Share Your New Year's Reading Resolution

Share Your New Year's Reading Resolution

&

Give our WMRLS Online Reading Program A Test Drive!

New hours for the Greenfield Public Library starting 1/4/10

After listening to supporters’ statements at the recent budget hearing, Greenfield Public Library staff decided to restructure our hours to be more available to working people, students, and families.

As of Monday, January 4, the GPL's new hours will be as follows:

Monday -- Closed
Tuesday -- 9:30-8pm
Wednesday -- 9:30-8pm
Thursday -- 9:30-5pm
Friday -- 9:30-5pm
Saturday -- 9:00-1pm
Sunday -- Closed

The staff wishes to thank everyone who supported us during the past few months and hopes the new schedule will better accommodate the needs of our patrons.

Transition of Regional Library Systems: An Update

The following message is edited from an email that was sent to the allregions email discussion list on December 22 by Cindy Roach, Southeastern Massachusetts Library System:

"Over the past two months, regional annual meetings, executive boards and two planning meetings have identified “Core” regional services. The “Core” regional services that will continue in the new regional structure are:

· Advisory and Consulting
· Continuing Education
· Databases and e-content
· Delivery
· Mediated Interlibrary Loan

On Dec 14, Regional Executive Boards, MBLC Liaisons and Regional staff met to prioritize “second tier” services. “Second tier” services are those that will continue in the new regional structure as funding is available. One service that was identified and that is essential and an integral part of any regional service is Advocacy. It is an activity that the new structure must endorse and actively pursue.

Second Tier services:

· Cooperative Purchasing programs – including materials and supply coops plus other programs that provide the best bang for the buck for members.
· MassCat
· Youth Services – While the consulting and continuing education part would be a core service; most agreed that the new regional structure must have strong commitment to youth through work with school libraries, the Summer Reading Program and other literacy support.
· Digitization – Important, but the group could not determine how the new structure could have a strong return of investment in this area. This still needs to be discussed and developed.
· Web support and development: This would include projects such as Home on the Range, where the region would support web-site development and maintenance. It would also mean hosting and maintaining specialized web resources: the Library Policy and job description page; Director’s Essentials, Performer’s Directory.
· Research and development: keeping aware of trends in the field, new technologies, grants and innovative pilot projects.

Please think about the regional services that you use – have we identified them? Please send any comments that you have regarding “core” and “second-tier” services, to your regional administrator, John Ramsay, by December 31st.

Email comments to jramsay@wmrls.org

There is a Committee established who will work on a plan of service that includes the “core” and as many “second” tier services as funding allows. This committee will start its work early in the new year and we would like to have your comments to share with them.

Thank you. Happy Holidays to all!"

Athenaeum sale of reprints attracts press

 The Local History Department of the Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield's Public Library) received some great press  in a Berkshire-area weekly, The Advocate. Author Judith Fairweather interviewed Local History librarians Kathleen Reilly and Ann-Marie Harris regarding the reprinting, in partnership with the Berkshire Family History Association, of various important local history titles. While these items are available for sale year round from the Local History Department, they are particularly promoted during the holiday season as a unique gift option. Proceeds benefit the Local History Department's ongoing work to preserve important print materials. Thank you, Advocate!

WAMC Broadcast: Bookmobile Service Falls Victim to Economy

WAMC New England News:

"SHEFFIELD, MA (WAMC) - A 75-year tradition in Western Massachusetts comes to an end this month. The bookmobile service is being cut due to massive reductions in state funding. WAMC's Charlie Deitz reports... © Copyright 2009, WAMC"  ~ Listen to the broadcast

Berkshire Athenaeum offers Computer Classes in January & February

Berkshire Athenaeum
Pittsfield's Public Library
One Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499 9480

Schedule of Computer Classes

 January & February 2010

All classes held in the Computer Lab and last for one hour.

***PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED: SIGN UP AT THE REFERENCE DESK***

Our Computer Lab sessions are taught presuming attendees’ ability to type on a computer keyboard; use either a laptop touchpad or a mouse; and enter an address in the address bar of a browser. Those who do not have these skills are welcome to sign up for our sessions; however, they may find they are unable to fully participate.

Business Websites You Should Know About
Keeping informed and up-to-date is always important in business. Workshop will focus on best business websites and FREE online resources available to start-up, maintain, and grow your business and how they may provide a one-stop-shop for all aspects of your business. (Taught by Dick)
Tuesday, January 12, 6 – 7 pm

College Funding Re$ource$
A review of websites that can assist you in financing a College Education- for you or for your children. (Taught by Dick)
Saturday, January 30, 10 – 11 am

Email
Setting up a free web-based email account. (Taught by Mary Ann)
Saturday, January 16, 10 – 11 am

Excel Basics
Participants will review the interface, create a basic spreadsheet, insert formulas. (Taught by Madeline)
Wednesday, January 20, 6 – 7 pm

Google Docs
We will explore the basics of this free word processing software. (Taught by Madeline)
Wednesday, February 3, 6 – 7 pm

Homework SOS for Parents
You know the kids shouldn’t be “googling” or using Wikipedia for their homework – but maybe you’re not sure what they should be using? We will review some authoritative library databases geared toward students at different grade levels: all free and available 24/7. (Taught by Mary Ann)
Thursday, January 28, 6 – 7 pm

Job Search Resources in Learning Express
We will explore the Learning Express database Job Search module which includes resume writing; creating effective cover letters; and interview tips. (Taught by Mary Ann)
Thursday, February 11, 6 – 7 pm

Library Catalog: Beyond the Basics
Go behind the scenes with the Athenaeum's cataloger to discover what goes into making the library's catalog, and pick up a few searching tricks along the way. (Taught by Jeremy)
Wednesday, January 13, 6 – 7 pm

