TELL YOUR STORY; MAKE IT PERSONAL – Library Advocacy at Pelham

“Tell your story and make it personal." You can email or send a note, but let your legislators know that you support the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Legislative agenda to restore state funding for libraries and Regional Library Systems. That was the ‘take away’ from Senator Rosenberg’s library legislative breakfast which was held Friday morning (2/19/2010) at the Pelham Public Library.

More than 70 people attended the Pelham breakfast including library users, students from the Pelham school, Pelham library volunteers, members of the Pelham Select Board, trustees from Pelham as well as area libraries, librarians, Friends of WMRLS, Senator Rosenberg, Representatives Kocot, Kulik, Scibak and Story.

Library Director Adam Novitt, after welcoming the group, described how libraries save communities money by providing resources that help the elderly stay in their homes and give kids activity options that help them stay out of trouble. Pelham’s Library Teas are a case in point. When the Pelham Library began to host teas as a way to offer the community a gathering event as well as a program, staff, trustees and volunteers decided that they should use dishes that did not add to the landfill. They acquired china, but the hot water was so far away and expensive, they washed the cups in cold water for years until they could find a practical, economical solution. In spite of the benefits of libraries, these are examples of the compromises that occur in libraries on a daily basis.

Linda Wentworth (Leverett) spoke of the Friends of WMRLS and the fundraising they have achieved to support Regional services. Pelham Library Trustee Jonathan Woodridge and Select Board Member Jim Huber shared stories of their libraries and concerns for funding. Jan Resnick (WMRLS) explained the probable impact of a 29% budget cut for State funded Regional Library Systems resulting in merging the six Regional Library Systems into one and her concern for the special library services needed in the Western Region. C/W MARS, the area’s largest automated library network, also receives funds from the State budget. Dodie Gaudet reminded the audience that when those funds are reduced, the difference must be made up by fees paid by member libraries.

In the Library Voices portion of the program, Pelham patron Mary Jo Maffei described her use of the library for Internet access since her home doesn’t have any and as an excellent alternate workspace. Greenfield’s Public Library has taken several budget cuts in the past year. Director Sharon Sharry gave examples of the impact of those cuts while the library is experiencing dramatic increases in community needs and use. Sixth graders Heather Eliot and Fran Lisa Rowell and their teacher Cathy Neale spoke to the value of the shared school/public library in Pelham and how much library services have improved and how valuable they are.

This year, at the suggestion of our legislators, the library legislative breakfasts shifted from March to February. The timing of this one was perfect. Senator Rosenberg is taking his funding priorities to Senate Ways and Means on Monday. Representative Story is meeting with House Ways and Means on Tuesday. Vice Chair of House Ways and Means Stephen Kulik is chairing a budget hearing at UMass on Monday and issued a special invitation to the morning’s speakers to bring their comments on library funding to the hearing.

The breakfast was spectacular! The morning was gorgeous, trustees greeted guests on the walk into the building and upon entry. The refreshments were delicious; there was room for conversation and real cups and plates. The programs are very striking; get a look at them if you can.

~N. Janeen Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Move that bus!

Don't close the books on libraries! Save our Regions! Equality of service across the state! All rallying cries to take to Boston on Library Legislative Day on March 9, 2010. It's easy to get there. Sign up to take the bus sponsored by the Friends of WMRLS. You can catch it in Whately, West Springfield, Palmer or at the CMRLS headquarters in Shrewsbury. Leave the driving (and parking and tolls) to Travel Kuz. $20.00 for WMRLS and CMRLS Friends members, $25.00 for non members - lunch included! Click this link for the complete information.

“A Tale for Ten Towns”

What if everyone in Deerfield, Erving, Greenfield, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Wendell, and Whately read the same book?
 
The idea behind A Tale for Ten Towns is to create a kind of community-wide book club throughout our ten towns. Reading great books provokes us to think about ourselves, our environment and our relationships. Talking about great books with friends, family and neighbors often adds richness and depth to the reading experience. We hope you will read and enjoy Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell and…

• Talk about it with your friends and neighbors.
• Attend the book discussions and related programs.
• Share thoughts about communicating across barriers.
• Read more for pleasure and encourage your children to do so.
• Meet new people and share ideas.

