Volume 13, April 6, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SCHOOL LIBRARY GRANTS

2) GRANTS FOR DIGITIZATION

3) NEH PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS

4) CIVILITY GOES VIRAL

5) IMLS GRANTS TO STATES

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SCHOOL LIBRARY GRANTS

The Washington State Library (WSL) is accepting applications for RSL-2: a new cycle of “Refreshing School Libraries” grants. The purpose of the grant is to help bolster schools’ nonfiction collections. We hope to help support Common Core Standards and student enjoyment.

We anticipate making 100 awards of $2,000 in reimbursable funding. Libraries in public and non-profit K-12 schools are eligible. The deadline for both the online application and the signature sheet (postmark) is May 1, 2017. Awards will be announced on May 30, 2017. For more information, including the guidelines and application documents, visit sos.wa.gov/q/grants.

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2) GRANTS FOR DIGITIZATION

Washington Rural Heritage (WRH), the Washington State Library’s statewide digitization initiative for public and tribal libraries, is currently accepting grant applications for 2017-2018 digitization projects:

• This grant cycle is open to all public and tribal libraries currently lacking a functioning digital repository. Current WRH partners are not excluded.
• Libraries from communities of any size may apply at either the system or individual branch level.

• The application deadline is Wednesday, May 31, 2017.
• To review eligibility requirements, grant guidelines, and to download grant applications, visit sos.wa.gov/q/grants.

Collections digitized with these grants will be publicly accessible at www.washingtonruralheritage.org. Learn more about the project and see a full list of contributors by visiting www.washingtonruralheritage.org/cdm/about. For questions and to discuss potential projects, applicants are encouraged to contact Evan Robb, WRH Project Manager, at 360-704-5228 or [email protected].

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3) NEH PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) provides Preservation Assistance Grants (PAG) to help small and mid-sized institutions such as libraries improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These grants can help institutions purchase supplies, attend classes or workshops, or hire a consultant for collections care. The program encourages applications from small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant. The application deadline is May 2, 2017.

LYRASIS can provide training and consulting services to suit your analog or digital preservation needs. Their free webinar recording on applying for a PAG is available via this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/LYRASIS-NEH. Contact [email protected] with questions.

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4) CIVILITY GOES VIRAL

To “choose civility” means to celebrate diversity and choose respect, compassion, empathy, and inclusiveness when interacting with others. Civility is the healing power we need to counteract the divisive, fragmented forces that seem to be undermining our social fabric.

Since 2006, Howard County Library System (MD) has been leading the way toward community connectedness with their Choose Civility initiative. They, along with three library systems across the country, invite you to join the movement to nurture civility in your own community. Learn how kindness creates communities, how to challenge stereotypes effectively, and cultivate random acts of civility. Find opportunities to implement Choose Civility to enhance internal and external customer service, develop partnerships and community support, and create a more connected community of people who will #choose2Bkind. Let’s see civility go viral in 2017.

This free webinar, “Civility Goes Viral: A New Approach for a New Era,” is sponsored by WebJunction.

• Tuesday, April 18, 2017; 12:00 – 1:00 pm PDT. Register: sos.wa.gov/q/civility.

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5) IMLS GRANTS TO STATES

The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) website, IMLS.gov, offers information about grants made by the agency to libraries and museums across the nation. The Grants to States program is the largest source of federal funding for library services in the U.S. Using a population-based formula, more than $150 million is distributed every year to State Library Administrative Agencies (such as state libraries) located in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the territories and the Freely Associated States.

For a guide on how to access the most frequently requested data regarding the Grants to States program and more, visit sos.wa.gov/q/FindingIMLS.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, April 10

• Revolutionizing Customer Service (Harvard Business Review); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., PDT
• Statistics in Schools: Resources for Teaching and Learning (U.S. Census Bureau); 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDT

Tuesday, April 11

• How Patron Bashing is Killing our Spirit Virtual Forum (ACRL); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., PDT
• Nonprofit 911: The Anatomy of a Major Gift Ask (Network for Good); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., PDT
• Your Neighborhood by the Numbers: Advanced American FactFinder (Tracts, Block Groups, and Blocks) (U.S. Census Bureau); 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Middle-Grade Reading, Spring 2017 (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Bozarthzone! Turning Stress into Power (InSync); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Fundraising 101: The Campaign Feasibility Assessment – Can You Do it on Your Own? (Charity How To); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT
• Measuring the Impact and ROI of Training (Training Magazine Network); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT
• Sleeper Hits for Summer 2017 (Library Journal); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT

