From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff

Reports that the FBI is investigating a “creditable” D.B. Cooper lead have the news outlets and blogosphere buzzing.  Here’s just one such story from the Seattle Times.  News sites are relying on information from the niece of the suspect (and upcoming authoress), who identifies him as her uncle Lynn Doyle (L.D.) Cooper, who passed away ten years ago.

WSL librarian Kathryn did some digging in several of the genealogy resources we have linked to, and found additional information about the fascinating L.D. Cooper.  Using the Department of Veterans Affairs burial database, she found he is buried in Pilot Butte military cemetery in Oregon.  The database also indicates he was in the Navy and served in Korea.  Pictures of his gravestone are listed in Find a Grave.

Further clues await the amateur sleuth with access to Ancestrylibrary (available for free to visitors of the State Library).  Is that his wedding certificate in Reno, NV?  Is that him pictured in a US Navy Cruise book from 1949?  No doubt the FBI is hot on the trail.

Until we find out more, feel free to check out the many previously published books on D.B. Cooper, including “D.B. : A Novel” by Elwood Reid, recently reviewed by Northwest librarian Sean.  There’s lots of good reading material out there for those who want a refresher on this iconic Washington story.  These books and more are available at the State Library or your local public library!

Washington State Library releases never-before-microfilmed newspapers from the Snoqualmie Valley!

Washington State Library microfilms Washington newspapers to preserve and provide access to Washington’s history.  Lent by Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum, the newspapers include issues from 1913 through 1925. These newspapers provide a fascinating look at life in Snoqualmie Valley communities almost 100 years ago.

To see what papers and what time periods are covered, visit http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/SnoqualmieValleyMicrofilm.aspx

More information about newspapers on microfilm at Washington State Library including how to purchase copies.

Information about Newspapers at Washington State Library.

Volume 7, February 17, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FREE GENEALOGY EVENT – BING CROSBY’S FAMILY HISTORY

2) WLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE – REGISTER NOW

3) PUBLIC RECORDS & OPEN MEETING FORUM

4) FREE WEBWISE CONFERENCE

5) HOST THE KING JAMES BIBLE TRAVELING EXHIBIT

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

Volume 7, January 27, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FIRST TUESDAYS – INNOVATION AT WTBBL

2) LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

3) FREE GENEALOGY EVENT – BING CROSBY’S FAMILY HISTORY

4) WASHINGTON LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY

5) VIDEO CONTEST – ESPECIALLY FOR TEENS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

We in the “librarian” profession are always working hard to better ourselves. We read hundreds of books every week (at least!), we memorize data and statistics for kicks, and we constantly remind ourselves that “Wikipedia is not a primary resource, Wikipedia is not a primary resource …”

We do a lot, dear patrons, to educate ourselves on how to serve you better. Happily, now you can return the favor.

Ancestry Magazine recently posted an online article, “10 Tips to Becoming an Effective Library Patron,” and in it you can learn the hallowed secrets that will allow you to get twice the benefit out of your library in half the time. Mainly a tool for those who use their libraries for genealogical research, there are nonetheless some great tips here for any library researcher, such as:

1. Come Prepared
2. Use the Online Catalog
3. Learn the Library’s Classification System
4. Ask about Materials That Aren’t Catalogued
5. Go Easy on the Library Staff
6. Gather Handouts and Brochures
7. Go Beyond the Genealogy Department
8. Respect the Material
9. Don’t Forget Interlibrary Loan
10. Use All Available Resources

Want to learn more about becoming a better library researcher? Check out the full article over at ancestrymagazine.com (don’t worry, it’s free).

Many of Washington State Library’s series of events, including our evening and brown bag speakers events, are now available online via streaming video!

To find them, try searching the WSL catalog using keywords ‘Educational Outreach Event’ and you will find a list of events to choose from. From the search results list, you may choose to view the video, and in many cases may also view the flyer announcing the event.

These videos, along with our upcoming events, can also be found at: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/events.aspx.

Select from events such as: “Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese-American Internment Camps,” with Mary Matsuda Gruenewald; “Mary Sam: Basket Weaver, Visionary, Provider, and Survivor,” with Harvest Moon; “Tracking Kurt Cobain Through Washington Vital Records,” with WSL Genealogy staff; or learn about Uppity Women, Lewis and Clark, Galloping Gertie, Ice Age Floods, and much more.

Thanks to the hard work of WSL’s Multi-Media Services for making these videos available to view online.