From Our Corner

State Archives receives political icon Dan Evans’ scrapbooks

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One of Dan Evans' scrapbooks includes this 1972 photo of Evans, then Washington's governor, meeting with President Nixon (middle) and California Gov. Ronald Reagan (left) prior to a news conference at the White House.

As the official repository for state government… Read more

Classics in Washington History: Remembering Japanese Internment

Image From the desk of Kathryn Devine, from materials compiled in part by Judy Pitchford. Have you seen the library’s Classics in Washington History page? It’s an… Read more

WSL Updates for March 2, 2017

Volume 13, March 2, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) RECRUITING A LIBRARY CONSULTANT 2) FIRST TUESDAYS – CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE 3) PRIVACY LITERACY AT YOUR LIBRARY 4) NCCE ADOBE STORYTELLING ACADEMY 5) STATE OF DIGITIZATION REPORT 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) RECRUITING A LIBRARY CONSULTANT The Washington State Library, Office of the… Read more

Hey, put me down!

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Two skiers at Mount Rainier in 1940s. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

If you’re looking to go somewhere for winter recreation that has jaw-dropping views and can take your breath away (or at least make you pant a little bit due to the altitude), try Paradise in… Read more

WA state politics forum draws crowd

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Secretary Wyman (left) with Cornell Clayton, Todd Donovan, Sen. Hans Zeiger, Maria Chavez and Nicholas Lovrich after the forum ended.

A panel discussion on the state of politics in our Washington attracted a standing-room-only crowd at a public forum Friday on the Capitol Campus. The public… Read more

Where in the State is Cindy Aden?

Since taking the helm of the State Library on August 1, 2016 our new librarian Cindy Aden has been on the go! While Cindy is a past president of WLA and has worked in Washington for many years, it’s been a while since she visited some of the more remote corners of the state. Cindy set herself the ambitious goal of meeting every one of her employees before the year was out. While most of the State Library staff is in the Olympia area, the institutional libraries are scattered all over the… Read more

WSL Updates for February 23, 2017

Volume 13, February 23, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE 2) FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 101 3) BEYOND THE WALLS – TV WHITESPACE FUNDING 4) THE CHANGING ROLE OF LIBRARIES 5) ALA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Want to revitalize your information literacy tutorial, but not… Read more

WTBBL hosts Regional Braille Challenge event

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Students meet Oskar the cat at Regional Braille Challenge. (Photos courtesy of WTBBL)

Several Washington kids came to the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle last Saturday to compete in an academic competition that promotes… Read more

Centralia Daily Hub

Image From the desk of Nikki Chiampa The Centralia Daily Hub began as an Independent newspaper on September 29, 1913 with editor George A. Dew and publisher Madison "Elsy" Ellsworth Cue at the helm. The other publisher of the paper was the Hub Printing Company, Inc., an enterprise of which Cue was president. The Daily… Read more

Just in time for Presidents Day: Archives photos of presidents visiting our Washington

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President Harry S. Truman with Gov. Monrad Wallgren during his 1945 visit to Washington. (Photos courtesy Washington State Archives)

Even though Washington state is 3,000 miles away from Washington, D.C., we do sometimes… Read more

WSL Updates for February 16, 2017

Volume 13, February 16, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) SIGN UP FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE 2) VISUALIZING (AND FINDING!) LIBRARY FUNDING 3) NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 4) NEW IMLS GRANT OPPORTUNITY 5) WE’RE WAY PAST PEAS – USES OF GENETIC INFORMATION 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) SIGN UP FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE There’s only a week left to sign up… Read more

WTBBL director learns about global disability issues during Egypt trip

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WTBBL Director Danielle Miller visits the Federal Egyptian Association for Intellectual Disabilities during her trip to Egypt. (Photos courtesy of Danielle Miller)

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library provides… Read more

A poetry book just for Valentine's Day

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

For those of you who love poetry and rank Valentine's Day among your favorite holidays, the State Library has just the thing for you. It’s a hand-pressed book of romantic and Valentine’s Day-themed… Read more

How does the State Library impact your community?

Image The Washington State Library (WSL) has compiled fact sheets to illustrate funding and support from WSL to libraries across the state. We do this annually organized by legislative and congressional district. Our Congressional District fact sheets are now available online and we expect to have Legislative District fact sheets posted on our website by the… Read more

“Who Are We?” contest winners honored

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Secretary Wyman with the "Who Are We?" contest winners in her office. (Photo courtesy of Laura Mott)

Visiting the state Capitol in Olympia is a fun and memorable experience by itself. But if you’re a student and getting an award during your visit, it’s unforgettable. That was the case for five… Read more

WSL Updates for February 9, 2017

Volume 13, February 9, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN YOUR LIBRARY 2) WSL GRANT DEADLINE EXTENDED 3) USER EXPERIENCE WAIT LISTS 4) VOLUNTEER AT MLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5) EZRA JACK KEATS MINIGRANTS 6) BECOME A NASA@ MY LIBRARY PARTNER 7) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN YOUR LIBRARY All library staff… Read more

From the Archives: 1929 Kettle Falls basketball team photo

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(Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives)

The regular season is ending for high school basketball teams throughout Washington. For many teams, it means no more practices and games. But for others, the playoffs await. With anticipation… Read more

It all started with a training offered by the Washington State Library...

We received this message from Jamie Allwine, the Library Manager at Timberland's Winlock Library. It was such a great story that we asked her permission to share it. Thanks Jamie, you've made our day.

Image The Winlock Library's ascent into STEM really started with a WSL workshop that Joe Olayvar and Evelyn Lindberg put on at Timberland's Service Center. I had never touched a programmable robot but I left that day KNOWING that the kids (… Read more

State Archives does its part to get rid of paper in state government

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Some of the shelves at the State Records Center in Tumwater.

As you enter the Washington State Archives’ State Records Center at the south end of Tumwater, the first thing you notice are the rows of shelves of cardboard boxes that literally rise to the ceiling… Read more

Hey, I don't see Benton County on this map!

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1904 Washington map. (Image courtesy of Legacy Washington)

Anyone who is really into Washington geography knows that our state has 39 counties. But did you know that hasn’t always been the case? There was a time when a few of today’s counties weren’t even around at the… Read more

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The Washington Office of the Secretary of State’s blog provides from-the-source information about important state news and public services.

This space acts as a bridge between the public and Secretary Steve Hobbs and his staff, and we invite you to contribute often to the conversation here.

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The comments and opinions expressed by users of this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the Secretary of State’s Office or its employees. The agency screens all comments in accordance with the Secretary of State’s blog use policy, and only those that comply with that policy will be approved and posted. Outside comments will not be edited by the agency.