Friday, May 7, 2010
Ramsdell Library to Stay Open
Republican Newspaper: Western Massachusetts Regional Library System faces state funding cuts, layoffs
"Western Massachusetts Regional Library System faces state funding cuts, layoffs
By Dan Ring, The Republican
May 06, 2010, 8:13PM
BOSTON – Steep cuts in state funding will force layoffs and other cuts to an organization that provides regional services to libraries in Western Massachusetts, marking an “incredible loss” for the region, local librarians said...." ~ Read More
By Dan Ring, The Republican
May 06, 2010, 8:13PM
BOSTON – Steep cuts in state funding will force layoffs and other cuts to an organization that provides regional services to libraries in Western Massachusetts, marking an “incredible loss” for the region, local librarians said...." ~ Read More
Thursday, May 6, 2010
NEH awards grant to Library to complete Du Bois digitization
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries have been awarded a grant of $314,787 from the National Endowment for the Humanities' We the People program to complete digitization of the papers of African-American intellectual and activist W.E.B. Du Bois.In 2009, with the support of a Verizon Foundation grant, Special Collections and University Archives embarked on the historic project to make the Du Bois Papers, consisting of more than 100,000 items, available freely on the Internet. At the halfway mark of the Verizon Foundation project, Special Collections has scanned 35,000 pages and created records for more than 11,000 items. Funds from the NEH will enable Special Collections to make the entire collection available online by the end of 2013. The images will be available at the end of the project at www.library.umass.edu/spcoll/.
We the People is an NEH program designed to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history, culture and democratic principles.
Since 1973, the UMass Amherst Library has housed the W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, a collection of more than 100,000 letters, photographs, manuscripts, memorabilia and audiovisual materials. Widely recognized as one of nation's most significant collections for the study of African-American history, the Du Bois collection offers insight into a wide range of social and historical movements. Included is Du Bois' correspondence with figures such as Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington, Albert Einstein and Mohandas Gandhi.
Info about Merger Vote, the House Amendment and other matters
The following message was posted to the WMRLS email discussion list on May 5:
Dear WMRLS Member Libraries, Friends of WMRLS, the We Love Western Mass Libraries FaceBook Group, and other library colleagues:
Dear WMRLS Member Libraries, Friends of WMRLS, the We Love Western Mass Libraries FaceBook Group, and other library colleagues: We have been receiving questions about the effect of regional members voting for or against the merger of their Regions. In a discussion with the attorney who is helping the MBLC and the Regions with the proposed merger of the regions into the Massachusetts Library System, I received the basic answer, which follows. [NOTE: There is quite a bit more to think about and consider – the long answer – that is contained in the Word document attached to this message. We hope you will read it.]
The short answer is that a corporation cannot be forced to merge. At a Council of Members meeting (the WMRLS meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at the Agawam Public Library), 2/3 of the voting members attending the meeting, or voting by some other means, is required to approve that Region’s merger.
You probably saw the MBLC Executive Director Rob Maier’s announcement late yesterday about the outcome of the House version of the FY11 budget. Included for regional account (7000-9401) was language requiring the MBLC to fund at least 2 regions, one serving the West and the other serving the Eastern part of the State. There are many issues entailed. Please open and read the attachment to get a fuller understanding of all that is involved, at least as far as I can muster at this moment.
Thank you for your consideration and support of WMRLS and all the Regions.
John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS
Merger Issues for Members to Consider
I have spoken with the attorney who is assisting the MBLC and Regions with the proposed merger into one administrative organization. I basically asked, “What happens if the members of a region do not vote to merge?” He said that a corporation cannot be forced to merge. So, if a 2/3 vote in favor of merging (by authorized voting representatives from member libraries) is not achieved at a Regional Council of Members meeting, that region is not part of the merger. But, wait, there’s more to it than just that!
Funding. A crucial issue is money. Regional library systems rely almost entirely for their operations, staff and services on State funds from MBLC account 7000-9401. Both the Governor’s and House versions of the FY11 State budget did not include an increase in the funds in the account. So, thus far, the situation budget-wise is still dire for this account.
MLS. The MBLC has already designated the Massachusetts Library System as the recipient of funds from the regional account for FY11. See MBLC press release at http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/
Amendment 548. Language was included in the FY11 budget that requires the MBLC to fund at least 2 Regions, WMRLS and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS). This budget language amendment was proposed by a large number of Western State Representatives in response to unprecedented advocacy from their concerned constituents. It is important that everyone understand that no WMRLS staff were involved in the filing or wording of this amendment. We do sincerely applaud our Representatives for taking action on the input from Western Region librarians and library supporters.
