From the desk of Jeff Martin, Manager, Library Development, Washington State Library

I didn’t realize how many veterans, active duty and reserve personnel, and their family members exist in Washington State. The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) reports the figure as roughly 2.6 million persons. That means one in every three of us in Washington is a veteran, on active duty, in the reserve, or a family member of a veteran, active duty and reserve military member. Veterans within Washington number more than 593,000 with another 63,000 persons who are active duty or reserve members.

Certainly I think about the active duty members who serve on the military bases around Washington but the population is more geographically dispersed than we may first think. The Washington State County Veteran Population Map show the distribution by county in 2016. Every county in our state has veterans, with most counties claiming numbers in the thousands. The smaller, more rural counties are home to hundreds of veterans in incorporated and unincorporated areas.  And six counties have populations of more than 30,000 veterans, with King County having the largest resident population of veterans at more than 115,000.

Do you know how many veterans visit the library in your community? My understanding is that many veterans and their families visit libraries throughout Washington State. Libraries are a trusted resource.

If a question arose would you know where to refer the person for veterans’ services? Did you know that local veteran service organizations exist in every county? Use this map to find those answers. Click in the county in which you are located to see a list of services and organizations which support veterans.

Libraries exist in most communities throughout Washington State. These libraries often have the fastest internet connection in a small town, perhaps the only reliable connection in a rural community.  Have you thought about how your community library can better serve as a connector between the veteran and the services that are available to them?  Living Well in Washington Resource Guide is a Washington State Library guide for helping people find the information they need to live a more rewarding life. It also has a section with resources for veterans and their families.

From the desk of Carolyn Petersen

In the spirit of it takes a village to raise a child Washington libraries offer preschool storytimes because attending storytime has been proven to increase the kindergarten readiness skills a child needs.

This spring the Washington State Library will debut a series of trainings, All Aboard for Kindergarten, around the state.  The trainings are intended to strengthen youth services staff skills around the five key early literacy practices.

Sing, talk, read, write and play are all essential building blocks for early literacy.

The Every Child Ready Read program which was developed by the Public Library Association identifies those five practices as essential.

Sing: When an adult sings with a child, it slows down language so children can hear the smaller sounds in the words and learn new words.

Talk: A conversation between adults and children should feature open ended questions that open up a child’s world to more than the here and now.  Children should be encouraged to tell and retell stories themselves.

Read: Shared or interactive reading is the single most important activity to enable children to be ready to read.  Reading with children on a regular basis while they are young in an important predictor of success in school as well as the practice of reading itself.

Write: Drawing helps with fine and gross motor skills. Drawing shapes and letters and pictures prepares a child for abstract concept and connects spoken language to abstract ideas detailed in written language.

Play: When a child plays with a toy, they learn its properties (it is hard, soft, make noise, taste good). As they mature they begin to test out roles (You be the policeman, I’ll be the teacher) as they play. Language and many other skills are enhanced through play.

The trainings are also an opportunity for youth services staff to invite their local early childhood workers to come with them and refresh skills together.

Registration for the six hour workshop is now open.  Workshops will be held at Anacortes Public Library, Colville Library, Longview Public Library, the Kennewick branch of the Mid-Columbia Library, Neal Public Library and at the North Central Regional Library Service Center in Wenatchee.

Stars credit from the Department of Early Learning will be available.

Volume 14, February 15, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) TRAVEL AND TRAINING MONEY

2) STAND UP FOR HEALTH

3) HOPE FROM OUR GRANDMOTHERS

4) LATINO STEM LEARNING

5) DIGITAL LEARN TOOLKIT

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) TRAVEL AND TRAINING MONEY

The Medical Library Association (MLA) has joined forces with the Public Library Association (PLA) and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) to provide a health information symposium for public librarians that runs concurrent with the last day and a half of the MLA 2018 conference in Atlanta (May 22, 23). U.S.-based public librarians with interest or responsibility in providing health information to their communities qualify for a free registration for the 1&1/2-day symposium. In addition to the $500 stipend, more funding support to defray travel costs is also available from the NNLM Pacific Northwest Region. Don’t miss this opportunity! Space is limited to a maximum of 150 public librarians. Learn more and apply before the March 1 deadline.

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2) STAND UP FOR HEALTH

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) is recruiting public library staff to participate in the online training, “Stand Up for Health: Health and Wellness Services for Your Community.” This is a 4-week (March 5 – April 1), online, asynchronous (all self-paced) course where participants will earn 12 continuing education (CE) credits and a certificate. The course is designed to provide public library staff with core competencies of providing health information services and the essential skills and knowledge that library staff need to build those competencies. For more information and to apply.

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3) HOPE FROM OUR GRANDMOTHERS

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) community ties, tribal sovereignty rights and claims, and cultural values are emerging as critical elements of resiliency key to reversing the health and social issues that have plagued indigenous populations as a whole since the dawn of colonization. The practice of research and utilizing information collected by means of observation, hypothesis-testing, repetition of experiment, and sound conclusions to inform decision-making, have been integral to indigenous survival and wellbeing for centuries.