Wednesday, April 12

• Building a Digital Image Collection With Flickr: A low (or no) cost way to share your digital assets (Nebraska Library Commission); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., PDT
• Over Diagnosis: Why Too Many Lab Tests Are Bad for Your Health (NNLM); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT
• Accessing International Trade Data (U.S. Census Bureau); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT
• Managing Culture and Diversity in the Global Workplace (American Management Association); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., PDT
• PubMed for Librarians: Using Evidence-Based Search Features (NNLM); 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., PDT
• Fuel Yourself to Fulfill your Mission: Self-Care Tips for Social Impact Leaders (4Good); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., PDT
• Your Business by The Numbers: Census Business Builder App (U.S. Census Bureau); 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Results Reporting, Unique Evidence, and the Role of Medical Librarians (NNLM); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., PDT
• Introduction to Legal Issues in Collections Management (Connecting to Collections Care); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., PDT
• Planning for and Managing Storage for Digital Collections (FDLP Academy); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Brand architecture: Rethinking how you connect the dots of your programs (GuideStar); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Build an Engagement Plan for Successful Outreach (North Carolina Library Association); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Engage Constituents with Your Website (Firespring); 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., PDT
• Amazing, Fantastic, Insightful Videos – Techniques Using Stories Plus (Training Magazine Network); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT
• Informational Books for Storytime (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT

Thursday, April 13

• Income & Poverty Related Statistics (U.S. Census Bureau); 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. PDT
• American Indian and Alaskan Native Statistics Workshop with My Tribal Area (U.S. Census Bureau); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT
• Taking On New Job Responsibilities (AL Live); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT
• American Indian and Alaskan Native Statistics Workshop with My Tribal Area Repeated (U.S. Census Bureau); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Measuring America Series: Accessing Work From Home Data (U.S. Census Bureau); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
• Understanding the American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT
• PNR Partners (NNLM); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., PDT
• The Inclusive Library – Providing Service to Your Refugee and Immigrant Communities (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
• Inside Innovation Funding: Exploring Philanthropy at the Intersection of Problem-Solving, Technology and Design (GrantSpace); 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT
• Is Your Agency Blind to Cyber Risks? (GovLoop); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PDT

Friday, April 14

• Data on a Deadline: Quick Data Tools & Interactive Maps (U.S. Census Bureau); 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT
• Crisis in the Library: Are You Prepared? (NNLM); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., PDT

Saturday, April 15

• Google Training: Learn How to Use Collaborative Google Tools Step-by-Step (SimpleK12); 7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., PDT

For more information and to register (unless otherwise linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at sos.wa.gov/q/training.

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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:

• Facebook: fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: com/WAStateLib.

Volume 13, March 23, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) REFRESHING SCHOOL LIBRARIES GRANTS

2) RAISING VISIBILITY AND RELEVANCY

3) PUBLIC LIBRARY POLICIES UPDATE

4) THINK, DO, SHOW – EVALUATION WORKSHOP

5) IMLS RELEASES STATEMENT ON BUDGET

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know the average publication year of STEM books in many Washington school libraries is 1997?  While it’s true that “Trees haven’t changed much in the last 20 years.” formatting and the visual appeal of books have.  If we want to attract children to our collections it’s important that the material we provide is current and appealing.

With this thought in mind, last summer Youth Services Coordinator Carolyn Petersen solicited ideas from her Teacher Librarians advisory group. Out of this meeting of the minds came “The Future STEMS from Reading” grant cycle.  The Follett Book Publisher won the contract to supply three different collections of award winning books, Elementary, Middle and High School levels.

When the grant opened in the fall of 2015, the applications came pouring in.  Boy did this show how great the need truly was!  249 applications later we read about collections that were over 20 years old, books that were kept even though they were falling apart because there were no funds to replace them, and kids doing science projects with only the web as a resource because the school library had one or no up to date books on a topic.

In the end 230 collections are being sent out in January: 120 to elementary school libraries, 59 to middle school libraries and 51 to high school libraries. We can’t wait to see the pictures of the kids as they open the boxes and check out their new books.