Could WMRLS operate under House Amendment 548 if the regional account is level-funded? Our preliminary estimate is that WMRLS could provide its key services, but this is contingent on some assumptions and negotiations that have not yet even been broached. As a long-term and sustainable solution, especially if State fiscal constraints continue, it is very questionable whether WMRLS could continue as a “standalone” region for the foreseeable future. A total reversal of the State funding picture would be needed, and this is not anticipated in the near future.
State Budget Process. There are many steps remaining in the budget process. We do not know if the Senate will try to incorporate the same language that appeared in the House budget. And what will the Senate funding level be for library accounts? If there are differences between the legislature’s versions of the budget and language, a House / Senate Conference Committee would need to resolve those differences. After that, the Governor could still issue a line item veto of that account. To reverse such a veto, both the House and Senate would need to override it. So, the House budget is just a part of the process.
Funding, Again. It has been stated since the very start of the merger process that the 6 regions have been doing important and cost-effective work to assist libraries across the State. Can more funds be appropriated by the State? We do not know.
Statewide Effort. We at WMRLS and across the State appreciate all the efforts by library supporters and State Representatives to advocate for regional services and State support of library services in general. It is only through a statewide effort, not from just one area, that additional funding might be possible. This is true whether WMRLS remains on its own or WMRLS is part of the consolidated MLS. WMRLS has a long tradition of working with and for the whole state in improving library services. It will take a serious and massive advocacy effort, with help from the Massachusetts Library Association and many more people, to reverse the downward budget spiral for libraries and their regions and the other organizations that exist to help libraries. As one of our members offered at a roundtable to discuss the merger, “Only those that attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” Maybe we all need to try as hard as we can.
Thank you,
John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS
Funding. A crucial issue is money. Regional library systems rely almost entirely for their operations, staff and services on State funds from MBLC account 7000-9401. Both the Governor’s and House versions of the FY11 State budget did not include an increase in the funds in the account. So, thus far, the situation budget-wise is still dire for this account.
MLS. The MBLC has already designated the Massachusetts Library System as the recipient of funds from the regional account for FY11. See MBLC press release at http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/
Amendment 548. Language was included in the FY11 budget that requires the MBLC to fund at least 2 Regions, WMRLS and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS). This budget language amendment was proposed by a large number of Western State Representatives in response to unprecedented advocacy from their concerned constituents. It is important that everyone understand that no WMRLS staff were involved in the filing or wording of this amendment. We do sincerely applaud our Representatives for taking action on the input from Western Region librarians and library supporters.
Could WMRLS operate under House Amendment 548 if the regional account is level-funded? Our preliminary estimate is that WMRLS could provide its key services, but this is contingent on some assumptions and negotiations that have not yet even been broached. As a long-term and sustainable solution, especially if State fiscal constraints continue, it is very questionable whether WMRLS could continue as a “standalone” region for the foreseeable future. A total reversal of the State funding picture would be needed, and this is not anticipated in the near future.
State Budget Process. There are many steps remaining in the budget process. We do not know if the Senate will try to incorporate the same language that appeared in the House budget. And what will the Senate funding level be for library accounts? If there are differences between the legislature’s versions of the budget and language, a House / Senate Conference Committee would need to resolve those differences. After that, the Governor could still issue a line item veto of that account. To reverse such a veto, both the House and Senate would need to override it. So, the House budget is just a part of the process.
Funding, Again. It has been stated since the very start of the merger process that the 6 regions have been doing important and cost-effective work to assist libraries across the State. Can more funds be appropriated by the State? We do not know.
Statewide Effort. We at WMRLS and across the State appreciate all the efforts by library supporters and State Representatives to advocate for regional services and State support of library services in general. It is only through a statewide effort, not from just one area, that additional funding might be possible. This is true whether WMRLS remains on its own or WMRLS is part of the consolidated MLS. WMRLS has a long tradition of working with and for the whole state in improving library services. It will take a serious and massive advocacy effort, with help from the Massachusetts Library Association and many more people, to reverse the downward budget spiral for libraries and their regions and the other organizations that exist to help libraries. As one of our members offered at a roundtable to discuss the merger, “Only those that attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” Maybe we all need to try as hard as we can.
Thank you,
John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
WMRLS Executive Board Council of Members Meeting
Tuesday May 25, 2010
10:00 AM until 12:30 PM
The Western MA Regional Library System (WMRLS) Council of Members needs to take up the issue of the merger of WMRLS into the new Massachusetts Library System. This matter will be put to a vote, after discussion, at the meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at the Agawam Public Library. We will be sending out documentation, along with a way for those of you who cannot attend the meeting, to vote yea or nay.
