WA Secretary of State Blogs

Reality Check

March 7th, 2018 Nono Burling Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Technology and Resources 2 Comments »

From the Desk of Joe Olayvar

A woman with a VR headset and controls on her hands. The background is a library.

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a device craze going on.  Nearly everywhere you look in any town or city across the globe, someone is absorbed in conversation, web searching, or game play.  Yes, we’ve come a long way since the Atari or the early phone and its five pound battery pack.  But like every technology, there’s always something new that will eventually overshadow it, or at least add a new facet; in this case, it’s Virtual Reality; better known as simply VR.

VR is nothing new, but it’s influx into the consumer market is.  At first glance, it’s a new platform that takes gaming up a notch with immersive 3D graphics and audio.  But in reality (pun intended), the potential for VR is literally ground breaking on so many levels.  Its ability to transport the user into worlds of every description will reinvent how we learn, conduct business, recreate, experience social media, and even heal.

With this in mind, the Washington State Library has launched the “VR in Libraries” project in partnership with the University of Washington’s Information School (iSchool) and one of the leading VR companies in the world, Oculus.  This two-year project will have several phases.  The initial Pilot (Phase I) includes studying the educational possibilities of VR in six libraries, thanks to the team of iSchool researchers led by Negin Dahya.  The following phases will take advantage of what is learned and ultimately see forty seven VR systems being rotated roughly every six months to reach as many Washington State Libraries as possible by the close of year 2020.

In the course of the project’s two year span, fifty VR systems will have been shared with over 180 libraries.  But at projects end, these VR systems will be granted to fifty Washington State libraries as permanent homes.  That is virtually a real win, win for our communities.

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Learning through play

January 23rd, 2018 Nono Burling Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education Comments Off on Learning through play

five boys playing with Lego robots on the floor.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.

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WSL Updates for December 14, 2017

December 13th, 2017 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for December 14, 2017

Volume 13, December 14, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE

2) GOING DEEPER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

3) MLA TECH CAMP

4) PRECISION MEDICINE FOR ALL OF US

5) MUSEUMS EMPOWERED

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE

Budding teenage videographers across Washington are invited to participate in the 2018 Teen Video Challenge, a Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) sponsored competition, hosted by the Washington State Library. Teenagers ages 13 through 18 can create a 30 to 90-second video with their unique interpretation of the 2018 CSLP Teen Video Challenge slogan, “Libraries Rock!” in combination with reading and libraries. Visit the Teen Video Challenge website for details. Submissions must be received by Feb. 10, 2018, to be eligible.

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2) GOING DEEPER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

Learn how to take the next steps toward amplifying your library’s social media program. This webinar will discuss best practices in growing your library’s social media program and managing user engagement. You’ll learn tips on assessing your library’s audience based on their preferred platforms and ideas for converting your in-person library community into an online community.

Details:

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3) MLA TECH CAMP

Do you need to manage born digital content in your collection? Maybe a refresher on fair use of your digital collections? Or guide patrons through creating data visualizations. Come to #mlatechcamp! (MLA tech camp). The Emerging Technologies and Services Committee of the Music Library Association (MLA) is hosting a one day pre-conference workshop on January 31st, 2018, before the MLA annual meeting in Portland, OR (Jan. 31 – Feb. 4th, 2018) to enhance skill sets of librarians, humanists, and technologists who work or want to work with digital objects and data.

This workshop will offer something for seasoned practitioners as well as novices to learn and build together in a collaborative, interactive, informal, spontaneous, and productive environment. All are welcome, whether you are working with music materials or not. Registration for the pre-conference is separate from MLA’s annual meeting. We actively encourage anyone interested in digital aspects of librarianship to take part.

For more information and registration details, visit bit.ly/mlatechcamp2018.

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4) PRECISION MEDICINE FOR ALL OF US

Creating the right health approaches and care for the right person is called precision medicine. Getting the right information to make that happen is the goal of the All of Us Research Program. To get there, the goal is to create the largest health data resource ever. By understanding people’s health, neighborhood, family, and lifestyle, researchers will have information to better understand health and disease. This information is essential to create a healthier future for generations to come.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) are partnering to raise awareness about the NIH’s All of Us Research Program. Through this collaboration, NNLM will focus on improving consumer access to high quality health information in communities throughout the U.S., specifically through public libraries. The NNLM Pacific Northwest Region will work with libraries in Washington State to provide the information they need for their communities regarding the All of Us Research Program. More information is available at nnlm.gov/all-of-us and at allofus.nih.gov.

