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
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
WMRLS Basic Library Techniques in Reference: Fall 2009 Session One
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
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
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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