Volume 11, September 24, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) HR – LOOKING OUT FOR RED FLAGS

2) STEM LSTA GRANT CYCLE OPENS

3) IMPLEMENTING WIOA IN RURAL AREAS

4) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) HR – LOOKING OUT FOR RED FLAGS

Most supervisors are surprised at the amount of time they spend on human resource issues. Do you have questions about Family Medical Leave, overtime/comp time, or how to deal with difficult employees? Join us for a First Tuesdays session with Pam Ward and Lynda Ring-Erickson of LRE Solutions as they tackle the topic “Things Librarians Should Know about Human Resources.” Bring your questions; as consultants they have worked through these issues and can help you find the answers.

First Tuesdays webinar: October 6, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit sos.wa.gov/q/FirstTuesdays. Instructions for joining the session are at sos.wa.gov/q/FirstT.

First Tuesdays was designed as a continuing-education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State; this free web presentation allows attendees share their skills and successes and learn about new topics. The special-subject presentations, lasting about 60 minutes, are recorded so that others may listen at their own convenience.

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2) STEM LSTA GRANT CYCLE OPENS

The Washington State Library (WSL) is pleased to announce “The Future STEMs from Reading” grant cycle. The recent recession resulted in cuts to many school library budgets. Since materials in science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) fields become dated quickly, budget shortfalls mean that many school library STEM book collections were particularly hard hit.

In response, WSL is providing an opportunity to help school libraries update their STEM collections. 230 STEM book collections aimed at elementary, middle, and high school students were put together from lists of award-winning books as suggested by an advisory committee of teacher-librarians.

230 STEM collections will be available. Of those, 120 will be awarded to elementary school libraries, 55 to middle school libraries, and 55 to high school libraries. All collections will contain 50 titles plus three professional development titles. The majority of copyrights are within the last 3 years. The book collections will be shipped to successful grant awardees.

All public school libraries are eligible to apply. The collections will be awarded via a one-page grant application process that will be made available at sos.wa.gov/q/grants. The grant cycle will open on Monday, September 28, at which time the application forms will be posted. Applications are due by 4 p.m. October 30, 2015. For questions, contact Carolyn Petersen [email protected].

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3) IMPLEMENTING WIOA IN RURAL AREAS

The WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) is federal legislation. This webinar will focus on what’s different about making workforce investment for youth meaningful in rural areas. Rural areas face challenges related to widely dispersed populations and distance from places to access goods and services in addition to poverty, lower educational attainment, and lower earnings.

In the webinar you will hear how the White House and the Administration are focused on rural areas, the goals and strategies of the Domestic Policy Council on rural affairs, and the important role the workforce system plays in helping young adults meet their education and employment goals. The new law provides opportunities for rural areas to establish regional strategies for youth service delivery, to coordinate planning across workforce system partners, and to use technology to ensure access to workforce services in remote areas. Hear about promising approaches that local youth service providers in two states have taken to solve some of their rural challenges.

The “Implementing WIOA In Rural Areas” webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Pacific Time. Use this link: sos.wa.gov/q/WIOA. A WorkforceOne site registration is required.

“Implementing WIOA In Rural Areas” is the eighth webinar in the “Enough is Known for Action” series for the youth community, hosted by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Division of Youth Services and Regional Offices, to inspire strategic planning and action now as the system is in the early stages of implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The full series is available on the WorkforceOne website via this shortcut: sos.wa.gov/q/Action.

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4) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

September 28

• Teacher-Librarian News Night (Teacher Librarian Virtual Cafe); 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. PDT
• ProQuest Research Library – With so many publications, how do you find the right one to search? 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

September 29

• Reading Nooks that Encourage Writing Too! (Georgia Public Library Service); 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. PDT
• How to protect the freedom to read in your library (Sage); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT
• Boundless Libraries: A Look at the 2015 New Landmark Libraries (Library Journal); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT

September 30

• Total Boox and New Ebook Pricing Models (Minitex); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT
• Getting Your Slice of the Pie – Identifying the Assets You Need in Your Community (4Good); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT
• Enough is Known for Action: Implementing WIOA In Rural Areas (WorkforceOne), 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., PDT
• STEAM & Día: Offering Informal Learning with a Mind Toward Diversity (Texas State Library and Archives); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT
• Libraries & Technology: The Librarian’s Online Management System (American Association of School Librarians); 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT

For more information and to register (unless otherwise linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at sos.wa.gov/q/training.

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

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: twitter.com/WAStateLib.

