From Our Corner

Libraries and Literacy in the Digital Age

Image Libraries are leaders in literacy. That in itself shouldn't be surprising. However, literacy is now much more than being able to read standard print. Literacy now includes the ability to use digital, as well as print, resources. To succeed in… Read more

New Archives feature helps teachers & students

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(Map courtesy of Washington State Library)

Several of our divisions and programs have much to offer teachers and students. A recent addition… Read more

Washington State Library Institutional Libraries celebrate National Library Week

Image Washington State Library Institutional Libraries celebrate National Library Week. The Institutional Library Service (ILS) is a program of the Washington State Library, It consists of nine adult correctional facility libraries and two adult psychiatric hospital… Read more

Clippings for the week of April 12, 2013

[caption id="attachment_4996" align="alignright" width="227"] Image Image courtesy North Pend Oreille Heritage collection[/caption] Washington State Library News Julia Batson, a seventh-grader at Woodward Middle School, has been named a state champion in Washington’s Letters About Literature contest. Julia won the state title in the Level 2 (grades 7-8) competition. Julia’s letter… Read more

Washington Talking Book & Braille Library

From the desk of Rand Simmons It's National Library Week and also Library Snapshot Day! Today we feature our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library located in Seattle, Washington. [caption id="attachment_10705" align="alignright" width="300"] Image… Read more

WSL Updates for April 18, 2013

Volume 9, April 18, 2013 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS 2) MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR PREVIEW OF NEW LIBRARY TRUSTEE WIKI 3) APPLY NOW FOR BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 4) PUSHING THE LIMITS GRANTS DEADLINE EXTENDED 5) NEW STEM WIKI FROM YALSA 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR… Read more

Long battle for Top 2 Primary officially over

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(Photo courtesy of Legislative Support Services, Photo Department)

It was a quiet, noncontroversial ending to a 12-year legal, legislative and ballot-box battle to… Read more

Where is Kim? College Civics tour kicks off

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(Photo courtesy of Tabatha Blacksmith)

Secretary Wyman began her College Civics tour Wednesday with a short trip from the Capitol to South Puget Sound Community College, where she had lunch with student leaders and the… Read more

Cooperative Projects from Library Development

Image As a further recognition of National Library Week, we offer this overview of several cooperative projects that benefit libraries statewide.

The WSL Library Development staff coordinates several cooperative statewide projects which leverage the… Read more

Celebrate National Library Week 2013!

It’s National Library Week at the Washington State Library and across our great country. Image What is Library Development at the… Read more

SecState & AG warn against Boston charity scams

Image Image… Read more

160 Years and Counting -- National Library Week

[caption id="attachment_10638" align="alignleft" width="300"] Image Secretary of State with young readers at the Washington State Library.[/caption] From the desks of Rand Simmons, State Librarian, and Steve Willis, Manager for the Central Library. We… Read more

It’s National Library Week!

Image If you haven’t been inside a library lately or haven’t thanked your local library staffers for all they do, this is the perfect time. It’s… Read more

Well, at least THEY like the rain

Image While most of us were griping about the rain and hail and wind lately, these three ducks apparently were quite content with the weather. In fact, they enjoyed a leisurely stroll past the World War II Memorial on the Capitol Campus.

NW Card File Starts the Journey to Online Access

Image From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: What do these people have in common? John Anderson - the Swedish immigrant who served as a consulting engineer in the construction of the USS… Read more

Lawmakers boost compensation for WA electors

Image For the first time since the horse-and-buggy days of statehood, Washington is boosting the expense allowance for members of the state's Electoral College, the party activists who cast the state's electoral votes for the U.S.… Read more

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 04/12/2013

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 to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Bill Title Sponsor… Read more

April 15 last registration deadline for April election

Image The April 23 special election is fast approaching and mostly features school levy and bond measures. If you’re in one of the 21 counties having an election later this month but you aren’t registered to… Read more

Beef: It’s what’s for lunch

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(Photo courtesy of Benjamin Helle)

Maybe it was seeing the cattlemen in their cowboy hats. Maybe it was getting a savory whiff of meat on the barbeque. Or maybe it was just knowing that a tasty lunch was available – for… Read more

Patricia Briggs visits Coyote Ridge Corrections Center Library

Image On April 9th, 2013, at the invitation of Library Associate Gayle Shonkwiler, Patricia Briggs, author of the Mercy Thompson shapeshifter series, visited the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center. The presentation was very well received and liked by… Read more