Advocacy for All – Contacting Your Legislator

The strength of our democracy and support for our libraries depends upon citizens getting involved and engaging our legislators and other town, state and federal representatives.  Keep these tips handy when contacting your elected officials.

• Politicians are primarily interested in the opinions of people who vote for them.  Identify yourself as a constituent.
• Whether writing or calling, focus on a single topic.  If emailing, put libraries or library legislation specifics in the subject line.
• Ask the legislator to take specific action, like support budget line items or particular legislation.  Ask for a written response that gives the legislator’s position on the issue.
• Make your points concisely and quickly to focus their attention and to have greater impact.
• Use your own words on the issue and use local examples of how the particular action will impact your library and your community.

The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) makes Capwiz available to all residents of the Commonwealth to simplify contact with legislators.  Capwiz allows you to learn about current legislation and key votes, to set legislative alerts and updates, and to send advocacy messages to key legislators at the state and national levels. Access Capwiz at:  capwiz.com/ala/ma/state/main/?state=MA

Thanks to MLA for providing Capwiz and to The League of Women Voters for the list of points regarding contacting legislators which we have customized. 

WMLA Announces 3rd Annual Franklin Taplin Memorial Scholarships

Have you ever wanted to attend the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Conference, but found that some of the costs involved got in the way?

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) are pleased to offer 4 scholarships of up to $250 each to cover conference registration, meals and travel to the MLA Annual Conference which will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester from Tuesday, May 6 to Thursday, May 8th.

Please submit a brief paragraph explaining why you want to attend by April 15 to Eric Poulin at pouline@gcc.mass.edu or John Ramsay at jramsay@springfieldlibrary.org.  Preference will be given to first time attendees, but others will be considered.  Decisions will be made by April 21, 2014, and award winners will be notified that day.

If you have any questions, please contact either Eric or John at the email addresses above.

Contacting Your Legislators – It’s Easy

A key part of our jobs as library supporters is to make sure that our legislators, a major source of funding for many programs critical to our libraries, are aware of what we need and how important these programs are to our users.  If you don’t know your legislators personally or have them on speed dial, the fastest most efficient way to contact them is to use the CapWiz service provided by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA).
 
Go to the Massachusetts Library Association homepage.  Scroll down to Advocacy, and select CapWiz.  This is a PERFECT place to locate all you need to know about contacting Legislators.  Click on My Elected Officials, fill in your address and click GO.  CapWiz will provide direct email links to the Governor, your State Representative and Senator.  Click on each, cut and paste your message, send and you’re Almost done. 

Massachusetts is fortunate to have a Library Legislative Caucus.  It’s important to keep the caucus posted on your library related issues.  Please send another message to Kate.Hogan@mahouse.gov.  Representative Hogan is Chair of the Massachusetts Library Legislative Caucus.

Keeping your legislators informed is easy, thanks to CapWiz.

WMLA Scholarships to MLA ~ DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The deadline for applications to the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) scholarships to the 2013 Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference has been extended. 

WMLA is providing 4 scholarships of up to $250 each to cover conference registration, meals and travel to the MLA Annual Conference which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge from Wednesday, April 24 to Friday, April 26, 2013.  The program schedule is available on the MLA website.

Please submit a brief paragraph explaining why you want to attend the conference by April 16th to Chris Lindquist at clindquist@westath.org. Preference will be given to first time attendees, but others will be considered. The recipients of the scholarships will be selected by April 17th.

Western Mass Library Advocates - WMLA Scholarships to MLA

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) is offering scholarships to the 2013 Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference. 

WMLA is providing 4 scholarships of up to $250 each to cover conference registration, meals and travel to the MLA Annual Conference which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge from Wednesday, April 24 to Friday, April 26, 2013.  The program schedule is available on the MLA website.

Please submit a brief paragraph explaining why you want to attend the conference by March 25th to Chris Lindquist at clindquist@westath.org. Preference will be given to first time attendees, but others will be considered. The recipients of the scholarships will be selected by April 1st.

Nominate Someone Special - Deadline March 11, 2013

Nominate someone for “Outstanding Paralibrarian of the Year” or “Paralibrarian Advocate of the Year”.

Honor that outstanding paralibrarian you’ve worked with over the past year who consistently provides excellent service to everyone and goes above and beyond the call of duty each and every day.  Give them the opportunity to be recognized by their peers at this year’s annual MLA conference in Cambridge.

What better way to provide a meaningful tribute to that person who brings more to the job than what’s written in their job description!  How often has your paralibrarian colleague:
·        Assisted you in endless ways
·        Represented the library at a community or statewide event
·        Thought quickly on her/his feet to solve a problem
·        Taken initiative to begin a new service
·        Shown flexibility and adaptability with a difficult situation
·        Been an inspiration to others
·        Gone beyond the call of duty
If you work with or know someone who has demonstrated some of these immeasurable qualities, nominate him or her for “Paralibrarian of the Year”.