LibraryThing: An Introduction
For many booklovers, LibraryThing is the greatest site online.  In this workshop you will set up a free account, learn how you can interact with fellow bibliophiles, and see how you can contribute to the Athenaeum's catalog as a result. (Taught by Jeremy)
Thursday, February 18, 6 – 7 pm

Word 2007 Basics
An introduction to Word 2007 covering opening and saving a document; setting up margins; changing fonts; running a spell check; selecting templates; creating a letter and other documents. (Taught by Dick)
Tuesday, February 16, 6 – 7 pm

Word 2007 : Tables
We will use Word 2007 to create and format a table. (Taught by Madeline)
Wednesday, February 24, 6 – 7 pm

Future of Regional Library Systems

Dear Western Massachusetts Library Community:

A historic meeting of Executive Boards from the 6 Regional Library Systems took place on Monday, December 14, 2009. Its purpose was to determine the future shape of Regions and their services in the face of continued budget reductions from the State. The FY11 forecast for Regional systems (Board of Library Commissioner State budget account 7000-9401) calls for a cut of 28%. It is clear, with no promising economic news on the horizon, that Regional services and organizational structures need to be reconsidered in order to remain sustainable.

After a full day of discussion of different models and service priorities, it was determined that there is support for a single administrative organization that will consolidate business operations and services that lend themselves to better economies of scale. Everyone is well aware that there is also a great need for a local presence throughout Massachusetts, through which advisory services and continuing education programs will be delivered. The exact shape of that local presence has not yet been decided. One model is a hub and spokes, that would have consultants scattered in different areas, operating either from space in a library or a small office, or even from home via telecommuting. Another much- favored model is for a single administrative unit, with offices in different area of the state that can accommodate two or more consultants and would have training/meeting facilities.

The concern of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS) and its Executive Board is that services to our unique, vast, rural and remote area must get the attention, visibility and resources it requires to achieve equitable access to library services on a par with other parts of the Commonwealth. With half WMRLS communities having populations under 1,900 people, there is tremendous need for training, individual assistance, and familiarity with small library issues. It is due to the rural nature of our area that Regional library Systems came into being in the first place. WMRLS was the first Region to form (1961), as a direct offshoot of the Western MA Library Federation of the 1950s.

The future prospects for our wonderful WMRLS staff, our excellent and responsive delivery system, and even our headquarters building, are unclear as of this writing.

We know there are many questions and concerns that the West will be overlooked in this process, as people feel “always happens” to our area. Please be assured that, as always, we at WMRLS and our Board will advocate long and hard to ensure that the West will receive the services and attention that libraries of all types need. We will update you regularly about developments as a statewide planning process begins to work out details and future directions and structures.

Yours truly,
John Ramsay, Regional Administrator
Western MA Regional Library System
P.O. Box 609
S. Deerfield, MA 01373
jramsay@wmrls.org
(413) 665-9898 x. 113

What is your New Year's Reading Resolution?

The ReadsinMA online reading program is available free of charge to all public libraries in the commonwealth.

If you are interested in giving ReadsinMA a test drive OR if you are interested in becoming eligible to win a mystery bag filled with library goodies, do visit our new WMRLS “Happy New Year ~ Reading Resolution” ReadsinMA program - Staff of all WMRLS Member Libraries - academic, public, school, and special libraries - are invited to participate.

WMRLS public libraries may register for ReadsinMA via our new 2010 Summer Reading Program Order Form

~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

www.ReadsinMA.org is supported by your local library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, with funding from the Institute of Museums and Library Services, an independent federal agency that grows and sustains a Nation of Learners because lifelong learning is critical to success.

Dewey love our libraries? Storrs Library's Inspiring Blog

Visit the Blog of the Storrs Library, Longmeadow

One of our part time staff, Phyllis Bogert, has been photographing libraries for many years. She did not use a digital camera, but collected all her beautiful photographs in an album which she would share with us from time to time. Barbara Fitzgerald, our Adult Services Librarian, thought it would be a great idea to turn this album into a Picasa Web Album and put it online for all to see. We enlisted the help of a volunteer, Doris Brodeur, who scanned in all the photos. I then created a blog, using all the skills that I learned the WMRLS "Blogging for Beginners" Workshop! This collaborative effort was finally finished and posted last week. It is accessible from our homepage, www.longmeadow.org/library.

Curiosity about the WMRLS extraordinary delivery system, linking so many libraries of different size and architecture, was what motivated Phyllis and John to set out on their trips. We thought you might like to let other libraries know about the blog so that they, too, can enjoy the lovely photographs.

~ Farida Pomerantz, Storrs Library, Longmeadow

WMRLS is closed on Wednesday, December 9

Due to hazardous driving conditions expected across the 4 county area through much of today, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS) will be closed today. There will be no delivery, and the workshop "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: New Teen Books" has been canceled. Please notify any staff at your library if their work is affected by delivery.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but the safety of staff, vehicles and library materials is of utmost importance. We expect to resume full services tomorrow.

~ John Ramsay, WMRLS Regional Administrator

Berkshire Athenaeum hosts Foundation Center Librarian Ines Sucre

On Tuesday, December 1, the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, was thrilled to host Foundation Center Librarian Ines Sucre for a full day training on grantseeking. Fifty-four Berkshire area residents registered for this free training opportunity that included a hands on session searching the Foundation Center databases. Attendees included staff from area cultural, human service and other non-profit organizations as well as local artists. The Berkshire Athenaeum is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center and routinely provides access to FC resources.

~ Madeline Kelly, Supervisor, Reference Services
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield

December 31 is deadline to apply for Laura Bush Foundation Grant

Visit the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries for complete information on this grant opportunity.

