From Our Corner

WSL Updates, July 2, 2009

Volume 5, July 2, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FIRST TUESDAYS – SAFETY IN SMALL LIBRARIES 2) SUMMER READING CERTIFICATE NOW AVAILABLE 3) LIBRARIES TO THE RESCUE PODCASTS 4) FREE BOOKS TO RURAL AND INNER-CITY LIBRARIES 5) BIG READ GRANTS ANNOUNCED 6) READERS ADVISORY WITH NANCY PEARL 7) BROADBAND APPLICATION RULES RELEASED --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FIRST TUESDAYS –… Read more

Countdown to the Fourth

Grays Harbor's put on quite the shindig during its Fourth of July parade in 1890. Check out the sign on the float that says “Our Infant State Washington," next to the girl with the crazy hat standing by the flag:

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Image from the… Read more

Capitol press corps takes another hit

Image Adam Wilson, the well-regarded Capitol reporter, blogger and video guy for The Olympian, is the latest to jump to state governor or the private sector. He's been hired as Governor Gregoire's speechwriter, succeeding the irascible and talented Hal Spencer,… Read more

Ready, Set, Go ... Broadband Stimulus Funding

Image The feds released the rules for applying for broadband stimulus funding today. We've been waiting on pins and needles for weeks. Finally the day has come.

As we anticipated, the application window is short -- July 14, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. ET until August 14, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Anyone anticipating applying for or… Read more

Clippings, July 1, 2009

Clippings, July 1, 2009 Library News District Technology Manager Josh Westbrook will deliver a special report to the Walla Walla County Rural Library District board meeting on the district’s 2009-2012 technology plan. The plan has been approved by the Washington State Library and will allow the District to receive reduced telecommunications costs at the Burbank Library. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, 6.14.09) The dedication of the Ephrata Library, a part of the North Central Regional Library… Read more

Countdown to the Fourth

Seattle has always thrown a good Independence Day celebration - this flashback photo shows the 1888 Fourth of July Parade in Seattle. This is First Avenue from Cherry Street, near Pioneer Square:

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Image from the State Library Photograph… Read more

'Unredacted': New Clint Eastwood flick?

Image Nope, silly, it's the Washington attorney general's new online resource to help you navigate in the world of public records and open public meetings. AG Rob McKenna, mixing his metaphors… Read more

Sheryl Will Be Missed

Sheryl, a long time employee with Washington State Library and the Twin Rivers Unit of the Monroe Correctional Complex is retiring. She will be leaving the the library after 15 years and 5 months with the inmates at Twin Rivers. Sheryl is a woman of amazing energy that has been put to use running the Twin Rivers library and teaching the inmates part time in the education department. Where she gets the energy I will never know. Her dedication to her work is amazing and she will be sorely… Read more

IMLS Publishes FY2007 Public Libraries Survey Report

From the IMLS Press Release:

“The report highlights a steady increase in library use over the last 10 years, with patrons accessing an incredible range of information resources and programs across the country. Recent national news reports suggest that public library use is even more pronounced in the last 6 months as a consequence of the economic downturn. In these difficult times, people are turning to a trusted, relevant… Read more

Thought Break! Videos on Thinking and Ideas

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I was finally catching up with some of my online reading today

Taxes: The road not taken ...

Image It's a tale of two states. Washington's legislative session almost seems like ancient, painful history by now. The Democratic-controlled Legislature and Democratic governor dealt with a $9 billion budget gap by spending cuts, hiring freezes and furloughs… Read more

Clippings, June 30, 2009

Clippings, June 30, 2009 Library News Librarians at public libraries in Washington are available for online chats. Just direct your computer to http://ask.wa.gov. (Seattle Times Newspaper Online, 7.9.09) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009437926_apwalibrarianchats.html Tours of the new Battle Ground Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional… Read more

Eyman camp bringing in initiative sheets Thursday

Image Initiative kingpin Tim Eyman and his cohorts will buzz down to the… Read more

FREE Training Events in July

Check out these free training opportunities coming up in July. Image Free WSL online trainings: First Tuesdays: Safety in Small Libraries July 7, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Designed as a continuing-education opportunity for all library staff in Washington State, this free web presentation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., on the first… Read more

National Newspaper Archive Celebrates 1M Pages Online

[caption id="attachment_1412" align="alignright" width="157" caption="Scenes in the proposed new National Park among Montana's glaciers (LOC)"] Image [/caption] The National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) recently celebrated adding 1 million pages to the Library of Congress's… Read more

How many people live in Washington? More than last year ...

Image For the first time ever, Seattle has more than 600,000 people calling the city home. According to the state's new 2009 population estimates released by the state's Office of Financial Management (OFM), the Emerald City's estimated population was 602,000… Read more

Countdown to the Fourth

How Eatonville, Washington celebrated 4th of July in 1918:

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Image Images from the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington… Read more

Friends of the Four-Legged Variety

[caption id="attachment_1405" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="SCCC Dog Program Participants"] Image [/caption] I had mentioned in a previous post about the new dog program that has started here in Stafford Creek Corrections Center, but a few days ago I got the pleasure of going to the unit with the dogs and talking to a couple of the handlers. I was surprised to find that there are 8 dogs in the program, as I had only seen a couple come into… Read more

From Your Corner of Washington: Aberdeen's name

This community along Grays Harbor is known for its plentiful rain, logging and shipping heritage, and for being Kurt Cobain’s hometown. But do you know how Aberdeen got its name?

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Platted in 1884 on Samuel Benn’s homestead between the Chehalis and… Read more

Countdown to the Fourth

The fireworks and festivities of the Fourth are right around the corner! In honor of Independence Day, this week we are sharing photos from our collections that show how Washington has celebrated July 4 over the years. Image… Read more