Volume 10, March 27, 2014 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SECURITY IN THE LIBRARY IS NO APRIL FOOLS JOKE

2) SCHOOL LIBRARIANS – SHARE YOUR STORIES!

3) LEMONY SNICKET ADVERSITY AWARD

4) ACRL CONFERENCE PROPOSALS SOLICITED

5) ALA DIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANTS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SECURITY IN THE LIBRARY IS NO APRIL FOOLS JOKE

How safe is your library? Do you have sufficient controls in place to protect your collections? Do you know what you should do to protect staff and patrons from harm? Come to next week’s First Tuesdays webinar, Security in the Library, where Brent Martin of First Response Consulting will share information on security as well as how to recognize someone under the influence. First Response Consulting specializes in teaching classes in First Aid, Defensive Tactics, and Firearms & Gun Safety in the Yakima area.

Designed as a continuing education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State, this free web presentation, which will take place on April 1, 2014, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PDT, lets attendees share their skills and successes and learn about new topics. Sessions are recorded so that others may listen at their own convenience. For more information about First Tuesdays, visit sos.wa.gov/q/tuesdays. For instructions on joining the presentation, visit sos.wa.gov/q/FirstTuesdays.

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2) SCHOOL LIBRARIANS – SHARE YOUR STORIES!

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of ALA, and ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) seek stories about parents and students who advocate for their school libraries. Stories shared will help AASL and OLA spread examples of parent and/or student advocacy to stakeholders nationally.

Stories should demonstrate how students and parents value their school library program and the essential place it holds in developing lifelong learning. Stories may feature parents and students who have gone to extraordinary measures to save their school library program and their certified school librarian. Stories may also portray parents and students engaging in small acts of everyday advocacy in support of their school library program.

Stories may be submitted on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/stories. The deadline for submission is April 11, 2014. AASL/OLA staff may follow-up for further information.

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3) LEMONY SNICKET ADVERSITY AWARD

ALA now offers the “Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity” to recognize a librarian who “has faced adversity with integrity and dignity intact.” The $3,000 prize will be given from Snicket’s “disreputable gains, along with an odd, symbolic object from his private stash, as well as a certificate, which may or may not be suitable for framing.”

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler, who has written several highly acclaimed children’s books. The books often feature the author appearing as a fictional character, a writer falsely accused of crimes and sought by his enemies as well as the police. Snicket himself believes that, in much the same spirit, librarians have suffered enough. It is his hope that, “The Snicket Prize will remind readers everywhere of the joyous importance of librarians and the trouble that is all too frequently unleashed upon them.”

The nominee must be a librarian. The deadline for candidates to be nominated for the first year is May 1. In subsequent years, the deadline will be Dec. 1. For additional information visit sos.wa.gov/q/snicket.

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4) ACRL CONFERENCE PROPOSALS SOLICITED

Libraries are living ecosystems that adapt, change, and innovate to remain relevant to their users, institutions, and the broader environment of higher education. To that end, academic librarians actively strive to build a sustainable world that fosters a creative, robust community of information generators and consumers. The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 2015 Conference Committee invites proposals that contribute to the academic library ecosystem by sharing research and creative endeavors on the conference theme “Creating Sustainable Community.”

The ACRL 2015 conference will be held March 25-28, 2015, in Portland, Ore. Contributed paper, panel session, preconference, and workshop proposals are due May 9, 2014. Poster session, roundtable discussion, TechConnect, and Virtual Conference webcast proposals are due Nov. 3, 2014.

Complete details on ACRL 2015, including the full Call for Participation, may be found by visiting sos.wa.gov/q/acrl-2015. Questions should be directed to Margot Conahan at [email protected] 312.280.2522; or Tory Ondrla at [email protected] phone 312.280.2515.

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5) ALA DIVERSITY RESEARCH GRANTS

ALA’s Office for Diversity seeks proposals for its Diversity Research Grant program. Applications may address any diversity topic—including the recruitment and promotion of diverse individuals within the profession or the provision of library services to diverse populations—which addresses critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity issues within library and information science.

The Diversity Research Grant consists of a one-time $2,500 award for original research. A jury of ALA members will evaluate proposals and can make up to three awards. Grant recipients will be announced ahead of the 2014 ALA Annual Conference and will be expected to compile the results of their research into a paper and to present and publish the final product in conjunction with the American Library Association within three months of completing their research.

