LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS NEWS

Palmer Breakfast Cancelled

The February 28 breakfast in Palmer scheduled for Senator Brewer's district has been cancelled.

The Western Mass. Library Advocates suggests that anyone who would like show their support for libraries in Senator Brewer’s district attend the breakfast at the Charlton Public Library on March 7 at 8:00 am.  To register, please send your rsvp to Director Cheryl Hansen at chansen@cwmars.org.

Sponsors Still Needed

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) supports all of the legislative breakfast efforts in western Massachusetts.  WMLA gives a stipend to each host library to help offset the cost of providing breakfasts.  There is no charge to those attending.

WMLA counts on library supporters, trustees and Friends groups to help fund the breakfasts. Information about how to contribute is posted below.

Thank you for your support for libraries and for attending the breakfasts to speak out for libraries!

Enclosed is a contribution to support the Western Massachusetts Library Legislative Breakfasts

_______$25.00                   ________$50.00                 ________$100.00              ________Other

Name:

Library:

Address:

Telephone:__________________________  Email:______________________________

Make Checks Payable to:  Western Mass Library Advocates    PO Box 609, South Deerfield, MA 01373-0609

 

Support Needed for LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS 2014

The twentieth annual series of library legislative breakfasts begin this month.   The breakfasts are free to all who attend as advocacy continues to be a priority for librarians in Massachusetts.  Sponsorship helps support the breakfasts and full participation.  We hope trustees, friends groups and individuals will contribute to this effort.  Please support our most important advocacy effort.    

 

To donate to support the Pioneer Valley Legislative Breakfasts:

 

_______$25.00                   ________$50.00                 ________$100.00             ________Other

 

Name:

 

Library:

 

Address:

 

Telephone:__________________________  Email:______________________________

Make checks payable to:  Western Mass Library Advocates    PO Box 609, South Deerfield, MA 01373-0609

 

To donate to support the Berkshire Legislative Breakfast:

 

_______$25.00                   ________$50.00                 ________$100.00             ________Other

Name:

Library:

Address:

Telephone:__________________________  Email:______________________________

Make checks payable to:  Berkshire Legislative Breakfast  c/o Pat McLeod, Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street, Williamstown MA 01267

 

Full descriptions of the Breakfasts, plus registration information and directions are available at http://mla.memberlodge.org/breakfasts2014

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

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS 2014 - Mass Libraries are working to end the Digital Lockout

The twentieth annual series of library legislative breakfasts is coming up soon.   As advocacy continues to be a solid impetus for librarians in Massachusetts, this event has grown in importance and attendance.  The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) Legislative Agenda for FY 2015 is available here.  Supplementary information links are available here.  



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.

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 MBLC. Funding cuts since 2001 have placed immense burdens on local library budgets at a time when demand for services is rising.

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.

Western Mass Library Legislative Breakfasts Schedule ~ 2014

Full descriptions of the Breakfasts, plus registration information and directions are available at http://mla.memberlodge.org/breakfasts2014

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

Senator James Welch

Friday, January 17, 2014 ~ 7:30 a.m. ~ Springfield Technical Community College Library  Bldg 27
Host: Lynn Coakley – Coordinator of Technical Services
Registration email:  Lcoakley@stcc.edu

Senator Benjamin Downing

Friday, January 24, 2014 ~ 8:00 a.m. ~ Milne Library, Williamstown
Host: Pat McLeod, Library Director    
Registration email:  l.kaufmann@mcla.edu

Senator Stan Rosenberg
Friday,  February 7, 2014 ~ 7:30:00 a.m. ~ Jones Library, Amherst
Host: Sharon Sharry, Library Director
Registration email:  sharrys@joneslibrary.org

Senator Don Humason

Friday, February 21, 2014 ~ 9:00 a.m. ~ Holyoke Public Library
Host: Marian Pagan, Library Director
Registration email: library@holyoke.org

Senator Gale Candaras

Friday, February 28, 2014 ~ 8:30 a.m. ~ Storrs Library, Longmeadow
Host: Karen Kappenman, Library Director
Registration email: kkappenman@longmeadow.org

Senator Stephen Brewer

Friday, February 28, 2014 ~ 7:30 a.m.~ Palmer Public Library
Host:  Dorene Miller, Library Director
Registration email:  director@palmer.lib.ma.us


Find the names of your state Senator and Representative(s) by visiting the Massachusetts Library Association - Elected Officials website

Donations to support the breakfasts are welcome.  There is no charge on the days of the events to attendees.  If you would like to contribute:

To donate to support the Pioneer Valley Legislative Breakfasts

_______$25.00                   ________$50.00                 ________$100.00              ________Other

Name:

Library:

Address:

Telephone:__________________________  Email:______________________________

Check Payable to:  Western Mass Library Advocates    PO Box 609, South Deerfield, MA 01373-0609

To donate to support the Berkshire Legislative Breakfast

_______$25.00                   ________$50.00                 ________$100.00              ________Other

Name:

Library:

Address:

Telephone:__________________________  Email:______________________________

Check Payable to:  Berkshire Legislative Breakfast  c/o Pat McLeod, Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street, Williamstown MA 01267

   

Westfield Legislative Breakfast Rescheduled – March 8, 2013

Please join us for the rescheduled Library Legislative Breakfast being held in the Jasper Rand Art Museum at the Westfield Athenaeum on Friday, March 8 at 8:00 a.m. Senator Knapik, Representative Humason, and perhaps Representative Boldyga, will attend and are interested in your views of your library’s needs and services.  Please RSVP Candy Pennington at cpennington@westath.org to let us know if you and your guests are planning to attend.

We look forward to seeing you on March 8^th!   

Best regards,

Chris

Christopher J. Lindquist

Director
Westfield Athenaeum
6 Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085
413-568-0638  

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