All programs are free and open to the public.

Be sure to stop by any one of the ten town libraries to pick up a copy of Julie and Julia in hardcover, paperback or audio. Discussion guides will also be available.

Registration/Books Available:  February 8—20, 2010

Program Length: February 22—March 20, 2010

Attend any event at any of the ten participating libraries and be entered to win:  An autographed copy of Julie Powell’s latest book, Cleaving: a Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession (2 copies).

Raffle Drawing to be Held: 18th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony; Thursday, April 29, 2010; 7pm; Stoneleigh Burnham School.

Financial Support: A Tale for Ten Towns is supported in part by federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; grants from the Deerfield and Whately Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; Montague Public Libraries; New Salem Public Library; Friends of the Greenfield Public Library; Friends of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library; Friends of the Northfield Public Library; Friends of the Sunderland Public Library; Friends of the Tilton Library; Friends of the Wendell Free Library; Friends of the Whately Library; The Greenfield Recorder; and Rick Roy Photography.

About the Book:  Nearing 30 and trapped in a dead-end secretarial job, Julie Powell reclaims her life by cooking every single recipe in Julia Child’s legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the span of one year. It’s an hysterical, inconceivable, redemptive journey – life rediscovered through aspics, calves’ brains, and crème broulee.

About the Author: After spending a long, long time working as a temp, Julie Powell now writes in her pajamas in Long Island City, Queens, where she shares a “loft” apartment with her husband Eric; their dog, Robert; their cats, Maxine, Lumi, and Cooper; and their snake, Zuzu Marlene.

Events:

  

 Deerfield Public Library (Tilton)

• “Cooking for Food Allergies” presented by Julie Cavacco; Thursday, March 4, 2010; 6:30pm.
• “The Life and Times of Julia Child” presented by Professor Judy Holmes; Monday, March 8, 2010; 6:30pm; Deerfield Town Hall.
• “Soupçon of Soups;” Saturday, March 13, 2010; 11am.
• “Chocolate Cake Challenge;” Monday March 15, 2010; 6:30pm.
• Community Book Discussion, Julie and Julia, and 30-Second Julia Child Impersonations; Thursday, March 18, 2010; 6:30pm.

 Erving Public Library 

• Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia/Cooking Demonstration by Carol Gregory; Sunday, March 14, 2010; 4-6pm.

 Greenfield Public Library

• Youth Craft; Tuesday, February 23, 2010; 10am.
• Movie Night, Julie and Julia Friday, March 5, 2010; 6-8pm.
•  Pub Quiz; Sunday, March 7, 2010; 3-5pm; Greenfield Grille.
•  “Food, Glorious Food: Exploring the Exciting World of Food Blogs” presented by Shelley Quezada, MBLC; Wednesday, March 10, 2010; 6pm.
•  Community Book Discussion, Julie and Julia; Monday, March 15, 2010; 1pm; Bart’s Café, Greenfield.
•  Youth Book Discussion, Green Eggs and Ham; Wednesday, March 17, 2010; 10am.
•  Community Book Discussion, Julie and Julia; Wednesday, March 17, 2010; 6pm.
•  Community Book Discussion, Julie and Julia; Thursday, March 18, 2010; 3pm; People’s Pint, Greenfield.
•  Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia; Friday, March 19, 2010; 2pm; 99 Restaurant, Greenfield.

 Montague Public Libraries

• “Behind the Scenes on Food TV” with Lou Ekus; Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 7pm; Montague Center Library.
• Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia; Tuesday, March 9, 2010; 7pm; Millers Falls Library.
•  Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia; Monday, March 15, 2010; 7pm; Carnegie Library in Turners Falls.

 Northfield Public Library (Dickinson Memorial)

•  Community Book Discussion, My Life in France; Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 10am.
•  “Food for Thought: New England Community Cookbooks;” Friday, February 26, 2010; 6:30pm.
•  Afternoon Movie, Julie & Julia; Thursday, March 11, 2010; 12:30pm.

