Registration is open for WLA’s annual Library Legislative Day in Olympia on Wednesday, March 3. This is a great opportunity to network with library supporters from around the state and meet with State Legislators and their staff to discuss the value of libraries and the impact laws have on them. For more information, visit: http://wla.org/legislation/legislativeday/.

It’s easy for you to participate:                          

• Register online now or print and mail the registration form.  
• A continental breakfast will be provided to you during the welcome gathering at United Churches in Olympia on the morning of March 3.
• Members of WLA’s Legislative Planning Committee, in partnership with WLA’s legislative consultant, will brief you on critical issues facing libraries.

You will be given all the tools you will need to be effective in conveying pertinent messages about libraries, as well as information to give to Legislators during each visit. Your participation on Wednesday, March 3 will help raise awareness about library services and ultimately enhance our ability to establish and sustain long-term relationships with key elected officials.

NOTE: Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) guidelines prohibit most public employees from participating while on public time. Participation in this event needs to be on your own time.

• Targeting potential WLA members to increase membership.
• Identifying, improving and raising awareness of the benefits of membership in WLA
• Reviewing and making recommendations regarding WLA’s membership criteria, categories and dues. 

Getting involved in a WLA committee is a natural way to be at the table when decisions affecting the future of the Association are made. To volunteer for the Member Services Committee, or to recommend a colleague, contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at communications@wla.org or 425.369.3221. 

Then plan to attend the Member Services Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 21 from 1-4pm at the Des Moines Library.

• Creating and maintaining an effective brand strategy for WLA and its communications
• Increasing marketing and communications links between WLA and its stakeholders.
• Improving and managing all electronic forms of communication
• Researching, evaluating and implementing relevant social networking tools. 

Participation is easy and very rewarding! You can meet new people, contribute to your profession, help advise WLA’s Executive Board and staff, and expand your leadership skills. To volunteer for the Member Services Committee, or to recommend a colleague, contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at communications@wla.org or 425.369.3221. 

Then plan to attend the Member Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 5 from 9am-Noon at the Kent Regional Library (Small Meeting Room). 

For more information visit: http://wla.org/scholarships-awards/.

The Western States and Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS) is offering a series of disaster planning workshops in the West. A two-part workshop has been scheduled in Spokane in September/October: 

• Part 1: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 9am-4pm
• Part 2: Wednesday October 29, 9am-4pm

Where:
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (Eastern Washington State Historical Society)
Gilkey Community Room
2316 W. First Avenue
Spokane, WA  99201

Workshop instructor Gary Menges is Preservation Administrator at the University of Washington Libraries, Seattle.

The “Protecting Library & Archive Collections” workshops are presented in a 2-part sequence to produce the following outcomes for disaster preparedness activities:

• Complete a disaster plan by the end of Part 2.
• Learn how to train staff to implement your plan effectively.
• Set pre- and post-disaster action priorities for your collections.
• Learn how to use practical decision-making skills during an emergency.
• Experience salvage procedures for books, documents, and non-print media.

The workshop days are scheduled several weeks apart. Participants will prepare short assignments prior to the first session; between sessions, they will undertake additional assignments resulting in a completed disaster plan at the end of Part 2. Upon completion, the institution will be invited to join an informal network of WESTPAS trained personnel to provide mutual aid in the event of emergencies involving collections in the region.

Who should attend:
Administrators and staff responsible for emergency preparedness, response and decision-making, in all types of libraries and archives.  By registering for the workshop, the institution commits to supporting the attendee(s) to achieve the workshop’s disaster preparedness goals. When possible, please send two attendees from a library or archive so they can work together on the disaster preparedness activities.

Cost:
No charge to the institution.  Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Washington workshops are co-sponsored by the Oregon State Library and the Washington workshops by the Washington State Library and Washington State Archives.

Registration:
Pre-registration is required. To register go to: http://evanced.califa.org/pls/lib/eventcalendar.asp?lib=4.Go to September and click on September 16. For registration assistance contact:Kathy Krause krause@plsinfo.org.Information about the individual workshops and registration information for each workshops will be sent in separate email messages.

If you find a broken link or have any questions, please contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at 425.369.3221 or jlwiseman@kcls.org.