The application deadline is April 30, 2014. Applicants must be current ALA members. For a complete list of the criteria, please visit: sos.wa.gov/q/diversity. Submissions should be submitted in a PDF or Word document attachment, and emailed to [email protected]. To ask questions, or to inquire about possible research topics, e-mail [email protected] or call 800.545.2433, ext. 5295.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, March 31:

• American Indian Libraries Initiative: Making Connections (IMLS/Department of the Interior, FEDLINK); 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/IMLS31Mar;

Tuesday, April 1:

• Mental Health First Aid (WSL); Richland Public Library, Richland, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PDT;
• First Tuesdays: Security in the Library (WSL); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT; sos.wa.gov/q/FirstTuesdays
• Have No Fear, Poetry is Here (Again!): Getting Children and Young Adults Excited about Poetry (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/BL1Apr;
• How To Create Eye-Catching Graphics For Your Nonprofit (Without Using Photoshop!) (4Good); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good1AprPM;

Wednesday, April 2:

• NCompass Live: Fizz, Boom, Read!: Summer Reading Program 2014 (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/NComp2Apr;
• “Small Bites” Learning (Training Magazine Network); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/TMNBites;
• Getting ready for WorldCat Discovery (OCLC); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/OCLC2Apr;
• When Crisis Threatens – How to Turn YOUR Organization Around (4Good); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good2Apr;
• Introduction to the ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ1003;
• Writing a Social Media Policy for Your Library (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/Info2Apr;
• A Donor is a Terrible Thing to Lose: Secrets to Getting More and Bigger Gifts (4Good); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good2AprPM;
• Legal Reference for Information Professionals (WSL); 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT;
• Uncovering the Story behind the Headlines (Gale Cengage and Library Journal); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/LJ2Apr;

Thursday, April 3:

• The Online Learner: Sinking or Swimming? (WebJunction); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;

Friday, April 4:

• FridayLive! Voice Transcription (TLT Group); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/TLT4Apr.

For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at sos.wa.gov/q/training.

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

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: twitter.com/WAStateLib.

Upon recommendation of Washington State Librarian Rand Simmons, the Office of the Secretary of State supported Senate Bill No. (SB) 6105 at a recent hearing. The bill addresses teacher-librarians and the provision of resources and materials for the operation of school library information and technology programs. It changes the name of “school-library media programs” to the “school library information and technology programs” thus updating the criteria for school library programs bringing them into the 21st Century!

Katie Blinn, Deputy Policy Director for the Office of the Secretary of State, said, “The bill reinforces the idea of libraries providing technology, not just books.” Certainly school libraries have been battered by the budget woes of the past few years. “Too often, it seems, cutting the school library is an easy budget reduction,” said State Librarian Rand Simmons. “But, I believe that teacher-librarians are integral to the education of students and this bill clarifies their role.”

The bill is a request of the Washington Library Media Association (WLMA). Sharyn Merrigan, the teacher-librarian at Marshall Middle School in Olympia and President-Elect of WLMA noted in her testimony before Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

“Teacher-librarians play a central role in their schools and in the education of students. At WLMA, we have identified the three main responsibilities of the 21st century teacher-librarian. Those responsibilities are:
• Support for information and technology literacy instruction
• Reading advocacy for lifelong learning and enrichment
• Equitable access to information resources and services
As an organization, we have adopted a framework for these three responsibilities, which can be summed up as Library, Information, and Technology, or LIT . . .”

WLMA’s legislative liaison, Sara Glass, teacher-librarian at Tumwater’s Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School supported the new language in SB 6105, by stating, “teacher-librarian in the school library information and technology program … describes how we provide both the vision and the leadership for emerging technologies that can transform student learning and the classroom curriculum.”

By the way, have you noticed the term “school librarian” hasn’t been mentioned? For at least a decade school librarians have adopted the term teacher-librarian because it both clarifies they are certified professional teachers and points to their focus on teaching.

The bill is supported by the Washington Education Association (WEA). Chief Lobbyist Lucinda Young says WEA will introduce a bill that “. . . would provide the funding for school districts to hire enough teacher-librarians for all our schools and return para-educators to full employment.”

SB 6105 was heard in committee of January 22, voted out of committee on January 24, and passed to Rules Committee on January 27. The next step will be a vote of the Senate. WLMA leaders are optimistic that the bill will receive favorable treatment in the House.

