WA Secretary of State Blogs

WSL Updates for February 1, 2018

Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for February 1, 2018


Volume 14, February 1, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FREE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

2) SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES

3) LIBRARY VOTER SERVICES SURVEY

4) TOPNOTCH NONPROFIT TRAINING

5) LEVY LID LIFT WEBINAR

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) FREE UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

The Washington State Library (WSL) is offering two sets of half-day workshops in February and March at a variety of locations around the state. The topics are:

Sign up now to ensure your spot in one of these free workshops near you. Check the WSL CE Calendar for exact dates, locations, and times. Don’t miss out!

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2) SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES

The National Park Service is accepting proposals for the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program. The application deadline is February 21, 2018.

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is now accepting applications for $5 million in matching grants to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections through the Save America’s Treasures program. For the complete announcement, use this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/save.

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3) LIBRARY VOTER SERVICES SURVEY

Student researchers in The Evergreen State College Masters of Public Administration, Second Year Cohort, are examining the relationship between public access to local ballot measure information and voter participation. Researchers want to identify gaps in current data and utilize these gaps to create a framework for increasing voter knowledge about where to access locally relevant ballot measure information and if this can increase civic participation in the form of voting.

Researchers will examine what role libraries currently play in providing the public with voter information, identify opportunities to provide desired services, and if suggested services are provided, determine if these services are marketed to the public with easy access in-person and online. You are encouraged to take a “Library Services” survey, which should require about 10 minutes of time to complete.

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4) TOPNOTCH NONPROFIT TRAINING

Washington Nonprofits in cooperation with the Charities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State is offering several free webinars this coming week:

Finance Unlocked is an interactive, hands-on workshop that will work through the why, what, who, and how of nonprofit finance including the five main financial topics that every nonprofit person needs to know: Balance Sheets, Income Statements, 990, Giving, and Oversight.

All nonprofits need bylaws. Bylaws are the governing document for the nonprofit and its board of directors. But what does that mean? What is the real purpose of the bylaws and what provisions should be in bylaws? Nonprofit Bylaws is excellent for those who would like to review and update their nonprofit provisions. Highly recommended for nonprofit board members.

Boards play an important role in the success of any organization. Boards in Gear will cover board responsibilities, operations, development, fundraising, and advocacy. This webinar is designed for board members and the people who work with them, namely executive directors and program staff.

For a more complete list of related training events, both live and online, visit www.sos.wa.gov/charities/training/workshops.aspx.

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5) LEVY LID LIFT WEBINAR

Are you thinking about a levy lid lift? The 101% limit on property tax levies restricts revenue growth for Washington local governments. With costs rising at a faster pace than the 1% allowed by state statute and assessed values of property increasing at a pace well beyond inflation for many areas of the state, the only method to access this available levy capacity is through a ballot measure to the voters for a levy lid lift. But what type of lid lift to choose, among the bewildering array available, and timing are both critical components to crafting a successful measure.

This webinar will review how the levy lid lift works and discuss the various levy lid lift options, and it will address the importance of the ballot title and the timing of your ballot measure to assure collection in the next calendar year. Cities, counties, and special purpose districts will come away from this webinar with a better understanding of what type of levy lid lift would best serve their needs and the process for ensuring the measure is brought to public vote.

Webinar details:

  • Date & time: February 7, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST
  • Sponsor: MRSC (Municipal Research and Services Center)
  • Cost: $35.00
  • Registration deadline: Feb. 6, 11:00 a.m.
  • Shortcut link: sos.wa.gov/q/lift.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, February 5

Tuesday, February 6

Wednesday, February 7

Thursday, February 8

Friday, February 9

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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.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

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

WSL Updates for January 18, 2018

Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates, Washington Center for the Book | Comments Off on WSL Updates for January 18, 2018


Volume 14, January 18, 2018 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) REPRISE – ADVOCACY, ETHICS, AND THE LAW

2) POET LAUREATES FEATURED

3) PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

4) SPARKFUN MAKERS

5) MAKING YOUR JOB EASIER

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) REPRISE – ADVOCACY, ETHICS, AND THE LAW

Earlier this week, Rob Mead, the State Law Librarian for Washington, presented a webinar on “Advocacy, Ethics, and the Law for Librarians.” That presentation is now archived and available for viewing on the State Library’s YouTube channel.

For information on upcoming First Tuesday webinars, and links to other archived presentations, visit www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/firsttuesdays.

