WRapper - Fall/Winter 2009 issue now online

Extra! Extra! Hot off the Virtual Press ~ WRAPPER NEWSLETTER!


We have just posted the fall/winter issue of WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System This issue features the following:


WMRLS Annual Meeting: An Emotional Experience by John Ramsay, Regional Administrator, WMRLS

WMRLS Night at MassMutual Center Fundraiser – The Springfield Falcons Hockey Team is dedicating the Saturday, January 23 game to benefit the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System. Tickets (regularly $17) are only $10 for everyone who orders using the special form on page 3 of Wrapper. This offer of discounted tickets to the January 23 game is extended to the general public. Please help WMRLS promote this fundraiser by making copies available for people to take. (A great holiday gift!)

Self-Service Disc Repair Machine now available to ALL WMRLS Libraries at No Charge
Sincerely, Janet Eckert, Editor; WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Annual Meeting of the WMRLS Council of Members

From WMRLS Annual Meeting of the Council of Members

Our WMRLS Annual Meeting is always a great oppportunity for people from our member libraries to learn what is happening at the local, regional, state, and national levels. At today's Annual Meeting, Rob Maier, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, our featured guest speaker, discussed the FY11 Library Budget Crisis and its negative impact upon the regional library systems (as well as the severe pressure with all state agencies that are required to propose 17% overall reductions).  Commissioner Vicki L. Kaufman, urged all librarians to contact their legislators by phone and/or by writing a letter to advocate for libraries.

Annual Meeting of the Council Of Members - Tuesday, November 17

Dear Members of the Western MA Regional Library System (WMRLS):

The 2009 Annual Meeting will be one of the most important in the almost-50 year history of WMRLS. It will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Agawam Public Library. Details, directions and an online registration form are at http://www.wmrls.org/council/ . There you will also find links to documents (agenda, nominating slate, minutes, FY11 budget and plan of service) that will be reviewed and presented for approval. If you’d like, please print them to review them and bring them with you to the meeting.

The Regions just sustained State budget cuts yesterday. Their exact impact is yet to be determined. The budget for next year (FY11) is initially forecast to be reduced by at least 28%. All this news has already forced us to end our beloved bookmobile service at the end of December 2009. There is talk about consolidation of Regions, with the final number of Regions not yet determined. Many of you have expressed your concerns, and have questions about the future of WMRLS and its services.

After required business is transacted, considerable time has been set aside for Rob Maier, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, to offer us an update on the State budget situation for libraries. He will also talk about the process underway to forge future directions for Regions and their services. There will be ample opportunity for people to ask questions so they can better understand what might lie ahead for all of us.

We hope to have a great turnout for this important Annual Meeting!

Thank you,

John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Technical Services Roundtable February 3rd in Westfield

Hello Everyone,

You are invited to our next Technical Services Roundtable meeting, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3rd (the 4th if it snows, which hopefully it won't) at the Westfield Athenaeum.

Jeremy Goldstein, of the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield, will be moderator.

Please RSVP and send agenda items to jeremy at jgoldste@cwmars.org

I look forward to seeing everyone in February.

Novermber 13 is WMRLS Annual Meeting at AIER

Dear Western Massachusetts Libraries:

This is a reminder that all of you are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS) Council of Members from 10:00 till about 12:30 on Thursday, November 13, 2008. The location will be the unique American Institute for Economic Research in the scenic hills of Great Barrington. A couple of us visited AIER yesterday, and we guarantee you will enjoy visiting this site and learning about this intriguing member of our Region and the work they do, especially in the context of these challenging economic times. There is no need to RSVP; just show up, one and all.

Please consider trying to ride share with others in your area - it'll save gasoline and add to your enjoyment of the day.

Directions to AIER, 250 Division Street, Great Barrington, can be found at http://www.aier.org/about/our-location . Just select where you'll be coming from and the driving directions will appear. Basically, it's about 7.5 miles south and west of the Red Lion Inn at the center of Stockbridge. At 250 Division St., you'll see a stone entrance on the right with "AIER" on it. Turn into the driveway and keep straight for almost a mile, following signs for Library Office. There's plenty of parking just over the crest of the hill.

We need a quorum of our member libraries in order to act on several business issues, so we hope you will try to attend. The agenda, FY2010 budget and plan of service and other documents are on our website at http://archive.wmrls.org/council/agenda/ . Please print out relevant documents and bring them with you to help us reduce Regional printing costs. A nominating slate is being finalized and will be posted on the site later; copies of that slate will be available at the meeting.

In addition to our regular business meeting, we will:

• Hear from the MA Board of Library Commissioners about the latest statewide library developments.
• Learn perspectives on today's libraries and library education from Terry Plum, Assistant Dean of the Simmons College GSLIS program at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley.
• Get an update from the Friends of WMRLS about their many fundraising and advocacy activities over the past year and being planned for upcoming months.
• Enjoy the report of Becky Marconi, Project Coordinator for the LSTA "Together We Thrive" grant. This exciting effort has been benefiting many small public libraries. This project is just starting its second year.

We think you'll find the WMRLS Annual Meeting an especially interesting opportunity for the entire Western Massachusetts library community to come together, interact, learn, and demonstrate your support for your WMRLS. We hope to see you all at AIER on November 13 !!!

Sincerely,
John Ramsay, Regional Administrator
Western Massachusetts Regional Library System