In this month’s free PNR Rendezvous webinar, Rose James of the Urban Indian Health Institute will review some of the modern scientific values in comparison to AIAN ways of knowing, and will provide examples of indigenous research concepts as they align with decolonizing data. Details:

• Hope from our Grandmothers: Decolonizing Data through Stories of Resilience (National Network of Libraries of Medicine Pacific Northwest Region) February 21, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST.

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4) LATINO STEM LEARNING

The GENIAL (Generating Engagement and New Initiatives for All Latinos) Summit, funded by the National Science Foundation, was held June 5-6, 2017, at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA. It focused on increasing Latino participation in Informal STEM Learning (ISL) environments (like public libraries) by assessing what is currently known and began to identify new areas to consider in the future. Ninety-one practitioners, community leaders, media specialists, and researchers from across the United States and Puerto Rico participated. Learn more about the Summit and its resources by registering for one of the upcoming webinars:

• February 27, 2018, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST: Register
• April 25, 2018, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST: Register

Each interactive webinar will include a brief overview of the GENIAL Summit proceedings, recommendations, and actionable insights. Webinar participants will have a chance to interact with each other, project organizers, and advisors in a lively conversation about how the GENIAL results can influence their work with Latinos and other diverse audiences and to explore how the GENIAL results can move the ISL field forward. The session will include plenty of time for questions and discussion.

To access the resulting GENIAL publications before the webinar: www.exploratorium.edu/genial. For more on diversity in libraries around STEM, visit www.starnetlibraries.org/stem-in-libraries/diversity.

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5) DIGITAL LEARN TOOLKIT

DigitalLearn.org, the Public Library Association’s website designed to help consumers increase their digital literacy skills, now includes a robust suite of resources and tools for library staff and other educators to use when conducting training. The learning modules are adapted from Gail’s Toolkit, a project developed by the Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin, Illinois. Included are lesson plans, presentations, handouts, and surveys for use in computer classes at libraries and other community institutions.

Tools to help library staff teach 81 different courses are available to download and personalize. Most courses include a course design document for instructors, a slide set, and handouts and activity sheets for learners. The training resources and tools can be found at training.digitallearn.org.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, February 19

• Good questions, Poor questions (Part 2 of 3) (Montana State Library) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST

Tuesday, February 20

• CultureGrams (ProQuest) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• eLibrary (NEW) (ProQuest) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• What’s All the Buzz About Genrefication? (Montana State Library) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.PST
• 7 Consumer Realities That Impact Learning and Development (InSync Training) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Baby-Friendly Libraries (Colorado State Library) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Build Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Spring into Picture Books: New Books, 2018 (Booklist) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• CONTENTdm Basic Skills 1 – Getting Started with CONTENTdm (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• WorldShare ILL Borrowing (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Building a Foundation for Literacy and Intervention Scaffolds for Lifelong Learning (edWeb) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Filing a Nonprofit Corporation with the Secretary of State (Office of the Secretary of State) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• How to Recruit and Manage Amazing Event Committees (CharityHowTo) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Bringing Hands-On Coding and STEAM into Your District or Classroom (edWeb) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• A Practical Approach to Growing a Diverse School Library Collection and Program (American Association of School Librarians) 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PST

Wednesday, February 21

• NCompass Live: Why Diverse Literature Matters for Youth Services (Nebraska Library Commission) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Cultural Competence for Information Professionals (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• From Information Literate to Information Fluent: The Role of Libraries in Preparing 21st Century Citizens (Georgia Library Association) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• How to Think (And Act) Like a UX Librarian Part 2 (ACRL University Libraries Section Professional Development Committee) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Introduction to Finding Grants (GrantSpace) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Science Cinema: A Little-known Resource for Students and Teachers (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Tales & Travel Memories: Literacy-focused Programming for People with Dementia, a Kernel of Knowledge Webinar (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• The Top 10 Things Nonprofits Should Be Doing in 2018 (GuideStar) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• WorldCat Discovery configuration: Patron-facing features (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Advanced editing of WorldCat knowledge base collections (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• CONTENTdm Basic Skills 2 – Working with Text in CONTENTdm (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Deep Dive Thinking for Modern Learners (Training Magazine Network) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Homelessness in Small and Rural Communities: Libraries Can Help! (WebJunction/Association for Rural and Small Libraries) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• What’s New in Children’s Literature – 2018 (Infopeople) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Hope From our Grandmothers: Decolonizing Data through Stories of Resilience (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Flip Badge This! Teaching Students to Love Databases (edWeb) 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST

Thursday, February 22

• Healthy Aging at Your Library: Connecting Older Adults to Health Information (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Digital Learning Day 2018: How Innovative Districts Blend Teaching and Technology to Improve Student Outcomes (Alliance for Excellent Education/Future Ready Schools) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Intro to Accessibility: What Employers Need to Know to Create a Technology-Accessible Workplace (Employer Assistance and Resource Network) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Be Your Own Mentor: Take Control of your Professional Development (ACRL Instruction Section Management & Leadership Committee) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Librarian’s Guide to Trade Data, Part 8: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Need Volunteers? Four Tech Trends You Need to Know (Wild Apricot) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• New Spring Nonfiction for the Library and Classroom (Library Journal) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Using Core Titles in New Contexts (Choice/ProQuest) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Writing Accurate and Useful Volunteer Position Descriptions (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• CONTENTdm Basic Skills 3 – Maintaining Collections in CONTENTdm (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Policies for replacing WorldCat records (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Civic Literacy and a Civic Lab (Indiana State Library) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Alan November: Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning (edWeb) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Leadership Lessons for Our Times (edWeb) 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST
• Connecting Competencies: Learner, School Librarian and School Library (American Association of School Librarians) 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PST

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DISCLAIMER: The State Library regularly highlights third-party events and online resources as a way to alert the library community to training and resource opportunities. By doing so, we are not endorsing the content of the event, nor promoting any specific product, but merely providing this information as an FYI to librarians who must then decide what is right for them.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: com/WAStateLib.

Our mission statement is a short and simple, yet powerful statement of what we do here at the Washington State Library.  We see ourselves as an umbrella that hovers over all the wonderful libraries in our state, offering unique resources, expertise, training opportunities and grants which help you fulfill our common goal: to provide excellent service to our states residents.  We look with amazement at all that happens in our state; the programs, resources and support you each provide to your community.

One small role that we can fill is to amplify the work that each and every library in this state does for their patrons.  In the past we used to collect library news from around the state and send out an email called “Clippings”.  A year ago, however, we moved to an online platform that we named “WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries.”  We constantly comb the web and your social media sites to try to learn what is happening at your library and every two weeks a new issue is published (the first and third Friday of the month.)  Despite our best efforts however we know there is so much going on that we miss.  So this is a call for help. What’s happening at your library?  Maybe you have a remodel going on, perhaps some particularly cute pictures from Storytime, news of a really special author reading that occurred?  How about one of those golden handwritten notes of praise from a patron… you get the idea.  We would love to help you share your news.  If you send your stories to Staci Phillips ([email protected] ) she’ll include it in the next issue. And while you’re at it, head on over to the paper, and read all the great Washington Library news, and while you’re there, sign up to have future issues delivered right to your inbox twice a month.

Volume 14, February 8, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SCREEN SCENE FOR CHILDREN

2) WSL & WEBJUNCTION OFFER SKILLSOFT

3) TAKE OUR SURVEY—PLEASE!

4) AMERICA SAVES WEEK

5) BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL – PNLA 2018

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SCREEN SCENE FOR CHILDREN

Screens are everywhere! Young children are spending more and more time engaged with screen media. Learn what and when children might be learning from screens as well as how we can best support children’s media activities. The State Library presents Screen Scene: Best Practices for Using Screen Media with Young Children, a workshop that will explore important cognitive advances children make during the first years of life that impact their ability to learn from screens. The workshop will also discuss the many practical applications and resources for parents and educators, and ways to make the most of ever-present media technology.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

• Summarize research-based understandings of the impact of digital engagement on early learning;
• Apply an understanding of joint media engagement to their regular interactions with children in a library setting;
• Develop appropriate models of digital engagement for very young children.

Who should attend? Anyone who works with pre-school children and/or their parents. Register at sos.wa.gov/q/screen. The following sessions are still available:

• Monday, February 12, Burlington Public Library
• Thursday, February 15, Bainbridge branch, Kitsap Regional Library
• Tuesday, February 27, North Spokane branch, Spokane County Library
• Wednesday, February 28, Sunnyside branch, Yakima Valley Library

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2) WSL & WEBJUNCTION OFFER SKILLSOFT

Looking to strengthen your technology skills or improve your interpersonal skills? All library staff in the state have access to free learning through the State Library’s WebJunction subscription to Skillsoft. With over 700 online courses, 30,000 short instructional videos (2 – 8 minutes) and job aids on a wide range of technology and business topics, you’ll find great learning opportunities. Library staff can pick up great skills as well as tips and techniques through this free resource.

Here are just a few of the courses that you have access to:

• Time Management: Planning and Prioritizing Your Time
• Creating a Positive Attitude
• Privacy and Information Security
• Essentials of Interviewing and Hiring Conducting an Effective Interview

There are also a variety of technology courses including:

• New and Improved Features in Office 2016, Word, and Outlook
• Microsoft Excel 2016 Essentials: Creating, Editing, and Saving Workbooks
• Google Apps: Gmail and Calendar
• Adobe Photoshop CC

Skillsoft is all self-paced, online learning so you can take a course when it fits your schedule. Register for your free account now!

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3) TAKE OUR SURVEY—PLEASE!

Thanks to all who have completed the 2018 Washington Library Association / Washington State Library Continuing Education Needs Assessment. We still need many more library staff from all types of libraries to complete the survey.

The deadline for adding your voice to the survey is February 16, 2018.

We need to hear from all parts of the Washington library community: academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries, special libraries, and tribal libraries. We rely on your input to help us understand which training topics are most important to you.