10 Things to do at a Library that Don't Involve Renting Books

Anna Miller, author of the Online Degree Blog, recently posted a tribute to libraries titled
"10 Things to do at a Library that Don't Involve Renting Books".  Anna's blog begins:

"Libraries have long stood as a cornerstone of neighborhoods across the world, offering access to books and other resources for entertainment in addition to research purposes. In their continuing devotion to nurturing a love of reading and knowledge in the citizenry, many have expanded their offerings beyond the ability to rent books. Some newer features embrace technological advances, while others provide free services blending education and enjoyment. No matter what extras these libraries offer, all of them continue the tradition of intellectually and creatively stimulating their respective communities... "Read More ...

Ware High School Library Goes GREEN

Many thanks to Ware High School Librarian, Valerie Wlodyka, and all of the faculty, staff, and students, who decorated the library GREEN in preparation for our recent WMRLS Summer Reading Program Roundtable (Focus on Teen Programs)

WRapper - Fall/Winter 2009 issue now online

Extra! Extra! Hot off the Virtual Press ~ WRAPPER NEWSLETTER!


We have just posted the fall/winter issue of WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System This issue features the following:


WMRLS Annual Meeting: An Emotional Experience by John Ramsay, Regional Administrator, WMRLS

WMRLS Night at MassMutual Center Fundraiser – The Springfield Falcons Hockey Team is dedicating the Saturday, January 23 game to benefit the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System. Tickets (regularly $17) are only $10 for everyone who orders using the special form on page 3 of Wrapper. This offer of discounted tickets to the January 23 game is extended to the general public. Please help WMRLS promote this fundraiser by making copies available for people to take. (A great holiday gift!)

Self-Service Disc Repair Machine now available to ALL WMRLS Libraries at No Charge
Sincerely, Janet Eckert, Editor; WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Falcons vs. Wolfpack ~ WMRLS NIGHT AT MASSMUTUAL CENTER ~ Join us on January 23

Falcons vs Wolf Pack ~ WMRLS Night at the MassMutual Center

Saturday, January 23 at 7:30

This offer of discounted tickets to the January 23 game is extended to the general public. Please help WMRLS promote this fundraiser by making copies available for people to take.

 

http://www.wmrls.org/events/2010-01-23-falcons.pdf

 

Come out and meet Wally the Green Monster along with a night of action-packed hockey to benefit the Regional Library System that faces deep State budget cuts!

Regularly $17, tickets are only $10 with this offer!

Simply fill out the order form and mail back to the Falcons office, or call Julia Kincade at (413) 739-3344 x105.

(*Offer not valid at the box office. Tickets will be mailed up to January 18th. Tickets ordered after this date will be available at the Will-Call window of the Box Office lobby on the night of the game.)

Together We Thrive LSTA Grant Project - Presentation at WMRLS Annual Meeting

As part of our recent Annual Meeting of the WMRLS Council of Members, Becky Marconi, presented a summary of the recently concluded Together We Thrive LSTA Grant Project. Complete information on this project is posted on our WMRLS website

Becky's PowerPoint presentation is posted below:



Upon the conclusion of the WMRLS Together We Thrive LSTA grant, the Self Service Disc Repair Machine is now available for the use of all WMRLS Member Libraries.

Sarah Pirtle in concert at the GPL!

Families with young children, treat yourselves to a special free concert Saturday morning, December 5 at 10:30 with the wonderful Sarah Pirtle. The community is invited to the Greenfield Public Library for a joyful concert for all ages with the award-winning singer-songwriter.
With humor and warmth, Sarah beckons us to experience the exploration and enchantment of the seasons, farm life, city neighborhoods, and family time. These lively songs encourage outdoor play and a childhood nourished by imagination, curiosity, and nature. The concert is free and open to all; for more information contact Kay Lyons at 772-1544 ext. 5 or online at http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/.

Libraries and Autism

From the Libraries and Autism: We're Connected Website

"The Scotch Plains Public Library and the Fanwood Memorial Library, together with our partners, produced a customer service training video primarily for library staff to help them serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism and will empower you with specific techniques to offer more inclusive service to this growing and underserved population.

To receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" Decal for your library, contact us at autism@thejointlibrary.org. We encourage you to explore this site and make free use of our support resources. "

Director Essentials: An Aid for MA Library Directors

A new resource for Massachusetts library directors in all kinds of libraries is now available on the web: http://directoressentials.org/. Arranged by topic or type of library, it is an ever evolving collection of tools and lists to help new directors understand their environment and challenges.

Developed by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems and funded by an LSTA grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the site is a collaborative effort to acquaint new library directors with a variety of tools and tips to help them acclimate to their position and their new circumstances. There is even a lot of information to interest 'old' directors.

The site was developed with the assistance of an advisory committee. Western MA representatives include: Christine Bergquist (Wilbraham), Tamson Ely (STCC), Alison Ernst (Northfield/Mt. Hermon), Howard Polonsky (Franklin Law Library), and Sharon Sharry (Sunderland and now Greenfield). Jan Resnick (WMRLS) serves on the Director Essentials Grant Committee.

~Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS

America's Star Libraries: Pelham, Meekins, and Stockbridge Libraries

Congratulations to the Pelham, Meekins, and Stockbridge Libraries - all recognized by Library Journal as STAR LIBRARIES ~ Read more about it in the November 15 issue of Library Journal

Annual Meeting of the WMRLS Council of Members

From WMRLS Annual Meeting of the Council of Members

Our WMRLS Annual Meeting is always a great oppportunity for people from our member libraries to learn what is happening at the local, regional, state, and national levels. At today's Annual Meeting, Rob Maier, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, our featured guest speaker, discussed the FY11 Library Budget Crisis and its negative impact upon the regional library systems (as well as the severe pressure with all state agencies that are required to propose 17% overall reductions).  Commissioner Vicki L. Kaufman, urged all librarians to contact their legislators by phone and/or by writing a letter to advocate for libraries.