Directions
Location: Agawam Public Library
FY2011 House Budget Adopted
The following message was posted to the ALLREGIONS email discussion list on May 4, 2010:
"To: Massachusetts Library Community
From: Rob Maier, Director, Mass. Board of Library Commissioners
The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved its version of the FY2011 state budget on Friday, April 30. In mid May 2010 the Senate Ways and Means Committee will release its version of the FY2011 state budget. In June 2010 a joint House and Senate conference committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two versions of the FY2011 state budget. After the full House and Senate agree to the conference committee report, the FY2011 state budget goes to the Governor who has the authority to line item veto. The FY2011 state budget must be in place by July 1, 2010.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved the following for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for FY2011:
Line Item 7000-9101 Board of Library Commissioners
FY2009 - $1,042,269
FY2010 – $938,042
FY2011 – Governor’s $938,042
FY2011 – House Budget $914,448
Line Item 7000-9401 State Aid to Regional Libraries
FY2009 - $17,166,071
FY2010 - $12,327,160
FY2011 – Governor’s $8,781,475
FY2011 – House Budget $8,781,475
FY2010 & FY2011 Governor’s & House state budgets remove the earmarking for the per capita for Library of Last Recourse. Governor’s and House FY2011 budgets also eliminate statutory language requiring regional reference centers.
The House budget for FY2011 includes the following two provisions under line item 7000-9401:
“; and provided further, that said section 19C of said chapter 78 shall not apply to a municipality with more than 500,000 residents during fiscal year 2011 unless such municipality funds and maintains operations for all branch libraries in service as of January 1, 2010 and funds and maintains staffing levels at its central library as such staffing levels existed on January 1, 2010”.
“; and provided further, that the board of library commissioners shall provide funds for the continued operation of no fewer than two regional library systems to serve the different geographic regions of the Commonwealth, one of which shall serve eastern Massachusetts and one which shall serve the western Massachusetts regional library system.”
Line Item 7000-9402 Talking Book Library (Worcester)
FY2009 - $421,143
FY2010 – $421,143
FY2011 - Governor's $421,143
FY2011 – House Budget $421,143
Line Item 7000-9406 Talking Book & Machine Lending (Perkins)
FY2009 - $2,241,016
FY2010 – $2,241,016
FY2011 – Governor’s $2,241,016
FY2011 – House Budget $2,241,016
Line Item 7000-9501 State Aid to Public Libraries
FY2009 - $9,989,844
FY2010 - $6,823,657
FY2011 – Governor’s $6,823,657
FY2011 – House Budget $6,823,657
FY2010 and FY2011 Governor’s and House state budgets provide authorization for the Board of Library Commissioners to award waivers of the M.A.R. “in excess of the waiver limit set” in statute (no limit).
The House budget for FY2011 includes the following provision under line item 7000-9501:
“; provided further that said section 19A of said chapter 78 shall not apply to a municipality with more than 500,000 residents during fiscal year 2011 unless such municipality funds and maintains operations for all branch libraries in service as of January 1, 2010 and funds and maintains staffing levels at its central library as such staffing levels existed on January 1, 2010”.
Line Item 7000-9506 Library Technology & Resource Sharing
FY2009 - $2,799,104
FY2010 - $1,929,238
FY2011 – Governor’s $1,929,238
FY2011 – House Budget $1,929,238
Special Provision:
An amendment was added to the budget providing “that the house of representatives shall commission a study by the Legislature Library Caucus to assess the costs, benefits, and impact of changes in regional library systems in the commonwealth and to provide a recommendation on the role of the library of last recourse with regards to funding, jurisdiction and purpose.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert C. Maier, Director
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
98 North Washington Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
Ph (617) 725-1860 x249"
From: Rob Maier, Director, Mass. Board of Library Commissioners
The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved its version of the FY2011 state budget on Friday, April 30. In mid May 2010 the Senate Ways and Means Committee will release its version of the FY2011 state budget. In June 2010 a joint House and Senate conference committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two versions of the FY2011 state budget. After the full House and Senate agree to the conference committee report, the FY2011 state budget goes to the Governor who has the authority to line item veto. The FY2011 state budget must be in place by July 1, 2010.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved the following for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for FY2011:
Line Item 7000-9101 Board of Library Commissioners
FY2009 - $1,042,269
FY2010 – $938,042
FY2011 – Governor’s $938,042
FY2011 – House Budget $914,448
Line Item 7000-9401 State Aid to Regional Libraries
FY2009 - $17,166,071
FY2010 - $12,327,160
FY2011 – Governor’s $8,781,475
FY2011 – House Budget $8,781,475
FY2010 & FY2011 Governor’s & House state budgets remove the earmarking for the per capita for Library of Last Recourse. Governor’s and House FY2011 budgets also eliminate statutory language requiring regional reference centers.