“We want to reach participants where they are. For many people in the country, including those with limited internet access, one of those places is the local library,” said Eric Dishman, director of the All of Us Research Program. “We’re excited to work with the National Library of Medicine to make more people aware of All of Us and the opportunity to take part.” For the entire press release, use this link: sos.wa.gov/q/AllofUs.

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5) MUSEUMS EMPOWERED

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is offering professional development grants designed to help museums respond to the evolving needs of the museum profession and changes in their communities. The program, now in its second year, is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program, with the goal of strengthening the ability of an individual museum to serve its public through professional development activities that cross-cut various departments to generate systemic change within the museum.

Eligible entities for Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff are U.S. museums of all sizes and disciplines. Award amounts will either be $5,000 – $25,000 with no cost share permitted or $25,001 – $250,000 with at least 1:1 cost share. The application deadline is March 1, 2018. See the application guidelines (PDF, 415KB) on the IMLS website for details. A live webinar will provide applicants more information about this opportunity: FY18 Museums Empowered, Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, December 18, 2017

Tuesday, December 19

Wednesday, December 20

  • Navigating WebEx (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST

Thursday, December 21

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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.

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WSL Holds eBook / Audiobook Conference

October 5th, 2017 Nono Burling Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Technology and Resources Comments Off on WSL Holds eBook / Audiobook Conference

From the Desk of Will Stuivenga.

Picture of a large group meeting. Tables with white tablecloths

The Washington State Library recently hosted the first ever face-to-face User Group Meeting for members of the Washington Digital Library Consortium, a group of 44 (soon to be 45) of the state’s mid-sized and smaller public libraries that provide the OverDrive-powered Washington Anytime Library to their patrons.

61 people (including Cindy Aden, State Librarian, and 4 additional staff from the State Library) attended the event, with all but a handful of member libraries represented. The event ran all day September 27, and through lunch on September 28. Libraries represented at the meeting were from as far away as Camas, Clarkston, Lincoln County, the Olympic Peninsula, Richland, Walla Walla, and pretty much everywhere in between.

The event was organized and coordinated by Will Stuivenga, Cooperative Projects Manager for Library Development at the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. Will manages the consortium’s day-to-day operations with the assistance of a 3-person Executive Advisory Committee. Funding provided by the State Library comes from the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA), administered through the Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS). Currently, member libraries contribute most of the regular ongoing funding for the organization.

As a result of this meeting:

  • Washington Anytime meeting participants now have a much better understanding of the challenges facing their collaborative;
  • Advisory votes were taken on the several important questions regarding the governance of the consortium and customer service issues;
  • 26 individuals volunteered to serve on committees to undertake necessary work in the  following areas:
    • Governance,
    • Weeding,
    • Collection development,
    • Curated title lists for the Anytime Library;
  • People came away with a better knowledge of the support which the State Library has provided to organize, grow, and financially subsidize the consortium and its Anytime Library collection.

Attendee reviews of the event were universally positive. People said they especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet and discuss important issues with their peers from other libraries, both small and large, and many expressed hope that similar events can be scheduled in future.

For more pictures from the event, visit our Flickr Album

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WSL Updates for October 5, 2017

October 5th, 2017 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for October 5, 2017

Volume 13, October 5, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES

2) MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING VIDEOS

3) STAND UP FOR HEALTH

4) IMLS MUSEUM GRANT PROGRAMS

5) THE ARTS STRONG CONNECTION

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES

You may wish to save this information for a rainy day, a water leak, or even a flood. These resources were prepared by federal agencies and private non-profit organizations with experience in disaster planning and response to help with the recovery process. This is not an exclusive list, but rather reflects some of the many resources available to assist cultural institutions.

IMLS (the Institute of Museum and Library Services) participates in the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 42 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. The Response and Recovery Resources Page, maintained by FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, provides an excellent place to find support for recovery efforts.

For more information and links, use this shortcut to the IMLS blog: sos.wa.gov/q/recover.