Barnes and Noble Fundraiser for Libraries - January 17 and 18, 2010

Barnes and Noble Martin Luther King Day Library Fundraising Event

Locations of participating western Massachusetts Barnes and Noble Stores: Hadley | Holyoke | Pittsfield

LIBRARY RESPONSIBLITIES to participate in January 17 and 18 Martin Luther King Day Barnes and Noble Library Fundraising Event:

• Library must register directly with their Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager* (CRM) by Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
• Each library that participates in this fundraising event must schedule an event to be held on one of the two days of this fundraiser. Event can be a booktalk, demonstration (Example: how to knit), library program (Examples: storyhour, readers theater, author talk).
• Events will be scheduled on a first-come, first served basis.
• Libraries may "team up" and conduct combined events.
• A representative from each of the library's (staff, Friend of Library, trustee) must man an information table (one table representing all of the participating libraries so that each library needs only to schedule one to two hours of table coverage time). Information tables can only be put up in the event space during an event.
• Prior to the fundraising event, the library contact meets with CRM to prepare a library "wish list" of items that the public can purchase for them. This needs to be done 4-6 weeks prior to the bookfair

BARNES AND NOBLE CRMS' RESPONSIBILITIES For This Event:
• Each library will register directly with their Barnes and Noble CRM
• The CRM will communicate directly with the libraries that are participating in this fundraiser

*Hadley Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Karen E. Lynn, Store Manager, Barnes and Noble Booksellers
335 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035; tel: (413) 584-2558;
fax: (413) 584-8750; crm2088@bn.com

*Holyoke Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Gail Harris, Barnes and Noble, 7 Holyoke Street, Holyoke, MA 01040; tel: (413) 532-1786; fax: (413) 532-1973; crm2747@bn.com

Pittsfield Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Melissa Swart, Store Manager, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 555 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201; tel: (413) 496-9051; fax: (413)496-9755 ; crm2661@bn.com

Barnes and Noble Bookfairs: How it Works, Custom Bookfairs, FAQs, and more!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bookfairs/

GPL budget meeting time/location changed

The Greenfield Town Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 at the Greenfield Middle School has been changed.

The meeting will now be held at 7:00pm at the GCTV studio at 393 Main Street in Greenfield.

Police and/or Government Requests for Library Records

The “Site Index” on our WMRLS Homepage also aims to serve as a “ready reference” and provides information on frequently asked questions posed by staff or our member libraries. Recently, we have fielded a number of questions about how to best handle police and/or government requests for library records. For this reason, my colleague, Jan Resnick, and I have researched this topic and created a new webpage titled “Police and/or Government Requests for Library Records” (accessible to all via our “Site Index” - http://www.wmrls.org/toc/index.html as well as directly at http://www.wmrls.org/wmrls/police-requests.html )

Greenfield Public Library Mid-Year Budget Cuts

Greenfield Public Library Budget Cuts: How Will this Impact You?

On November 18, there will be a Public Hearing at 5:30pm at the Greenfield Middle School Auditorium so the Council can vote on amending the FY10 budget. The amendment put forward includes a $30,300 cut in the library's budget. Below are documents that will help explain what a cut of this size will mean to the GPL.

• Public Notice of November 18 Meeting
• Fall 2009 GPL Layoffs
• Certification Requirements
• When a MA Library is Not Certified

What will these cuts mean to you and how you use the library?

The Greenfield Public Library has already lost 3 staff members, and 3.5 open hours this year.

With these cuts we are now facing:

• losing 4 more staff people, bringing us to a staff cut of 35% in less than a year
• closing 2 evenings and 1.5 hours on Saturdays
• reducing our magazine holdings by ½
• greatly reducing reference services and online databases subscriptions
• severely reducing or eliminating children and adult programming
• increasing wait time for holds to 2+ weeks
• longer lines at check out and more noise
• not being able to repair or replace any equipment or materials
• 2 more potential rounds of budget cuts; services now being reduced could be eliminated entirely
• the possibility of losing Interlibrary Loan next year if monies taken now are not replaced in next year’s budget.

The Greenfield Public Library is a service organization; when we lose staff, we cannot provide services.

