WA Secretary of State Blogs

WSL Updates for December 15, 2016

Thursday, December 15th, 2016 Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, Grants and Funding, Library 21 Initiative, News, State Library Collections, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for December 15, 2016


Volume 12, December 15, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WSL REMEMBERS JOHN GLENN & LIBRARY 21

2) 2017 WLA CONFERENCE PROPOSALS SOLICITED

3) NEA BIG READ GRANTS

4) EZRA JACK KEATS MINIGRANTS

5) TEEN SUMMER READING WEBINAR

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Olympics of the Mind and Body – July 2016

Friday, July 1st, 2016 Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public | Comments Off on Olympics of the Mind and Body – July 2016


From the desk of Shirley Lewis olympics of the mind and body

July 1

Explore historic forts: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Fort Nisqually Living History Museum are two examples which were established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in what later became Washington Territory.

July 4 – Observe our nation’s independence by marveling at the scope of U.S. Government publications. Washington State Library is a regional Federal Depository Library for Washington and Alaska. We’ve got the day off to celebrate, but if you have questions about federal government publications, please Ask a Librarian at the Washington State Library.

July 5

Take a hike — or a walk — Washington has trails for all modes of perambulation. How about the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park? This trail traverses the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, a not-for-profit organization that works to conserve land from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington.

July 6

Charles Dudley Warner wrote “politics makes strange bedfellows“(Summer in a Garden, Fifteenth Week, end of second paragraph). Here’s a few of biographies and oral histories of notable Washingtonians involved in government, politics, and journalism. Strange bedfellows?

You decide:

July 7

Got dairy? Visit the Washington Dairy Products Commission to learn about Washington’s dairy industry. Check out the Facebook page, too. The cheese doesn’t stand alone in Toledo (Lewis County); it has a parade! Meanwhile, at Washington State University’s Creamery in Pullman, they can Cougar Gold® cheese so you can eat what they can.

July 8

Enjoy the purple haze and fragrance of fields of lavender: Sequim Lavender Festival, Blue Mountain Lavender Farm in the Walla Walla Valley and Pelindabra Lavender (San Juan Island).

July 11

Explore North Cascades National Park – you’ll find beautiful scenery, a landscape of fascinating ecosystems, and hikes which challenge the body and mind. If you can’t make it there, enjoy a new exhibit at the Burke Museum in Seattle: Wild Nearby – Discover Washington’s North Cascades or try reading North Cascades Traveler’s Guide or The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby from your deck chair.

July 12

Discover the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), a program of the Washington State Library. Located in Seattle, WTBBL provides library services state-wide, at the library and by mail, to any Washington resident unable to read standard print material due to blindness, visual impairment, deaf-blindness, physical disability (cannot hold a book or turn pages), or reading disability.

July 13

Get your kicks with soccer: root for the Seattle Sounders FC, read about the Seattle Sounders famous rivalry with the Portland Timbers or celebrate 50 years of soccer with Washington Youth Soccer.

July 14

Aviation is a super (sonic) part of Washington’s history. Fly high with a Boeing test pilot’s memoir, restore vintage airplanes in the youth program at the Port Townsend Aero Museum, read about and visit Pearson Field in Vancouver, or soar into the Museum of Flight. Learn about flights that didn’t go so well in Aircraft Wrecks of the Pacific Northwest, Volume 1 and Volume 2.

July 15

The Washington Blueberry Commission serves the blueberry growers of Washington who serve us delicious, nutritious blueberries. Find a farm and enjoy those fresh berries.

July 18

Get teed off – go golfing! There are golfers and public courses throughout Washington. The City of Spokane has four municipal golf courses. Chambers Bay, owned and operated by Pierce County, hosted the U.S. Open in 2015; read all about the course in America’s St. Andrews: Linking Golf from its Past to its Future.

July 19

Enjoy the people, places, and rolling landscape on the Palouse Scenic Byway.

July 20

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage is a great hike to view the geologic forces which shaped Washington.