Please also share this survey with your colleagues. Many are not members of the lists to which we have access. Based on reporting statistics, the average time to complete the survey is less than 10 minutes. Your voice matters.

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4) AMERICA SAVES WEEK

America Saves Week (ASW) is February 26 through March 3, 2018. This annual event encourages consumers to save responsibly and automatically. Check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) blog posting which encourages consumers to save all or part of their tax refunds to help achieve their financial goals. To get your patrons involved, get a free America Saves Week Digital Toolkit featuring a sample of social media posts, digital content, and other helpful resources direct from the America Saves organization.

Get your library prepared to participate in Money Smart Week (MSW) programs, presentations, and educational classes that promote personal financial literacy. These events run from April 21 to April 28, 2018. To get more information about MSW and events in your area, go to www.moneysmartweek.org. CFPB provides free materials—like bookmarks, flyers, postcards, posters, standing displays, and more—to support your library’s participation in MSW. You can order free MSW materials for your library now.

Do you have Spanish-language patrons with financial education questions and needs? The CFPB has a Spanish-language website with similar information, tools and resources to their English-language website. To help these patrons get the impartial financial information they need, direct them to www.consumerfinance.gov/es. You can order CFPB’s free Spanish-language financial education publications in bulk as well as display materials for your library.

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5) BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL – PNLA 2018

In the theater, “breaking the fourth wall” refers to the practice of ignoring the invisible wall between actors and their audience. The 2018 Pacific Northwest Library Association Conference will explore what it looks like when libraries and librarians break the fourth wall to go beyond traditional roles to meet the needs of their patrons. This is a call for conference proposals.

• PNLA 2018: Breaking the Fourth Wall – August 1 – 3, Kalispell, MT;
• Conference proposals will be accepted through February 17, 2018;
• Registration will open soon for the conference;
• Details: www.pnla.org/conference_2018.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, February 12

• Surveys & Questionnaires: a brief course for librarians (First of 3 weekly sessions) (Montana State Library) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Best Practices to Empower Learners to Be Lifelong Readers (edWeb) 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. PST

Tuesday, February 13

• Anthropology Librarians Discussion Group Forum (ACRL Anthropology and Sociology Section) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Instagram for Nonprofits: What’s New, Tried, and True (501 Strategy) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Monthly Giving Maven: Free Fundraising Masterclass (The Good Partnership) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Census Business Builder—Small Business and Regional Analyst Editions: A Primer (U.S. Census Bureau) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• govinfo – GPO’s Official System for Providing Free Public Access to U.S. Government Information (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• WorldCat data sync collections mechanics (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST

Wednesday, February 14

• Let Me Read It: Screen Readers for Patrons Who are Blind or Low Vision (Georgia Public Library Service) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Preparing for the Worst – Best Practices for Emergency Preparedness (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• 10 Ways to Improve Relationships with Your Grantmakers (Nonprofit Hub) 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PST
• Donor Retention Series: How to Rock your Donor Love and Loyalty with Secrets from your Favorite Consumer Brands (Network for Good) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Making a Difference: Intro to LYRASIS Membership (LYRASIS) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Maximizing Everyday Leadership Moments (Training Industry) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• The Happy Healthy Fundraiser: Strategies for Impact without Burnout with Beth Kanter (Firespring) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• PubMed for Librarians: Customization with My NCBI (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
• Building the Bridge: Inclusion and Kindergarten Transition (OSPI) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Collection Manager: What it is and why it matters (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Introduction to the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files (U.S. Census Bureau) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Introduction to Fundraising Planning (GrantSpace) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Using Government Data to Write a Book about Government Data (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Introduction to WorldShare ILL (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Why You Should Care and What You Should Do About It (Early Childhood Investigations) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Connexion Client Module 09 – Authority Control (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST

Thursday, February 15

• Learn How to Learn Online (LHTLO) (InSync) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Managing Microaggressions in the Workplace (Indiana State Library) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Collections Discussion Group Forum (ACRL Literatures in English Section) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• 7 Steps for Getting Started in Major Gifts (Even in Small Shops) (CharityHowTo) 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
• Donor-Delighting, Money-Raising Newsletters (Bloomerang) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Building Diverse Collections for K-12 Students: A Conversation with Jewel Davis (North Carolina Library Association) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Emerging Workplace Technologies and Vision Loss (Partnership on Employment and Assistive Technology) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Grants and Proposal Writing (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Libraries, Social Media, and Politics: Do You Know What to Post? (EveryLibrary) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Managing an Aging Volunteer Corps (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• VA Appeals – The Legacy And The New Process (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• What’s With that Pop Clock?—and Other Insights of the Population Estimates Program (U.S. Census Bureau) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• WorldCat Discovery interface features (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Managing Resources for Collections Storage Projects: Strategic Planning to Completion (Connecting to Collections Care) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• WorldShare ILL Lending (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Giving and Receiving Feedback – Skills for Supervisors (Washington Nonprofits) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• SIRS Discoverer (ProQuest) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST

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DISCLAIMER: The State Library regularly highlights third-party events and online resources as a way to alert the library community to training and resource opportunities. By doing so, we are not endorsing the content of the event, nor promoting any specific product, but merely providing this information as an FYI to librarians who must then decide what is right for them.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: com/WAStateLib.

