WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY ADVOCATES - SURVEY COMING SOON

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) are setting their priorities for the coming year.  Notice and links to an online survey will be distributed through email in the next few days.  The survey deadline is January 15.  Please take a few moments to share your thoughts.  We'll be working hard on your behalf.  We want to be sure we are focused in the appropriate areas.

Nancy Hahn, Sheffield, Retires

The Friends and Trustees of the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield honored retiring librarian Nancy Hahn at a reception at the library on Friday, December 15, 2012.  The festivities and remarks were warm and informal led by Patrick Burns of the Friends.  Approximately 150 people attended the reception including several librarians from throughout the region:  John Campbell (Nancy’s predecessor), Kate Deviny (Gt. Barrington), Sharon Hawkes (Lenox), Anne Just (formerly Gt. Barrington), Chris Lindquist (Westfield), Shirley Keech (formerly WMRLS), Mary King (Massachusetts Library System - MLS), Mary Kronholm (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners - MBLC),  Mark Makuc (Monterey), Georgia Massucco (formerly of Lee), Katie O’Neil (Stockbridge), Dan Paquette (Lee), John Ramsay (Springfield), Jan Resnick (MBLC), and Rosie Schneyer (formerly Stockbridge.)  Representative Smitty Pignatelli commended Nancy’s service as did Sheffield officials, Friends, library users and Trustees.  Chris Lindquist, President of the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA), presented Nancy with a bouquet of flowers and a certificate thanking her for her contributions to the library community.  It was an evening of good company, great food, and an opportunity to honor Nancy’s 11 years of dedicated service to the town of Sheffield.

Books Heal Hearts - Helping the Newtown, CT library

Imagine if the community needs of your town tragically changed in an instant, with effects to last for at least a generation.  From their website:

“Books Heal Hearts” is a fund set up by the Cyrenius H. Booth Library with donations given in response to the Sandy Hook School tragedy. Books Heal Hearts is a special fund for healing that will make materials available for use in our library, our schools, and throughout our community, wherever there is a need and whatever that need may be. This will be an ongoing effort by the library to meet the immediate and future needs of our community.

Checks made out to: Cyrenius H. Booth Library with Books Heal Hearts written on the memo line can be mailed to:

Cyrenius H. Booth Library

25 Main Street

Newtown, CT 06470

Donations can also be made through the Booth Library's JustGive page. Please select "Other" on the Program selection dropdown and type "Books Heal Hearts" in the entry line. Click here to give online through JustGive.

All donations are tax-deductible. 

Click here to go directly to their website.

Library Legislative Breakfasts Announced - Massachusetts Libraries: In Demand, Under Pressure

The nineteenth annual series of library legislative breakfasts begins in January.  Please see below for details in your area.   As advocacy continues to be a critical role for librarians in Massachusetts, these breakfasts have grown in importance and attendance.  Your legislators need to hear directly from you of your concerns and the needs of your users.

No library can meet the demands of its users with local resources alone. That’s why state funded programs are so critical to the provision of library services. Citizens of Massachusetts are using libraries more than ever, and they rely on the links between libraries provided through state funding administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Funding cuts since 2001 have placed immense burdens on local library budgets at a time when demand for services is rising.

The MBLC works toward equity of access to library services by creating a level playing field so that residents of all ages across the Commonwealth have access to essential library collections, services, facilities and electronic content regardless of where they live. Through libraries, residents find information and knowledge to improve their lives, to support education, to build their communities and to sustain our democracy. 

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) Legislative Agenda for FY 2014 is available at http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/publications/agenda2014.pdf. 

Informing your legislators of your concerns and additional funding needs this year will allow Massachusetts libraries to meet today’s challenges.  Please show your support by mailing a contribution and by marking the date of your complimentary breakfast on your calendar.  Every library school, public, academic and special in every town needs a voice to be heard by our Western Mass. legislators.

Sincerely yours,

Lynn Coakley                                                                                                       Jan Resnick

Lynn Coakley                                                                                                 Jan Resnick

And the members of the Western Mass. Library Advocates Advocacy Committee

 Each library will be receiving a letter in delivery including dates/locations of the breakfasts and details of how you can donate to support this effort.  

 

Western Mass Library Legislative Breakfasts Schedule ~ 2013 Corrected

 Full descriptions of the Breakfasts, plus registration information and directions are available at http://mla.memberlodge.org/breakfasts2013

Thanks to the Mass. Library Association for hosting the information this year.

Senator Stanley Rosenberg

Friday, January 11, 2013 ~ 8:00 a.m. –The Nahman-Watson Library at Greenfield Community College
Host: Eric Poulin, Coordinator of Library Services

Registration email:  Pouline@gcc.mass.edu

Senator Gale Candaras

Friday, January 25, 2013 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Wilbraham Public Library

Host: Karen Demers, Library Director    

Registration email:  tonya@wilbrahamlibrary.org

Senator Benjamin Downing

Friday, January 25, 2013 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Mason Library, Great Barrington

Host: Kate Deviny, Library Director

Registration email: L.Kaufmann@mcla.edu

Senator Michael Knapik

Friday, February 8, 2013 ~ 8:00 a.m. – Westfield Athenaeum

Host: Christopher Lindquist, Library Director
Registration email: cpennington@westath.org

Senator James Welch

Friday, February 22, 2013 ~ 8:00 a.m. – West Springfield Public Library

Host: Antonia Golinski Foisy, Library Director 

Registration email   agolinsk@cwmars.org

Senator Stephen Brewer

Friday, February 22, 2012 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Monson Free Library andReading Room Association

Host: Katie Krol, Library Director

Registration email: kkrol@cwmars.org.

Find the names of your state Senator and Representative(s) by visiting the Massachusetts Library Association - Elected Officials website http://capwiz.com/ala/ma/state/main/?state=MAhttp://capwiz.com/ala/ma/state/main/?state=MA

Forbes Library: A New Look for the Season and Fundraising

For a clever look at seasonal donations, check out The Forbes Library's (Northampton) riff on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Join WMLA on FaceBook

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) has a new FaceBook page!  (Thank you Betty Purington Johnson!)  It's a great way to stay current on events and news from WMLA.  Like us - we're hoping to have over 100 friends by Friday, November 30.  Share information about your libraries and check it for updates as we move into our primary legislative season.
You can also take a look at our background information, our projects, and membership information on the WMLA website.

November is Family Literacy Month

November is Family Literacy Month both nationally and here in Massachusetts. If you are conducting family programs this month, please let Shelley know so the MBLC can post this information on their portal site http://libraries.state.ma.us/.

Family Literacy Month is sponsored by the Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium  and its partner agencies including the Department of Early Education and Care  and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education  and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. 

This is a terrific opportunity for everyone to get good publicity and help raise awareness about how libraries support literacy and offer many family programs across the Commonwealth!  Let Shelley know what your library is offering.

Contact:  Shelley Quezada, Consultant, Library Services to the Unserved, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, shelley.quezada@state.ma.us