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2) MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING VIDEOS

The California State Library’s (CSL) Mental Health Initiative provides training opportunities for library staff around California, and through CSL’s generosity, the rest of the nation as well. Included within the major training components is an 8-part video series, produced by CSL in partnership with Los Angeles Public Library and Los Angeles County Library. Six of the videos are now available on the California Library Service YouTube channel. The final two episodes will be released soon. These videos can be used independently by staff or as part of your staff development programming. Thank you to the California State Library and its partners, and to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for its funding support.

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3) STAND UP FOR HEALTH

Thinking of attending the 2018 PLA conference? Stand Up for Health: Health and Wellness Services for Your Community is a preconference session that the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) is presenting on Tuesday, March 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This preconference will review core competencies of providing health and wellness services, coach you through understanding your community’s needs, and explore how to create fun and informative health-related programming for different age groups and special populations.

A limited number of stipends will be available for this preconference. Applications will be available no later than October 16, 2017. Attendees who register before October 16 will be sent information about how to apply. Learn more using this link: sos.wa.gov/q/StandUp.

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4) IMLS MUSEUM GRANT PROGRAMS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is now accepting grant applications for the Museums for America and the National Leadership Grants for Museums programs. The application deadline for each program is December 1, 2017.

Potential grant applicants are invited to view two pre-recorded webinars, which can help provide information on how to choose the appropriate funding opportunity and navigate the required IMLS forms. IMLS also invites potential applicants to view a live webinar offered for each grant program. Pre-recorded and upcoming webinars are listed at www.imls.gov/news-events/events.

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5) THE ARTS STRONG CONNECTION

October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM), and PM (Public Management) Magazine joins this annual celebration of creating a local, state, and national focus on the arts and humanities with its article “The Arts Strong Connection: Economic Impact Study Underscores the Importance of Arts and Culture,” by Robert Lynch, president of Americans for the Arts, Washington, D.C.

Lynch writes: “From coast to coast and from our smallest rural towns to our largest urban counties, America’s 100,000 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations make their communities more desirable places to live and work every day of the year. The arts provide inspiration and joy to residents, beautify public spaces, and strengthen the social fabric of our communities.” Read the entire article at icma.org/articles/arts-strong-connection.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, October 9

Tuesday, October 10

Wednesday, October 11

Thursday, October 12

Friday, October 13

Saturday, October 14

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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:

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WSL Updates for September 14, 2017

September 13th, 2017 Will Stuivenga Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for September 14, 2017

Volume 13, September 14, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include resources:

1) RESILIENCE RESOURCES

2) FREE BOOKS

3) THINK, DO, SHOW – SAVE THE DATE

4) THE FORGOTTEN WAR REMEMBERED

5) LATINO CULTURES RESOURCES

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) RESILIENCE RESOURCES

Many people around the country are facing difficult, trying times right now. Evacuees displaced by the recent hurricanes in Texas and along the southeastern seaboard states, immigrants, refugees, and others who have had to leave their homes may suffer increased anxiety and concern.

Feelings of worry, disbelief, fear, and anger are normal when dealing with situations that are out of our control. Many displaced people may want to find shelter at a public library, escape between the pages of a good book, attend a library program, or just feel connected to someone or something within their local community.

For helpful tips for libraries when providing services for evacuees, refugees, immigrants, and others who have been displaced and/or impacted by a recent crisis, check out the latest blog posting (partially quoted above) from the ALA ALSC Public Awareness Committee.

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2) FREE BOOKS

The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Kitsap Regional Library generously donated books which were left over from their latest community reads to the Washington State Library for redistribution to libraries in Washington State for use as community read titles, classroom sets, or book club kits.

The Washington State Library has:

  • The Turner House by Angela Flournoy: 279 trade paperbacks
  • A Sudden Light by Garth Stein: 147 trade paperbacks. 14 hardback large print copies, and 23 audiobook copies.
  • The Painter by Peter Heller: 2 trade paperbacks.
  • The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs: 1 trade paperback

A minimum of five copies per order is required. They can be a mix and match of titles. This is a first come, first serve process. Please contact Leanna Hammond with your request at [email protected].

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3) THINK, DO, SHOW – SAVE THE DATE

The Washington State Library is bringing the workshop Think, Do, Show – Telling the Library Story with Data to three locations in November. In this free, all-day workshop, you will learn practical, strategic methods for evaluating your library’s programs and services. Through a series of interactive exercises, you will discover how to collect and analyze your data, use your results to inform your strategic planning, management, and communication with stakeholders, and visually present your statistics in infographics and other formats to demonstrate your library’s impact.