Do you have a topic to suggest that you think would make a good webinar? Something you’ve always wished for but never found? Send an email to Nono Burling at [email protected]. Good ideas are always welcome!

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2) POET LAUREATES FEATURED

Tod Marshall, outgoing, and Claudia Castro Luna, incoming Washington State Poet Laureates, will be celebrated at an upcoming poetry reading at the Seattle Public Library, January 31, 7:00 p.m. The event features readings from WA129, an anthology of poems collected and curated by Marshall. There are 129 poems in the published book—one for every year of statehood up to 2018, the end of Marshall’s term as State Poet Laureate.

The event is presented in partnership with the Washington Center for the Book, as well as several other organizations. For more details, visit sos.wa.gov/q/WA129.

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3) PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Promoting Healthy Communities is a consumer health initiative of the Public Library Association (PLA) and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM). The goal is to spread the word about the great consumer health-related programs already underway in the nation’s public libraries.

Libraries are encouraged to submit a brief write-up about a recent library health program to ALA’s Programming Librarian website. This free website contains a wide variety of program ideas for libraries. Library professionals are encouraged to submit their own programs for publication in a section of the website called Program Models.

To submit a program for consideration, please fill out the “Share Your Program” webform. Or email your submission (using the provided Word document) to [email protected]. Programs from all library types are welcome. Please limit your submissions to programs from the past two years. For questions, contact Sarah Ostman, communications manager for ALA’s Public Programs Office, at [email protected].

Thanks for your consideration! Together, we hope to inspire more public libraries to take on this important work.

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4) SPARKFUN MAKERS

The SparkFun Community Partnership Program facilitates one-time collaborations between SparkFun and its community partners to support the work of makers in the field. In exchange for support through the donation of SparkFun hardware, community partners provide content for SparkFun’s channels to share their stories with the maker community at large. SparkFun believes that amplifying the successes of makers in the field helps the maker community around the world continue learning and innovating.

SparkFun looks for individuals and organizations who embrace maker values of open source, collaboration, playfulness, learning at all levels, and making the world a better place. Their community partners will demonstrate a noble cause, a vital need, and an inspiring story. For example, SparkFun is more likely to sponsor an educator who is having students build robots for a school robot dance party that will benefit a local charity than to simply help a school stock its makerspace.

On the third Thursday of every month, the Community Partnership team reviews applications and will contact applicants with any questions if necessary. For more information and to apply: www.sparkfun.com/pages/sponsorships.

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5) MAKING YOUR JOB EASIER

Work smarter. Save money. Get answers. The Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) is a nonprofit organization that helps local governments across Washington State better serve their citizens by providing legal and policy guidance on any topic. MRSC believes the most effective government is a well-informed local government, and as cities, counties, and special purpose districts face rapid changes and significant challenges, they are here to help.

Presenting Making Your Job Easier with MRSC’s Services, a free webinar describing MRSC’s vast suite of services—from personalized inquiries to a vast collection of online tools and resources—all of which can help you, no matter what department you work in. Even if you’ve used MRSC’s services for years, you’ll learn something you didn’t know about MRSC!

Who should attend? Local government employees at all levels, elected and appointed officials, and private consultants or attorneys that advise local governments. Details:

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, Jan 22

Tuesday, Jan 23

Wednesday, Jan 24

Thursday, Jan 25

Friday, Jan 26

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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.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

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

WSL Updates for September 28, 2017

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 Posted in For Libraries, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for September 28, 2017


Volume 13, September 28, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SENSORY STORY TIMES

2) REGISTER FOR THINK, DO, SHOW

3) PAVE THE WAY

4) MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

5) IMLS RELEASES PUBLIC LIBRARY DATA

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SENSORY STORY TIMES

While libraries strive to be welcoming places for all, children with special needs may not always thrive in traditional story times where crowds, bright lights, and sudden noises can overstimulate and overwhelm. Parents of children with special needs can often feel conspicuous and unwelcome in a library setting.

October’s First Tuesdays program will address these issues. One small town library welcomed these families by establishing a story time structured around special needs. The program became so successful that a second session of it was necessary and the library saw an increase in library use by patrons with special needs, adults and children alike.

First Tuesdays is designed by the Washington State Library as a continuing-education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State. The special-subject presentations, lasting about 60 minutes, are recorded so that others may listen at their own convenience.