Proposed New Library Hours

Monday	1-5pm
Tuesday	9:30a-8p
Wednesday	9:30a-5p
Thursday	9:30a-5p
Friday	9:30a-5p
Saturday	9:30a-12:30p

~~~ Please attend ~~~
PUBLIC HEARING
November 18, 2009; 5:30pm
Greenfield Middle School Auditorium

MLA "Don't Close the Books on Libraries!" Rally on November 4

Approximately 300 library supporters (including the 46 western and central Massachusetts librarians and supporters who took our Friends of WMRLS and Friends of CMRLS  funded "Bus to Boston") rallied for our libraries at yesterday's MLA Legislative Committee's Don't Close the Books on Libraries protest at the State House in Boston. 

Visit the MLA Website for a listing of media coverage of this important event.

AND

Visit our WMRLS Flickr Website to view photos of this rally taken by our western Massachusetts contingent (we'll be updating this webpage throughout the day).

Annual Meeting of the Council Of Members - Tuesday, November 17

Dear Members of the Western MA Regional Library System (WMRLS):

The 2009 Annual Meeting will be one of the most important in the almost-50 year history of WMRLS. It will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Agawam Public Library. Details, directions and an online registration form are at http://www.wmrls.org/council/ . There you will also find links to documents (agenda, nominating slate, minutes, FY11 budget and plan of service) that will be reviewed and presented for approval. If you’d like, please print them to review them and bring them with you to the meeting.

The Regions just sustained State budget cuts yesterday. Their exact impact is yet to be determined. The budget for next year (FY11) is initially forecast to be reduced by at least 28%. All this news has already forced us to end our beloved bookmobile service at the end of December 2009. There is talk about consolidation of Regions, with the final number of Regions not yet determined. Many of you have expressed your concerns, and have questions about the future of WMRLS and its services.

After required business is transacted, considerable time has been set aside for Rob Maier, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, to offer us an update on the State budget situation for libraries. He will also talk about the process underway to forge future directions for Regions and their services. There will be ample opportunity for people to ask questions so they can better understand what might lie ahead for all of us.

We hope to have a great turnout for this important Annual Meeting!

Thank you,

John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Governor Announces Budget Cuts To FY2010 State Budget

The following message was posted to the allregions email list at 1:38 pm today:

The Governor outlined today at a press conference in Worcester his list of 9C spending cuts to the FY2010 state budget. These are emergency cuts to the FY2010 state budget due to a projected $600 million revenue shortfall in the first quarter of the fiscal year. The Governor is required by law to reduce the state budget if revenues are not sufficient to the fund the state budget for FY2010. The Governor did not reduce funding in line item 7000-9506 ( Technology and Automated Resource-Sharing, line item 7000-9101( MBLC Administrative account), or in line items 7000-9402(Worcester Talking Book Library) or 7000-9406 (Perkins Talking Book Library).

However, the Governor has reduced funding for line item 7000-9401 (State Aid To Regional Libraries) by $514,000 in FY2010. The Governor has also reduced funding by $284,000 for line item 7000-9501 for State Aid To Public Libraries in FY2010.

Maureen Killoran, Head of the
Library Advisory and Development Unit
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
98 North Washington St., Suite 401
Boston, Mass. 02114
Tel: 617-725-1860 ext.220
1-800-952-7403 ext.220
email: maureen.killoran@state.ma.us

November is Family Literacy Month

Our WMRLS FAMILY LITERACY MONTH Online Reading Program is Ready to Share!

One of the exciting new features of ReadsinMA Online Reading Program is the Import/Export Feature.  Now one librarian can create a specialized online reading program and share the code with all participating libraries.  Creating a program can sometimes take hours upon hours but importing a program takes less than a minute!

Complete information on our ReadsinMA program is posted on our ReadsinMA Librarian Information & Sharing Blog

This grant funded software program is available free-of-charge to every public library in the commonwealth (and to 6 school libraries in each region).  For additional information on this program, contact Janet Eckert, WMRLS. 

www.ReadsinMA.org is supported by your local library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, with funding from the Institute of Museums and Library Services, an independent federal agency that grows and sustains a Nation of Learners because lifelong learning is critical to success.

BOOKMOBILE service to end December 30, 2009

The following message was posted to the WMRLS Email Discussion List on Friday, October 23,2009

Dear Colleagues,

I am sad to let you know that the WMRLS Executive Board has approved a proposal to permanently take the bookmobile off the road at the end of December 2009. The actual proposal, which was developed after much discussion among WMRLS staff members, is attached to this email.

A variety of things make this step necessary---a decade of budget problems, a more recent lack of both drivers to take the bookmobile out and also technical services staff to promptly acquire and process a collection, and most recently the very real threat of a huge budget cut for next year with possible mergers of regional library systems. In addition, the growing number of small libraries joining C/WMARS and MassCat networks has required that the regional library put increasing resources into the WMRLS Delivery Service, and that is a trend that is not expected to slow down.

Any library that has a scheduled bookmobile visit during October, November and December will see the bookmobile as scheduled. It is your decision whether you borrow from the bookmobile as usual or only return materials. We will be working with our “bookmobile libraries” to facilitate the return of the collections they have from WMRLS now. We also will continue to fill deposit requests for materials that we will send out by delivery. You can find the deposit request form online at http://www.wmrls.org/services/additional/suppleme.html

The bookmobile program began before the regional library system did, back in the days of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Projects Administration in the 1940’s. WMRLS has continued this old-fashioned and beloved tradition as a needed and vital service to the smallest of western Massachusetts’ communities. We have found it challenging to continue the program as it was in its most proud days, so it is with feelings of great sadness that we see it to a graceful end.

Sincerely, Mary King, Regional Librarian, WMRLS

FY2011 Budget and Regional Services

The message below was posted to the "All Regions" email discussion list on Tuesday, October 27, 2009:

To: All Regions

The Board of Library Commissioners received 250 comments on the proposed FY2011 budget. Thank you to those who took time to share your thoughts and ideas with us. Many of your comments are reflected in this update.

Over the last few weeks I have met with the staffs and executive boards of the Western, Central, Northeast, Metrowest and Southeastern regional library systems to brief them on the overall state budget issues that have led to the proposed 28% reduction in regional budgets for FY2011, and to discuss how we move forward together to plan for regional services needed by libraries and residents under these very constrained fiscal circumstances. I will attend each of the regional annual meetings in November to provide an update and to answer questions as time permits.

