th, 2011 mschaff Posted in Articles, Letters About Literature Comments Off on 2010-2011 Letters About Literature Awards – Washington Places at Nationals Again!
From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff
The Washington state Letters About Literature awards ceremony took place on Friday, May 6 in the office of the Secretary of State in Olympia. Secretary Sam Reed and State Librarian Rand Simmons presented awards to the three state champions who read their letters. You may view or purchase a copy of the entire ceremony at TVW, Washington’s public affairs television network.
McKenna Conlin, a sixth grader at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Kirkland, is the Level 1 champion. She won $125 from the State Library and a $50 gift card from Target. McKenna wrote her letter to Sherman Alexie about his book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
John Kang, an eleventh grader at Lakeside School in Seattle, is the Level 3 champion. John won $125 from the State Library and a $50 gift card from Target. John wrote his letter to Mary Paik Lee about her book Quiet Odyssey: A Pioneer Korean Woman in America.
And Abby Bateman, a seventh grader at Snoqualmie Middle School in Snoqualmie, is the Level 2 state champion. She won $125 from the State Library, a $150 gift card from Target, and was also selected as one of four honor awards in the national Letters About Literature contest! As a national honor winner, Abby received a $1,000 Reading Promotion grant, which she has given to the Mount Si High School Library. Abby wrote her letter to Katherine Paterson about her book Bridge to Terabithia.
This is the fourth time in six years that Washington has had a national award in Letters About Literature! The Washington State Library would like to thank all the students, judges, and staff who participated this year (3376 student letters were received in Washington alone) and we look forward to more reading and writing next year.
To find out more about this year’s contest, check out our website.