WA Secretary of State Blogs

WSL Updates for June 15, 2017

Thursday, June 15th, 2017 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for June 15, 2017


Volume 13, June 15, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) ARSL SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED

2) LIBGUIDES FOR WASHINGTON

3) FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING

4) DIGITAL LITERACY IN SPANISH

5) RESOURCES FOR MAKERSPACES

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) ARSL SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED

Librarians and library employees are encouraged to apply for a full scholarship to attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference from September 6-9 in St. George, Utah. The Washington State Library is providing these scholarships with funding from the Library Services and Technology ACT (LSTA).

The deadline to apply has been extended to June 23!

Scholarships will include transportation, all conference fees, and lodging. Preference will be given to applicants who have not won this scholarship before.

The application, requirements, and submission information are available at: sos.wa.gov/q/arslscholars.

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2) LIBGUIDES FOR WASHINGTON

Looking for information about Washington? The ALA GODORT (Government Documents Round Table) State Agency Databases LibGuides Project lists eResources maintained by state agencies for all 50 states.

The Washington page lists both general databases, e.g., Census QuickFacts Washington, and specialized resources, such as the Interactive Online Crop Location Map. A vast array of useful topics are included.

You will also find some familiar OSOS (Office of the Secretary of State) databases:

Check it all out at godort.libguides.com/washingtondbs.

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3) FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING

Do you receive lots of requests from patrons for help with financial matters? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to help make libraries the go-to source for unbiased financial education and resources in every community. This free all-day workshop (8:30 to 4:30) at the Central Seattle Public Library on July 19, 2017, will provide detailed information on the free resources available in your community to use when fielding financial questions from patrons.

You will learn about organizations in your community that provide free unbiased financial literacy resources to help empower patrons to make appropriate financial choices for themselves. A wide array of financial topics will be covered, including:

  • Paying for college
  • Prevention of financial fraud
  • Planning for retirement
  • Basics of credit such as mortgages and credit rating and scores
  • Resources for seniors including financial caregiving and reverse mortgages.

Questions? Contact Daniel Nguyen at [email protected]. To register, visit sos.wa.gov/q/finlit.

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4) DIGITAL LITERACY IN SPANISH

Spanish speakers now have access to digital literacy training resources thanks to recent efforts by the Public Library Association (PLA) a division of the American Library Association. PLA recently announced that all learning content on its website DigitalLearn.org is available in Spanish.

DigitalLearn.org offers a collection of self-directed tutorials for learners to increase their digital literacy on critical topics such as navigating the World Wide Web, using email, searching online for employment and creating a résumé. Modules are video-based with narration, six-to-22 minutes long, and written at the fourth-grade reading level. Since the site’s launch in 2013, nearly 60,000 users have accessed DigitalLearn.org, completing approximately 15,000 modules each year. Visitors may access the site in Spanish by simply clicking the link marked “Español” at the top of any page.

DigitalLearn.org was created in 2013 with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Libraries can set up their own branded, DigitalLearn website, accessible to patrons at any time, that shows the library is providing digital literacy training as a service.

DigitalLearn.org is just one tool PLA offers to help its members make their libraries digital literacy learning centers. The Association also offers continuing education on digital literacy training and a variety of professional tools for public librarians. For more information, visit www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/digitalliteracy.

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5) RESOURCES FOR MAKERSPACES

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce the availability of  “Making + Learning in Museums & Libraries: A Practitioner’s Guide & Framework,” one of several new resources designed to guide and grow the capability of museum and library professionals and create the conditions to support learning within their uniquely formed maker programs. The downloadable publication was developed as part of the Making + Learning project, a collaboration between the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

It will serve as a foundation for the Making + Learning website and a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) which provides  free tutorials that museum and library professionals can use at any time to facilitate use of the project’s suite of tools. The MOOC is presented by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Peer 2 Peer University.

