From Our Corner

Remembering Harris McClaskey

From the desk of Rand Simmons Washington State Library remembers former staff Harris Clark McClaskey who died September 21, 2012 at his home in Ocean Park, Washington. Born in Trenton, NJ, Harris received his BA degree from Wooster College (OH), attended Princeton Theological Seminary (NJ), then turned to librarianship, earning his MA and PhD from the University of Washington.… Read more

There are No Grog Shops, Low Dance Halls, or Gambling Dens in Utopia: But There Are Cigars!

이미지 From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: The community of Burley was one of several utopian experiments that had an opportunity to root and briefly flourish in the frontier of Washington in the… Read more

Roads/trails history tops Library jewels poll

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(Images courtesy of Washington State Library)

A history of roads and pioneer trails and the Pacific Northwest was the runaway winner in September’s… Read more

WSL Updates for October 4, 2012

Volume 8, October 4, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEWS FROM WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE

2) EBOOKS AND EREADERS SURVEY

3) FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP

4) CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK CHAPTERS

5) SCHOOL LIBRARY HUMANITIES AWARD

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) NEWS… Read more

Spotlight on Staff: Marlys Rudeen

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Marlys Rudeen is the Deputy State Librarian at the Washington State Library. Rand Simmons, Acting State Librarian observed, "It is the responsibility of the State Librarian to envision wild schemes that may rile up the… Read more

Archives Month is here!

Image If you’re into horse thievery, prison mug shots, bootlegging and finding out more about Washington’s rich and interesting history, this month is for you. For the sixth straight year, the… Read more

Meet Washington’s National Student Poet, Miles Hewitt

이미지 From the desk of Rand Simmons Miles Hewitt of Vancouver Washington was one of five student poets chosen as finalists in the National Student Poets Program. Miles represents the West region of the United States. The… Read more

Saturday is last day for mail-in WA voter registration

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Two important deadlines are fast approaching for anyone wanting to register to vote in this fall’s important General Election. Ballots go in the mail by Oct. 19, and you don't want to be left out, Secretary of State Sam Reed said… Read more

Banned Books Week 2012

이미지 The American Library Association (ALA) celebrates Banned Books Week from September 30th to October 6th. Banned Books Week celebrates its 30th year raising awareness about censorship and intellectual freedom by… Read more

Dear Dewey Newsletter October 2012

이미지 Check out the latest issue of Dear Dewey from Kathleen Benoun at Western State Hospital!!!

Top 2 upheld in court: voters win

Image Washington’s popular Top 2 Primary system has cleared its final legal hurdle. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear the challenge by Washington Democrats and Libertarians on the Top 2. This apparently is the final word on litigation that has… Read more

Clippings for the week of September 21, 2012

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227" caption="Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection"] 이미지 [/caption] Washington State Library News Olalla author Greg Olsen’s book “Envy” has been selected by the Washington State Library to represent the state in the Pavilion of the States at the 2012 National Book Festival. The National Book Festival is… Read more

New Digital Collection: Nooksack Valley Heritage

From the desk of Evan Robb [caption id="attachment_8807" align="alignleft" width="300"] 이미지 Gordon and June Thompson in goat-drawn carriage, Everson, Washington, 1928.[/caption] A new digital collection from the Whatcom County Library System is providing access to historical… Read more

Library jewels poll is open! Now vote!

With the voting period for the upcoming General Election just a few weeks away, you might be more than ready to let your voice be heard on something, anything! Well, here is a chance to satisfy your voting jones in the meantime. The online poll for the September Library jewels is open. We're featuring three rare or interesting items from the State Library. Here are your three choices:

1) An… Read more

Library jewel #3: Poem about former Territorial Gov. Stevens

Image Besides being Washington Territory’s first governor and a major factor in the creation of the Territorial Library in 1853, Isaac Stevens also was a brigadier… Read more

War Horses From Okanogan

이미지 From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: In 1906 cowboys in the Ephrata area rounded up a few thousand wild horses and sold them to buyers back East in what was known as "… Read more

WSL Updates for September 27, 2012

Volume 8, September 27, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – EREADERS: BEST PRACTICES 2) NEW DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT 3) 2011 WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATS ARE HERE – AND MORE! 4) 2012 ELPLP SYMPOSIUM: PUBLIC LIBRARIES & STEM 5) APPLY NOW FOR CARNEGIE-WHITNEY GRANTS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – EREADERS: BEST… Read more

Library jewel #2: History of NW roads, pioneer trails

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(Image courtesy of Washington State Library)

We’re all familiar with Washington’s network of freeways and highways. But not many of us know about the early days of roads or pioneer trails in Washington and the… Read more

Sharon Brewer Receives her 30 year pin

이미지 Rand giving Sharon her 30 year pin 2012Sharon has worked for Washington State Library for 30 years. She has been shuffled around several times as lay offs impacted her positions, but she has never lost heart. She contines to… Read more

Library jewel #1: Book on British possessions in N. America

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

It’s time for the September edition of “Library jewels,” our monthly blog series that highlights rare, interesting or just plain cool items found in the State… 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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