And the Frankie goes to.....

After receiving a record number of applicants for the Franklin Taplin Memorial Scholarship to the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference, the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) “Selection Committee” had some difficult decisions to make.  We attempted to distribute the scholarships among the 4 counties (although we received no applicants from the Berkshires) and tried also to represent as many types of libraries as possible.  And—of course—first-time attendees to the conference were given priority. 

And the winners are……(drumroll)…………..

Lori Carrier—Westfield State University (Hampden)

Ellen Kaye—North Amherst (Hampshire)
Angela Rovatti-Leonard—Montague (Franklin)
Angela Dumas—Ludlow (Hampden)

Congratulations to the recipients. 

Winners were also invited to have lunch with members of WMLA on Wednesday at the Conference.  As a number of applicants stated that the opportunity to network and meet new people was a big reason why they wanted to attend, we felt that extending this invitation would be a solid thing to do. 

WMLA strongly encourages those who were not selected to apply again next year.  It was really a tough choice, and the number of good applicants we received was really a great thing to see. 

The Franklin P. Taplin Memorial  Scholarships provide $250 stipends to allow up to four recipients to attend the MLA Conference.  This year’s conference will be held May 6-8 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

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.

WMLA Fall Meeting 2013

Holyoke Public Library 2013

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) held their fall meeting on October 16, 2013, at the newly renovated and expanded Holyoke Public Library.  36 members signed in; Representing Steve Kulik, his aide Paul Dunphy. 

Keynote:  The keynote speaker was Steve Spohn, previously an independent consultant and now the new Resource Sharing Director for the Massachusetts Library System (MLS).  Steve described the planning work he did for Springfield City Library in 2012-13, the data he used to support recommendations for change, and how their strategic plan to sustain library services for the long term was implemented successfully. 

Since 2004, Springfield City Library’s budget had been cut by 15% without closing any of their 10 branches.  It had reached the point where some branches were open only 12 days a month.  Steve’s report recommended closing four branches. The shock value of his report resulted in anger, denial, and, finally, changes in attitudes.  Springfield’s Mayor became an advocate for the Library and allocated $500,000 in new funding for FY 2014. Director Molly Fogarty announced they are hiring 17 new staff members. Library programming has been ‘re-packaged’ under five easy to understand themes: early literacy, workforce development, civic engagement, after-school activities, and lifelong learning.  Steve’s take-away points: Don’t stop with a printed plan.  Make structural and procedural changes. Get someone else (like a consultant) to say unpopular things. 

More on the Springfield success story and the ‘Re: think Springfield City Library Project’ slide show is available at http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/board.html.

Business Meeting:  There are 82 current members of WMLA. A new Board of Directors was elected.  Within WMLA’s regular business, Greg Pronevitz, MLS Executive Director, encouraged people to attend the MLS Annual Meeting on November 4 and congratulated Margo Malachowski who will take over as President of the MLS Executive Board. He also thanked John Ramsay for spearheading the idea of libraries in various parts of the state cooperatively licensing access to newspapers for their service area.  

Greg announced that MLS has entered into negotiations with a small business from Conway to sell the MLS-Whately building.  He reviewed the history of attempting to rent part of the building. He wants to lease back MLS’ current office space while they search for a new location.  Greg said they would use the results of last years’ WMLA survey as criteria, namely a new location between Route 2 and the Mass Pike along I-91.  No timetable for the sale was given.

Judy Clini reviewed some of WMLA’s work in the past year, including the author program with Matthew Pearl (2013 Massachusetts Book Award Winner for The Technologists), the distribution of Summer Reading Club prizes from western Massachusetts attractions, and the recent van tour of five small libraries. 
 

John Ramsay reported on the NewsBank Project which restores access to western Massachusetts newspapers for all libraries in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. Close to 30 libraries are contributing to pay for this license.  Additional funding is provided through grants from WMLA and MLS. 

The meeting was followed by a tour of the still under construction Holyoke Public Library led by Director Maria Pagan.  The dramatic new and expanded space will open at the end of the month.  Congratulations to Maria, her staff and trustees and the residents of Holyoke.  Dedication of the new facility is expected to occur on November 22.

SUMMER READING PRIZES for ALL MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC LIBRARIES

               Don’t forget to request your summer reading prizes.

The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) Board of Directors has arranged with the Eastern States Exposition to provide each Massachusetts PUBLIC LIBRARY conducting a summer reading program, free tickets for this fall’s Big E in West Springfield.  The Big E will provide two (2) free general admission tickets to each public library in Massachusetts with the understanding that these tickets will be used as incentives or rewards for children and teens to encourage them to read over the summer.  

In addition, Yankee Candle has created a prize for the Summer Reading Program. It is a free wax hand mold and is redeemable at their flagship store in South Deerfield. Yankee Candle has a section of the store called Wax Works where guests are allowed to make molds of their hands in wax, color the mold and bring them home. Throughout the process they are assisted by a sales associate. This is a lot of fun for kids and the wax hand normally retails for $8.

The winners of the prizes should be chosen through a random drawing of names at the end of your summer reading program.

To participate—

·         Prepare a self-addressed 6” x 9” envelope STAMPED with TWO (2) First Class stamps (SASE)

·         Address the envelope to YOUR library with “ATTN:  [your library’s person designated to receive these valuable prizes.]”

