Volume 9, December 12, 2013 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE – DEADLINE APPROACHING 2) CALL FOR SPEAKERS – BIG TALK FROM SMALL LIBRARIES 3) OPPORTUNITY FOR NOVICE RESEARCHERS 4) WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2014 5) FRIENDS – EVERYONE NEEDS THEM 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE – DEADLINE APPROACHING Although the deadline for Level 3 (grades 9-12) submissions for the 2014 Letters About Literature contest has passed, there is still time to submit entries for Levels 1 (grades 4-6) and 2 (grades 7-8), which will be accepted through Friday, January 10, 2014. To learn about this year’s contest or to print the entry form and participation guidelines for your library patrons, please visit www.sos.wa.gov/q/Letters2014. For additional information, contact Crystal Lentz at [email protected] or 360.704.5275. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) CALL FOR SPEAKERS – BIG TALK FROM SMALL LIBRARIES Do you have a program or service in your small library that other librarians might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something that created a buzz? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference can give you the opportunity to share what you’ve done and learn what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing. This free one-day conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries—the smaller the better. Small libraries of all types: public, academic, school, museum, special, etc., are encouraged to submit proposals. Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be given first priority, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered. Conference proposals must be submitted by Friday, January 10, 2014. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) OPPORTUNITY FOR NOVICE RESEARCHERS Loyola Marymount University is holding the first Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL) June 16 – 26, 2014. The Institute is seeking novice librarian researchers who are employed by academic libraries as well as research librarians who work outside an academic setting to participate in the Institute. “Novice researchers” are defined as those who may have conducted research but have not yet had an article published or a presentation accepted by a peer-reviewed publication or conference. However, librarians who have presented peer-reviewed poster sessions are eligible. Librarians of all levels of professional experience are welcome to apply. Successful candidates will travel to Los Angeles, participate in all institute activities, and conduct a research project during the 2014-2015 academic year. The Institute is looking for librarians with a passion for research and a desire to improve their research skills. Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• Significance of the research problem to the operational success of the applicant's library or to the profession of librarianship;
• Clarity of the proposed methodology;
• Enthusiasm for research and desire to learn;
• Commitment to the year-long process of communicating with other participants and conducting the proposed study.

• Libraries Need Friends: Starting a Friends Group or Revitalizing the One You Have;
• Academic Library Friends: A Toolkit for Getting Started – You Can Do This;
• Friends Groups: Critical Support for School Libraries.

• Community Engagement through Making (ALA); 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/ALA16Dec;
• K12 ProQuest Research Library (ProQuest); 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ845;
• SIRS Discoverer (ProQuest); 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/PQ846;

• Bozarthzone! Brain Bandwidth (InSync Training); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST;
• Using iPad Storybook and Play Apps to Increase Language Skills Through Interactive Reading and Discussion (AbleNet University); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/AUStorybook;

• RDA Toolkit Essentials (ALA); 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. PDT: sos.wa.gov/q/RDA18Dec;
• To Bake or Not to Bake: Library Cake Pan Collection (NCompass Live); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/NComp18Dec;
• DigitalU: Connecting Washington Libraries: 40 Great Apps for Mobile Reference and Outreach (WSL); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST;
• Learn How to Learn Online (InSync Training); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/LHTLO;
• Marketing Your Library App 101: Tips & Tools for Effective Promotion (Boopsie); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST: boopsie.com/customer-webinars;
• Measuring Impact: Redefining scholarly value through new data (DDAL) - Part 3 (ProQuest/Library Journal/ER&L); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST;
• Public Health Information Access Project (National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PST: sos.wa.gov/q/RML;

• NPSIG (New Professionals Special Interest Group) Holiday Conference Redux 2013 (IFLA); begins at 10:00 a.m. PST (end time TBD): sos.wa.gov/q/NPSIG2013;
• Preservation Best Practices: Planning and Prioritizing: Tools for Success (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST.

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: twitter.com/WAStateLib.