July 21

Visit the New Dungeness Lighthouse near Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula – hike or boat to the lighthouse; climb the stairs to see the view; learn how you can be a keeper. Operating since 1857, the lighthouse has a long history. Washington State Library has a copy of List of Visitors to the New Dungeness Lighthouse from 1895 to 1920.

July 22

Ride a bike – the Washington State Department of Transportation works to provide a safe ride for bicyclists. It’s paying off because Washington has been named the nation’s number one “Bicycle Friendly State” by the League of American Bicyclists for several years.

July 25

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Washington Native Plant Society. Washington State Library subscribes to the Society’s journal, Douglasia.

July 26

Come listen to the music in the great outdoors: the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival; the Olympic Music Festival; the Gorge Amphitheatre; and at the Artisans at the Dahmen Barn (near Uniontown in Whitman County) are just a few concerts available.

July 27

Delve into the past and present with Washington newspapers at the Washington State Library. The newspaper collection includes current issues on paper and historic newspapers on microfilm with some searchable online. WSL subscribes to about 125 daily and weekly newspapers throughout Washington.  The microfilm collection consists of over 40,000 reels of newspapers dating from the 1850s to the present. Search Washington State Library’s online catalog for newspapers by City, County, Title, Subject, or Keywords.

July 28

Climbing every mountain? You’ve got plenty to pick from here and some good company, too. Read Jim Whittaker’s A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond, or Fred Beckey’s climbing guides to Washington mountains or Mike Gauthier’s Mount Rainier: a Climbing Guide.

July 29

Get on board a Washington state ferry: cruise on Puget Sound or cross the Columbia River. You can also cross the Columbia from Washington to Oregon on a Wahkiakum County ferry. You might need something to read while you wait in line (it does happen), so try Safe Passage: the Birth of Washington State Ferries: a HistoryLink Book.

 

Summer Reading in Washington

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016 Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public | Comments Off on Summer Reading in Washington


Chld Canoe copyFrom the desk of Carolyn Petersen

Schools are out and kids are signing up in droves to participate in their public library’s summer reading program.

Research has shown that children who continue to read over the summer maintain their reading skills and that summer involvement with reading leads to better academic skills when children return to school in the fall.

Summer reading isn’t just for grade school children. In addition to grade school children, preschoolers, teens, and adults can find programs to encourage them to read at public libraries. This year’s theme is sports related: On your mark, get set….Read.

The Washington State Library supports public libraries across the state by participating in a nationwide consortium of youth services librarians who voluntarily contribute the program ideas and processes which make up the resource manual. The State Library pays for each public and tribal library location to receive a copy of this manual in the fall of the year so that they can begin planning for the following summer.

Make reading and learning a regular part of summer by joining others in your community for lots of good reads and special programs at your local public library.

Summer Reading at our Institutional Libraries

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 Posted in Articles, For Libraries, Grants and Funding, Institutional Library Services | Comments Off on Summer Reading at our Institutional Libraries


spark a reation ILS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past summer the innovative staff in eleven of our Institutional Libraries tried something new. They formed a Summer Reading Program for the inmates and patients. Starting with the theme “Spark a Reaction” used in Public Libraries around the country. Every month had a theme. In June: Controversies & Music; July: Science Fiction Trivia; and in August: Spark a Reaction Chemistry. The inmates and patients were encouraged to keep a reading log of all the books they read, number of pages per book and if they were interested, to write a book review. Each month’s theme had an activity/trivia sheet to fill out which corresponded to the monthly theme. The activities went very well and the inmates were excited about filling the sheets out.  Each person received a certificate of participation for books and pages read, and for each activity they participated in with three possible certificates: books, pages logged and activities.  Participants also received great bookmarks that had the theme “Spark a Reaction” on them, some in English and some in Spanish.