Public librarians and teacher-librarians met with legislators on Friday, January 24. The buzz over the reception of legislators to SB 6105 was both electrifying and gratifying.

Volume 8, October 4, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEWS FROM WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE

2) EBOOKS AND EREADERS SURVEY

3) FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP

4) CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK CHAPTERS

5) SCHOOL LIBRARY HUMANITIES AWARD

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) NEWS FROM WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE

Seven public libraries throughout the state recently completed work on 2011 LSTA grant projects for Washington Rural Heritage. The WSL-led digitization initiative currently provides online access to 25 collections representing the holdings of more than 80 cultural institutions. Explore some of the new content:

New grant-funded collections:

• Connell Heritage (www.washingtonruralheritage.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/connell) from the Connell Branch of Mid-Columbia Libraries, in partnership with the Connell Heritage Museum and the Franklin County Graphic;
• Nooksack Valley Heritage (www.washingtonruralheritage.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/nooksack) from the Everson McBeath Community Library, Whatcom County Library System;
• North Central Washington Heritage (www.washingtonruralheritage.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/ncrl) from the North Central Regional Library, in partnership with the Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship (IRIS).

New content from existing collections:

• Wilson Banner Ranch photos (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/asotin2011grant) from a private collection digitized by the Asotin County Library;
• Early Odessa, Washington photos (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/odessa2011grant) from the holdings of the Odessa Historisches Museum, digitized by the Odessa Public Library;
• Community life and coal mining photos (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/roslyn2011grant) from a private collection digitized by the Roslyn Public Library;
• Historic barn photos and more Fred L. Breckon portraits (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ellensburg2011grant) from the local history archives of the Ellensburg Public Library.

Participating libraries also continue to add content using local resources, volunteers, and alternative funding sources:

• From Whitman County Library (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/whitman2011-2012continuing). Almost 1,000 items from private collections and institutional partners;
• From the Stevenson Community Library, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/skamania2011-2012continuing). Privately held items documenting early Skamania County.

Six public libraries and one tribal library are currently working on grant projects for 2012-2013. Applications for a new LSTA grant cycle will be available on the Washington State Library website beginning in February, 2013. To find out more about Washington Rural Heritage, please contact Evan Robb, Project Manager at [email protected], 360-704-5228.

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2) EBOOKS AND EREADERS SURVEY

Infopeople (infopeople.org) would like your input for an online course on eReaders and downloading eBooks set to launch in January, 2013. A short survey has been created for the purpose of collecting your experience with various eReader devices and identifying topics that will address knowledge gaps and support issues related to downloading eBooks to electronic devices. The survey is located at www.surveymonkey.com/s/H787FGR.

Please feel free to pass this link on to anyone who may be interested. Your responses will guide development of a course targeted for front-line support staff who assist patrons in eBook content access and download. Information regarding this new Infopeople offering will be announced at a later time.

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3) FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP

You may have a disaster preparedness plan, but will it work when disaster strikes? Sign up today for the free workshop, “Are You Ready? Scenario Planning & Collaboration Among Heritage Institutions to Improve Disaster Preparedness for Collections,” funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Take a day to test your institution’s disaster plan to identify areas for improvement, to improve your ability to evaluate risks, and to work together with other participants to build a shared vision for regional disaster preparedness.

The workshop instructor is Gary Menges, Librarian Emeritus, University of Washington, and WESTPAS trainer. One workshop in the state of Washington is scheduled for the end of October:

• Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Everett Public Library;
• Pre-registration required no later than Monday, October 22, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.;

For additional information and to register, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/RUReadyEverett. For general and workshop content information, contact Gary Menges at [email protected]. For registration assistance, contact Alexandra Gingerich at [email protected].

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4) CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK CHAPTERS

Samantha Schmehl Hines, Associate Professor, Distance Education Coordinator, and Head of the Mansfield Library, University of Montana, is soliciting chapters for a book titled Revolutionizing the Development of Library and Information Professionals: Planning for the Future. Professor Hines requests content from anyone involved in professional development for a library association: conference planners, continuing education coordinators, researchers, writers, and presenters in the field. She is seeking a range of material focusing on all levels, types, and aspects of professional development.

Contact information: [email protected] or 406.243.7818.