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2) REGISTER FOR THINK, DO, SHOW

Registration is now open for the “Think, Do, Show – Telling the Library Story with Data” workshops, brought to you by the Washington State Library. To register, visit the WSL online training calendar, and advance to November. The workshops will run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

  • November 13, Timberland Regional Library Service Center, 415 Tumwater Blvd SW, Tumwater
  • November 15, Whitman County Rural Library System, 102 S. Main Street, Colfax
  • November 17, King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah

In this free, all-day workshop, you will learn practical, strategic methods for evaluating your library’s programs and services. Through a series of interactive exercises, you will discover how to collect and analyze your data, use your results to inform your strategic planning, management, and communication with stakeholders, and visually present your statistics in infographics and other formats to demonstrate your library’s impact.

Questions? Contact Mary Campbell at [email protected] or 360-570-5571.

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3) PAVE THE WAY

Is your library working to help advance student achievement? Registration is open for the 2017 Pave the Way conference set for October 19 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Registration is $110 and includes continental breakfast and lunch on the day of the event.

The annual conference organized by the Washington Student Achievement Council focuses on strategies to advance equity, increase college readiness, and broaden access to higher education in Washington. Pave the Way aims to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed, regardless of income, race, or other potential barriers.

The conference brings together educators, policymakers, and community partners from across the education system, from preschool through college. It features interactive group sessions and offers workshops focused on policy and practice in college and career readiness, culturally responsive teaching and learning, student transitions, collective impact, and more.

For more information and to register, visit www.wsac.wa.gov/pavetheway.

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4) MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

How can we use data to inform good governance? What is the art that accompanies the science of data, especially when we apply it to policy decisions that affect constituents? This webinar, “Using Data Visualization to Make Better Decisions,” will look at decision-making that is informed by data as well as the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to advising leaders on how best to use—and to avoid the perils of misusing—your data.

Educational objectives; in this webinar, attendees will learn how to:

  • Interpret and distill data;
  • Depict complex findings using visuals, interactive visuals, and other tools;
  • Communicate results to decision-makers in a compelling and informative way.

Event details:

  • Sponsor: MRSC (Municipal Research & Services Center)
  • Date & Time: October 19, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
  • Cost: $35/person
  • Register

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5) IMLS RELEASES PUBLIC LIBRARY DATA

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently released two key information products: the latest data from its annual Public Libraries Survey and a new report on the previous year’s data. The Public Libraries Survey examines key indicators of public library use, financial health, staffing, and resources. Explore the FY 2015 data and the FY 2014 report via this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/IMLS-data.

The FY 2014 report provides a national overview of trends and a snapshot of a variety of indicators for the year. In particular, it demonstrates how public libraries are faring financially since the last recession (December 2007 to June 2009) and how public library services and resources have evolved over the decade.

Other key findings include:

  • Indicators for financial health and staffing of public libraries increased slightly from 2013 to 2014, but remain below 2009 levels.
  • Public libraries’ collections are adapting; the majority of the total collections (66%) were still print materials, but e-books (18%), audio (10%), and video (6%) made up the remainder of our nation’s library collections. The number of e-books per 1,000 people also increased 2,140% between 2005 and 2014.
  • Although there is a decline in the use of traditional library services, attendance at public programs is increasing.
  • In response to the interest, public libraries offered 4.5 million programs, a 1-year increase of 5% and a 10-year increase of 68%.
  • Over the past 10 years, public-access internet computers increased 55%.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, October 2

Tuesday, October 3

Wednesday, October 4

Thursday, October 5

Friday, October 6

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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.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

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

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An archive of past updates is available at http://list.statelib.wa.gov/read/?forum=wslupdates

WSL Updates for August 17, 2017

Wednesday, August 16th, 2017 Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for August 17, 2017


Volume 13, August 17, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SEEKING LIBRARY COUNCIL MEMBERS

2) RURAL HERITAGE GRANT AWARDS

3) WIKIPEDIA + LIBRARIES: BETTER TOGETHER

4) ACADEMIC LIBRARIES TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

5) STATEWIDE PURCHASING & CONTRACTING WORKSHOP

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SEEKING LIBRARY COUNCIL MEMBERS

The mission of the Library Council of Washington (LCW) is to help all Washington citizens access library services, information, and resources. The LCW advises the State Librarian and the Office of the Secretary of State on statewide library issues and the expenditure of federal LSTA funding. The fifteen members represent all types of libraries and library users. The Council meets in person three to four times each year.