In two weeks 45 books and 2 DVDs have been donated to Institutional Library Services for their ILS Reads Program. Thank you to everyone who donated!”

The Clallam Bay Corrections Center is trying something different.  They are reconsidering the usefulness of solitary confinement.  According to an article in the Seattle Times, “Being alone in your own head 23 hours a day in a 48-square-foot poured-concrete cell makes, inmates say, the mad madder and the bad even worse.”  Clallam Bay is using a new approach to navigating the intervention of behavioral barriers, developing a program called the “Intensive Transition Program (ITP)” and the library is a contributing piece of this program.

Their Operations manual describes the program like this.  “The Intensive Transition Program at Clallam Bay Corrections Center strives to break the cycle of personal dysfunction through supportive discipline, staged socialization, targeted integrated programming, and progressive development of self-control” (ITP Philosophy and Operations, p1).

So what exactly does this mean? Think of the ITP as a transition.  When an inmate shows a desire to change they are considered for selection in the ITP program. Restrictions are slowly and carefully lifted and a small suite of privileges open up that have previously been denied.  Participating in a library program can demonstrate their commitment to disciplining themselves and regulating their behavior.

Right now, the Washington State Library is partnering with the ITP to provide a weekly book discussion program.  This consists of discussion around world issues. Participants are presently reading “Persepolis,” a story about a young woman experiencing a revolution. The book has inspired conversations around the critical issues presented. Some discussion includes, the role of politics in school, the ways that revolutions manifest, how seeking power disrupts equity, and the lens that children create for the world around them in the face of trauma.  This book has elicited several interesting responses. One person said, “There are always people that are deprived of their rights. Revolutions are a way for people to speak up and seek change for the better. Revolutions are needed for continual change to occur.” Another tied the book in to his own life, and his own experience. “Teaching about a broad range of politics in schools is really important, I want to know that my daughter has a chance to learn about as many different perspectives as possible.”

This book discussion is in its early stages, and is seeking to create a meaningful environment that promotes prosocial behavior, critical analysis, and self-growth.  In order for this important program to expand we need more titles which meet the needs of this group.  If you feel like donating to this very worthy cause we have made it easy through the use of an  Amazon wish list.   Even if donating is not within your means take a look at the list.  You will very likely be surprised at the wide range of books and materials that have been requested.

Volume 14, February 1, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FREE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

2) SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES

3) LIBRARY VOTER SERVICES SURVEY

4) TOPNOTCH NONPROFIT TRAINING

5) LEVY LID LIFT WEBINAR

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) FREE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

The Washington State Library (WSL) is offering two sets of half-day workshops in February and March at a variety of locations around the state. The topics are:

• Screen Scene: Best Practices for Using Screen Media with Young Children
• Self-Talk and Emotional Intelligence: Improving Your Work Narrative

Sign up now to ensure your spot in one of these free workshops near you. Check the WSL CE Calendar for exact dates, locations, and times. Don’t miss out!

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2) SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES

The National Park Service is accepting proposals for the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program. The application deadline is February 21, 2018.

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is now accepting applications for $5 million in matching grants to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections through the Save America’s Treasures program. For the complete announcement, use this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/save.

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3) LIBRARY VOTER SERVICES SURVEY

Student researchers in The Evergreen State College Masters of Public Administration, Second Year Cohort, are examining the relationship between public access to local ballot measure information and voter participation. Researchers want to identify gaps in current data and utilize these gaps to create a framework for increasing voter knowledge about where to access locally relevant ballot measure information and if this can increase civic participation in the form of voting.

Researchers will examine what role libraries currently play in providing the public with voter information, identify opportunities to provide desired services, and if suggested services are provided, determine if these services are marketed to the public with easy access in-person and online. You are encouraged to take a “Library Services” survey, which should require about 10 minutes of time to complete.

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4) TOPNOTCH NONPROFIT TRAINING

Washington Nonprofits in cooperation with the Charities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State is offering several free webinars this coming week:

• Finance Unlocked for Nonprofits February 6, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST
• Nonprofit Bylaws February 8, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Boards in Gear February 9, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST

Finance Unlocked is an interactive, hands-on workshop that will work through the why, what, who, and how of nonprofit finance including the five main financial topics that every nonprofit person needs to know: Balance Sheets, Income Statements, 990, Giving, and Oversight.

All nonprofits need bylaws. Bylaws are the governing document for the nonprofit and its board of directors. But what does that mean? What is the real purpose of the bylaws and what provisions should be in bylaws? Nonprofit Bylaws is excellent for those who would like to review and update their nonprofit provisions. Highly recommended for nonprofit board members.