And now… the numbers. Around Washington State, 3,337 books, a total of 1,822,015 pages were read by 586 participants. 23 Book reviews were written, 233 trivia sheets were filled out and 172 certificates were handed out. But best of all everyone had fun. As Sharon Brewer, Library Associate at the Washington Corrections Center Branch Library said, “This was our first time doing the ILS Summer Reading Program and I believe it was a great success! “

WSL Updates for May 22, 2014

Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for May 22, 2014


Volume 10, May 22, 2014 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FIRST TUESDAYS – MAKE YOUR WEEDING EASIER

2) CE GRANTS FOR STARTING STRONG

3) WALE 2014 SESSION PROPOSALS

4) 2014 SUMMER READING LISTS AVAILABLE

5) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) FIRST TUESDAYS – MAKE YOUR WEEDING EASIER

Weeding – whether it’s in your garden or in your library, it’s a chore. Find out how to make weeding in your library easier at the next First Tuesdays, Weeding made easy. At this free webinar, Chris Rippel of the Central Kansas Library system, will demonstrate how to use “Collection Manager,” a free Excel spreadsheet that he has developed to produce data to make it easier for public librarians to weed their collections. Chris will explain how to use this tool to discover:

  • Which collections to weed;
  • Which collections to expand;
  • Which collections to decrease;
  • How many titles to purchase in each collection.

Designed as a continuing education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State, this free web presentation, which will take place on June 3, 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) CE GRANTS FOR STARTING STRONG

Each year, the Starting Strong Institute brings together members of Washington’s early learning community in a conference that facilitates the sharing of innovative ideas and strengthens the connections between early learning and K-12 professionals. The 2014 Starting Strong Institute will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Tuesday, August 5 – Wednesday, August 6, 2014. The conference will include breakout sessions focused on P-3 (pre-school through 3rd grade) alignment and implementation including WaKIDS, the Early Learning Guidelines and Common Core, and Community Collaboration. For more information about the conference and to register, visit sos.wa.gov/q/OSPIStrong.

Librarians and support staff who need financial assistance to attend this event may be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) grants, provided they work ten or more hours per week (paid or volunteer) in a library or library consortia that is eligible to receive LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funds. Training must meet one or more of the 7 LSTA priorities and have a direct benefit to the library customer. To provide additional support during these hard economic times, the Washington State Library is temporarily lowering the match for CE grants to 25%, and will cover the remaining 75% of eligible expenses. CE Grant applications must be postmarked no later than 30 days before the beginning of the conference. For additional information about CE Grants and to apply, visit sos.wa.gov/q/CE.

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3) WALE 2014 SESSION PROPOSALS

WALE (Washington Library Employees), an interest group of the Washington Library Association, is seeking presenters for its 2014 annual conference, “Prism of Possibilities: Lighting the Future,” which will be held October 27 – 29, 2014, at Campbell’s Resort in Lake Chelan, Washington. Please consider sharing the experiences that have enabled you to better yourself, your job, and those you serve. Potential topics include anything that you have developed, borrowed, or improved upon – a new tool for the trade, a new skill set, a new way of looking at things. Also – think outside the library. Presenters from outside of libraries are welcome to submit proposals.

To submit:

All conference proposals are due by Friday, June 13, 2014.

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4) 2014 SUMMER READING LISTS AVAILABLE

Starr LaTronica, president of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, has stated, “Summer reading helps prevent the summer slide that affects many children each year. By encouraging children to stay engaged in reading throughout the summer at home and at their library they will be more prepared for the next school year.”

To encourage K-8 students to continue to read during the summer months, ALSC has updated and released three Summer Reading lists that offer a multitude of book titles to keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer. Each list may be downloaded for free from the ALSC website and is available in color or black and white. Lists can be customized to include library information, summer hours, and summer reading programs for children. To find out more and to download the lists, go to ala.org/alsc/2014-summer-reading-list.

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5) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, May 26:

  • ProQuest Administrator Module (Language: Spanish) (ProQuest); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ1040;
  • ProQuest Administrator Module (Language: Portuguese) (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ1041;

Tuesday, May 27:

  • Secrets to Harnessing Powerful Employee Performance (Training Magazine Network); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/Harness;
  • Introduction to Fundraising Planning (GrantSpace); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/GS27May;
  • My Library’s Future – What is a MakerSpace and Deciding If Your Patrons Would Benefit From a 3D Printer (Texas State Library); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/TSL27May;
  • Understanding Software Agreements: The Legal Concerns Nonprofits Should Know (4Good); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good27MayPM;

