From Our Corner

Finding Your Father's War

Image From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff So you found an old photo of your ancestor in the attic. He or she is clad in what you think must be a World War II uniform. But you know almost nothing about his or her service. There may be visual clues to help you find out. That’s when you go to Finding Your Father’s War by Jonathan Gawne. This book talks about how to track down records on your World War II ancestor. It is also heavily illustrated… Read more

Wait…You’re not Santa!

Image While he wasn’t donning a white beard and red suit at the time, then-Gov. Dan Evans had the Santa-like experience of talking with lots of children just before Christmas. We’ll never know what that little boy said… Read more

Clippings for the week of December 2, 2011

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227" caption="Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection"] Image [/caption] Library News The most popular class offered at the Public Law Library of King County is “Skip Tracing: Finding Personal and Business Information.” (King County Bar Bulletin, [Seattle] 11.11)… Read more

New Digital Collection: Asotin County Heritage

We are very pleased to announce the Asotin County Library and the Asotin County Museum have become the latest contributing institutions to the Washington Rural Hertiage initiative! [caption… Read more

WSL Updates for December 8, 2011

Volume 7, December 8, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) DO FONTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE? 2) REGISTER NOW FOR ONLINE NORTHWEST 2012 3) IMLS RELEASES NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN 4) DOES YOUR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM DESERVE AN AWARD? 5) TELECOMMUTING – BANE OR BLESSING? 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) DO FONTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Are certain fonts… Read more

American Battle Monuments

Image From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, the Washington State Library is featuring "… Read more

Donation from Muckleshoot Tribe is greatly appreciated in these tough times

[caption id="attachment_6504" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="WCC Library ready to receive the books"] Image [/caption] In these tough times it can be hard to stay positive. We wait for budget cuts to decide our fates and hope that book budgets will not… Read more

Gregoire, Reed certify 2011 election returns

Image Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed have officially certified the 2011 General Election returns, including statewide ballot propositions, including an initiative that ends state… Read more

Clippings for the week of November 25, 2011

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227" caption="Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection"] Image [/caption] Library News Turmoil at the Rainier Area Building Community’s old schoolhouse has led to Timberland Regional Library leaving Rainier. Timberland Director Michael Crose sent an announcement to Rainier Library Director Julie Dallavo that the… Read more

Yule enjoy Capitol's holiday tree

Between the special session and the raucous protests, the Legislative Building’s Rotunda has had more than its share of crowds and noise in recent days. But at week’s end, people were gathering for a peaceful and festive reason, the annual tree lighting ceremony (Friday at 6 p.m.) in the Rotunda. The tree lighting always draws a big crowd, especially kids. The Association of Washington Business has… Read more

$1000 Donation from inmates at WCCW

Image Doug Gelis, one happy librarian with $1000 donationWhen the inmates at Washington Corrections Center for Women heard that my book budget was frozen ( again ) , they asked me if there was anything that they could do. I informed them… Read more

WSL Updates for December 1, 2011

Volume 7, December 1, 2011 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – TWO THUMBS UP 2) WANTED – ISSUES OF DEER PARK TRIBUNE AND SAMMAMISH REPORTER 3) BRAINS AT THE CAFÉ 4) TECHNICAL SERVICES – THE NEXT GENERATION 5) COMPETITION FOR LIS STUDENT AUTHORS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – TWO THUMBS UP Is your idea of Viewer’s… Read more

WA 2011 election turnout: almost 53 percent

Image Counties have certified election returns for the 2011 General Election, with results from 1.94 million ballots. Secretary of State Sam Reed and Gov. Chris Gregoire will certify the election next Monday. The state enjoyed a… Read more

"A most peculiar book"

Image The Clear Cut Future. Edited by Clear Cut Press (Astoria, Oregon: Clear Cut Press, 2003. 528 p.) Recommendation submitted by:… Read more

Need shopping ideas? Check out your State Archives!

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Photo courtesy Washington State Archives

With Christmas just weeks away, many of us might want to give a relative or that special friend a unique gift that you won’t see on TV and just can’t find in a big store, a catalog or online. But you… Read more

Federal appeals court hears challenge of Top 2 Primary

Image Washington's political parties are back in federal appeals court, continuing their six-year challenge of the state's popular voter-approved Top 2 Primary. The Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties of Washington asked… Read more

New Elway Poll shows majority support for tax hike

Image A new statewide Elway Poll by independent pollster Stuart Elway shows nearly two-thirds of Washington voters are "certainly" or "probably" willing to support Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposal for a three-year boost of the state sales tax by a half-cent on the dollar.… Read more

Protests mark opening of emergency budget session

Image Chanting protesters ringed the Capitol, briefly shut down the House budget committee, and jammed the Rotunda on Monday as Washington's emergency legislative session was gaveled to order to deal with a… Read more

Seen and heard at the protest

Image Like a big hurricane bearing down on the coast, Monday’s demonstrations didn’t strike the Capitol Campus right away. But as the morning rolled on, wave after wave of protesters hit the campus and began chanting and… Read more

The gathering storm

Image During the holiday season, the Capitol Campus usually is as quiet as a college library during finals. Not this year, and especially not this week. At least 3,000 protesters were expected to assemble on campus to… 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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