For now it is important that we focus our energy on assessing and prioritizing regional services. To this end, the regional administrators have contracted with Linda Braun to facilitate two discussions. First, all regional staff will gather to identify and prioritize regional services from their point of view as providers. Second, all regional executive board members will gather to prioritize services from the point of view of regional members. This work will be completed in December. From January through March we will work from the service priorities to design the best possible regional structure to provide the most complete set of services possible. From April through June we will work out the legal and fiscal details of the new structure. And as early as possible in FY2011 a transition to the new structure will take place.

Several issues have been raised in comments submitted to the Board of Library Commissioners in October and in the meetings with regional staff and executive boards that I would like to share with you.

First, beyond the major regional services (delivery, database licensing, continuing education and training, and many more) it is eminently clear that libraries of all types appreciate and want to preserve the relationship between their staff and regional staff. The single greatest challenge in restructuring the regions is to design a system that sustains this relationship. I am hopeful that this can be done.

Second, current regional staff should be retained. However, the reality is that there will simply not be positions for all current staff given the constrained budget.

Third, the restructured regions should continue to be multi-type and not revert to public library only regions.

Fourth, restructuring should be viewed as merging of existing regions and not as dissolution of regions. Merging means preserving the strengths of our regional system; dissolution suggests starting over.

Finally, it is of utmost importance that the current regional systems drive this process so that it ultimately results in a restructured regional program that reflects the needs of all member libraries. In short this restructuring will be best if it is a ground up not top down process.

END
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Robert C. Maier, Director
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
98 North Washington Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
Ph (617) 725-1860 x249

Springfield City Library: Friends of Library Play Important Role

Featured in today's The Republican

"Friends of library play important role"

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

"Do you think of your friends often and appreciate how much they do for you? Springfield City Library has been blessed with the best of friends since 1984, with the founding of the nonprofit organization the Friends of the Springfield Library Inc. For 25 years the group's purpose has been to "foster appreciation, conservation and development of the resources of the Springfield City Library system and to cultivate an awareness of the benefits it provides." .. READ MORE

Bus to State House for MLA Rally for Libraries

Dear Western Region Library Supporters:

The Friends of the Central and Western Regions have chartered a bus to help people get to the State House in Boston for the Nov. 4 MLA Library Rally. This year, with deep State budget cuts threatening the very existence of Regions and other statewide services, it is extremely important that library supporters show up and let legislators, decision-makers and the media know how important libraries are, especially in these difficult economic times.

The bus will start at Table & Vine in W. Springfield, then the Palmer Public Library and the Central Region headquarters in Shrewsbury. Due to the cost and short advance notice, we are not able to provide a stop at WMRLS Headquarters in Whately.

For more details and the registration form, click on
http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=WMRLS#1550289

After clicking on “Register” please complete the form, including your stop, and submit the form.

Seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible.

There is no charge for the bus to riders, although donations will be accepted on the bus if people want to help defray the costs.

Many thanks for your interest and support of statewide library services.

~ John Ramsay, WMRLS Regional Administrator

WMRLS Basic Library Techniques in Reference: Fall 2009 Session One

WMRLS thanks the Massachusetts Library Aid Association for generously sponsoring our recent day-long Basic Library Techiques in Reference Institute at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pittsfield. 

42 enthusiastic librarians attended this event which was led by Belinda Boon, Assistant Professor at Kent State University.  Professor Boon granted us permission to post a selection of the workshop handouts on our WMRLS Continuing Education Workshop Notes webpage.

Dr. Boon also showcased the Library Video Network title (available for loan from the WMRLS Professional Collection) - Conducting the Reference Interview and recommended the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems Sample Reference Policies website.

‘Shades of Stockbridge’ will return to the Stockbridge Library

STOCKBRIDGE, MA – On Saturday, October 17, between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Library Historical Collection will host an event called ‘Shades of Stockbridge.’ During the evening, ‘spirits’ of Stockbridge past will roam around the library and mingle with visitors who may either eavesdrop or speak with them.

These spirits, or shades, represented by area residents, range from Ephraim Williams, one of the original founders of the town; Georgiana Allen, daughter of Harriet Beecher Stowe; Cyrus Field, who laid the transatlantic cable; Nathan Jackson, the founder of the Stockbridge Library and early Williams College benefactor; Catharine Sedgwick, one of the first female American authors to be recognized internationally; Mark Hopkins, President of Williams College, H. Augustus Lukeman, sculptor of Stone Mountain, GA and the Soldiers Monument in Pittsfield; Emily Tuckerman, an early summer resident; and others. They represent several eras, from 1700 to 1920, and they can talk about the era of the founding of Stockbridge until the early 1900’s. They will reminisce and also give their impressions, some favorable, some not, about Stockbridge today.

The Gentleman Burglar, a genuine Stockbridge character in the late 1800’s, sometimes shows up at these events as well.

The Victorian term ‘shade’ means spirit, explained Barbara Allen, curator of the Historical Collection. She sees the event as a fun way to learn local history, as well as being entertaining.

A $5 donation is requested. No reservation is required. For more information, call 298-5501.

November 4 - RALLY FOR LIBRARIES!!!

Please join library colleagues and supporters for MLA’s rally for libraries! “Don’t Close the Books on Libraries” will take place on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:00 a.m. on the steps of the State House in the “well area”. Massachusetts Center for the Book’s annual MA Book Awards will be held inside the State House from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., so plan to attend this exciting event following our rally so that we can celebrate and support Massachusetts libraries and authors!

We will have 250 signs printed with our slogan, and so need a minimum of 250 people to carry them. We need every MA public library to send at least one staff members, trustee or friend, so that a big message can be sent regarding the devastating impact of funding cuts to the Commonwealth’s libraries. Now more than ever we must let our legislators know that cuts to libraries will negatively impact the many citizens who rely on their libraries for Internet and technology resources, books and research materials, and for help in finding jobs.

