From Our Corner

Typical Year at WSP

[caption id="attachment_7163" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Office at WSP-EC"] Image [/caption] It was a typical year for both of the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) Branch Libraries, the East-Complex (EC) and the West-Complex (WC). In… Read more

Blue day for blue spruces next to Capitol

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives)

Like sentries silently standing guard for decades, they’ve flanked the north stairs leading up to the Legislative Building, mostly unnoticed by the employees and tourists walking past… Read more

Clippings for the week of April 27, 2012

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227" caption="Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection"] Image [/caption] Washington State Library News Are you one of the millions of baby boomers who aren’t even dreaming of retirement yet, much less planning for it? The Everett Public Library is offering two free half-day workshops, thanks to a Transforming Life… Read more

Curtis dam negatives top Library jewels poll

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

Leading wire to wire, the Asahel Curtis glass photographic negatives of Grand Coulee Dam was the overwhelming winner in April’s State… Read more

Why digitizing government docs is good

Image For years, our Archives Division has been a leader in transforming government records and documents from paper to a digital format. If you’ve ever wondered if digitizing government docs is worthwhile, consider the… Read more

Spotlight on Staff: Alan Bentson

Image Alan Bentson is one of the two Readers Advisors at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL). There are not many blind people working as readers advisors within the the National Library Service for the… Read more

"The snidest attempts at a show we have yet seen."

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: This rather biting review of a circus appeared in the Stevens County Reveille, June 28, 1900, page 3: That Circus, Saturday "The circus came, conquered, and 'went,' as circuses usually do; the… Read more

WSL Updates for May 3, 2012

Volume 8, May 3, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) SDL PROQUEST RENEWAL 2) RESOURCE SHARING GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN 3) FREE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SUMMER READING 4) WESTPAS NEEDS YOUR INPUT 5) WEBWISE 2012 WEBCASTS AVAILABLE 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) SDL PROQUEST RENEWAL The WSL Statewide Database Licensing Project (SDL) announces the July… Read more

I'll have elections for 200, Sam

Image During his visit to Yakima Valley Community College, Secretary Reed turned into Alex Trebek and hosted what has become a tradition at YVCC -- a game of Civics Jeopardy in which students are the contestants. The winner was Kanisa Regan (… Read more

In Support of Digital Literacy

From the desk of Rand Simmons On May 1, as Acting State Librarian I filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting the American Library Association's stand on Image digital literacy. The FCC is receiving comments on Lifeline… Read more

College civics tour: Yakima Valley College

Image When Secretary Reed arrived at Yakima Valley College for the latest stop of his annual college civics tour, he and the students were greeted with cookies on sticks that carried the main message of the tour.

College civics tour: CWU

Image After devoting much of April to his annual college civics tour, Secretary Reed began May by resuming the tour with a visit to Central Washington University in Ellensburg. While at Central, Reed met with students at a campus event also… Read more

Here is chance to “GiveBIG” to WTBBL

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(Photo courtesy of Washington Talking Book & Braille Library)

If you like the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, here’s your chance to show your support. WTBBL is taking part in The… Read more

Washington Rural Heritage gets shout-out from PBS

Image What is the role of public libraries in the age of e-books and digital information? A PBS online article… Read more

Time to vote on favorite State Library jewel

With the end of April comes the online poll to determine this month’s favorite State Library “jewel.” The three items featured this month include the “Pioneers of the Northwest” poem written by W.E. McCroskey;… Read more

Clippings for the week of April 20, 2012

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227" caption="Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection"] Image [/caption] Washington State Library News Judy Eagen of Palouse received a Kindle Fire from Palouse Library manager Bev Pearce as a result of her participation in a Whitman County Library Community survey. The Friends of WCL sponsored the prize drawing as… Read more

April Library jewel #3: Grand Coulee Dam photos

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Library)

Earlier in the week we spotlighted the first two candidates in this month’s State Library jewels contest: 1) a… Read more

Running for office? Get ready to file!

Image This year, candidate Filing Week is May 14-18, but if you’re running for office and just can’t wait that long to file, you can get a head start. Candidates can mail in their declaration paperwork starting April 30.… Read more

College civics tour: Whitman College

Image Secretary Reed is still traversing the state on his annual college civics tour to talk with students about the importance of voting and being involved with their community. While in Walla Walla Thursday, he did an… Read more

Pranky Frankie

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: The following article was found on page 1 of the April 7, 1905 issue of The Weekly Commoner, a newspaper in Colfax, Washington: A NOVEL PARTY… Read more