WSL Updates for July 19, 2012

Volume 8, July 19, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – US CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES 2) SALES TAX ON DATABASE INVOICES 3) WALE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 4) TIME FOR AN UPGRADE! 5) LOOKING FOR SUPERUSERS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – US CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES Need to know more about naturalization and resources for immigrants seeking citizenship? Come to the next First Tuesdays presentation, which will provide libraries with an overview of:

  • General eligibility requirements for naturalization;
  • The process for filing for naturalization;
  • The naturalization interview process;
  • US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) publications and resources that can help immigrants prepare for naturalization.
Find out all the latest by coming to August’s First Tuesdays webinar, US Citizenship & Immigration Services, presented by Ken Bawden, August 7, 2012, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT. For more information about First Tuesdays, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/tuesdays. To join the presentation, and for instructions, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/FirstTuesdays. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) SALES TAX ON DATABASE INVOICES It has come to our attention that the 2012 ProQuest SDL (Statewide Database Licensing) renewal invoices include sales tax. The law which provides for taxation of digital products and services includes an exemption for digital products that will be made available free of charge to the general public. We have an opinion from the Department of Revenue indicating that libraries are eligible to claim this exemption. To claim the exemption, a library must return a signed exemption certificate to the vendor with their payment. The certificate form is available via this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ExemptCert. This announcement should not be regarded as a legal opinion on the law, or on the eligibility of any particular library to claim the exemption. For more information on the law and the exemption, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/tax. For more information on the ProQuest renewal, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/Renewal. Questions may be referred to Will Stuivenga [email protected] or 360.704.5217. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) WALE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Registration is now open for the 2012 WALE Conference, “Coming of Age.” The Conference will be held at the renovated Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan, October 29 – 31, 2012. Visit the Conference web page at 2012waleconference.wla.org to view the list of Pre-Conference and Conference Sessions and to register. Additional information, including keynote speakers and social activities, will be posted on the website in the next few months. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) TIME FOR AN UPGRADE! As summer begins to wind down, the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) website will be undergoing a much-needed upgrade to its content management system (CMS). To do so, the site will be temporarily unavailable for approximately two weeks, beginning on Monday, July 30, 2012. Hopefully Summer Reading 2012 is nearing its completion in your communities and the timing of the upgrades will not inconvenience your users. Questions? Contact Martha Shinners, Youth Services Consultant, at [email protected], 360.570.5567, or toll-free at 866.538.4996. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) LOOKING FOR SUPERUSERS The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is looking for library staff willing to become superusers for their new online training database, MERIT (Managed Education and Registration Information Tool), which is a voluntary, statewide tool used to document and recognize the professional achievements of early care and education and school-age professionals, including librarians. This innovative database helps professionals find training opportunities, access information on career pathways, and track individual career progress. To be a superuser, you must be able to:
  • Meet with DEL trainers monthly to receive training via webinars and conference calls;
  • Be able to help users of the MERIT with technical assistance (TA).
If you, or someone in your library or library system, is willing to partner with DEL, please send your name and contact information no later than 5:00 p.m. PDT, July 27, 2012, to [email protected]. To find out more about MERIT, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/MERIT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK Monday, July 23: Tuesday, July 24:
  • Kick Start Your National Friends of Libraries Week Celebration (ALTAFF); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/kickstart;
  • They’ve Got to See it to Believe It: Getting Decision Makers Into Your Library (ALA); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/SeeIt;
  • In the News and On the Shelf: Fiction & Nonfiction in Your Book Groups (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
  • Author! Author! How to Find One, Host One, and Make Your Library THE Go-to Place for Author Events (ALA); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/author;
Wednesday, July 25: Thursday, July 26: Friday, July 27: For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:
(html)

Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs

Image
Image of Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

Connect with Us

Search Our Corner

OSOS Websites

About this Blog

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.

Comments Disclaimer

The comments and opinions expressed by users of this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the Secretary of State’s Office or its employees. The agency screens all comments in accordance with the Secretary of State’s blog use policy, and only those that comply with that policy will be approved and posted. Outside comments will not be edited by the agency.