From Our Corner

Bloomin' good time at the Capitol

Image Capitol employees and visitors are being treated to an annual highlight -- the blooming of the cherry trees and rhododendron bushes next to the Legislative Building. The cherry blossoms made their entrance last week and should be around… Read more

Archives Treasure #2: territorial census rolls

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Cover of the 1879 census roll for Thurston County. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives)

The second Archives Treasure for April focuses on a subject that was (and is) comes up once a decade -- and… Read more

2015 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 4/10/2015

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. Bills highlighted in pink had movement on the floor yesterday (4/9/2015). For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced… Read more

Washington Congressional Senators and Representatives sign off on legislation crucial to Washington.

From the desk of Rand Simmons Image Two pieces of legislation important to the people of Washington are working their way through Congress. Optimum support requires members of both the House and the Senate and from both parties sign on to “Dear Appropriators”… Read more

April Archives Treasure #1: Classic P.E. photos!

Image Remember taking P.E. in school? Remember doing sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, jumping jacks and rope climbing? Remember running laps and laps? These photos will bring you back in time to those fun (or tortured)… Read more

April 28 special election coming up

Image Nearly half of Washington’s registered voters are receiving their ballots this week for the April Special Election voting period that ends April 28. The… Read more

From the Archives: World Series tix for M's?

Image Is this the year that the Mariners finally reach the World Series? Some baseball experts think so. While we won't know the answer until October, it's fun to at least dream of World Series tickets for our beloved M's… Read more

On the Eve of Prohibition...

From the desk of Steve Willis, former Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: After the voters of Washington State had approved a state-wide prohibition of alcohol in 1914, the clock started ticking for drinkers. The last legal drinks could be consumed on December 31, 1915. By that time, the town of Starbuck was the last town left in a two-county area that was still "wet." The following article found at random in the January 8, 1916 issue of the… Read more

Asahel Curtis photo collection tops Library Jewels poll

Image It’s hard to beat classic photographs, especially when Asahel Curtis is behind the lens. That was evident, as a collection of photos by Curtis and other photogs led the State Library Jewels… Read more

Clippings April 3, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of April 3, 2015 Library News Transition Fidalgo wins Auto Magic award (Anacortes American, Anacortes, 3/4/15)… Read more

2015 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 4/3/2015

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. Please note bills that are stricken and color-coded are "technically dead. (April 1 was the last day to read in committee reports from the opposite house, except fiscal/… Read more

Time to vote for your favorite Library Jewel!

We’ve finished showing off the three State Library Jewels for March, and it’s now up to you and others to choose your favorite. The three Library Jewels are an 1897 post route map of Washington, a collection of photos taken between 1920 and 1940 by Asahel Curtis and other photographers, and rare text that is the precursor text to Jean-Marie-Raphael Le Jeune’s famous… Read more

Our Prison Libraries help inmates to re-enter society

Image On February 24, 2015 Library Associate Jean Baker participated in a “Help and Program Fair” at The Washington State Penitentiary. This is an annual event with the intent of reinforcing positive changes in the prison… Read more

Library Jewel #3: Precursor to famous Chinook shorthand

Image After the first two Library Jewels for March included an old, rare map and a collection of classic photos, the third and final Library Jewel is rare text, the precursor… Read more

WSL Updates Special Edition for March 27, 2015

WSL UPDATES SPECIAL EDITION FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 Note: The next regular edition of WSL Updates will appear on Thursday, April 2, 2015. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FREE BOOKS FOR WASHINGTON LIBRARIES We have received many orders for the free books listed in the WSL Updates for March 26, 2015. The titles below are the only books remaining today, March 27, 2015. Thanks to the generosity of Seattle… Read more

2015 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 3/27/2015

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. 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.… Read more

Clippings March 27, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of March 27, 2015 Library News South Whatcom Library closing for weekend move (Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, 2/… Read more

Apple Blossom Royalty visiting Olympia, now and then

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Secretary Wyman with 2015 Apple Blossom Royal Court and state Rep. Brad Hawkins (left). (Photo courtesy of Patrick McDonald)

One of the annual events during legislative session is a visit to Olympia by the Apple Blossom Royalty from the Wenatchee area.… Read more

Library Jewel #2: Collection of photos by Asahel Curtis, others

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

If you’re looking for historical black-and-white photos of anything about Washington state, a great place to check is the… Read more

WSL Updates for March 26, 2015

Volume 11, March 26, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FIRST TUESDAYS WEBINAR APRIL 7 2) RETURN TO RELEVANCE WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION OPEN 3) FREE BOOKS FOR WASHINGTON LIBRARIES 4) WASHINGTON LIFE SCIENCE & GLOBAL HEALTH CENTER 5) CHARITY & NONPROFIT TRAINING SESSIONS 6) GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES 7) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK… Read more