From Our Corner
Didyaknow...?
…the “Ginger Legislative Building” is up for silent auction in the Lt. Governor’s office? Image That’s right; this amazing gingerbread replica of the State Capitol goes to the highest bidder. Just imagine this festive piece in your home over the… Read more
Clippings: December 4, 2009
Library News The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District will put new library procedures into use January 1, 2010, that are designed to gain timely return of materials. Starting January 1, overdue notices will be sent sooner; patrons who are billed for $25 (lowered from $40) in overdue library materials will be blocked from using other library services such as Internet access; patrons will be able to renew any number of overdue items themselves at libraries and online; and library cards will… Read moreNew site for Heritage Center endorsed
Just to catch you up to speed on the efforts to locate and build a Washington State Heritage Center on the Capitol Campus in Olympia: The State Capitol Committee has just unanimously recommended a high-visibility site at the main entrance of the campus. The next… Read more
WSL Updates for December 3, 2009
Volume 5, December 3, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS PROJECT LAUNCH
2) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE DEADLINE DECEMBER 12
3) SUBMIT YOUR TAX QUESTIONS
4) REF22 PRESENTS ONLINE BOOKMARKING TOOLS FOR REFERENCE
5) INFOPEOPLE WORKSHOPS—APPLY FOR FUNDING
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) DOWNLOADABLE… Read more
5 Questions with the Corporations Director
A new domestic partnership law goes into effect today. Pamela Floyd, Director for the agency’s Corporations and Charities Division, fills you in on how state domestic partnership registrations are impacted by the new law: Q.) Domestic partnerships are registered with your… Read more
Broadband stimulus funds for Washington libraries?
Image The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced some potentially exciting news for Washington: We are one of 14 states partnering with the foundation to help public libraries compete for federal broadband stimulus funds. According… Read more
Don't get fleeced by fundraising crooks
The region was stunned when four Lakewood police officers were killed in a tragic shooting recently, and many… Read more
Ask-WA(tch): Stats, Kudos and Comments for Nov 2009
Ask-WA Statistics – November, 2009
Ask-WA slowed down a bit in November compared to October, but since we were super-extra busy in October, that isn't saying too much. November numbers were still well ahead of… Read more
Gregoire, Reed certify R-71 and November returns
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed and Governor Chris Gregoire have made it official, certifying that voters turned down Tim Eyman's latest ballot measure, but adopted the "everything but marriage" domestic partnership law approved by the Legislature last spring.… Read more
Join us on January 30 to unravel the Ruddell Riddle!
Whether you are a descendant of the Ruddell family or you're just interested in learning about your family's history, please join us in Olympia on Saturday, January 30, for a special event that highlights the history of one of Washington's pioneering families. Also attend workshops about researching and capturing your family's history.
As a Ruddell… Read more
Clippings, November 27, 2009
Library News Starting Jan. 1, 2010, the Pierce County Library System is going paperless when it comes to notifying customers about books and materials they’ve requested or reminders about overdue items. The majority of customers already use e-mail or phone as their preferred notification method. Only 17,000 of the Library’s 240,000 customers get notices via the mail. In 2008 the Library sent 85,400 postcard notices for a cost of $28,000. The Library hopes this move to phone and e-mail… Read moreWSL Updates for November 25, 2009
Volume 5, November 25, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list
Topics include:
1) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
2) CONTINUING LIBRARY SERVICE AFTER A DISRUPTIVE EVENT
3) NORTHERN STAR ADDED TO ONLINE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS
4) FUNDING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROJECTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
This edition of WSL Updates is… Read more
WA final election turnout: 51 percent
As forecast by Secretary Reed, about 51 percent of the state's 3.6 million registered voters cast ballots in this month's general election.
Image
That's about average for an off-year election with few statewide contests. Falloff from last year's record 85 percent turnout for the presidential-gubernatorial election was expected. Wider use of vote-by-mail, including King County this year, two much-debated statewide ballot measures… Read more
WA performance audits: Beyond gotcha?
Image Washington State's bold embrace of performance audits of state and local governments has drawn a mixed review from GOVERNING magazine. The Legislature adopted a performance audit law in 2005, and it was soon expanded by the voters that fall, via Tim Eyman's… Read more
Didyaknow...?
… it took 24 people to carry the 38 ft-tall holiday tree into the Capitol this morning? That’s right! Image
The noble fir was cut down yesterday in Toutle Ridge near Mt. St. Helens on Department of Natural Resources property. The tree was brought on a large flat bed semi-truck and carried in by hand. Look closely, you can see 2 x 4’s are placed under the tree as handles for workers to slowly make their way into the building. It… Read more
Literary escape? Here's a book list for you
Image With the four-day Thanksgiving weekend coming up, many of you will spend time among relatives and friends, watching football and filling yourself with turkey and everything else on the table. But some of you can only do so much football, food and… Read more
Washington's road to women’s suffrage: 1854
Next year will mark the 100-year anniversary of women's suffrage in Washington ... something definitely worth celebrating. Leading up to the centennial, which is November 2010, we are sharing some tidbits about the fight for women's right to vote in Washington, and how it was finally won. In 1854, Arthur Denny proposed an amendment to the first territorial election law that would give women the vote. It was defeated in the Territorial House of Representatives by one vote, eight for and nine… Read more
Clippings, November 20, 2009
Library News A plan to protect and preserve deteriorating newspaper clipping files in the Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest Room is currently under way. The project, known as the Newspaper Clipping Preservation Project, targets clippings that have been regularly used by researchers for decades, and remain essential to current and future local history research. Using a $7,000 grant provided by the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, the library purchased preservation… Read moreSecretary of State
Steve Hobbs
