This Week’s Site Updates

Here’s a quick recap of some of the State Library’s news for the week.

• Governor Chris Gregoire signed the legislation approving funding for the new Heritage Building into law.  Over 100 people witnessed the bill signing!
• A new bibliography on the history of Washington State counties has been added to the Handouts page on our blog, as have several new Genealogy subject guides.  
• Books associated with the many events held here at the State Library have been added to our LibraryThing profile.  Selections can be found in the right-hand sidebar display, and the full list by click here.

Great news all around, especially for the Heritage Center! This guest column by Ralph Munro for the Seattle Times shows just how long everyone has been working to make this dream a reality.  Thanks to everyone who supported the Heritage Center legislation! 

State Budget includes funding for Heritage Center

The Heritage Center, a brand new facility on the Washington State Capital Campus which is slated to house the Washington State Library, the Washington State Archives, and exhibits from the State Capital Museum, has received funding from the Washington State Legislature in the 2007-2009 capital budget!  New developments are cropping up on a daily basis, so we thought we’d provide you with some of the important links to information about our new building:

• “Funding the Washington State Heritage Center” Senate Bill 5882 
  Read the text of bill, the House Bill Analysis, the House and Senate Final Bill Reports, and the Fiscal Notes.
• Proposed State Heritage Center
  From the Office of the Secretary of State Sam Reed 
• Executive Office Plaza/Heritage Center
  From the Washington State Department of General Administration

Public comment is especially welcomed by library staff, so if you have thoughts, comments, or wishes for our new building, please share them in this post’s comments section.  We would love to hear what you would like most for our new Heritage Center!

Watch this space for continued updates on the Heritage Center, as well as invitations to join us for official public comment during the construction phase.

New Building Update

A video depicting a flyover of the proposed Heritage Building and accompanying General Administration Executive Office complex is now available.  View it here (Windows Media format).  Additional information about the project, including news about public comment workshops, is available on GA’s website.