<div dir="ltr">This is beyond good news. Congratulations!</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Jeanne</div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr">Jeanne Leader<br>EvCC Dean of Arts & Learning Resources</div><div dir="ltr">425.388.9502 2000 Tower Everett WA 98201</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">At EvCC, we're always reading something interesting.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Check it out </span><a href="http://www.everettcc.edu/evccreads" style="font-size:12.8000001907349px" target="_blank">by clicking here</a><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 4:20 PM, Simmons, Rand <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rand.simmons@sos.wa.gov" target="_blank">rand.simmons@sos.wa.gov</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Dears and Library Directors,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After 13 years of famine I am happy to report g<span style="color:#1f497d">reat</span> budget news for the Washington State Library.<span style="color:#1f497d">
</span>Thank you for supporting the Washington State Library<span style="color:#1f497d">.</span> From my b<span style="color:#1f497d">l</span>og post today:
<a href="http://blogs.sos.wa.gov/library/index.php/2015/07/we-have-a-budget-2015-2017/" target="_blank">
http://blogs.sos.wa.gov/library/index.php/2015/07/we-have-a-budget-2015-2017/</a>.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Monday, June 29 the Legislature approved a compromise 2015-2017 Operating Budget. The Governor Inslee signed it Tuesday, June 30, the final day of the fiscal
year. This action avoided a government shutdown on Wednesday, July 1. Secretary of State Kim Wyman wrote, “This means no shutdown, no unpaid furloughs and no service interruptions. I’m happy for the citizens of Washington and for all of our amazing OSOS
staff! “<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">The budget news for the State Library is FANTASTIC! The Legislature approved HB 2195, the proposed $1 recording fee increase that funds the Heritage Account to support State Library
operations. Not only does the increase provide the money to backfill the projected $2.4 million shortfall in revenue, it also creates a much more<span> </span><u>permanent solution to the problem of facing continued shortfalls
in future biennia –</u><span> </span>an ongoing, more stable funding source.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Wyman noted that the legislators seemed to like the Library 21 notion of expanding access to collections and information in new and tech-based ways.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">The Legislature also provided $1.5 million to continue the Microsoft IT Academy, the online technology training provide through Washington libraries at no cost to the people of Washington.
Wyman observed “It is a real Library 21 success story in bringing digital literacy to more library-users through free online IT course work that can provide needed skills for job placement and advancement.”<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">State Librarian Rand Simmons stated, “We believe much of the Microsoft IT Academy funding can be included in the required “maintenance of effort” needed to receive full federal Library
Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding. This will help repair the damage done by reductions in state funding for the Library.” LSTA dollars support programs and services the library offers to local community libraries.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Having made this her top legislative priority, Secretary Wyman was actively engaged in the budget process, met with legislators, and worked with House and Senate leaders during final
budget negotiations to generate support for HB 2195. Deputy Secretary of State Greg Lane observed, “Without her personal involvement, our success simply would not have happened.”<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="background:white;text-align:start;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Lane praised the efforts of State Library supporters which combined with Secretary Wyman’s strategy brought about success. The State Library begins the 2015-2017 biennium with funding
level to that of the 2013-2015 appropriation. It’s a good thing.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<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"><u></u><u></u></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"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:%28360%29%20570-5585" value="+13605705585" target="_blank">(360) 570-5585</a> desk phone | <a href="tel:%28360%29%20792-0256" value="+13607920256" target="_blank">(360) 792-0256</a> cell
</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red">new</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> | <a href="tel:%28360%29%20586-7575" value="+13605867575" target="_blank">(360) 586-7575</a> fax</span><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><a href="mailto:rsimmons@secstate.wa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">rand.simmons@sos.wa.gov</span></a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></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<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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