From the desk of Rand Simmons

It’s National Library Week and also Library Snapshot Day! Today we feature our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library located in Seattle, Washington.

2013 Washington Talking Book & Braille Library staff

Do you know someone who can’t read standard print?  Someone who is blind, visually impaired, can’t hold a book or turn pages, or has a reading disability?  Then you know someone who needs the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL)!  We are the only library in Washington providing uniquely tailored library and information services for those who can’t read standard print material.

We mail books in audio, braille, and large print across the state and have audio and braille books available for our patrons to download.  WTBBL also has youth services programming, reference, technology instruction and training, book clubs, organizational accounts available for public libraries, schools, retirement homes and much, much more.

(left to right) Germaine Covington (Master of Ceremonies), Danielle Miller (WTBBL Program Manager), Quincy (WTBBL Patron) and Mayor Mike McGinn

In 2012 WTBBL was honored with the Mayor’s Award and Proclamation for its work empowering individuals with disabilities.  Mayor Mike McGinn proclaimed June 5 as Washington Talking Book & Braille Library Day.

Visit our website (www.wtbbl.org), like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/WTBBL), or visit us in downtown Seattle to learn more about this amazing library and the people who count on it day after day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volume 8, May 3, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SDL PROQUEST RENEWAL

2) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN

3) FREE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SUMMER READING

4) WESTPAS NEEDS YOUR INPUT

5) WEBWISE 2012 WEBCASTS AVAILABLE

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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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:

• Deflection on WorldCat Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Everything I Need and Want is in the Teen Section: YA Spatial Practices in New U.S. Public Libraries (SJSU SLIS); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Tuesday, April 10, 2012:

• The New Science of Building Great Teams: Analytics for Success (Harvard Business Review ); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT;
• 25 Twitter projects to engage your community and benefit your business (O’Reilly Community); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Custom Holdings on WorldCat Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• ProQuest Research Library – With so many publications, how do you find the right one to search? (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT; www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ245;
• Virtual Connections (WebJunction); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Picture These: What’s New with Graphic Novels (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Apps for Speech Therapy and Autism (Accessible Technology Coalition ); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Spring Adult Book Buzz (Library Journal); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Wednesday, April 11, 2012:

• Snapshot Day: What It Is and How Your Library Will Benefit from Participating (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ242;
• Intermediate Tips & Tricks for Microsoft Office 2010® Level 200 (New Horizons ); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Patron-Initiated Resource Sharing (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits (GrantSpace ); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Information Professional to Intelligence Analyst: Translating your LIS Skills (SJSU SLIS); 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PDT;

Thursday, April 12, 2012:

• K-12 ProQuest Administrator Module (ProQuest); 8:30 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ243;
• Maximize the Value of Your OCLC ILL Subscription (OCLC ); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• K-12 Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest): www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ244;
• History Study Center (ProQuest); 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ246;

Friday, April 13, 2012:

• eLibrary for Schools (ProQuest); 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ247.

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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Volume 8, March 1, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) 2012 LSTA GRANT CYCLES OPENING THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

2) FIRST TUESDAYS – READERS’ ADVISORY ON FACEBOOK

3) FREE WEBINAR – EARLY BILINGUAL LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

4) REGISTER NOW FOR THE DÍAS DE CINE READING CLUB

5) WHAT DO TEENS WANT?

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Volume 8, February 16, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) TWO WTBBL WEBINARS: YOUTH SERVICES AND DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

2) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS

3) DOES YOUR LIBRARY NEED A MAKEOVER?

4) IT’S ALMOST TIME TO TURN THE PAGE

5) HAS YOUR LIBRARY’S FACEBOOK PAGE FLATLINED?

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Volume 7, October 20, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list

 Topics include:

1) WANTED – ONLINE RESOURCES CONSULTANT

2) MORE THAN JUST BOOK SALES

3) DON’T MISS THIS YEAR’S EARLY LEARNING SYMPOSIUM

4) SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR CUTTING-EDGE LIBRARIES

5) SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR 2012 ALA MIDWINTER MEETING

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

  Read the rest of this entry »

The Washington State Library free Fall Workshop is almost here!

Baby boomers and the generations that follow are seeking new ways to use their skills and experience to make a difference in their communities. While libraries are uniquely positioned to benefit from these volunteers, there is a disconnect between the volunteers’ intent and their actual participation because they do not find the volunteer opportunities they seek. Multiple studies have shown that boomers’ interests in volunteerism are vastly different from those of current “senior volunteers,” and that organizations seeking to recruit them will need to adjust their volunteer engagement practices.

WSL’s free fall workshop is focused on just that – how to start or “re-tool” a volunteer engagement program that will not only capture the talents of these potential volunteers, but will reap the benefits of ongoing support for the library that comes from having these persons meaningfully engaged.

This course will provide tools, techniques, resources and models for volunteer engagement so that participants will be able to: understand the potential for engaging high impact, skilled volunteers to assist libraries – baby boomers and the generations that follow, engage this talent to extend the library’s capacity in the community and to benefit from these new library advocates and supporters, understand what motivates volunteers in order to create diverse and meaningful skilled volunteer positions to attract a broad range of community volunteers, implement the elements of a successful volunteer engagement program; address potential barriers to volunteer engagement, including union issues and staff resistance; and understand current trends and issues in volunteer engagement, including online recruitment and legal issues.

Presented by Carla Lehn, The Lehn Group. For session dates, times and locations, and to register, click here.

Workshop sessions are from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and include lunch and light refreshments.

This workshop is funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Theresa Connolly, Audio Production Supervisor for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is the Washington State Library (WSL) Employee of the Year.

The transition to digital talking books in both physical form (cartridge) and downloadable form on the internet has increased access and equity for the blind. Whereas many libraries similar to WTBBL are only recently switching to digital production of local books, thanks to Theresa’s leadership, WTBBL is far ahead of the game.

Theresa worked at WTBBL for 15 years and put the digital system in place. Then she left, returning in 2008 when WTBBL became a direct service of WSL to “finish what she started.”

“Theresa exemplifies the best characteristics of WSL staff,” notes Acting State Librarian Rand Simmons. “Theresa is easily one of the most fair, just, and thoughtful people I know,” adds WTBBL Manager Danielle Miller, “and her return wasn’t simply to see digitization through, but to improve information access for people often marginalized and with scant resources.”

In the last year, Theresa made WTBBL the only library in the nation to offer locally produced books for download; she was the first to try and master the Nation Library Service encryption program; the first to test and master the Book Wizard Producer program for marking up digital books; and she presented and spent hours and hours helping her peers to help their own programs meet standard set by WTBBL and Theresa’s Audio Production Department.

“During the last year, Theresa also juggled training new volunteers, preparing books, editing, building, and uploading books with a complete change in audio recording and production software and hardware,” Miller notes. “Throughout all the changes and hiccups, Theresa kept her department going and in fact produced more books than ever before and began a project to make older titles available in digital format.”

Theresa would say she is not a technology person, and while that may be true to her, from Miller’s perspective she is the best kind of technology person: one who takes time to play and try and fail, and discover the best way to explain to another person. She also is aware there will be exceptions and work-arounds and she deals with these with humor and grace.

“I chose Theresa as the State Library’s Employee of the Year because she exemplifies an ideal employee of the Office of the Secretary of State and the Washington State Library,” Simmons remarked. Miller adds, “She is smart, committed, capable, creative, unrelenting, and a joy to her colleagues and the patrons she serves, both internal and external.”