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5) SCHOOL LIBRARY HUMANITIES AWARD

The ALA Public Programs Office is now accepting nominations for the $4,000 2013 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. School libraries, public or private, that served children in any combination of grades K-8 and conducted humanities programs during the 2011-2012 school year are eligible. Applications and award guidelines are available at www.ala.org/jaffarianaward. To be considered, nominations must be received by the ALA Public Programs Office by December 15.

The ALA Public Programs Office and ProgrammingLibrarian.org present the 2012 winner in an online learning opportunity especially for school librarians. Francis Feeley, school librarian of Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago, Ill., will present his award-winning humanities program model for school libraries ,”Who Are We?” which challenged seventh- and eighth-grade students to explore the individual and collective behavior of human beings in the past and present in a series of quarterly research projects. Feeley will discuss elements of his award application that lead to his selection, and give tips to prospective applicants to help get their applications started.

Workshop details:

• Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 2:00 PDT;
• Registration: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/who-are-we;
• Questions: ALA Public Programs Office: [email protected] or 800-545-2433 x5045.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, October 8:

• Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ437;
• ProQuest Learning: Literature (ProQuest); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ440;

Tuesday, October 9:

• All You Need to Know about E-reader services in Your Library (WSL); Richland Public Library, Richland, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PDT;
• My Research & RefWorks: Perfect Together (ProQuest); 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ438;
• Grantseeking Basics (GrantSpace); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Ring the Dinner Bell: New Cookbooks to Enjoy (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Google Yourself Silly (InSync); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Personal Gadgets and the Library (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Mental Health First Aid USA for Library Staff (ALA); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/MentalHealth;
• Factors Influencing Funding Decisions by Elected Politicians at the State/Provincial Level: A Case Study of Public Libraries in Canada (San Jose State University); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Common Core and ProQuest Resources (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ441;
• History Study Center (ProQuest); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ442;

Wednesday, October 10:

• New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations (ALA); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• All You Need to Know about E-reader services in Your Library (WSL); Ritzville Public Library, Ritzville, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PDT;
• Telling Your Story: Five Secrets for Successful Career Growth and Advancement (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• CultureGrams for Elementary Schools (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ443;
• Common Core and ProQuest Resources (ProQuest); 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ444;

Thursday, October 11:

• Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ439;
• All You Need to Know about E-reader services in Your Library (WSL); Hal Holmes Community Center, Ellensburg, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PDT;
• Helping Patrons Find Legal Assistance in their Community: Online Referral Tools (Pro Bono Net); 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ProBono11Oct;
• Warm Up to Reading: Getting Kids Hooked on Books (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Best Practices for Recruiting Online (VolunteerMatch); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/VMOnline;
• How to Approach a Foundation (GrantSpace); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Friday, October 12:

• Healthcare 101: Cradle to Grave (O’Reilly Community); 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PDT.

For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: bit.ly/TwitWSL.

Volume 8: March 29, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FUNDS FOR LIBRARY SUPPORT STAFF CERTIFICATION

2) FIRST TUESDAYS – MOVING TO EVERGREEN

3) LEARNING FROM BILINGUAL COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

4) CELEBRATE SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

5) LIBRARIES FOR ALL – SERVING DIVERSE POPULATIONS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) FUNDS FOR LIBRARY SUPPORT STAFF CERTIFICATION

The Washington State Library offers financial assistance to library support staff participating in the American Library Association’s Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program. The LSSC Program offers library employees the opportunity to achieve recognition for their experience and to increase skills and knowledge in areas like the foundations of librarianship, technology, and communication.

The Washington State Library will be offering five Registration Assistance Awards this spring. The Awards are for $175, one-half of the LSSC registration/application fee. To be eligible, applicants must have a high school degree or its equivalent and must have worked for the equivalent of one year (1820 hours) as a library staff member or volunteer within the past five years.

The LSSC Program is funded by a grant to ALA from the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services, and managed by the ALA-Allied Professional Association. The Registration Assistance Awards are part of this grant.

Applications are due May 1, 2012. Recipients will be notified by May 30. For more information and to apply, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/LSSC-RAA. LSSC information is available at ala-apa.org/lssc.

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2) FIRST TUESDAYS – MOVING TO EVERGREEN

Have you thought about leaving your library catalog vendor in the dust for Evergreen Open Source? King County Library System did, learning many valuable lessons along the way. You can benefit from the experience of KCLS as they describe and demonstrate their implementations and share other insights, from preparing the patrons, to training the staff. Participants will leave with valuable tips on how to, and how not to, successfully implement Evergreen.

