From Our Corner

Gregoire proposes deep budget cuts

Image Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, responding to a massive budget gap of $4.6 billion and public sentiment against tax hikes, is proposing a $32 billion two-year state budget that slashes virtually every segment of state… Read more

A modest uptick for WA treasury

Amid continuing state budget angst, the state's chief economist reported a tiny ray of sunshine… Read more

Library community to gather in Tacoma to talk broadband

Image More than 60 library directors from around Washington will be among those congregating in Tacoma Dec. 13-14 for an event to discuss how to make most effective use of high-speed broadband connections that are being made available through $183… Read more

Clippings, December 3, 2010

Library News The merger between LaConner's school and library district has been mothballed for the time being. Governing boards for the two districts decided last week to call off their rush to meet a mid-December filing deadline to include a bond measure on a February ballot to fund moving the library onto school property. The boards decided it makes sense to wait until December 2015, when the library's original $210,000 mortgage, taken on its Morris Street building, will be paid off. (La… Read more

Washington’s lost county

Image Some state history buffs might know this, but betcha most folks don’t: Washington actually “lost” a county during its territorial years. On January 23, 1863, the Washington Territorial Legislature created… Read more

Gregoire calls emergency budget session

Image Gov. Chris Gregoire has called Washington lawmakers into an emergency special session at 9 a.m. Saturday to deal with the state's billion-dollar budget gap. This is apparently the first "lame duck" session the Legislature has… Read more

WSL Updates for December 9, 2010

Volume 6, December 9, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS

2) WALNET RFQ RELEASED

3) WCOG EVENT HONORS BALLARD AND THOMPSON

4) IMLS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

5) NANCY PEARL PRESENTS - BOOKS THAT MAKE GREAT GIFTS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

… Read more

From Your Corner of Washington: Ilwaco

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Photo courtesy of www.funbeach.com

This picturesque town of about 1,100 occupies the state’s southwest corner and is the base of Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula. It’s renowned for salmon fishing. Surrounded by Baker Bay, the… Read more

Library Snapshot Day 1/11/11

With support from the American Library Association (ALA), Library Snapshot day is a national phenomenon that has quickly spread across the US. Library Snapshot Day provides a way for libraries of all types across a state, region, system or community to show what happens in a single day in their libraries. How many books are checked out? How many… Read more

Recount season over, no races overturned

Image Wrapping up Washington's election recount season Tuesday, Benton County officials have declared Dan Kathren the winner of a District Court judgeship by a margin of 15 votes out of over 50,000 cast. After reviewing a handful of ballots that… Read more

Clippings, November 26, 2010

Washington State Library News The Letters About Literature contest encourages young readers to write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead. The contest for schoolchildren and those who are homeschooled began in September throughout the state. Entries for this year's contest must be postmarked by Dec. 10. The state winners will be announced in March 2011. The contest is sponsored by the Washington State Library and Office of the Secretary of State, the Center for the Book,… Read more

‘Tis the season to give wisely

Image With the holiday season now upon us, many people are thinking about making donations to one or more charities. And of course, many of us have been, or will be, getting solicitations from commercial fundraising… Read more

Librarians to Serve on Washington State Literacy Team

Dr. Eliza T. Dresang, the Beverly Cleary Professor for Children and Youth Services at the University of Washington’s Information School, and Neel Parikh, Director of the Pierce County Library System, have been selected to serve on the Washington State Birth-to-12 Literacy Team. The Team will consist of no more than twenty-five literacy educators and community members who have a high level of expertise in literacy and who represent the diversity of our state. This team, organized by the… Read more

Gregoire, Reed certify WA 2010 Election returns

Image Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed have certified the returns for the November midterm election, which drew a near-record 71.24 percent across Washington.

The turnout… Read more

WSL Updates for December 2, 2010

Volume 6, December 2, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FIRST TUESDAYS - GETTING THE WORD TO YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

2) CARE OF PAPER, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND AUDIOVISUAL COLLECTIONS

3) SPEED-DATING FOR GRANTMAKERS

4) TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS CELEBRATE JEWISH ARTISTS

5) GRANTS TO AMERICA'S HISTORICAL & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

… Read more

Remembering former Sen. Hayner

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Courtesy of Washington State Archives' House photo collection

People in our office received word Tuesday morning of the death of Jeannette Hayner, the longtime Walla Walla legislator who rose to Senate Republican Leader… Read more

Holiday tree is in the building

Image The Legislative Building, that is. A group of General Administration workers brought in the 22-foot noble fir Monday morning and erected it in the Capitol Rotunda during the noon hour. According to a GA… Read more

Election certified, now for some recounts

Image After three weeks of people checking our Elections webpage and wondering when the General Election will FINALLY be completed, we can now say that this election has been put to bed, with the exception of a handful of legislative and local… Read more

Clippings, November 19, 2010

Library News Friends of the Library are working on a long-range plan to expand Grand Coulee's library. It starts with an application for a $50,000 statewide grant from Wal-Mart to do the pre-planning and development of a plan to begin a mentor technology program for adults. Bob Valen and Lisa Hess told members Monday night that the large Wal-Mart grant wasn't a sure thing, but the organization was encouraged to apply. (The Star [Grand Coulee], 11.3.10)… Read more

Giving thanks in 1884

A State Archives staffer retrieved this 1884 Thanksgiving Proclamation by Watson C. Squire, who served as Washington’s Territorial Governor from 1884 to 1887. After Washington became a state in 1889, Squire was elected to the U.S. Senate. Here is to a safe and happy Thanksgiving for everyone.… Read more