From Our Corner

A.B. Ernst

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Time has rewarded the Dutchman who ran the potato-bug newspaper, while The Argus is now mostly a political footnote in Washington State political… Read more

Budget breakthrough means no shutdown

Image Gov. Jay Inslee and legislative leaders from both parties and both houses on Thursday announced the good news that had eluded them for weeks -- a budget deal that will avert a partial government shutdown. The state is… Read more

Territorial Collection Trivia

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: In the summer of 2002 I was given an assignment that turned out to be a career highlight for me as a cataloger to use my vast powers for Good. The task was to… Read more

Central Asian student leaders visit our office

Image One of the highlights of working in our office is seeing the flow of visitors to the Capitol, not only from our state but from around America and the world. The latest example is a group of 20 female… Read more

June 2013 Dear Dewey is Out!!!

Image Check it out HERE!

Clippings for the week of June 21, 2013

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library News Star Wars Stormtroopers, balloon animals, music and a stilt walker were just a few of the many things that happened on Saturday, May 11th at the Camas Public Library. The event was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the… Read more

Picnicking in Spokane a century ago

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

With summer supposedly here (Sunday night’s drenching around Olympia suggests otherwise), many of us will be looking for excuses to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Whether you’re part of a couple, a family or a group of friends, a picnic in a park on a nice day is hard to beat. That was the case 100 years ago, as shown in the photo of a group picnicking at Manito Park in… Read more

OCLC WorldShare ILL Update & Training Information

Image As a reminder, all libraries currently using OCLC’s WorldCat Resource Sharing (WCRS) service need to plan a migration to the new WorldShare® Interlibrary Loan service between now and the end of the calendar year, when WCRS will no longer be available. Academic libraries that belong to Washington Group Services (sos.wa.gov/q/waywho) are encouraged to migrate as a group in July and August. Members of… Read more

Patriotism in every stitch

Image Currently being hung in the Secretary of State’s lobby in the State Capitol are 13 “Quilts of Valor”. Each quilt has been beautifully handmade by residents of Washington and will be proudly displayed for the month of July. The lobby is being… Read more

Dry Utopia in Mason County

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: We are in the upper lefthand corner. We are on the edge. We are an experiment. Compared to the rest of the Lower 48, Washington State has always been an… Read more

New video focuses on military voting

Image We’ve just finished a cool new video that chronicles efforts on behalf of our office to assist military voters. Watch the video here. Entitled “Serving Those Who Serve – A… Read more

WSL Updates for June 20, 2013

Volume 9, June 20, 2013 for the WSL Updates mailing list WSL Updates will be on hiatus next week. Have a safe and happy July 4th! Topics include: 1) EVENTS FOR (ALMOST) EVERYONE 2) IPAD TABLET LAB GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 12 3) FREE DISASTER PLANNING WORKSHOP 4) CALL FOR PROPOSALS – ONLINE NORTHWEST 5) WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE – DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO? 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES… Read more

Budget leaders: 320 million reasons to avert shutdown

Image Relieved budget writers say Washington should be able to avoid a government shutdown, after getting the year's best revenue news, new, more robust revenue projections and a $90 million reduction in expected caseload… Read more

Farewell to Native exhibit, hello to Quilts of Valor

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Staff carefully remove panels from the Native Indian tribe exhibit.

The Office of the Secretary of State has packed up the Northwest Indian tribe exhibit and soon will be hanging the new exhibit, "Quilts of Valor,"… Read more

Clippings for the week of June 14, 2013

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library News It’s time again for Orcas Library to plan for next year’s magazine and newspaper collection. We strive to have the best collection for local interests that space and funding will allow. You can be a part of this process by submitting… Read more

It’s Flag Day

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives)

For many schoolchildren here in Washington, June 14 is the first day of summer vacation or the last day of school. It’s also… Read more

Graduation Day for new State Patrol troopers

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(Photo courtesy of Patrick McDonald)

With several hundred family members, friends and veteran troopers watching, 27… Read more

The Northwestern Industrial Army and the Battle at Sprague

[caption id="attachment_11137" align="alignleft" width="428"] Image Photo from… Read more

WSL Updates for June 13, 2013

Volume 9, June 13, 2013 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) GRADUATE STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS 2) HEALTHY LIVING GRANT PROGRAM 3) COMMUNITY GRANTS HELP TEENS BUILD 21ST CENTURY SKILLS 4) US CENSUS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 5) SURVEY FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) GRADUATE STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS The Washington Library Association… Read more

Washington's Second Library is Also the First

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: Although the Washington Territorial/State Library was formed in 1853, making it the first library and indeed cultural institution in Washington to… Read more

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Steve Hobbs

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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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