From Our Corner

2016 Teen Video Challenge under way

Image It's no secret that teenagers LOVE to make videos. A contest has just started that can put all of their video-making talent to good use. The Washington State Library and the Collaborative Summer… Read more

Foley Institute/OSOS Forum: Governing in polarized times

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Dr. Lilliana Mason answers an audience member's question as fellow panelists Boris Shor, state Sen. Ann Rivers and state Rep. Eric Pettigrew (l to r) listen.

Washington is one of America's most polarized states, ranking third most politically divided… Read more

Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/19/2016

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Hearing
Date… Read more

Clippings February 19, 2016

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of February 19, 2016 Library News Vandalized bench A bench, donated to the Newport Library by Mary Yann in memory of her late husband, Garry Yann, was vandalized sometime between January 17 and January 19. The book drop… Read more

WSL Updates for February 19, 2016 - Special Edition

Volume 12, February 19, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list SPECIAL EDITION - WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARIAN POSITION The next regular edition of WSL Updates will be published on Thursday, February 25, 2016. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APPLICATION DEADLINE: WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARIAN POSITION The Office of the Secretary of State is currently recruiting for the following position:

State Library/Microsoft IT Academy is now Imagine Academy

Image The popular Washington State Library/Microsoft IT Academy is getting a new name – the Microsoft Imagine Academy. Since launching in November 2013 as a partnership between the State Library, Microsoft, and Washington… Read more

Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/18/2016

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Hearing Date Companion Bills 2SHB 1106 Operating bdgt 2015, 2015… Read more

WSL Updates for February 18, 2016

Volume 12, February 18, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE 2) GAINING STEAM WITH LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3® 3) 2016 WASHINGTON VIRTUAL REFERENCE CONFERENCE 4) WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH THE UNDERSERVED 5) FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN LIBRARIES 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE The Washington State Library and the… Read more

Secretary Wyman helps launch bipartisan voter project

Image Secretary of State Kim Wyman has joined Starbucks and business and non-profit leaders and voter groups in helping launch a nationwide project to encourage employees to register, vote and engage themselves in their… Read more

Washington State Library Staff Helps Decipher the Writing on the Wall

Image Recently the Seattle Times published an article about handwriting and about one lawmaker’s efforts to mandate cursive writing… Read more

Clippings February 12, 2016

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of February 12, 2016 Library News Mayor outlines library plan… Read more

OCLC features Washington Rural Heritage maps and timelines

From the desk of Evan Robb The Washington Rural Heritage project was recently featured in a piece by OCLC—the company behind CONTENTdm. The piece highlights our use of interactive maps, geo-referenced digital objects, and timelines, using free tools from Northwestern University's Knight Labs. Read more here: http://www.oclc.org/en-US/news/announcements/2016/CONTENTdm-news-item-January-2016.html… Read more

2016 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/12/2016

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Hearing
Date… Read more

New Deal-era Art Digitization at the Ellensburg Public Library

Image From the desk of Evan Robb Washington Rural Heritage staff hit the road recently to help the Ellensburg Public Library digitize unique works by New Deal-era artist Ernest R. Norling. Known most widely for his important 1939 book on drawing, "Perspective Made… Read more

WSL Updates for February 11, 2016

Volume 12, February 11, 2016 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) 2016 WASHINGTON VIRTUAL REFERENCE CONFERENCE 2) ASK A LIBRARIAN SERVICE AT WSL 3) NONPROFIT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES 4) FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN LIBRARIES 5) SPRING HAPPENINGS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) 2016 WASHINGTON VIRTUAL REFERENCE CONFERENCE

CFD: ‘Dynasty of Giving’

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Combined Fund Drive staff with Gov. Inslee. (Photos courtesy of CFD)

State employees in Washington continue to show their generosity and willingness to help their communities. For 12 years, state employees have given… Read more

The Washington State Library is a depository for state publications

Are you aware that the Washington State Library is not only a Federal Depository Library but also a Washington State Depository? This means that we collect, preserve and provide access to all publications created by Washington State Agencies. In 1963 the State Legislature created Washington State Depository Program and RCW Chapter 40.06 to ensure that our… Read more

Presidential caucuses/primary: `WA voters will have a voice’

Image With the Iowa caucuses behind us, and the New Hampshire primary coming up Tuesday, you might be wondering how Washington’s presidential nomination process works -- and with good reason! Rather than just a caucus or a primary, the Evergreen… Read more

2016 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/05/2016

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Hearing
Date… Read more

For Black History Month: WSL’s federal docs on African Americans

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(Image courtesy of Washington State Library)

We recently… 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.