AND THERE’S MORE!!

Equally as important is the “Paralibrarian Advocate of the Year”.  Do you know a director, trustee, supervisor, colleague or paralibrarian who has demonstrated their knowledge of the value of paralibrarians?  Former award winners were honored because they worked hard to increase the visibility of non-MLS staff.  These winners looked beyond the tasks of the job description and created new and exciting opportunities for paralibrarians while they demonstrated outstanding support for their valued colleagues.

You have the ability to say thank you in a very special and public way.  Submit your nomination for that exceptional coworker, assistant, collaborator at http://mla.memberlodge.org/  Click on the dark brown box on MLA’s homepage that says:  “Nominate an Outstanding Paralibrarian or Paralibrarian Advocate today”.

Submission deadline is Monday, March 11, 2013! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to say “thanks”!!

 

MLA Honors Western Mass Library People

Hope Schneider, Library Assistant III, at the Greenfield Community College Library received the Massachusetts Library Association’s (MLA) 2012 “Outstanding Paralibrarian of the Year” award on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at the MLA’s annual conference in Worcester.    A dedicated staff member for over 21 years, Hope’s professionalism, passion and enthusiasm for all things related to the library have made her an invaluable resource to the faculty, staff and students of Greenfield Community College.    Hope is also a board member of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library where she has assisted with the Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest and the GPL’s Pub Quiz.  Congratulations Hope!  Also recognized was Joan Sutherland, a Senior Clerk at the Forest Park and East Forest Park Branch Libraries in Springfield. 

The Jones Library’s Bonnie Isman was inducted on May 10 into the MLA Librarians’ Hall of Fame for her career of service to The Jones, for her dedication to MLA as President and Officer, her work with C/WMARS, Simmons, and for her international service as well.  Bonnie is currently Membership Chair and Assistant Treasurer for the Western MA Library Advocates so we all benefit from her experience and judgment.  We’re so proud of you, Bonnie.  Congratulations.  The other Hall of Fame inductees were Maureen Killoran (who most of you know from her years of service for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners), Jackie Rafferty (Director of the Paul Pratt Memorial Library – Cohasset for, among many other things, her activity as Co-Chair of the MLA Legislative Committee), and Leane Ellis (Reference Librarian and Reader’s Advisor – Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, for her career as a reader’s advisor and trainer.)

Congratulations to these outstanding members of our library community!

MLA Raffles Treats From the West

The Western MA Library Advocates (WMLA) donated a basket for the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) raffle. Contents of the basket were donated by generous western Massachusetts businesses and institutions and members of the WMLA Board. We hope it will raise lots of money for MLA. Buy chances (votes) at the conference to support your favorite basket.

FOOD & DRINK
Ale – 1 Bottle “Red Giant” – Element Brewing Co., Millers Falls, MA
Coffee (12oz ), Barrington “Berkshire Blend” , Lee, MA
Candy – 2 pkgs Berkshire Bark, “white lightening” & “mocha buzz”, Sheffield, MA
Cookies – 1 pkg. Coconut Madaroons, Klara’s Gourmet Cookies, Lee, MA
Jam/Jelly – 1 Jar Mother’s “Cranbery Cider Jelly”, Shelburne, MA
1 Jar - Tortured Orchard “Sweet Apple Blush”, No. Egremont, MA
Maple Syrup (1 qrt) – Cobble Mountain Sugar House, Blandford, MA
Relish – 1 Jar Mother’s “Sweet Red Pepper”, Shelburne Falls, MA
Seasonings – 1 Bottle Chubby’s BarBQ Sauce Greenfield, MA
1 Bottle Chubby’s Blackeing Spice
Wine - 1 Bottle, “Splash of White”, Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery, New Marlborough, MA

PASSES & TICKETS
Arts Festival – 2 Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton, MA
Museum Pass – Family 4 Pack Springfield Museums, Springfield, MA
Museum Tickets – 2 MASS MOCA, North Adams. Ma
2 Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA
Theater – 2 Majestic Theater, West Springfield, MA

SUNDRIES
Books - Bill Danielson, “Speaking of Nature”
Pioneer Valley Guide Book w/ Coupon Booklet
Candles - 1 Tumbler “Frosted Cake”, Kringle Candle, Bernardston, MA
2 Votives
1 100 HR+ Pure Radiance, “Beachfront”, Yankee Candle, So. Deerfield, MA
LED Flashlight (Rechargeable, w/USB wire) – UMASS, Amherst, MA
Necklace – 17” Vermeil Bead, by Jan Resnick, So. Hadley, MA
Travel Mug – 1 Forbes Library, Northampton, MA
1 Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
T-Shirt - Stockbridge Public Library Centennial, Stockbridge, MA

+++ 4 Cloth Napkins & Surprise Package+++