Volume 14, March 29, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) IMLS FUNDING INCREASE

2) PUBLIC LIBRARY POLICIES UPDATE

3) TURNING OUTWARD TO LEAD CHANGE

4) LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY RETURNS

5) DIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) IMLS FUNDING INCREASE

On Friday, March 23, President Donald Trump signed into law a $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through the end of September 2018. The legislation includes $240 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is $9,000,000 above the FY 2017 enacted funding.

The legislation includes increases over FY 2017 enacted funding levels for the following programs and offices.

• Grants to States (+$4,700,000)
• Native American Library Services and Native Hawaiian Library Services (+$1,000,000)
• Museums for America (+$1,750,000)
• Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (+$500,000)
• Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (+$750,000)
• Research, Evaluation, Data Collection (+$300,000)

“The increases in IMLS’s Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations are an acknowledgement of the enduring value of our nation’s museums and libraries,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “We are honored to be able to carry out our strategic role in support of America’s museums and libraries and their transformative work for communities.”

The Washington State Library’s Library Development Program is funded through the Grants to States. Read the full press release.

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2) PUBLIC LIBRARY POLICIES UPDATE

The Washington State Library is pleased to announce that the semiannual comprehensive update to the Washington State Public Library Policies webpage has been completed.

Need an example of a Collection Development or Social Media policy? This is the place to go for a list and links to over 1,800 online Public Library Policy and Procedure documents, everything from ADA compliance to Volunteers, compiled from Washington libraries.

If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Lindberg.

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3) TURNING OUTWARD TO LEAD CHANGE

How can small, rural libraries transform their communities? Find out at this full day, experiential workshop, Community Engagement Training: Turning Outward to Lead Change. Participants will learn how to create community-based libraries by identifying local resources, improving communication with stakeholders and “turning outward,” using tools developed by the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation.

Join Amber Williams, from the Spokane County Library District, and Erica Freudenberger, from the Southern Adirondack Library System, to adapt and customize a roadmap to engage your community, build the capacity of your library, and incorporate the tools used by the American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative. Libraries are invited to send a team consisting of library staff, trustees, and/or community leaders.

By the end of the workshop, participants will confidently:

• Use free tools, such as the Ask, Aspirations and Community Conversation, to gather public knowledge;
• Assess public needs;
• Use community-based decision-making to inform library services;
• Utilize the free resources available through ALA.org/LTC.

There are three locations and dates for this important and transformative training experience, which will run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day:

• April 16, 2018: Pierce County Library Administrative Center, Tacoma;
• April 18, 2018: Wenatchee Public Library;
• April 19, 2018: Ritzville Public Library.

Don’t miss out! Register now.

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4) LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY RETURNS

Join the Washington State Library and the Washington Library Association in celebrating Library Snapshot Day, April 1-15, two weeks of advocacy for our libraries, archives, and special collections across the state!

Show us a “day in the life” at your library or repository! We want to see your programs, your collections, your people (with their permission, of course), your catalogs, your shelves, your study spaces, and your meetings … ALL THE THINGS! Please encourage both your staff and your patrons to snap and upload photos to social media, and to tag them with #LibrarySnapshot. More information.

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5) DIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM

The ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services seeks proposals for its Diversity Research Grant program. Applications may address any diversity-related topic that addresses critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity, equity, and outreach issues within library and information science. Proposals are due April 15.

The Diversity Research Grant consists of a one-time $2,500 award for original research. A jury of ALA members will evaluate proposals and select up to three awards. Grant recipients will be announced ahead of the 2018 ALA Annual Conference. Researchers are invited to present interim findings at the News You Can Use Diversity Research Grant Update held each ALA Midwinter Meeting and are asked to publish findings in a publication of their choosing within one year of completing their project.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Tuesday, April 3

• First Tuesdays – NERF Squadron; Chaos with a Purpose (Washington State Library) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT
• In a Volunteer Recruitment Rut? Steps to Up Your Tech Game (VolunteerMatch) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Library Love for LibraryReads (Booklist) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Turbo charge your Organization with ‘Yes, and…’ (Washington Nonprofits) 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT

Wednesday, April 4

• NCompass Live: Building a Future: The Big Move (Nebraska Library Commission) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT
• Emotional Intelligence Promotes Well-Being (Training Industry) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT
• It’s a New World: How To Cultivate Your Community Online (Firespring) 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT
• As Technology Changes, So Does the Workforce – How Can Agencies Keep Up? (GovLoop) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Introduction To Project Budgets (GrantSpace) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Librarian’s Guide to Trade Data, Part 8: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Federal Depository Library Program) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• An Introduction to Online Fundraising for Small and Medium-sized Nonprofits (CharityHowTo) 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. PDT
• Librarians’ Insights on How to Integrate Technology into Makerspaces (School Library Journal/LittleBits) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT
• Making & Assessing Learner Connections through the AASL Standards (American Association of School Librarians) 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT

Thursday, April 5

• eLibrary (ProQuest) 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT
• PubMed for Librarians: Using Evidence-Based Search Features (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT
• Beyond the SEA: Partnering to Transform the Care Environment for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Patients (National Network of Libraries of Medicine) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Online Fundraising Best Practices for Nonprofits (Firespring) 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT
• Simple STEAM: Preparing Young Children for the Careers of the Future (edWeb.net), 12:00 -1:00 p.m. PDT
• Promoting Meaningful Making in Your School (Demco) 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT

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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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Volume 13, April 13, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) LIBRARY SNAPSHOTS

2) SCRUB YOUR DIGITAL METADATA

3) LIGHTHOUSES AT THE STATE LIBRARY

4) LINCOLN CENTER LOCAL @ YOUR LIBRARY

5) COMMUNITY SALUTE HELPS LIBRARIES SERVE VETERANS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

Volume 13, March 30, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY

2) FIRST TUESDAYS RAISES RELEVANCY

3) APPLY FOR PNLA LEADS

4) LIBRARY DEGREE PROGRAMS

5) CENSUS DATA WEBINAR SERIES

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

To quote a prominent library administrator: “Every library is designed to serve a specific community:

• Public libraries serve the people of a specific city or county.
• Academic libraries serve the faculty, staff, and students of a specific college or university.
• School libraries serve the students and teachers of a specific school.
• Medical libraries serve doctors, nurses, and patients at a specific hospital.
• Law libraries serve the attorneys and staff of a specific law firm.

Each library is designed to add value to the specific community that it serves.”

The Washington State Library (WSL) is none of the above. Its broad mission is to collect and preserve materials of value for the entire State of Washington.

This theme is developed in the current issue of the WLFFTA newsletter, the Advocate. WLFFTA stands for Washington Library Friends, Foundations, Trustees & Advocates, and is an interest group of the Washington Library Association.

The current issue of the Advocate focuses on the Washington State Library and some of its key services and programs. It also highlights the precarious budget situation in which the State Library currently finds itself. Read the entire newsletter at http://sos.wa.gov/q/AF2014.

Local author Kevin O’Brien spoke at the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library for Library Snapshot Day.

On Thursday, April 18, 2013 the Washington State Library participated in Washington Library Snapshot Day–a statewide effort to promote the important work libraries do every day. We collected usage statistics, customer comments, and photographs depicting everyday activities at the Washington State Library, its 17 branches, and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

On Library Snapshot Day, the Washington State Library, including its branches throughout the state:

• Was open for business for a total of 77.5 hours.
• Answered 509 reference questions.
• Was visited by 841 patrons (in-person).
• Received 1,151 unique visitors to its website.
• Circulated 3,453 items.
• Provided 72 individual sessions to persons needing to use computers or access the Internet.
• Mailed out 77 items for interlibrary loan.

WSL Special Collections Librarian Sean Lanksbury shows a new collection of Washington fruit box labels to Assistant Secretary of State, Ken Raske.

A few more numbers:

• Washington library patrons asked 121 questions using the Ask-WA virtual reference service; libraries across the state answered 115 questions from around the world.
• Our Digital Collections and Resources received 2,744 visits.
• WSL and WTBBL each hosted local author programs, seeing a total of 70 attendees.
• The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library saw 99.75 volunteer hours for the day.

All in a day’s work!

For more great snapshots of life at the Washington State Library, click here.

Office at WSP-EC

It was a typical year for both of the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) Branch Libraries, the East-Complex (EC) and the West-Complex (WC).

In January 2011, our newest Library Associate, Molly Mooney had been on the job for 4 months.  Her training was going well and she enthusiastically participated in special projects:  working with our ILS Wiki pages and Library-Snapshot day.  In March the WC was open full-time again for the first time since February of 2010 and everyone was happy.  In April we said good-by to Molly when she decided to leave ILS.  The WSP libraries were back on half-time schedules.   With all of the going to and fro between EC and WC, Jean still wasn’t getting enough exercise and had to join the gym.

By May we had applicants for the vacant position at WC and in June Laura, Melisa, and Jean interviewed candidates.  In July Matt Roach accepted the position and was at WSP for two days before starting CORE in early August.  Matt was also a very enthusiastic new employee and training was well underway when ILS received the bad news. 

