From Our Corner

From Your Corner of Washington

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- Pasco, Washington Secretary Reed this week visited an Eastern Washington seed manufacturing and packaging plant. The plant, operated by Syngenta, opened in June of this year.

Submit us your photo from your corner of Washington, and add… Read more

WSL Updates for December 17, 2009

Volume 5, December 17, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS SIGNUP DEADLINE APPROACHES

2) FREE WEBJUNCTION WASHINGTON COURSES

3) OCLC TRAINING PORTAL OFFERS 70+ CATALOGING COURSES

4) 60-SECOND SURVEY – FUTURE OF THE BOOK

5) AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL GRANTS

6) APPLY FOR COMING UP TALLER AWARDS

… Read more

Washington’s Road to Women’s Suffrage: 1867

Image 2010 marks the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage in Washington. So what did it take for women to get the right to vote in Washington? It was one step at a time. One of those key steps was in 1867, when the Washington Territorial Legislature passed a law… Read more

Comcast Newsmakers: Sam Reed

Comcast Newsmakers talks with Sam Reed about the various functions of his office. It's a good summary of the (rather odd) variety of functions the Office of the Secretary of State performs: elections, corporations, charities, archives, legacy project, the state library. The Washington State Library gets excellent treatment, both time-wise and praise-wise. If you're impatient, you can skip ahead - we're covered from 1:01 - 2:16.

“Comcast Newsmakers” interviews Secretary Reed

Image If you regularly watch CNN Headline News, you’re probably familiar with the five-minute “Comcast Newsmakers” segment in which a government official or some other mover and shaker is interviewed. In November, Secretary of State Sam Reed was one of several… Read more

Holiday Giving Tip No. 2

We’re in prime holly jolly time now, when you are likely being approached each time you’re at the shopping mall with people who ask you to give to a good cause. Our Charities Program wants to keep you from being snookered, and has come up with some easy tips to make sure your donations pack a punch. Today’s Holiday Giving Tip: Ask “What percentage does your organization spend on the charitable purpose”? Why do this? Let’s say a group says it is raising money to buy toys for foster children… Read more

Cold Weather Resources on the Hard Times Guide

Image We've had a cold week here in Olympia, and I'm sure it's been chilly in other parts of the state as well. To help battle the cold, we've compiled a few cold weather resources for residents of Washington State. Learn about hypothermia (it can be… Read more

Didyaknow...?

… that an island used to float around in Capitol Lake during December? In 1959, Fort Lewis engineers built "Christmas Island" – it was something of a festive, decorated float that drifted around the lake blaring Christmas music from its huge speakers. Image

Most Olympians who have been around for at least 20 years may remember the… Read more

Clippings, December 11, 2009

Library News Many of the nearly 100 people in attendance at Monday night’s City Council meeting were there to fight against the city closing the Ocean Shores Library and Interpretive Center. Mayor Dean Bunkers proposal said that closing the Library and Interpretive Center would save another $400,000. Even so, Bunkers said that keeping those two open is a “high priority.” (The North Coast News [Ocean Shores], 11.25.09) A reciprocal borrowing agreement between Anacortes and Mount Vernon… Read more

It's transition time for Auditors' offices

Image Lots of changes are happening in Washington… Read more

KCLS Gets Attention for Staffless "Library"

King County Library System (KCLS) has been getting quite a bit of attention the last few days for its staffless library branch. It started on LJ - http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6710470.html - “So, how to expand library service on a tight budget? Some libraries have tried vending machines (such as the… Read more

Rural heritage, Vashon style

Whether you’re a Vashon Island resident, from that island or just like to study heritage stuff, you’ll be interested to know that the staff with Washington Rural Heritage recently published a new collection. Vashon Island Heritage is a collection of historic materials documenting the early culture, industry and community life of this island southwest of Seattle. The Vashon Library (which is part of King County Library System) and… Read more

The Gift of Reading

I'll avoid any cliches about gifts that keep on giving. Instead, I'll jump straight in and admit that I, like many librarians, am an NPR nerd. I adore NPR for a number of reasons (though I will say that it was Ira Glass who first got me hooked). I also particularly enjoy their segments with librarian Nancy Pearl on book recommendations. Nancy Pearl was once-upon-a-time… Read more

WSL Updates for December 10, 2009

Volume 5, December 10, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – VASHON ISLAND HERITAGE

2) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS Q&A

3) FREE WEBINAR – WRITING A LIBRARY BEHAVIOR CODE

4) FREE OCLC CLASS ON WORLDCAT HOLDINGS

5) HERITAGE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

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1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION –… Read more

WA to high court: Don't take R-71 petition case

The Washington Attorney General is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to turn aside a request to block the state from releasing Referendum 71 petitions.

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On Jan. 8, the high court is expected to consider a request from R-71 opponents to hear their challenge… Read more

Gregoire budget: All cuts, for now

Image Governor Gregoire has proposed, "with the greatest reluctance," a new Washington State budget that fills a projected $2.6 billion deficit by cutting $1.7 billion from state programs and using $900 million in "rainy day" savings and fund balances. But she says… Read more

"Messenger of Peace" Awarded $180,000 IMLS Grant

Image The Chapel Railroad Car Messenger of Peace, a wooden rail car built in 1898, traveled the country for 50 years as a mobile church bringing modern evangelism to the frontier and helping to establish churches in numerous… Read more

From Your Corner of Washington

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Fox Island Bridge, Pierce County -Sent in by Matt

Submit us your photo from your corner of Washington, and add our… Read more

Ref22: It’s Good For You

Image Ref22 is a monthly webinar for reference librarians, be they virtual or face-to-face types. It's also a great webinar for library staff, reference hobbyists (who I call refuosos), and anyone who just wants to learn a neat trick or two about referencing it up. It's even good for folks who just need something semi-legit to do early on a Tuesday morning when they're half asleep and are… Read more

Lopez Island Library Awarded 3 stars In LJ ranking

Image Congratulations are due to Lopez Island Public Library for being the only library from Washington state recognized by Library Journal as a "Star Library". LJ says being a Star Library isn't about money, but about:

"... what libraries… Read more