Appreciation in action

I’ve worked for Washington State Library at Clallam Bay Corrections Center for 17 years.  I love what I do, but it isn’t always the easiest of jobs.  The mood of the institution can get depressing at times.

I have four library clerks, offenders that I work with on a daily basis. They have varying degrees of education but are all really good workers and for the most part have good attitudes. We laugh, talk books, sports, music, movies and all the time trying to be correctly professional and not be overly friendly.  It is a fine line to walk.

One clerk has worked for me over two years and in the first year it was just the two of us running the library for one reason or another.  After I had hired more clerks I gave him a small paper gold star telling him how much I appreciated his working so hard and professionally with just my help.  Another clerk who has been with me for over a year got a gold star for his willingness to do anything I ask him to do plus the initiative he shows in organizing and keeping the library tidy.  So, now the other two are striving for a gold star.

Today they surprised me by making a gold star for me to tell me how much I was appreciated as their boss.  It nearly brought me to tears and makes me so glad that I work in an institution and can make a difference, even if only for a few.

Congratulations to Pat Bliquez!

Pat is the teacher-librarian at Roxhill Elementary, a small elementary school in a West Seattle neighborhood of modest means. For her exemplary work promoting books and reading, she just won Seattle public-television station KCTS’ coveted Golden Apple Award for making a difference in children’s lives.

For more, read the Seattle Times story, and visit the West Seattle blog which includes a video tribute presentation honoring Pat, or check out the KCTS9 citation, as well as the Roxhill Elementary Harrison L. Caldwell Library web page.

Pat Bliquez, the Washington State Library salutes you!

Volume 6, October 7, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – SKAMANIA COUNTY HERITAGE

2) WORKPLACE BULLYING SURVEY

3) EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED

4) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS

5) PLA AWARD AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

6) ALCTS LIBRARY METADATA POLICY E-FORUM

7) EVALUATING MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB

8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

Lynne Greene, who recently won the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, has been director of the Davis High School Library for 27 years. Greene traveled to the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia in April to receive the award.

And she’s up for another honor this summer. Her two staffers are nominating her for the Washington Library Media Association’s 2010 Librarian of the Year.

The Yakima-Herald Republic has a detailed profile of Greene in its June 3, 2010 online issue. The announcement from the Washington Commission for National and Community Services is available here.

Congratulations, Lynne! We salute you!

It’s time once again to nominate your favorite librarians for the annual I Love My Librarian award. Up to ten winning librarians will be honored with a $5000 award and will get to represent in New York this December. Here’s the snippet:

Librarians in our nation’s 123,000 libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day. Now is your chance to tell us why we should shine the spotlight on a librarian at your public, school, college, community college or university library. Nominate your librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!

You can nominate public, higher academic, and school/media librarians, which leaves you a lot of choices but which means, sadly, you can’t nominate me. Not that you would have, necessarily, but I do like to think you might have considered it, if only briefly.

Nominations close October 9th and winners will be announced in early November. If a librarian has made a difference in your life, this is a great opportunity to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.