After nearly 30 years of operation the EC Library was being closed.  Jean’s position was going away which resulted in very bad news for Matt, who lost his job.  Even so, Matt gallantly worked through October and November to help pack up the EC collection.   His last day at WSP was November 30^th.   The day before that he accepted a job at the State Library, so everyone was happy about that.

The EC library closed for good on November 30, 2011.    When it was all over about 2/3 of the collection had been packed up.  The rest was left for WSP to distribute to the Minimum units.   Using a golf cart pulling a trailer, WSP staff made several trips between EC and WC to move all of the boxes of books, library furniture and equipment which took up every available space in the WC library storage room.  

Now begins the work of unpacking, sorting and cataloging materials for WC.   Here’s hoping the year 2012 will be just as typical as 2011 was.

AHCC Library

2011 saw many changes at the Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC). The institution changed to a closed movement facility and this has had a dramatic impact on library attendance. From what was a full library most movements has changed to about half our normal capacity.  

We started the year out with a Library Snapshot Day. Everyone had a blast and the atmosphere here was full of excitement. In February DOC started to make changes to increase security and for the next 6 months we were open and then closed due to lack of inmate clerks. Our budgets had been slashed so we started to feel the impact of that. Even with all the changes within DOC, the AHCC library has remained the center of activity. I still see all my regular patrons and reading remains high on the list of positive activities within the prison environment. 

In October, the AHCC branch library distributing the first book for our “AHCC Library Reads Together” program. We had our first session at the end of November and discussed Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. Since then the program has tripled in size and we have read The Skyfisherman by Craig Lesley and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We are just starting our newest selection, Little Bee by Chris Cleave. This program is really having a positive impact. The inmates are talking about these books in their day rooms and the discussions in our group are amazing.  

I have high hopes for the AHCC library in 2012.

WCCW Library

The new year started off with a bang. On 1/11/11 we hosted Library Snapshot Day at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. The day really highlighted who we are and what we do everyday. Inmates had their photos taken in the library and were told how their friends and families could access their pictures on Facebook.

Jump to March and the hot issue became library expansion. Laura and I met with our Associate Supt to talk about expanding the library area by taking over the adjoining room. This conversation is in its 14th year so stay tuned.

April brought spring flowers and a new circulation system named Destiny.

June was a good month for the library as the inmates here ponied up $1000 for me to buy books.

Jump again to December and the big news was the snow. The library and entire school building were closed on 12/20, 12/21, and 12/22.

WTBBL book recording supervisor Theresa shares a laugh with volunteer narrator Rick.

On Monday, April 9, the Washington State Library participated in Washington Library Snapshot Day–a statewide effort to promote the important work libraries do every day.  We collected usage statistics, customer comments, and photographs depicting everyday activities at the Washington State Library, its 16 branches, and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.

On Library Snapshot Day, the Washington State Library, including its branches throughout the state:

• Was open for business for a total of 96.83 hours.
• Answered 524 reference questions.
• Was visited by 1,108 patrons (in-person).
• Received 927 unique visitors to its website.
• Circulated 4,493 items.
• Provided 307 individual sessions to persons needing to use computers or access the Internet.
• Provided one-on-one help with computers/technology 86 times.
• Borrowed 66 items by interlibrary loan and lent out 17.

Jeannie Remillard and her crew at the Stafford Creek Correction Center Library in Aberdeen, WA.

A few more  numbers:

• Washington library patrons asked 121 questions using the Ask-WA virtual reference service; libraries across the state answered 115 questions from around the world.
• Our Digital Collections and Resources received 1,102 visits.
• The WSL-coordinated Washington Anytime Library saw 575 new checkouts/downloads made by 421 unique patrons.  Of these, 389 transactions were eBooks, and 186 were audiobooks.
• The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library saw 54 volunteer hours for the day.

All in a day’s work!

For more great snapshots of life at the Washington State Library, click here.

Representative Troy Kelley

Representative Troy Kelley accepted an invitation to visit the Western State Hospital Library on June 7.  Despite the grueling legislative session and hectic personal schedule, he made the time to meet with hospital superintendent Jess Jamieson and the library staff.  State Library Branch Manager Laura Sherbo and library associate Kathleen Benoun welcomed Rep. Kelley into the Patients Library and told him about the State Library’s role in providing services to enhance the recovery and re-entry of those currently housed in state institutions.   He was presented with a copy of the colorful “ILS Snapshot Day” summary report, created by Jill Merritt, Anna Nash and Molly Mooney.  Rep Kelley was given a brief tour of the WSH History Museum.

Troy Kelley represents district #28, that includes Dupont, Lakewood, Steilacoom, University Place, Fircrest, and Tacoma.  He is a businessman and Army reservist, who recently joined the National Guard.