The House budget for FY2011 includes the following two provisions under line item 7000-9401:
“; and provided further, that said section 19C of said chapter 78 shall not apply to a municipality with more than 500,000 residents during fiscal year 2011 unless such municipality funds and maintains operations for all branch libraries in service as of January 1, 2010 and funds and maintains staffing levels at its central library as such staffing levels existed on January 1, 2010”.
“; and provided further, that the board of library commissioners shall provide funds for the continued operation of no fewer than two regional library systems to serve the different geographic regions of the Commonwealth, one of which shall serve eastern Massachusetts and one which shall serve the western Massachusetts regional library system.”
Line Item 7000-9402 Talking Book Library (Worcester)
FY2009 - $421,143
FY2010 – $421,143
FY2011 - Governor's $421,143
FY2011 – House Budget $421,143
Line Item 7000-9406 Talking Book & Machine Lending (Perkins)
FY2009 - $2,241,016
FY2010 – $2,241,016
FY2011 – Governor’s $2,241,016
FY2011 – House Budget $2,241,016
Line Item 7000-9501 State Aid to Public Libraries
FY2009 - $9,989,844
FY2010 - $6,823,657
FY2011 – Governor’s $6,823,657
FY2011 – House Budget $6,823,657
FY2010 and FY2011 Governor’s and House state budgets provide authorization for the Board of Library Commissioners to award waivers of the M.A.R. “in excess of the waiver limit set” in statute (no limit).
The House budget for FY2011 includes the following provision under line item 7000-9501:
“; provided further that said section 19A of said chapter 78 shall not apply to a municipality with more than 500,000 residents during fiscal year 2011 unless such municipality funds and maintains operations for all branch libraries in service as of January 1, 2010 and funds and maintains staffing levels at its central library as such staffing levels existed on January 1, 2010”.
Line Item 7000-9506 Library Technology & Resource Sharing
FY2009 - $2,799,104
FY2010 - $1,929,238
FY2011 – Governor’s $1,929,238
FY2011 – House Budget $1,929,238
Special Provision:
An amendment was added to the budget providing “that the house of representatives shall commission a study by the Legislature Library Caucus to assess the costs, benefits, and impact of changes in regional library systems in the commonwealth and to provide a recommendation on the role of the library of last recourse with regards to funding, jurisdiction and purpose.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert C. Maier, Director
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
98 North Washington Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
Ph (617) 725-1860 x249"
One Idea to Raise Funds to Offset State Budget Cuts
From the SEMLS News website:
"...Ideas to the rescue. Several colleagues were talking yesterday, and many are unhappy about the regional planning process and how the regions are being torn apart so rapidly. There is admiration for our colleagues in the West who have voiced their concerns; yet we know we can do better when we all join forces to promote our cause.
Funding is the issue. State dollars are scarce, and there is minimal hope that library dollars can be restored. Ideas to the rescue. In FY 2010, there will probably be more than 14 million items that travel through the delivery system. Delivery costs absorb 40+ percent of the regional budgets. If this is our core service with a $7 million budget and it costs over $3 million to maintain; maybe we should look at this as a way to enhance the revenue that comes to the regions and even the networks.
Someone suggested that maybe we should consider charging a one-time fee for anyone who requests materials, network transfers or interlibrary loan requests. Could we do this? Should we do this? The proposal isn't fully worked out, but I would like to get our conversation going and will roughly sketch out how this might work." ~ Read More
"...Ideas to the rescue. Several colleagues were talking yesterday, and many are unhappy about the regional planning process and how the regions are being torn apart so rapidly. There is admiration for our colleagues in the West who have voiced their concerns; yet we know we can do better when we all join forces to promote our cause.
Funding is the issue. State dollars are scarce, and there is minimal hope that library dollars can be restored. Ideas to the rescue. In FY 2010, there will probably be more than 14 million items that travel through the delivery system. Delivery costs absorb 40+ percent of the regional budgets. If this is our core service with a $7 million budget and it costs over $3 million to maintain; maybe we should look at this as a way to enhance the revenue that comes to the regions and even the networks.
Someone suggested that maybe we should consider charging a one-time fee for anyone who requests materials, network transfers or interlibrary loan requests. Could we do this? Should we do this? The proposal isn't fully worked out, but I would like to get our conversation going and will roughly sketch out how this might work." ~ Read More
Monday, May 3, 2010
Skit to introduce 2010 Summer Reading Program
Go Green at the library Summer Reading Program Skit
Pictured at left are Doris Madsen, Springfield City Library, and Mia by their collaborative Go Green with Teen Crafts Display. Doris and Mia will be conducting next Monday's tnk grEn with Green Crafts workshop.
For complete information about our 2010 MRLS/MBLC Statewide Library Reading Program, visit the WMRLS Summer Reading Program website.