Boards play an important role in the success of any organization. Boards in Gear will cover board responsibilities, operations, development, fundraising, and advocacy. This webinar is designed for board members and the people who work with them, namely executive directors and program staff.

For a more complete list of related training events, both live and online, visit www.sos.wa.gov/charities/training/workshops.aspx.

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5) LEVY LID LIFT WEBINAR

Are you thinking about a levy lid lift? The 101% limit on property tax levies restricts revenue growth for Washington local governments. With costs rising at a faster pace than the 1% allowed by state statute and assessed values of property increasing at a pace well beyond inflation for many areas of the state, the only method to access this available levy capacity is through a ballot measure to the voters for a levy lid lift. But what type of lid lift to choose, among the bewildering array available, and timing are both critical components to crafting a successful measure.

This webinar will review how the levy lid lift works and discuss the various levy lid lift options, and it will address the importance of the ballot title and the timing of your ballot measure to assure collection in the next calendar year. Cities, counties, and special purpose districts will come away from this webinar with a better understanding of what type of levy lid lift would best serve their needs and the process for ensuring the measure is brought to public vote.

Webinar details:

• Date & time: February 7, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Sponsor: MRSC (Municipal Research and Services Center)
• Cost: $35.00
• Registration deadline: Feb. 6, 11:00 a.m.
• Shortcut link: sos.wa.gov/q/lift.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, February 5

• Islandora Hosting Services Demo (LYRASIS) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Motivate Monday with Fundraising Expert Pamela Grow (Motivate Monday) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• The Incredible Times: A News & Media Literacy Game from Common Sense Education (edWeb/Common Sense Education) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST

Tuesday, February 6

• Library Ethics 101 (Indiana State Library) 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PST
• Creative Commons: Helping Patrons and Students Find and License Online Content (Texas State Library and Archives Commission) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Making Sense of the Numbers—Health Numeracy and You (and Me) (Washington State Library) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Building a Digital Scholarship Program with Limited Resources (ACRL Digital Scholarship Centers Interest Group) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• eLibrary (ProQuest) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Successful Volunteer Interview Strategies (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Connexion Client Module 07 – Advanced Bibliographic Searching (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Lunch at the Library: Nourishing Bodies and Minds (WebJunction) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Finance Unlocked for Nonprofits (Washington Nonprofits/Office of the Secretary of State/Jacobson Jarvis & Co.) 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST

Wednesday, February 7

• Writing Your First Lines of Code (Training Magazine Network) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Advocacy in the Public and Private Institutions (SirsiDynix) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• PubMed for Librarians: Using Evidence-Based Search Features (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
• Career and College Readiness – Supporting and Creating a College Going Culture for Underserved Students (OSPI/Washington Student Achievement Council) 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. PST
• Introduction to Project Budgets (GrantSpace) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Online Tools that Help Nonprofits Learn, Listen & Engage (Firespring) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Big Body Play: Why Something So Scary is So Good For Children (Early Childhood Investigations) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Introduction to WorldShare Interlibrary Loan (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Learning to Liaise with Health Professions (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Connexion Client Module 08 – Original Cataloging (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Facilitating Multi-Dimensional Listening: Helping Groups Identify Common Ground while Acknowledging Differences (Infopeople/California State Library) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Wearables as Supports for Executive Functioning and Independence (Center on Technology and Disability) 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST

Thursday, February 8

• Fundraising Strategy Series: Changing Behaviors and Mindsets to Grow your Nonprofit (Network for Good) 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. PST
• How to Find and Get Grants (Bloomerang) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Assistive Technology for People with Brain Injury (Maine CITE) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
• Measuring Success: How to Strategically Assess Your Program (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Public Speaking Tips and Tricks (GovLoop) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Editing bibliographic data in WorldShare Record Manager (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• WorldCat data sync: Processing paths for optimal outcomes (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• WorldShare Interlibrary Loan: Borrowing (OCLC) 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Nonprofit Bylaws (Washington Nonprofits/Office of the Secretary of State/Wayfind) 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST

Friday, February 9

• Three Steps to Thriving in Chaos (Effectiveness Institute) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Literatures in English Reference Discussion Group Forum (ACRL) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Boards in Gear (Washington Nonprofits/Office of the Secretary of State) 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST

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DISCLAIMER: The State Library regularly highlights third-party events and online resources as a way to alert the library community to training and resource opportunities. By doing so, we are not endorsing the content of the event, nor promoting any specific product, but merely providing this information as an FYI to librarians who must then decide what is right for them.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: com/WAStateLib.

Way back in May we made an announcement that the Seattle Public Library (SPL) and the Washington State Library (WSL) were joining forces to grow the Washington Center for the Book (WCB) into a powerful statewide program. Since then we have been diligently working behind the scenes to create our digital space. Today we launch our new website.  Ta-Dah!

The Washington Center for the Book, is an affiliate of the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book (CFB). Every state in the union, along with the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands, have a CFB and each state runs their program slightly differently. So what is Washington’s take? To understand you might start by reading our mission statement.