Moving to Evergreen Open Source ILS: If we knew then what we know now, is the topic for April’s First Tuesdays webinar, presented by Darlene Pearsall, Jed Moffitt, Matthew Carlson, Lisa Hill, and Maggie Buckholz, April 3, 2012, 9:00 – 10:00 PDT. For more information about First Tuesdays, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/tuesdays. To join the presentation, and for instructions, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/FirstTuesdays.

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3) LEARNING FROM BILINGUAL COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

We know that the best time to learn a second language in life is to start as a baby, but why is that so? New studies are uncovering details on how experiences early in life literally shape babies’ brain and language development, and relate to other cognitive capacities. While there are marked differences between monolingual and bilingual patterns of learning, there are also fundamental similarities, observable from infancy. Whether learning one language or three, research findings can be applied to support all children’s learning, starting from their first relationships, and the quality of their interactions with adults in the first years of life.

Please join the UW’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) and the Washington State University (WSU) Parenting Education Series for a webinar on Early Bilingual Experience and its Relationship to Language and Cognitive Development by outreach specialist Gina Lebedeva, Ph.D. & SLP. This discussion will highlight current best evidence on early bilingual language development, key findings from early childhood bilingual brain research, and connections between executive function and bilingualism in young children.

The April 10, 2012 webinar will run from 11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Registration is limited to the first 100 applicants. To register, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/parentingApril10 and complete the registration process.

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4) CELEBRATE SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

Recognizing school libraries as the centers of the school community where learning, research, and collaboration happen and technologies and information resources are available 24/7, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) invites everyone to celebrate School Library Month in April. The 2012 theme, “You belong @ your library,” will highlight the role strong school libraries play in a student’s educational career. More information and resources can be found online at www.ala.org/aasl/slm.

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5) LIBRARIES FOR ALL – SERVING DIVERSE POPULATIONS

ASCLA, a division of ALA, offers expertise in serving special populations. Take advantage of this expertise: enroll in one of their upcoming webinars or online courses to gain valuable knowledge that will help transform your library’s services to Latino populations, the blind and visually impaired, and people with disabilities. These include:

• Webinar: Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired in Your Library: Thursday, April 5, 2012, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT;
• Online Course: Improving Library Services to People with Disabilities: April 23 – May 18, 2012;
• Webinar: Creating a Latino Friendly Library: May 17, 2012, Noon – 1:30 p.m. PDT.

Registration is open to all individuals interested in these topics, regardless of membership status, but discounts are available for ASCLA and ALA members, students, and retirees. For more information, and to register, use this shortcut: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ASCLA-learn.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Tuesday, April 3:

• OneClickdigital for Library Staff: Tour, Administration, Promotion (Recorded Books); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/RB-01;
• First Tuesdays: Moving to Evergreen Open Source ILS: If we knew then what we know now (WLS); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT;
• Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ241;
• OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing-Borrowing (Amigos); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• You’ve Got Male: Great New Books for Boys (Booklist ): 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;

Wednesday, April 4:

• Dream Big READ: Summer Reading Program 2012 (NCompass Live ); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• ProQuest Administrator Module (ProQuest); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ240;
• WorldCat Holdings: Why They Matter and the Tools to Maintain Them (OCLC ); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing-Lending (Amigos); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Skills for the Everyday Leader (WebJunction ); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT.

For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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Volume 7, February 24, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FIRST TUESDAYS – AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, AND LIBRARIANS, OH MY!

2) SIMPLY WASHINGTON – NEW & IMPROVED

3) LIBRARY LEGISLATION TRACKER

4) DOE GRANT – IMPROVING LITERACY THROUGH SCHOOL LIBRARIES

5) FREE WEBJUNCTION COURSES – MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Read the rest of this entry »

And it wasn’t even his OWN library!

Ten-year-old Niv Bhide heard that another school in town didn’t have some of the advantages that his school does. The other school doesn’t have a Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) to sponsor events like the Scholastic book fairs that he enjoyed at his own school.

So he and his mother wrote about 20 letters to folks they know in the community, thinking they might raise $100 or so for the library. Instead, the effort snowballed, and $2300 poured in, more than doubling the library’s annual book budget.

Read this entire heartwarming story in the Wenatchee World.

Way to go, Niv! Your efforts are awe-inspiring!

The Washington State Library salutes you!