<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>You received a message from Jeff Martin regarding the media launch for the Washington State Library Microsoft IT Academy on September 12 (Bellevue Public Library) and September 13 (Spokane Public Library). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This is a statewide media launch and we fully expect articles about the Academy to appear in local newspapers on the days of the launch or soon thereafter. While we will acknowledge that the CTCs will implement the Academy in January we anticipate that members of your community may learn about the Academy and as your staff about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please have staff prepared answer questions about when they can sign up for classes and how your library will participate in the IT Academy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please let your staff know that we will need success stories – anecdotes – telling how the IT Academy has changed lives, whether in becoming digitally literate and being able to keep in touch with family through email, in gaining skills used to get a job or gain a promotion, or in attaining a certification. Send those success stories to me or our project manager. (We are hiring a project manager soon and will send you contact information.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>We anticipate great things from the Washington State Library Microsoft IT Academy. It will be a winning effort for Washington libraries, for the Washington State Library, for Microsoft and for the legislature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Warm regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Rand<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Rand Simmons, Ph.D., State Librarian </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Library Division | Office of the Secretary of State</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(360) 570-5585 desk phone | (360) 790-1392 cell | (360) 586-7575 fax</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:rsimmons@secstate.wa.gov"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>rand.simmons@sos.wa.gov</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Washington State Library: Empowering 21st Century Washington<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></body></html>