Washington Historic Newspapers Now Available in PDF
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Articles
Prison Slang
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Working in a prison I find that there are times I need an interpreter because in some cases the words used are like listening to a foreign language.
Image metadata tools
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QuestionPoint Trainings for Ask-WA (and a Survey)
Over the last two weeks we had some very successful QuestionPoint training sessions online using Wimba software. At least, I'd like to think they were very successful.Words
When you work in a prison you hear and use words and phrases that are understood only in prison. When someone greensheets here where I work it means that they are getting out. Movement means that inmates can move from place to place without a pass or getting out of bounds. Movement here is at 10 minutes before the hour every hour. If you live on the hill it means that you are in the minimum custody part of the prison. Callout is the term for the daily list telling all where appointments for the inmates are.
Simple Pleasures
Not all jobs are rewarding, but I have to say that working in a prison library is one of the good ones. It is not all fun and games, but there can be simple pleasure found working in the library. Not everyone will find the same pleasures, but we all have our simple joys in our jobs. Stay tuned....stories on the way.
Library Angels
The following is a story told to me by a fellow prison librarian. Since I liked it so much I decided to share it. Two of the best library patrons I ever had were two older men I called the library angels. I can’t tell you they had always been angels. Obviously, they had both committed crimes that led to a prison sentence. But after many years of incarceration, they presented themselves as polite and respectful human beings. One night these men started coming to the library every night, where they would sit quietly on the floor among the library shelves and put the books back in order.
Newspapers and the Government
This week, Gordon Russ, another longtime volunteer, shares his impressions of early pioneer newspapers.