From Our Corner

WSL Updates for November 9, 2017

Volume 13, November 9, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include (hunt for them: child care and daycare): 1) WEBJUNCTION AND SKILLPORT 2) EARLY ACHIEVERS 3) OPEN DATA IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES 4) CONSUMER GUIDES TRANSLATED 5) TWO FROM NNLM 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK… Read more

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Student Mock Election results mirror statewide outcome

Each year, students across Washington get to participate in a mock election to show how they would vote on candidates and measures if given the chance in real life. The Mock Election is a non-partisan, educational event that teaches kids to be informed voters. Nearly 180,000 students have voted in Washington's annual Mock Election since 2004. Students vote on the same measures and candidates adults will decide. Not surprisingly, the student results were very similar to those of Washington's… Read more

WSL Updates for November 2, 2017

Volume 13, November 2, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Note: WSL Updates is on partial hiatus because of the Washington Library Association Conference this week, with only the CE events calendar provided. Normal publication will resume next week. Topics include: 1) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FREE CE… Read more

A job in the library helps foster new growth and knowledge

Image Sue Box, the librarian at Airway Heights Corrections Center sent us a great story the other day about a young man who is a clerk in the library. This is a position in the prison that is assigned for two years. Sue described it as a dream job for the library users because they are there every day and get to be the first to see, and check out, new items. (Do any of you relate to that?) In order to be chosen there are a number of “tests” that… Read more
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WTBBL offering braille transcribing course

If you’ve ever been interested in learning braille, what better place to learn it than at the state’s premier braille-service library? Earlier this October, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library kicked off its annual braille transcribing course. (Sorry, it’s too late to join the class this year. But it’s likely the class will be offered next October.) The free class started with 21 enrollees, the second-highest number since the class was… Read more

Washington State Library Community Book Project

Image Back in 2008 an idea was born. Many Washington Libraries were catching on to Nancy Pearl’s brilliant “One Book, Community wide read” idea. A book was selected each year for the entire community to read, programs were developed around that book and the book would bring the community together for discussions around shared topics. In preparation for a program libraries would invest in dozens, or sometimes hundreds of copies of a book. At the… Read more

WSL Updates for October 19, 2017

Volume 13, October 19, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2) THINK, DO, SHOW – LAST CHANCE 3) ORDERING FREE BOOKS FROM WSL 4) ALA POLICY CORPS 5) MORE IMLS MUSEUM GRANTS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------… Read more

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Lights, camera, action: Video shows how Korea 65 exhibit was installed

For several years, Capitol visitors have been treated to some amazing exhibits in our front lobby, courtesy of our talented and creative Legacy Washington team. The latest is “Korea 65: The Forgotten War Remembered.” The exhibit, along with a series of online profiles, focuses on Washingtonians who experienced the Korean War in different… Read more

The new LSTA Five Year plan has been approved.

Image Every five years one of our tasks at the State Library is to both look backwards and look forward. The backwards part is an evaluation of our previous LSTA Five-Year Plan; how did we do, did we meet our goals, and how can we do better? Looking forward of course is developing our plans and goals for the next five years. We take into consideration LSTA priorities, goals set by the Governor, we consult library leaders around the state about their… Read more
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Student contest on Korean War ends November 30th

Washington students in grades 6-12 have until the end of November to take part in a contest sponsored by our Legacy Washington program. Legacy Washington’s Korea 65 contest encourages students to explore the question of how the Korean War affects Washington state today. Entries can be submitted as writings, film projects or two-dimensional art. The contest ends Nov. 30. Go… Read more

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State Library kicks off Historical Zine contest

The Washington State Library has launched a fun contest for Washington students and adults that allow them to express themselves about some part of state history. The Historical Zine Contest is in its third year. For those wondering what are Zines (rhymes with beans), they are basically self-published magazines – often via a photocopier – that give the creator’s point of view on a subject. Contest participants are asked to create a Zine about… Read more

WSL Holds eBook / Audiobook Conference

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The Washington State Library recently hosted the first ever face-to-face User Group Meeting for members of the Washington Digital Library Consortium, a group of 44 (soon to be 45) of the state’s mid-sized and smaller public libraries that provide the OverDrive-powered Washington Anytime Library to their patrons.

61 people (including Cindy Aden, State Librarian… Read more
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“Strange Washington” is 2017 Archives Month theme

The Washington State Archives is celebrating its annual Archives Month in October by making “Strange Washington” this year’s theme. Three events related to Archives Month will be held in Olympia over the coming weeks:

  • Oct. 7: Tales of Strange Washington – Hear speakers talk about some infamous individuals and incidents in our state. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., State Archives Building, 1129 Washington St. SE, Olympia.
  • Oct. 27: Haunted Tours – Archives staff will take visitors on… Read more
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State Archives receives former SOS Bruce Chapman's papers

Over the years, many former elected officials in Washington have given their papers and other documents to the State Archives for safekeeping and making them available for public viewing. The latest former official to turn over papers to Archives is one of my predecessors, Bruce Chapman, who served as Secretary of State from 1975 to 1980. Bruce’s papers cover his years on the Seattle City Council, as Secretary of State, and when he was U.S.… Read more

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State Library helps Eastern WA libraries with day camps

Everyone thinks of libraries as the place to read or check out books. But a summer day camp program in three Eastern Washington communities demonstrated that local libraries are much more. For six weeks this summer, kids in Harrington, Lind and Reardan took part in the Stimulating Summers Enriching Young Minds day camps in the communities that were supported by their libraries. Camp attendees explored different themes through crafts, games and reading. Themes included space camp, art… 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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