Presenter Linda Hofschire is the Director of the Colorado State Library’s Library Research Service (LRS). She has more than 20 years of experience working in social science research and evaluation. At LRS, she manages a variety of research and evaluation projects including outcome-based evaluations of state library programs, and a national training event, the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL).

  • November 13, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Timberland Regional Library Service Center, 415 Tumwater Blvd SW, Tumwater
  • November 15, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Whitman County Rural Library System, 102 S. Main Street, Colfax
  • November 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah

All registration will be managed through the WSL online training calendar; watch for an announcement (coming soon) and then register online. Space is limited. Questions? Contact Mary Campbell at [email protected] or 360-570-5571.

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4) THE FORGOTTEN WAR REMEMBERED

Legacy Washington announces the opening of a new exhibit, Korea 65: The Forgotten War Remembered, that captures the stories of veterans and Korean Americans whose lives were influenced by the Korean War. The exhibit, housed in the lobby of the Secretary of State’s Office in the Capitol Building in Olympia, opens on September 14. Anyone visiting the state capitol is invited to stop by to view the exhibit. Those not able to visit in person may check out the project, available in its entirety, online. View or read both the subject profiles, and the exhibit.

Libraries may wish to purchase the Korea 65 book, which includes 13 unique stories of Washingtonians who were affected by the war. The $22.50 cost includes shipping. The book may be purchased online.

For teachers, Korea 65 lesson plans are available. Three-part mini-units are available free online for teachers to introduce the exhibit and project into their classroom.

Legacy Washington is a program of the Office of the Washington Secretary of State.

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5) LATINO CULTURES RESOURCES

Libraries across the country are working in a variety of ways to improve the full spectrum of library and information services for the approximately 58.6 million Spanish-speaking and Latino people in the US and build a diverse and inclusive profession.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15, Google Cultural Institute has collaborated with more than 35 museums and institutions to launch a new platform on September 7 within Google Arts & Culture: Latino Cultures. The platform brings more than 2,500 Latino cultural artifacts online and—through immersive storytelling, 360-degree virtual tours, ultra-high-resolution imagery, and visual field trips—offers first-hand knowledge about the Latino experience in America.

The American Library Association’s President-Elect Loida Garcia-Febo says she is excited about this new resource, which she believes will help libraries continue to draw attention to the rich legacy of Latinos and Latinas across America. “Nationwide, libraries are celebrating Latino cultures by offering programs that highlight our music, cuisine, art, history, and leadership,” says Garcia-Febo. “I know this platform will be a great springboard as we continue to reshape our library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino-oriented materials.”

For more from ALA, use this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/Latino.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, September 18

Tuesday, September 19

Wednesday, September 20

Thursday, September 21

Friday, September 22

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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:

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WSL Updates for February 23, 2017

February 22nd, 2017 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for February 23, 2017

Volume 13, February 23, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

2) FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 101

3) BEYOND THE WALLS – TV WHITESPACE FUNDING

4) THE CHANGING ROLE OF LIBRARIES

5) ALA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for January 19, 2017

January 19th, 2017 Will Stuivenga Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for January 19, 2017

Volume 13, January 19, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WSL SERVICE CHANGES

2) FREE COMPUTERS – MIA LAB GRANTS

3) PRESERVATION GRANTS FOR SMALLER INSTITUTIONS

4) RECORDINGS AT RISK GRANTS

5) BEYOND GOOGLE – FINDING GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for November 10, 2016

November 9th, 2016 Shirley Lewis Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for November 10, 2016

Volume 12, November 10, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE

2) NEW STEM RESOURCES FOR LIBRARIES

3) PROQUEST TRAINING IN NOVEMBER

4) LGBT ELDER CARE WEBINAR

5) OSPI SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS

6) BUILDING BRIDGES TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

7) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for October 20, 2016

October 20th, 2016 Shirley Lewis Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Technology and Resources, Updates Comments Off on WSL Updates for October 20, 2016

Volume 12, October 20, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEE TRAINING GRANTS

2) APPLY FOR A POSITION ON THE LIBRARY COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON

3) ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR MICROSOFT IMAGINE ACADEMY 2016-2017 GRANTS

4) WSL COLLECTIONS FROM PROQUEST

5) MARK THOSE CALENDARS – TEMPUS FUGIT

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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