Libraries and Autism: We're Connected

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."

I recently had the good fortune to attend the NMRLS* day-long training on “Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” at the Reading Public Library on January 28. Inspired by what I learned at this workshop, I coordinated a follow-up training for staff of WMRLS member libraries on Tuesday, February 23. Our WMRLS program was a joint collaboration with the Community Resources for People with Autism, a organization that provides support, information, and practical help for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families living in western Massachusetts. Jason Litto, Family Support Manager of Community Resources for People with Autism, served as our guest specialist and provided invaluable amplification on the Joint Libraries’ Autism PowerPoint and Video Staff Training Resources. By holding our program at the Community Resources for People with Autism Center, our librarian participants also benefited by a tour of this facility and an overview of the services that Jason and his colleagues provide.

~ Janet Eckert, WMRLS

*NMRLS is currently administering an LSTA grant project  on Serving Children With Autism

Interfaith Talk at Worthington Library

Andras Arthen of Worthington, along with his family and other members of The EarthSpirit Community, recently returned from Australia where they joined thousands of other international participants attending the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne.

The Parliament is the oldest and largest interreligious conference in the world, having been held initially in Chicago in 1893. That particular event marked the first time that religious leaders and dignitaries from the mainstream Western faiths met formally with their counterparts from Asian religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, giving rise in our culture to an interest in such practices as Yoga and Zen which continues to this day.

The Melbourne Parliament, from December 3-9, brought together some 6,500 delegates from most of the many spiritual traditions including Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, American Indians, Zoroastrians, Pagans, Jews, Yorubans, etc. The week-long event featured over 600 workshops, lectures, ceremonies, panel discussions, and artistic presentations which provided insight into the richness and diversity of the world’s religions and addressed the roles that those institutions can play in resolving some of the major problems that we face today.

Andras Arthen, who is a member of the Parliament’s Board of Trustees, will offer a talk about the event (including a slide presentation) at the Worthington Library on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:00 pm. For more information about the Parliament of the World’s Religions, go to http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/ .

~ Leona Arthen,  Director, Worthington Library

Bookmobile Emptied

Today, February 25, 2010, Regional Staff removed all the materials from the bookmobile as the next step in concluding the service. It's a sad day, but now all the materials from the bookmobile are shelved in our Whately building, available for holds.

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

WMRLS is closed on Wednesday, February 24

Dear Western Massachusetts Libraries:

With heavy snowfall and many power outages across our 4 county area, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System will be closed on Wed. Feb. 24. Regional delivery will not take place. Please alert staff at your library whose work involves delivery tasks.
Thank you for your understanding.

~ John Ramsay, WMRLS Regional Administrator

Pittsfield celebrates Melville Literary Legacy

As reported in this Sunday's Berkshire Eagle, the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, & The Berkshire County Historical Society have collaborated to plan a daylong celebration of Herman Melville's literary legacy on Saturday, February 27.
The events kick off at 10 a.m. when Melville Scholar and MIT professor Wyn Kelley reprises a reading of her paper, Out of the Bread Box: Eleanor Melville Metcalf and the Melville Legacy.Beginning at 11 a.m., tours will be offered of  the Athenaeum's Melville Room to view family artifacts, including the bread box in which the manuscript of Billy Budd was found. Call 442 1793 ext 11 to reserve a tour time. Beginning at 12 noon, hourly tours will be available of Arrowhead, Herman Melville's home at 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield.  The celebration concludes at 2 p.m. with a screening of Billy Budd, starring Peter Ustinov and Terrance Stamp (1962). Film commentary will be offered by Attorney Arthur Stein, President of The Berkshire County Historical Society.

Submitted by Madeline Kelly, Pittsfield