Members may include library employees, volunteers, trustees, foundation board members, advocates, consultants, or educators. We seek new members that are active and knowledgeable, have great communication skills, and can advocate for all libraries while representing a specific interest group’s views as well. There are currently four open positions on the LCW, representing:

  • Special libraries,
  • Technology,
  • Underserved populations,
  • Schools (western Washington).

If you want to help shape our libraries, have at least three years’ experience working with libraries in Washington State, and are interested in applying, please send a copy of the application form and your resume. Application information is available at sos.wa.gov/q/vacancy. Applications must be postmarked by September 22, 2017.

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2) RURAL HERITAGE GRANT AWARDS

Congratulations to the latest group of public libraries and heritage organizations recently awarded digitization grants through the Washington Rural Heritage program! Over the next year Washington State Library staff will be working with these organizations to digitize unique, historically significant materials held in their collections. Awardees will be trained in all aspects of digitization and their collections will be publicly hosted and digitally preserved through the Washington Rural Heritage website and digital repository.

Below are this year’s grant recipients. Read about the details of each project.

  • $6,157 – Fort Vancouver Regional Library District: the La Center, Ridgefield, and Woodland community libraries will partner with the La Center Historical Museum, Woodland Historical Museum Society, and Charlotte Clevidence of Ridgefield.
  • $6,300 – Spokane County Library District, Moran Prairie branch, in partnership with the Moran Prairie Washington Grange #161.
  • $6,981 – Richland Public Library.
  • $4,689 – Whitman County Library in partnership with the Tekoa Museum and J.C. Barron Mill (Oakesdale, Washington).
  • $4,500 – Asotin County Library.
  • $7,000 – Whatcom County Library System, (Lummi) Island Library.
  • $6,958 – Kalama Public Library in partnership with the Kalama History House, the City of Kalama, and the Port of Kalama.
  • $5,669 – Orcas Island Public Library in partnership with the Orcas Island Historical Society.

To learn more about participating in Washington Rural Heritage, contact Evan Robb, Digital Repository Librarian at [email protected]. Washington Rural Heritage is supported with Library Services and Technology Act funding provided by the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services.

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3) WIKIPEDIA + LIBRARIES: BETTER TOGETHER

This fall, WebJunction will offer a free online training program for up to 500 US public library staff to learn to confidently engage with Wikipedia. The course, Wikipedia + Libraries: Better Together, will provide a collaborative learning environment for public library peers to build their Wikipedia skills, implement Wikipedia programming, and amplify the role of libraries as information literacy leaders in their communities.

The 9-week course will run from September 13 through November 15, and will consist of 6 live online sessions, online discussion forums, reading, plus skill and knowledge-building activities. As a result of participating, public library staff will be able to use Wikipedia to:

  • Engage and empower their community members to build information literacy skills and to access and create knowledge;
  • Raise the visibility of their libraries and their unique, local collections;
  • Build on their own digital, critical thinking, and community engagement skills—and encourage their colleagues to do the same.

Learn more about the program and enroll today.

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4) ACADEMIC LIBRARIES TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

Learn how to foster conversation and lead change on campus and beyond with Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Models for Change, a free learning series on dialogue and deliberation from ALA, ACRL, and the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation. Through three free webinars in fall 2017, participants will learn to convene critical conversations with people with differing viewpoints; connect more meaningfully with library users and better meet their needs; and translate conversation into action.

Academic library professionals who view all three webinars, live or recorded, are invited to attend a free one-day pre-conference workshop on Feb. 9, 2018, at the 2018 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver.

The three webinars are scheduled as follows:

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5) STATEWIDE PURCHASING & CONTRACTING WORKSHOP

Registration is now open for a two day Purchasing and Contracting Workshop in Lynnwood on August 22 and 23. The first day of this workshop will be on purchasing and the second day on public works contracting. Registration is open to all local agencies and private consultants statewide. Presented by the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) and the Contract Administration Education Committee (CAEC) of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

Details:

  • August 22, 23, 2017 at the Sno-Isle Regional Library, Lynnwood
  • Workshop fees are $70 for one day or $90 for both days, per person. Attendees can attend either both days or only one day, depending on their interests.
  • More information and registration: sos.wa.gov/q/MRSLwkshp.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, August 21

Tuesday, August 22

Wednesday, August 23

Thursday, August 24

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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.

Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries!

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

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

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