Your participation is vitally important to the future of MA libraries!

Krista McLeod & Jackie Rafferty, Co-Chairs

MLA Legislative Committee

Bushnell Sage Library 7th Annual Local Authors Day

Bushnell-Sage Library's 7th Annual Local Authors Day

Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 10 to 12:30

On the first Saturday of November for the past 6 years, the Trustees and Friends of the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield, MA, have hosted a Local Authors Day to celebrate local talent. Due to the space limitations at our library, we are able to host only the first 50 who accept from our database of over 230 local authors. Those 50 include authors and illustrators of children’s books, poets, cookbook writers, historians, writers of self-help books, sociologists, philosophers, and sports and mystery writers. It is a social event, not a fundraiser, for the authors and illustrators, whose profession is often a solitary one.

We are most fortunate in our corner of the tri-state area in western Massachusetts to have as much literary talent as we do. Our authors include a Peabody Award winner, an Emmy winner, and two Caldecott medal winners.

The authors and illustrators bring their books to display, sell, and autograph. The public often brings in books they already own for the authors and illustrators to sign, or they come to chat with the participants, or they bring their children to meet “real” writers. There is a coffee hour for the writers just before the public arrives and a luncheon for the participants after the morning’s event.

A group of volunteers prepare all the refreshments, the Selectmen and Town Administrator take part, the police direct the traffic, and the Friends of the Bushnell-Sage Library host the coffee hour and the luncheon. Those who work on the event feel privileged to celebrate our local talent at this popular annual event.

For more information, call 413-229-7004.

~ Nancy Hahn, Director, Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield

Western Massachusetts Library Club Fall Meeting

Tuesday, October 27 at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Keynote speaker Barbara Elleman will speak about her book Tomie dePaola: His Art and His Stories. Ms. Elleman is also the author of Virginia Lee Burton: A Life in Art. There will be time for viewing the exhibits, library, and gift shop. Lunch will be immediately afterwards at Judy's in downtown Amherst. If you plan to attend, please email Mary Senecal at msenecal@cwmarlsorg or telephone Frank Taplin at 413-534-0867. Registration deadline is October 26.  Directions

Friends of WMRLS First Annual BOOK IT TO THE LIBRARY Slide Show

The Republican Editorials: "Region's libraries need our support"

"Region's libraries need our support"


By The Republican Editorials
October 07, 2009, 5:34AM

"Western Massachusetts libraries took more than their fair share of cuts this year as cities and towns struggled to make up for reduced revenues that are the result of the recession...." READ COMPLETE EDITORIAL

The Massachusetts School Library Annual Conference WOWS!

The Massachusetts School Library Association held their annual conference at the Sturbridge Host Hotel on October 4 and 5.  I had the good fortune to attend.  In the coming weeks, my goal is to review the bounty of information that I gathered at this wonderful conference and to share it with WMRLS members via our WMRLS-One-Blog and by weaving the lessons that I have learned into upcoming WMRLS Continuing Education workshops.  ~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

My first blog post, inspired by MSLA Conference, focuses on two fantastic Web 2.0 resources - Wordle and GoAnimate

GoAnimate:  Laura Beals D'Elia,  Librarian of the Fay School Library in Southborough, conducted an excellent workshop titled "My Favorite Tools".  Laura shared that at the beginning of the school year, each department was alloted 5 minutes to overview the services that they provide to administrators, teachers, students, and parents.  Laura and the team of librarians at the Fay School met this challenge by producing a 5 minute animated video (that is both fun and informative) titled The Library Gadget 3000 [Adobe Flash 10 is required]

Wordle: While I was aware of Wordle, I thought of it as an enhanced Word Art tool (and no more).  In his keynote address titled "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?  Key Challenges Today for Tomorrow's School Libraries", Dr. Ross Todd utilized Wordle to highlight its "tag cloud" function.  That is, Dr. Todd pasted one library's mission statement into Wordle which immediately showcased the library's serious flaw - the Wordle "tag cloud" clearly showed that this library was promoting itself rather than the services that it provides to its community.  (I decided to test our WMRLS Mission Statement and pasted our Mission's text into a Wordle page.  I am pleased to report that we have passed Dr. Todd's "tag cloud" test in that our services of working with libraries to cooperate, communicate, and share is dominent within our WMRLS Wordle.)

1st Annual Book It to the Library Road Race

The road race on Saturday, October 3, 2009, was a success. Rain poured down on surrounding towns, but not on runners and walkers. Lots of librarians and civilians turned out to support the Western Region and libraries in general. Participants got some fresh air and exercise, met new people, and toured the bookmobile and a delivery van. It was a very rewarding day. If you'd like to see more pictures look a few articles down. If you'd like to see the results, they are listed on the CoolRunning website; the race was sanctioned by US Track & Field. If you'd like more information on conducting such an event, please attend the Friends of WMRLS Annual Meeting this Friday, October 9 at the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield. Registration information in on the Western Region Continuing Education Page.

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

DATABITES!

Looking for those HELP screens in the Gale Infotrac database? They are now tucked in the toolbox. Click on the "Toolbox" link at the top of the screen and select "HELP" from the drop-down menu!


Shirley Keech
Research and Database Specialist, WMRLS

Friends of WMRLS Annual Meeting - Friday, October 9 from 10 to noon

Be sure to register online to attend our upcoming Friends of WMRLS Annual Meeting

Friday, October 9 from 10 to noon at the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield

After a brief business meeting Leverett Library Director Linda Wentworth will report on what it took to organize the extremely successful 1st annual BOOK IT TO THE LIBRARY Road Race, which just took place as a fundraiser for WMRLS on October 3. The race was a huge success and lots of fun, so come to learn the nuts and bolts of how you can organize your own community road race! We will also hear from Regional Administrator John Ramsay about what is happening in the budget struggle for regional library systems next year. The Friends of WMRLS support the regional library with monetary donations and organizational help. They advocate for libraries all across Massachusetts and make it possible for all of us to meet with our elected state officials at Legislative Breakfasts and at the State House each spring.

Thank you to each of the sponsors of our First Annual BOOK IT TO THE LIBRARY Road Race!

“The Indispensible Librarian: Confessions and Tales from a Proud Profession”

Are you exploring career options? The Occupational Outlook Handbook says “librarians use the latest information technology to perform research, classify materials, and help students and library patrons seek information.” Whatever your image of a librarian, we want to share stories with you from cutting-edge practitioners in a dynamic and rewarding profession.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the UMass Amherst Libraries is hosting a Library Career Reception on Floor 26 in the Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst. The event is open to anyone interested in seeking a degree in library and information science with the goal of becoming a librarian, including students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited, RSVP to libadm@library.umass.edu by Monday, October 19, 2009.

