From Our Corner

Natural Disasters in Washington State

From the desk of Kim Smeenk Fires, volcanoes, and floods, oh my! The Pacific Northwest has seen its share of natural disasters over the years. Forest fires, windstorms like the Columbus Day Storm in 1962, and the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The Washington State Library has books, magazine articles, government reports and documentaries about these events. If you want to read what the newspapers were reporting as the disasters were unfolding, you can find those articles in the… Read more

SecWyman visits Fairchild AFB

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(Photos courtesy of Fairchild Air Force Base)

As the proud wife of a retired U.S. Army Ranger, Secretary of State Wyman has plenty of admiration for those serving in our military. During a recent visit to… Read more

Women’s History Month - Emma Smith DeVoe

From the Desk of Marlys Rudeen Image The Manuscript Collection of the State Library holds a treasure for Women’s History —the Emma Smith DeVoe Papers. This collection consists of 6 archival boxes of correspondence and several scrapbooks… Read more

Idaho couple honored for volunteer service at Archives

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George and Kathleen Clarke receive a certificate of appreciation from Assistant Secretary of State Ken Raske (right).

The staff at the Washington State Archives said goodbye to a retired couple from Idaho… Read more

Secretary Wyman helps celebrate Avista’s 125th anniversary

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Secretary Wyman and Avista Chairman Scott Morris. (Photo courtesy of Avista)

A company that has been around as long as the state of Washington has been honored by Secretary of State Wyman. Wyman presented… Read more

WSL Updates for March 13, 2014

Volume 10, March 13, 2014 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) SPACES STILL AVAILABLE AT FREE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS 2) YOUR INPUT NEEDED FOR NEW SALARY SURVEY 3) A SPECIAL DAY FOR BOOKMOBILES 4) CELEBRATE PRESERVATION WEEK WITH FREE WEBINARS 5) SERVING NEW AMERICANS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK 1) SPACES STILL AVAILABLE AT FREE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS WSL is currently offering a free new in-person workshop, Mental Health First Aid, which can help participants… Read more

Reminder: Many domestic partnerships converting to marriage

Image Secretary of State Kim Wyman and her Corporations and Charities Division are reminding state-registered domestic partners that on June 30, the new same-sex marriage law will automatically… Read more

WTBBL’s youth patrons to experience `blind touch tour'

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(Photo courtesy of Odysseo by Cavalia)

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle prides itself in offering great programs and events for its younger patrons. WTBBL is pleased… Read more

Women's History Month; Women with a Mission

From the Desk of Marlys Rudeen Pulled by religious fervor, men and women left homes and families to come West, intending to bring their faith to the “heathen”. They were often well-meaning but unprepared for life on the frontier and for interacting with people of another culture. They strove faithfully, endured hardships and grief among people whose responses to their teachings ran the gamut from acceptance to violence. Two of our … Read more

Before Celilo Falls disappeared

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1945 postcard shows Native Americans fishing at Celilo Falls. (Images courtesy of Washington State Archives)

March 10 marks the anniversary when a famous and treasured fishing and trading spot for Northwest… Read more

The Yakama Nation Library is a recipient of YALSA’s 2014 Great Books Giveaway

Image What happens when you combine a group of teens with 35 boxes of new books? Short answer, chaos! Long answer, a bunch of exited young adults who can’t wait to start reading. Recently YALSA, or Young Adult Library Service Association donated $10,000 in new books to Yakama Nation Library. Every year YALSA, whose mission is to expand and strengthen library services for teens, donates thousands of books to qualifying libraries across the… Read more

SecState Wyman receives leadership award

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Flanked by Senate Republican Caucus Whip Ann Rivers (left) and Senate Republican Caucus Chair Linda Evans Parlette, Secretary of State Kim Wyman thanks the Senate Republican Caucus for giving her the Women in… Read more

2014 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/07/2014

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 Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info… Read more

Happy 25th birthday to our state ship!

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First Lady Jean Gardner and Secretary of State Ralph Munro help launch Lady Washington in 1989. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives)

… Read more

From the Archives: Marlon Brando and the “fish-ins”

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Seattle P-I story in March 1964 about Marlon Brando being arrested on charges of illegal fishing. (Image courtesy of Washington State Archives)

Many people associate Marlon Brando for starring in movie classics like ”A… Read more

WSL Updates for March 6, 2014

Volume 10, March 6, 2014 for the WSL Updates mailing list REMEMBER TO SPRING FORWARD – DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS ON MARCH 9! Topics include: 1) WASHINGTON RURAL HERITAGE GRANT CYCLE OPEN 2) DIGITAL LITERACY 2014 GRANT CYCLE NOW OPEN 3) FREE BOOKS FOR COMMUNITY READS OR BOOK CLUB KITS 4) PRESERVATION GRANTS FOR SMALLER INSTITUTIONS 5) BROADBAND GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE SOON 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK… Read more

What would you do on a rainy day?

From the desk of State Librarian Rand Simmons Image Graphic from the National Weather Service It isn't… Read more

Border Songs, by Jim Lynch

Image Border Songs. By Jim Lynch (New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 291 pp.) Recommendation submitted by: Will Stuivenga, Cooperative Projects Manager, Washington State Library, Tumwater, WA. Jim Lynch’s second novel, Border Songs (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009),… Read more

Digital Literacy Innovation Grant Opportunity

Image Are you ready to innovate in your community? Would your library like to:

• Hold a community-wide tech fair?
• Teach computer classes to senior citizens?
• Recruit teen volunteers to help teach tech classes at the library?
• … Read more

A Library with No Books

Kathleen Benoun, long time Library Associate at the Western State Hospital Library in Lakewood, WA, is an amateur historian who spends a lot of personal time researching the history of the hospital, and the library itself. Kathleen recently shared this interesting story about opening day of the library back in 1950. Can you imagine opening day at a library without a book or librarian in sight? That's exactly what happened in 1950 on the grounds of Western State Hospital. The Tacoma… Read more