The Washington Center for the Book promotes literacy and a love of books, reading, and libraries. We celebrate Washington’s robust literary heritage and shine a spotlight on the contribution of reading and libraries in strengthening communities and in fostering civic engagement.

High flying words and goals —  but what does this really mean? We believe that our state is home to exceptionally talented writers. We have a long history of a love of literature, in fact our largest city, Seattle, is almost always included in lists of most literate cities in America, and was named an international City of Literature by UNESCO in 2017. Maybe it’s all the rain in the westside and snow in the eastside that keeps us indoors and reading in the winter, but then our gorgeous summers also have us reading outside.  Maybe we just plain love books. The WCB’s goal is to nourish our writers and our readers, creating programs that form a bridge between the two. That bridge? Our wonderful Washington libraries, of course.

We are fortunate that SPL and WSL each brought a strong program to our partnership. The Seattle Public Library has hosted the Washington State Book Awards since 2001. Our website contains information about past winners as well as information about submitting a book for future consideration.

The Letters About Literature contest (LAL) has been run by the State Library since 2005. LAL is a contest that encourages young readers to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book changed their view of the world or themselves. The letters are powerful, funny and sometimes heartbreaking. These letter writers may become our future Washington authors.

On top of these existing programs we are devising ways to bring our state’s writers into the public eye. Our front page has a carousel of blog posts that will point you to newly published books, or information about awards that WA authors have won.

The “For Writers” section contains information about writer’s workshops and conferences as well as an excellent list of books for aspiring writers.

We are working on a variety of programs and ideas which we will announce as they become reality. If you love books and you love libraries we hope you will visit us often.

Volume 14, January 25, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) CE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

2) HEALTH NUMERACY AND YOU

3) COMIC CON AT THE LIBRARY

4) RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANTS

5) ONLINE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD COMPLETED

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) CE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

It’s time once again for the semi-annual Continuing Education Needs Assessment from the Washington State Library and the Washington Library Association: www.surveymonkey.com/r/CE_2018_WSL.

If you took the survey in the past and felt overwhelmed by the choices, you’ll be happy to know that this year we have completely re-written it. The 2018 survey is a shorter, more succinct version.

Please fill out our semi-annual survey, and share it with all of your colleagues. We would like to hear from the whole Washington library community: people working in libraries at all levels, friends of the library, trustees and library board members. We take continuing education seriously and we rely on your input to help us steer the ship.

Please forgive any cross-posting. We’re trying to catch everyone. Thank you!

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2) HEALTH NUMERACY AND YOU

As health care becomes more sophisticated and complex, it’s more and more likely that we will face situations where we have to use numerical skills to figure out our own treatment choices. Our capacity to deal with the numerical component of health information is called “health numeracy.” In this free webinar we’ll learn more about health numeracy and how it plays a role in our health, discuss the ways that library staff and others already work with users around numbers and health, and uncover best practices to make our assistance even more effective.

First Tuesdays for February, 2018:

• Making Sense of the Numbers—Health Numeracy and You (and Me)
• Tuesday, February 6, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Presented by Ann Glusker, National Network of Libraries of Medicine—Pacific Northwest Region
• For more information and to register: sos.wa.gov/q/HealthNum.

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3) COMIC CON AT THE LIBRARY

Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) and The Seattle Public Library have teamed up to host a number of panels geared towards professional librarians and educators on Thursday, March 1st. With a particular focus on social issues, the program will feature content from Boom! Studios, First Second Books, Valiant, Penguin Random House, and the American Library Association.

An ECCC Professional Badge is required to attend. Pro Badges are free of charge to educators and library staff. Please feel free to share this information with your professional contacts and encourage them to register for a badge as space is limited! Central Library, Thursday, March 1, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

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4) RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANTS

The Pilcrow Foundation, a national non-profit public charity, provides a 2-to-1 match to rural public libraries that receive a grant through its Children’s Book Project and contribute $200-$400 through local sponsors for the purchase of up to $1200 worth (at retail value) of new, quality, hardcover children’s books.

Grant recipients can select from a list of over 500 quality hardcover children’s books best suited for their community, including award-winning and star-reviewed titles from educational and literary organizations. The Pilcrow Foundation accepts applications from independent rural public libraries and Native American Tribal libraries as well as libraries that are part of a county, regional, or cooperative system. Details:

• The current grant deadline is April 1, 2018
• More details and application process

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5) ONLINE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD COMPLETED

In cooperation with the Library of Congress, the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has completed the digitization of all historical issues of the Congressional Record dating to the first appearance of this publication on March 5, 1873. The final release of this project, covering the period 1873-1890, is being made available to the public free of charge on GPO’s govinfo site.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, January 29

• CollectionSpace Hosting Services Demo (LYRASIS) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• Preschool Children with Challenging Behaviors: What to Do When Nothing Else Works (edWeb) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Achieving Media Balance in a Tech-Immersed World (edWeb) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST

Tuesday, January 30

• Creating Accessible Presentations for PLA 2018 and Beyond (Public Library Association) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST
• How Libraries Can Help Job-seekers Part II (Utah State Library) 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. PST
• Self-Talk and Emotional Intelligence: Improving your Work Narrative (WSL) 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ft. Vancouver Regional Library Headquarters, Vancouver, WA
• It’s a New World—How to Cultivate Your Community Online (Firespring) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Making a Difference: Intro to LYRASIS Membership (LYRASIS) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Diverse Titles for Youth and Young Adults (Booklist) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Get to Know GrantStation (TechSoup/GrantStation) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Protecting Against Investment Scams: Lessons and Resources from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Removing Communication Barriers in the Learning Design Process (InSync) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Support Preschoolers’ Executive Function Skills with Music (edWeb) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Is Consulting Your Next Calling? (GrantSpace) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Copyright Basics for Trainers: Selecting Images and Music That Won’t Break the Budget – or the Law (Training Magazine Network) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• From Facilities to Trauma: Disaster Planning and Community Resiliency at Your Library (WebJunction) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• How Nonprofits Can Get $10,000 Per Month In Free Google Advertising (CharityHowTo) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• The Gaining Popularity and Use of Digital Magazines in Academic Libraries (Library Journal/EBSCO) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom (edWeb) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Self-Talk and Emotional Intelligence: Improving your Work Narrative (WSL) 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Ft. Vancouver Regional Library Headquarters, Vancouver, WA

Wednesday, January 31

• The Innovation in Libraries Awesome Foundation Chapter (Nebraska Library Commission) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• Mis-Manners: You Might be Sabotaging Your Career (Indiana State Library) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• 20 Apps in 60 Minutes (ACRL University Libraries Section Professional Development Committee) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• PubMed for Librarians: Building and Refining Your Search (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 10:00– 11:30 a.m. PST
• Measuring America: An Overview of Hispanic Origin Statistics (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Working with Partners: How to Plan for Collaborative Outcome Measurement (PLA/Project Outcome) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Whole Leadership: Balancing Priorities of Administration and Pedagogy (Early Childhood Investigations) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
• Genetics Home Reference (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST
• Guiding Readers by Interest, Not Level (School Library Journal/Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Introducing the Notable Books for a Global Society Collection: Promoting Understanding of Diversity (Association for Library Service to Children) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST
• Connecting the Dots: A Look at the National School Library Standards for Policymakers (American Association of School Librarians) 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PST

Thursday, February 1

• Going Digital (LYRASIS) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST
• A Conversation with the 2018 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalists (School Library Journal) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST
• Beyond the SEA: Disrupting Diversity Narratives: Introducing Critical Conversations in Libraries (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
• Building a Grantwriting Framework for Success (TechSoup) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST

Friday, February 2

• Learn How to Learn Online (LHTLO) (InSync) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST

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DISCLAIMER: The State Library regularly highlights third-party events and online resources as a way to alert the library community to training and resource opportunities. By doing so, we are not endorsing the content of the event, nor promoting any specific product, but merely providing this information as an FYI to librarians who must then decide what is right for them.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: com/WAStateLib.

With Microsoft, Amazon, Google and many other companies based in Washington we are a technology state. Washington State is endlessly hungry for skilled technology workers and STEM learning is an important component of educating our future workforce.  The State Library, seeing this need, has invested in many STEM kits which we circulate to interested libraries around Washington. Coding and robotics are work skills that are highly prized, and one of our original, and very popular kits, Lego Mindstorms teaches these skills.  Purchased in 2016 these kits have so far visited 28 libraries and have a waiting list that stretches out until well into 2018.

While endlessly fun, fascinating, and educational, Lego Mindstorms also have a steep learning curve.  At the beginning of the program, Joe Olayvar and Evelyn Lindberg developed a hands on training, signed up interested libraries and hit the road.  Travelling around the entire state, Joe and Evelyn visited 43 public, Tribal, School and Academic libraries, training staff in 44 different Legislative districts. The trainings were a huge success with comments such as, “Great example of how to do a Mindstorms program.”, “Excellent training – I want MORE!” and “I wished there was an hour of just free play.”

As popular as the trainings were, the kits soon had a waiting list that was over two years long.  Joe realized that by the time they arrived at some of the later scheduled libraries, the person running the program might need to learn all over again, or might not even work there anymore. Being a problem solver by nature he set out to do just that, solve the problem.  A comprehensive LEGO^® Mindstorms^® EV3 Programming Basics tutorial was created complete with accompanying YouTube videos.  While he was creating this resource, Joe thought of it as support for Washington libraries. Little did he know that his work would be discovered and spread widely.  The first to contact him was COSUGI .  They were so impressed by the tutorial that they are bringing Joe and Evelyn to Atlanta to do a training at their annual conference in April.  Recently a Community College instructor in Oregon contacted Joe asking permission to use the resource.  Joe regularly receives calls about the tutorials, which are being used around the nation.  We can only imagine what will happen after their April conference presentation!

Thanks to this effort, the youth of our state, and now the nation, are being exposed to robotics education and coding in a way that is so fun and hands-on they don’t even know they’re learning.  You’re welcome Tech industry.