Come hear about the work of today’s librarians, learn about graduate degree programs in library and information science, and ask questions. The panel of presenters includes; Gale Eaton, University of Rhode Island; Lauri Kolakoski Fennell, National Network of Libraries of Medicine; Steven Folsom, Image Collection Library, UMass Amherst Libraries; Terry Plum, Simmons College; Beth Girshman, Jones Library; Beatrice Pulliam, Providence College; Jay Schafer, UMass Amherst Libraries; and Georgina Trebbe, Wilbraham Middle School.

For more information contact Christine Turner (cturner@library.umass.edu, 413-577-1026).

Today is Part One of the 
WMRLS Basic Library Techniques in Reference Institute

Many thanks to the Massachusetts Library Aid Association for funding this event!

Designing Publicity for Teens

Designing Publicity for Teens
by Mia Cabana, Assistant Youth Services Librarian, West Springfield Public Library

1. Size does matter

The size of your publicity does matter! On one end of the spectrum is the giant banner option. Using the biggest paper you can find (sometimes I tape two widths together for maximum effect) use paint to write your information in larger-than-computer-generated font. An extra-large poster is an eye-catching way to publish a big message. Sometimes an equally effective way to distribute publicity to teens is to make your flyers smaller than a full printed page. This cuts down on paper waste and also designates the teen flyers as separate from other publicity materials around the library. For example, our monthly schedule of teen programs is designed to fit on a half-sheet of paper. Usually we have just enough programming happening to fill up a half-page without looking sparse, as opposed to our programming for younger children which requires a full sheet of paper. Designing flyers that are the shape of bookmarks is also a good way to give your publicity longevity. If a teen is using a flyer as a book mark they are less likely to lose it among all the other paper they must organize, and serves as a continual reminder about the upcoming program. We have also planted flyers that are this shape in popular materials that concern an upcoming program. Randomly slipping our iPod-style flyers in a sampling of the teen CDs a few weeks before our music sharing program occurs, or tucking bookmarks about an upcoming drawing workshop in books from the manga collection, helps to disperse the message to the teens most likely to be interested in such a program.

2. Language: Slang and other Salinger tactics.

Teens today are a generation surrounded by tongue-in-cheek media, from The Simpsons to The Daily Show or The Onion. The thing that makes these medias valuable is not only their satire, but their intelligence, and this principle can be applied to teen publicity materials. Your flyers and posters can include opinions, clever asides, or jokes that set the tone of an event, while still effectively conveying the relevant information of What Where How and Who. While there is certainly something to be said for brevity and clarity in all advertising, teens seem to have a higher appreciation for wordiness than their juniors who may still be struggling with reading, and adults who have been conditioned to seek out the most relevant information from a constant barrage of language. An example of this was a poster we made advertising our poetry slam. It was printed in an old-English style font on a background that looked like parchment. The text was faux-Shakespearean, which one patron was so taken with that he insisted on reading it out loud repeatedly in his best Monty Python accent. (It got annoying after a while, but there’s no doubt that he did his part to spread the message to other patrons, vocally.) Teens also have an appreciation for language that speaks to them. Listen to the phrases they actually use amongst themselves, and beware the pitfall of slang that is trying too hard to sound cool.

3. A quick word about clip art

Teens are aware of clip art that looks too ‘babyish’ or over the top. Fortunately, versions of Word and other Office programs now include some genuinely cool stock photography options. By limiting your search to only the photo medium, you can find some surprisingly sophisticated images. Sometimes choosing a neutral image actually packs a lot of punch. For our New Year fun survey we chose photographic images of glowing candles. It was vaguely goth, vaguely mystical, vaguely New Year’s party. I’ll admit that we pretty much stole this idea from the hyper-popular cover design of the Twilight series, which is a good tactic to make our jobs easier; look to the publishing industry to see what the graphic designers who are trained and paid to appeal to teens are doing, and take your cues from well-received book covers. This helps keep your materials looking current, and reinforces the literature in your collection. We also find that using photographic images almost exclusively for our teen publicity helps designate it on sight as different from our children’s materials. Not only does this appeal to teens, it is also helpful to parents and caregivers who might be trying to grab information in a hurry. Including a few images in any written document is a quick and easy way to make it pop out as instantly more attractive and professional.

4. Original artwork- use your talented teens!

Our library has a sizeable community of budding young artists. Noticing that they were excited to have their artwork hanging in the teen area, we decided to take it one step further and ask them to contribute drawings to use in our publicity. One of our high school interns designed the iPod-style flyer we use for our music sharing program, complete with a picture of a DJ and turntables. Other teens are contributing avatar-versions of themselves to include on a poster about the Wii Rockband event we hold monthly. Original artwork gives teens a sense of ownership, helps to build community, and starts to ‘hype’ an event even before the publicity gets out there. We even got in on the action ourselves, creating a manga character known as Level 6 Librarian who appears occasionally on publicity. Quiz Night flyers feature collaged magazine images and are lettered in handwriting rather than by computer, giving them a unique, slightly subversive look. (One teen even told us she uses the Quiz Night flyers to decorate her locker at school, and as you can imagine we were pleased as punch about this!)

One note on original artwork: store it in a safe place. With teens we generally allow them to keep their original and make a photocopy so that nothing happens to an irreplaceable work of art. Keep a folder where all original artwork can be stored, especially if you plan to use it repeatedly for flyers. Scanning the images as jpeg files would also be a good option, if possible.

5. Technology

Using technology for teen publicity deserves its own article, but we have used e-mail lists to co-ordinate out teen advisory board with a high degree of success. We also have collaborated with the adult department to harness the power of Twitter to announce programming for the youth room. Using technology for publicity sometimes requires promoting the technology as much as the event itself, so paying attention to what your teens use most is a good way to try to divine where to put your efforts in mastering a new technology for publicity purposes. Having noticed the universal usage of YouTube among our teens, we put a video of our summer reading program promotional skit on YouTube so that it could be accessed repeatedly by teens and all members of the library community.