Wednesday, May 28:

  • NCompass Live: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Introducing GAFE (Google Apps for Education) to Elementary Students (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/NComp28May;
  • Diversity Awareness for Effective Nonprofits (4Good); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good28May;
  • Transforming Novices into Experts – Faster and Cheaper Ways (Training Magazine Network); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/novice;
  • Feeding a Need: Helping Youth Find Summer Meals (TechSoup); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/feedneed;
  • Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ1038;
  • Health Happens in Libraries: Technology Planning for eHealth (WebJunction); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/WJ28May;
  • Getting Answers: OCLC WorldShare Management Services Online Chat (OCLC); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/OCLC28May;
  • Spotlight! on National Library of Medicine (NLM) Resources: Mobile Resources (National Network of Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/NLM28May;
  • 45 Great FUNdraising Ideas in 60 Minutes (4Good); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/4Good28MayPM;
  • Proposal Writing Basics (GrantSpace); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/GS28May;

Thursday, May 29:

  • Introduction to the ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ1039;
  • Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want (Training Magazine Network); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/growgo;
  • Proposal Budgeting Basics (GrantSpace); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/GS29May;
  • Leading Without Authority (WSL); 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT, North Central Regional Library Distribution Center, Wenatchee: sos.wa.gov/q/LeadWithout.

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WSL Updates for February 10, 2011

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 Posted in For Libraries, News, Technology and Resources, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for February 10, 2011


Volume 7, February 10, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SDL RFP RELEASED

2) WASHINGTON NEWSPAPERS ON MICROFILM

3) SUMMER READING EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM

4) FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE COURSES

5) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for November 18, 2010

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, For the Public, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | 1 Comment »


Volume 6, November 18, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – WAHKIAKUM COUNTY HERITAGE

2) FIRST TUESDAYS – DOES YOUR AUDIENCE HEAR YOU?

3) WSL HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS ADDS ARGUS

4) 2010 ADULT SUMMER READING SURVEY

5) ONLINE CONFERENCE – SERVING THE 21ST CENTURY PATRON

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for September 30, 2010

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 Posted in Digital Collections, For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for September 30, 2010


Volume 6, September 30, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SDL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS

2) WSL CONTRIBUTES 115,000 PAGES TO CHRONICLING AMERICA

3) FIRST TUESDAYS PRESENTS SUMMER READING PREVIEW

4) FREE PRESERVATION WORKSHOPS

5) LAURA BUSH 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIAN GRANTS

6) STRETCH DONATIONS FOR NOLO BOOKS

7) TRAVEL GRANTS TO ATTEND ALA MIDWINTER

8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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WSL Updates for June 3, 2010

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 Posted in For Libraries, Grants and Funding, News, Training and Continuing Education | Comments Off on WSL Updates for June 3, 2010


Volume 6, June 3, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) RENEW WASHINGTON GRANT CYCLE DEADLINE IS JUNE 18TH

2) SUMMER READING – FREE PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES

3) LAST CHANCE – EFFECTIVELY SERVING PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES

4) ELLUMINATION! INTRODUCTION TO ELLUMINATE

5) IMPROVING HEALTH LITERACY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

6) GET STARTED WITH TECHSOUP’S PRODUCT DONATION PROGRAM

7) NOW HEAR THIS – AUDIOBOOKS A TO Z

8) CONDUCTING SURVEYS II – DATA COLLECTION

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WSL Updates for March 25, 2010

Thursday, March 25th, 2010 Posted in For Libraries, News, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for March 25, 2010


Volume 6, March 25, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK APRIL 11-17

2) CHANGE THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AND YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING

3) SHARE YOUR DÍA CELEBRATION

4) 2010 ADULT SUMMER READING LOGO AVAILABLE ONLINE

5) OCLC TRAINING AT THE NISQUALLY TRIBAL CENTER

6) SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES – GRANTS AVAILABLE

7) FUNDING FOR HIV/AIDS COMMUNITY INFORMATION OUTREACH PROJECTS

8) PICTURING AMERICA DEADLINE EXTENDED

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