For more information, and to access these resources, visit makingandlearning.squarespace.com.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, June 19

Tuesday, June 20

Wednesday, June 21

Thursday, June 22

Friday, June 23

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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 Updates for May 11, 2017

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Tribal, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for May 11, 2017


Volume 13, May 11, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FREE BOOKS

2) ARSL SCHOLARSHIPS

3) MRSC MAKES YOUR JOB EASIER

4) BUILDING SUPPORT FOR YOUR RURAL LIBRARY

5) KEEPING IT PRIVATE

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

WSL Updates for May 4, 2017

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 Posted in For Libraries, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for May 4, 2017


Volume 13, May 4, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NATIONAL LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

2) LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION & PLAN

3) 2017 ARSL CONFERENCE

4) SERVING NEW AMERICANS

5) PATRON PRIVACY CHECKLISTS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) NATIONAL LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

Cindy Aden, Washington’s State Librarian, is among the 500 library supporters from every state, who gathered in Washington D.C. to advocate for federal support for libraries during the American Library Association’s (ALA) 43rd annual National Library Legislative Day held May 1 & 2. A major goal is protecting LSTA (Library Services & Technology Act) funds administered through the Institute for Museum & Library Services (IMLS), which provide crucial funding for programs and services to libraries throughout the state.

A May 1 press release on ALA’s Legislative Day activities is available from the ALA Web site. A news release detailing the role of LSTA funding in Washington, with comments from Aden, is available from the Office of the Secretary of State’s web site.

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2) LSTA 5-YEAR EVALUATION & PLAN

The Washington State Library announces the release of its LSTA Five-Year Evaluation, covering the federal fiscal year awards 2013 through 2017. The evaluation has been filed with the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), the funding agency for the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA). The full report, summary of recommendations, and supporting documents, are available on the WSL web site at sos.wa.gov/q/libdev under the heading “Planning for the Future.” The next Five-Year Plan, covering federal fiscal year awards 2018 through 2022, is currently under development.

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3) 2017 ARSL CONFERENCE

It’s here, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Don’t be a turkey, register early for the Association for Rural & Small Libraries #ARSL2017 – Sept. 7-9 in beautiful St. George, UT. Get the $265 early bird rate today! Early bird ends July 7 and early bird checks need to be postmarked by July 10. For detailed conference information, visit arsl.info/2017-conference/. To register, visit www.regonline.com/2017arslannualconference.

This conference is so packed full of great information and networking opportunities, you will not want to miss out. Check out Preconference options announced on the ARSL Facebook page. There is also a conference event set up on Facebook where you can indicate whether you’re attending, get updates and offer to room share or connect with another librarian who is willing to room share (Select “Events” from the ARSL Facebook Page).

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4) SERVING NEW AMERICANS

More than 55 percent of new Americans use the public library at least once a week. There, they find a trusted environment, resources and community connections that can ease the way to full participation in American society. For many people new to the United States, libraries serve as a gateway to citizenship, offering English language learning, training materials and resources on immigration and citizenship.

Since 2013, IMLS has worked with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to help libraries provide accurate and useful information about immigration and citizenship benefits, promote an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.

Libraries play a critical role in serving immigrant communities. To learn how your library can participate, visit www.uscis.gov/citizenship/organizations/libraries. Training and tip sheets are also available.

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5) PATRON PRIVACY CHECKLISTS

Volunteers from the ALA Library Information and Technology Association’s Patron Privacy Interest Group worked with the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee’s Privacy Subcommittee to create a set of 7 checklists intended to help libraries of all sizes and budgets take practical steps to implement the principles that are laid out in the ALA Library Privacy Guidelines. Each checklist is organized into three priority groups. Priority 1 are actions that hopefully all libraries can take to improve privacy practices. Priority 2 and Priority 3 actions may be more difficult for libraries to implement depending on their technical expertise, available resources, and organizational structure.

Congress just voted to allow internet providers to sell consumer data without permission, which means using https on your library’s website to protect patron data has become even more important. These checklists can help you assess where your library is now, and what you need to work on next.

For even more library-oriented privacy information, consult ALA’s Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, and the ALA Privacy Tool Kit.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Tuesday, May 9

Wednesday, May 10

Thursday, May 11

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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.

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