2013 Berkshire Legislative Breakfast

On Friday, January 25, 2013, more than 50 Berkshire librarians, trustees, elected officials and library supporters attended the 15^th breakfast at the Mason Library in Great Barrington.  Senator Benjamin Downing, Representatives Gailanne Cariddi, Paul Mark, and Smitty Pignatelli attended and shared their observations and advice. 

·         The Governor’s budget has been released; the House budget will be released April 10. 

·         Representatives will be submitting their budget priorities in February and March. 

·         Start now - make sure your representatives know what is important to your library and your users. 

·         Contact your friends, relatives and colleagues in the eastern districts of the Commonwealth and ask them to write, call, email their legislators supporting the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ 2014 Legislative Agenda.

·         Attend Library Legislative Day at the State House March 26.  (The Western Mass Library Advocates will be sending information on the bus very shortly.)

·         Debate on the House budget will begin in earnest the last week of April.

If you haven’t attended a legislative breakfast yet, check the Massachusetts LibraryAssociation website for opportunities in your area.  Join your colleagues and let your representatives and senator know what your library needs.  Bring your trustees and elected officials.  Advocate.  It’s good for you.

Ramsdell Library to Stay Open

By a vote of 460 to 6 at Monday night’s town meeting, Great Barrington chose to keep Ramsdell Library open. The decision came following a year of tumult touched off by a study done by Library Director Anne Just for the Board of Selectmen on the impact of closing, continuing, or renovating Ramsdell Library. Town residents, especially those in the library’s Housatonic neighborhood, were very vocal in opposing closure. While the town administration decided early on not to close the library, a citizen’s petition to close was placed on the warrant, which reignited anxieties. A vocal citizen’s campaign was mounted to save the library, which now looks ahead with clearly demonstrated citizen support.

Coming Soon ~ GBLibraries Blog

Janet gave a great class today on blogging. Look for a GBLibraries blog soon on our children's mural dedication.

~ Anne Just, Director, Great Barrington Libraries