From Our Corner

Didyaknow...?

... The Washington State’s capitol building was the last state capitol building to be built with a rotunda and it is the tallest masonry dome in the entire United States: Image Standing 287 feet, it is the 4th tallest in the world, only surpassed by St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome (446 feet), St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (355.5 feet), and St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg (333 feet). ( Photo compliments of… Read more

The 'Find Your One Thing' Tour

Being “civically engaged” can sound kind of overwhelming to some people and maybe even a turn-off to others. But with the state in a budget mess and dealing with unemployment woes, none of us can afford to sit back and wait for others to do the work. That is why I have launched a statewide call to service, “Find Your One Thing.” I am asking that we all identify just one area or one action that will make a positive impact and that is… Read more

What’s New on Broadband

From the desk of Rand Simmons Jan Walsh and I attended a conference call hosted by COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies) and the American Library Association Washington Office (ALA WO). Here are some items from the notes I took that may be of interest to you:

• ALA created a document outlining how the construction funds can be used for libraries… Read more

Youth Academy fills the Rotunda

Image Bremerton's Washington State Youth Academy listen today to Secretary Reed speak about the importance of voting.

Voting rights restored

A topic that comes up a lot in the prison system is the voting rights of inmates once they are released. Many of them wish to vote upon their release but there have been some conditions that they have had to meet in order to be able to vote. However, all of that changes for Washington ex-convicts with a new bill that passed this week. Check out more information on From Our Corner.

Interview with ProQuest CEO

The Statewide Database Licensing Project at the Washington State Library has had a long-term relationship with the ProQuest company, as ProQuest has held the contract for the SDL project since its inception in 1997. Recently,… Read more

Cuts Amid Service Increases, Survey Says

Last month, we polled the state's public library directors on how the economic downturn has affected them. Almost all respondents claim that, though they are not in immediate peril of closing their doors, they are dealing with serious cutbacks in a time of even greater need. Several directors reported dramatic increases in circulation and patron visits while balancing much tighter budgets. Pamela… Read more

Library Legislation Tracker – April 23, 2009

Courtesy Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association State Bills of Interest. 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… Read more

WA green-lights voting rights for ex-cons

Image The Legislature has sent Governor Gregoire a measure allowing ex-convicts to get their voting rights restored once they've served their prison terms and community supervision. The bill cleared its final hurdle Wednesday when the House agreed with a Senate amendment. The governor is expected to sign it in a few weeks. The bill was prime-sponsored by Representative Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, a longtime advocate of the change. The comparable… Read more

Honoring (our) George W. Bush and MLK...

In conjunction with Arbor Day, the folks at General Administration are dedicating a new tree on the Capitol Campus this Friday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Washington pioneer George W. Bush. (And you thought there was only one George W. Bush…) The star of this Friday’s ceremony is a donated 16-foot sapling. It’s a progeny of the Bush butternut tree, a type of walnut planted by Bush after he brought it with him across the country. The tree is… Read more

WSL Updates, April 23, 2009

Volume 5: April 23, 2009 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) BROADBAND STIMULUS AND WASHINGTON LIBRARIES 2) HELP BUILD A HARD TIMES RESOURCE PORTAL 3) PRESERVATION WORKSHOP AT GONZAGA ON MAY 11 4) GRANT SOURCES FOUND VIA GRANTSTATION 5) A JOB-SEARCH IDEA FROM THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM 6) FREE MAYDAY DISASTER RESPONSE WORKSHOP IN PORTLAND 7) HIGHLINE OFFERS BASIC BOOK REPAIR CLASS THIS SUMMER 1) BROADBAND STIMULUS AND WASHINGTON LIBRARIES State… Read more

Ask-WA Quality Tip: Resolution Codes

They appear simple, but within their murky depths lurks weird issues you may have never considered. Here’s a quick guide: ANSWERED: If you’re not using this most of the time, you might want to review how you are helping people. You don’t have to stay on the line with them until their paper is written or their family tree thoroughly researched. You SHOULD… Read more

Remembering the Holocaust...

All that we can do is just survive All that we can do to help ourselves is stay alive These are lyrics from Rush’s “Red Sector A,” a song about living in a concentration camp. These lyrics have special meaning today since it’s Holocaust Remembrance Day. For Jewish people around the world, as well as their friends and loved ones, this is a day to remember and reflect on the terrible atrocities that occurred during World War II. There are several events in the… Read more

Gary Locke's new gig ...

So former Governor Gary Locke is now America's Commerce Secretary. Wazzat? Here's a Q&A recently posted by the Everett Herald from an AP dispatch. Locke, a business Democrat, was recently tapped for the Obama Cabinet, the first from Washington state since then-Congressman Brock Adams was the transportation pick for Jimmy Carter… Read more

First Electronic Daily Newspaper Published in 1939?

I've been tracking news and posts about digital newspapers and came across this post (from the E-media Tidbits blog at PoynterOnline): First Electronic… Read more

Re: Sales tax plan stirs to life in Olympia

By the closest possible margin, House Democrats' sales-tax ballot measure has begun moving through the Legislature. Over the strong objections of minority Republicans, the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee voted 8 to 7 in favor of a ballot proposition Tuesday… Read more

What is a library?

[caption id="attachment_535" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="McNeil Island Corrections Center Library"][/caption] According to Concise Oxford English Dictionary a library is "a building or room containing a collection of books and periodicals for use by the public or the members of an institution." With this definition I have to think that every institution in Washington State Corrections has a library, but do they really? Here in Washington State the State Library provides library… Read more

WA: Later voter registration deadlines OK

Washington is moving its voter registration deadlines closer to Election Day. The Senate gave the Legislature's final approval to a bill that allow eligible residents to register in person at the county auditor's office no later than eight days before the election. Current law is 15 days. The bill, Senate Bill 5270 also moves the deadline for new… Read more

Bad news for libraries gets worse...

Image The bad economy is having a negative effect on libraries, too. The Washington State Library has just issued a report showing that libraries around the state are facing tough times with their budgets. The end result often means reduced hours, services and/or staff. At a time when the economy is a major reason why more people are using libraries than normal, it’s sad that libraries are financially hamstrung from meeting this growing demand.… Read more

WSL Recognized by National Genealogy Magazine

Family Tree Magazine's e-newsletter selected Washington State Library's free obituary service for Washington State Ancestors as their TIP OF THE WEEK. The newsletter stated "folks with Washington State ancestors will want to know about:

"E-mail… Read more