 New Salem Public Library

•  “Blogging for Fun” presented by Karen Powers; Saturday February 27, 2010; 10:00am. 
• Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia; Sunday, March 7, 2010; 3pm.
•  French Cooking with Karen Powers; Tuesday, March 9, 2010; 3pm.

Shutesbury Public Library (M.N. Spear Memorial)

•  “Mastering the Art of French Dessert Making” with Shutesbury Pastry Chef, Pam Ososky; Sunday, February 28, 2010; 2pm; Shutesbury Elementary School.
•  Movie Night, Julie and Julia Saturday, March 6, 2010; 7pm; Shutesbury Town Hall.

 Sunderland Public Library

•   Movie Night, Julie and Julia Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 7pm.
• Community Book Discussion, Julie and Julia Wednesday, March 10, 2010; 7pm.
• “Cooking, Provencal Style” presented by Stockbridge Farm; Tuesday, March 16, 2010; 7 pm.
• “If You Can’t Take the Heat…Hard Work and Delicious Rewards in the Food World” presented by Betty Rosbottom; Wednesday, March 24, 2010; 7 pm.
• Community Hors d’oeuvres Potluck; Friday, March 26, 2010; 6pm.

 Wendell Free Library

•   Movie Night, Julie and Julia (and movie/book comparison discussion); Friday, March 5, 2010; 7pm.

 Whately Public Library (S. White Dickinson Memorial)

• Movie Night, Ratatouille; Wednesday, February 17, 2010; 3pm.
• Community Book Discussion, Julie & Julia; Monday, February 22, 2010; 6:30pm.
• Movie Night, Julie and Julia; Monday, March 1, 2010; 6pm.
• “Cooking with Herbs—Julia’s Way” presented by Stockbridge Farm; Wednesday, March 10, 2010; 7pm.

  Library Information

1.  Sara Woodbury, Director, swoodbur@cwmars.org, Tilton Library, 75 N. Main St., South Deerfield, MA, 413-665-4683
2. Barbara Friedman, Director, ervinglibrary@netscape.net, Erving Public Library, 17 Moore St., Erving, MA , 413-423-3348, www.erving-ma.org/18.html
3. Sharon Sharry, Director, ssharry@cwmars.org, Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, 413-772-1544, http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/
4. Susan SanSoucie, Director, librarydir@montague-ma.gov , Montague Public Libraries, Carnegie Library, 201 Avenue A, Turners Falls, 413-863-3214, Millers Falls Library, 23 Bridge Street, Millers Falls, 413-659-3801, Montague Center Library, 17 Center St., 413-367-2852, http://www.montaguepubliclibraries.org/
5. Diana Smith, Director, n_salem@cwmars.org, New Salem Public Library, 23 South Main St., New Salem, MA, 978-544-6334
6.  Debra Kern, Director, dmemlib@cwmars.org, Dickinson Memorial Library, 115 Main Street, Northfield, MA , 413-498-2455, http://www.northfieldpubliclibrary.org/
7.  Mary Anne Antonellis, Director, mnspear@verizon.net, M.N. Spear Memorial Library, 10 Cooleyville Rd., Shutesbury, MA, 413-259-1213, www.shutesbury.org/library/
8. Shelia McCormick, Director, Director@SunderlandPublicLibrary.org, Sunderland Public Library, 20 School St., Sunderland, MA, 413-665-2642, http://www.sunderlandpubliclibrary.org/
9. Rosie Heidkamp, Director, rheidkam@cwmars.org, Wendell Free Library, 7 Wendell Depot Road, Wendell, MA , 978-544-3559, http://www.wendellfreelibrary.org/
10. Tiffany Hilton, Director, library@whately.org, S. White Dickinson Memorial Library, 202 Chestnut Plain Road, Whately, MA, 413-665-2170, www.whately.org/library.htm

 Contact: Sharon Sharry, Greenfield Public Library, ssharry@cwmars.org, 413-772-1544 x109