About ACRL Washington

 State Chapter


The ACRL Washington State Chapter is a chapter of  the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. According to the Bylaws, the goals of the Washington State Chapter of ACRL are to "provide opportunities for the professional growth of and communication among academic and research librarians; to encourage the exchange of ideas and information relating to library development; and to enhance library service to all users of the academic and research libraries in the state."

The Chapter was established in June 1980, after a petition with 41 signatures was approved by the ACRL Board at its meeting in New York. 

The ACRL Washington State Chapter logo entitled, "Thunderbird Trapped," was designed by Harry Calkins for the 1984 national ACRL conference which was hosted in Seattle. This logo is based on the story "Woodpecker and The Thunderbirds":

Woodpecker and The Thunderbirds

The four Thunderbirds went to the Woodpecker's village to play the hoop game. Before the game began, Woodpecker gave a feast and one of the Thunderbirds fell in love with Woodpecker's wife. After the feasting the hoop game began and with the help of Kwatyat, the supernatural doer of tricks, Woodpecker's side won. Angry because they had lost, one of the the Thunderbirds made hail and lightning and took his people and Woodpecker's wife from the village. After a first unsuccessful attempt to rescue his wife, Woodpecker changed himself into a salmon and put himself in the Thunderbird's trap. Thunderbird gave the fish to Woodpecker's wife and the salmon instructed her to eat him and return his bones to the sea. As she carried his bones into the water Woodpecker changed back into himself and the two flew back to their village. Then Woodpecker with the help of Kwatyat obtainted the skin of a whale, and riding in the whale skin they went past Thunderbirds' village. First one, then another of the Thudnerbirds flew out and took hold of the whale, but each time a Thunderbird took hold, Woodpecker cut between the toes of the Thunderbird and Kwatyat made the whale heavy so the Thunderbirds could not lift it. When the last of the Thunderbirds flew out to help, his brothers warned him away. Then Kwatyat caused the whale to sink, killing the Thunderbirds. That is how Woodpecker got his revenge on the Thunderbirds and why there is only one Thunderbird alive today.

The fall of 1981 marked the first of many joint meetings with the Oregon State Chapter of ACRL. This joint conference alternates between Washington and Oregon.

For more detail on the ACRL Washington State Chaper history, see the three-part, detailed history below:

ACRL Chapter Annual Reports


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