From Our Corner

Justice Alexander: 'Washington's march to statehood'

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Former Chief Justice Gerry Alexander points to an image of the 1889 telegram announcing President Harrison had signed the proclamation declaring that Washington had become a state. (Photos courtesy of Laura Mott)

Former… Read more

March Library Jewel #1: 1897 post route map of WA

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(Image courtesy of Washington State Library)

The State Library has lots and lots of historical maps:Read more

Clippings March 20, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of March 20, 2015 Library News No plans for bookmobile comeback The Everett Public Library has no immediate plans to bring back bookmobile outreach service, and soon will no longer have a bookmobile. The outreach service… Read more

Crosby Store Ledger takes it all in this month's State Archives Poll

Image This month’s Archives Treasure goes to the Crosby Store ledger from 1859, with honorable mentions for the picture of the 1990 “Steel Magnolias” photo and an 1857 map of Western Washington Territory. The ledger details the day-to-day transactions of… Read more

Washington State Library promotes technology

Image From the desk of Rand Simmons The good ol’ card catalog. How we miss it? The card catalog was a dominant technology for several centuries harkening back to the French Revolution when after raiding religious houses of their books and manuscripts the… Read more

Washington State has a new library branch

Image Washington State's newest public library branch can be found inside the Lind-Ritzville Middle School located in Lind (Adams County). Guy Strot, Lind-Ritzville Middle School Principal, reached out… Read more

WSL Updates for March 19, 2015

Volume 11, March 19, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) THREE GRANT CYCLES OPEN - $$$ 2) WELL FED & WELL READ – SUMMER MEAL SITES 3) DIGITAL LITERACY GRANT$ 4) DISABILITY LANGUAGE AND ETIQUETTE FOR LIBRARIES WORKSHOP 5) FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE SKILLS EXAMS 6) FY2015 E-RATE APPLICATION FILING DEADLINE EXTENDED 7) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1)… Read more

State presents Medal of Merit, Medal of Valor

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Secretary of State Wyman speaks about the Medal of Merit during the ceremony in the House Chambers to present that award and the Medal of Valor. (Photo courtesy Legislative Support Services Photo… Read more

In search of the Eatonville Dispatch

From the desk of Shawn Schollmeyer & Washington Digital Newspapers. Image Though the Eatonville Dispatch began as a weekly newspaper in 1893, known available issues begin in 1916, stored on microfilm and… Read more

2015 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 3/13/2015

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Original Sponsor Status Date HRG Date Latest Cmte Mtg… Read more

Clippings March 13, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of March 13, 2015 Library News Off the shelf: library news by Prosser Branch staff The winner of the 3rd Grade Ice Cream Challenge is Mrs. Humberstad’s class from Whitstran Elementary, which read a combined total of 25,… Read more

Vote for your fave Archives Treasure!

It’s time for March Madness, State Archives style. Over the past few days, we’ve featured three items or collections in our monthly Archives Treasures series. Now it’s time for you choose your fave. The three contestants are an 1857 map of the western half of Washington Territory, 1990 photos of a group of female state representatives known as the “Steel Magnolias,” and the 1859-1860 ledger of the Crosby Store in Tumwater. The online poll is… Read more

Another look at Kalakala before it "parts" ways

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(Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives)

The news about this week’s upcoming sale of parts of the Kalakala, the… Read more

WSL Updates for March 12, 2015

Volume 11, March 12, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE GRANT CYCLE OPEN 2) RECORDED BOOKS ONECLICK RENEWALS 3) SAN JUAN ISLAND LIBRARY WINS AWARD 4) STORYCORPS COMES TO NISQUALLY 5) WELL-FED & WELL-READ – SUMMER MEAL SITES 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE GRANT CYCLE OPEN Would your… Read more

WSL Updates for March 5, 2015

Volume 11, March 5, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FREE WORKSHOPS FROM WSL 2) MAPPING INCLUSION – FREE ALA WEBINAR 3) AMIGOS CALLS FOR PRESENTATIONS 4) ARSL CALLS FOR 2015 CONFERENCE PROPOSALS 5) ANNUAL CONFERENCE ALERT 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FREE WORKSHOPS FROM WSL Need training?… Read more

Archives Treasure #3: Crosby Store ledger, 1859-1860

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(Image courtesy of Washington State Archives)

Business practices have changed just a little since 1860, and that’s what makes this handwritten ledger in the State Archives such a treasure. The book details the day-to-day transactions of the… Read more

Archives Treasure #2: 1990 House's `Steel Magnolias'

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This 1990 photo shows (left to right) Reps. Mary Margaret Haugen, Joe King (who was House Speaker then), Maria Cantwell and Jennifer Belcher during a growth management meeting. Haugen, Cantwell and Belcher were three of… Read more

March Archives Treasure #1: 1857 Western WA Territory map

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(Image courtesy of Washington State Archives)

When you look at maps of Washington nowadays, you see a state that is crisscrossed with freeways, highways and railroads, one where cities and towns dot so much of the landscape. That wasn’t… Read more

2015 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 3/6/2015

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.… Read more

Clippings March 6, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Library Clippings for the week of March 6, 2015 Library News State archives, library named ‘best’ for genealogy search (Wenatchee… Read more

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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.

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