·         Place the SASE (Please make sure to use a 6” x 9” envelope) inside another stamped envelope.
·         Mail to:
                WMLA
                ATTN:  SUMMER READING
                P. O. BOX 609
                South Deerfield, MA 01373

NOTE: Your SASE must be received by WMLA by Monday, July 15, 2013.  Earlier is better.

 

For security reasons, DO NOT write the words “Tickets” or “Big E” on the outside of your envelopes.
For public library systems with branch libraries, you will need to either send a separate SASE for each branch OR one large envelope with sufficient postage to hold the number of tickets and brochures you are requesting.  Please tell us how many branches for which you need tickets.

The only request that our donors have made of Massachusetts public libraries receiving these prizes is that the public be notified of their donation to encourage reading among our young people.  Please add to or create signs or posters with this information. 

WMLA Board members will process your requests and mail the tickets shortly after July 30th.

On behalf of the WMLA Board,
Jan Resnick
njrezz@comcast.net

Taplin Scholarship Winners 2013

Congratulations to the 2013 winners of the Franklin P. Taplin Scholarships:

Tomi Eve                  Jones Library, Amherst 
Lee Appelbaum        West Stockbridge Public Library
Benjamin Kalish        Forbes Library, Northampton
Gale LaScala            Hamilton Memorial Library, Chester

Each of these winners will receive a $250 stipend to support their attendance at the Massachusetts Library Association Annual Conference in Cambridge.  These scholarships are awarded in memory of Franklin P. Taplin in order to support western Massachusetts library staff as they extend their experience and gain information from opportunities that conferences offer. 

 

Enjoy the conference.

Legislative CALL (EMAIL, WRITE) to Action

With Library Legislative Breakfast season having just completed (as well as Legislative Day), there are a few key pieces of information that we have received from our elected officials that should be shared, statewide. 

We were told repeatedly, by multiple legislators, that the MBLC’s Legislative Agenda is a quite reasonable financial request.  Additionally, that revenues should be increasing this year—and with our libraries having taken such a hit in recent years, that “now is the time” to hopefully bring some of that lost funding back.

However, we need to do a better job of building the case for the needs of our libraries.  Senator Knapik informed us that his office has received, for example, about 400 communications on the topic of gun control.  To be heard in this climate, we need our users to mount a letter-writing campaign on behalf of our libraries.  High volume messages might be the extra bump needed to push a funding increase over the finish line.

So, what can we do?

Thanks to Commissioner Mary Kronholm and WMLA President Christopher Lindquist, we have 3 forms (one for the Governor, your local Senator, and your local Representative) that we encourage you to print and make available for your patrons to sign.  It is a brief statement that can be copied and pasted, and will fit onto a postcard.  This may seem like a small gesture, but every bit counts and every message that our elected officials receive will go far towards making all of our libraries stronger.

Can you get 10 of your patrons to sign and mail in cards?  Twenty?  More?  If we all pull together on this, we can really make a difference for all of us.  It’s up to us! 

Samples follow.  Thanks so much for your advocacy on behalf of our libraries!!!!

(Some libraries are providing the cards and their Friends are supplying the postage.)

(1) Dear Representative _________________________,

I ask for your continued support for the following budget items so our

library  can continue to provide, maintain and improve patron services when the
demand on libraries is at an all-time high:

* State Aid to Public Libraries (7000 – 9501)

* Automated Networks/ Library Technology  and  Resource Sharing (7000 – 9506)
* Massachusetts Library System/ State Aid to Regional Libraries and the
    Library for the Commonwealth (7000 – 9401)

      Thank you,

____________________________________________    TOWN NAME, Massachusetts
 

(2) Dear Senator _______________________________,

I ask for your continued support for the following budget items so our

library  can continue to provide, maintain and improve patron services when the
demand on libraries is at an all-time high:

* State Aid to Public Libraries (7000 – 9501)

* Automated Networks/ Library Technology  and  Resource Sharing (7000 – 9506)
* Massachusetts Library System/ State Aid to Regional Libraries and the Library for the Commonwealth (7000 – 9401)

      Thank you,

 ____________________________________________    TOWN NAME, Massachusetts

 

(3) Dear Governor Patrick,

The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program has partnered

with local and state officials from more than 200 communities to build new
or expand and renovate existing libraries. The Massachusetts Board of
Library Commissioners is seeking a $150 million bond bill to fund library
construction projects that are currently on a waiting list and run a new
grant round.  We all appreciate what this will do for Massachusetts’
communities.  Please continue to support this effort.

  Thank you,

 ___________________________________________   TOWN NAME , Massachusetts

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.

Building Support for Library Construction ~ Spring WMLA Meeting

From the Ground Up:  Building Support for Library Construction

This is an exciting time for libraries in Western Massachusetts, as many are in the midst of—or have just completed—new construction and renovation projects.  Come hear our panelists discuss some of the great victories and difficult challenges they have faced in the name of building community support and fundraising for new libraries.

Panelists:

•           Joe Rodio, Director of the South Hadley Public Library

•           Toni Golinsky-Foisy, Director of the West Springfield Public Library

•           Lyn Keating, Director of the Westhampton Public Library

•           Mary Anne Antonellis, Director of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury

•           Moderator: Chris Lindquist, Director of the Westfield Athenaeum

On April 16 at 9:30 a.m., the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) will hold their semi-annual meeting at the Westhampton Public Library.  Westhampton’s new library was dedicated in October 2010 after monumental grassroots efforts to raise money and support.  Westhampton received a LEED Gold Certificate for its sustainable design.  The library is located at 1 North Rd., Westhampton, MA.

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.

LET’S FILL THE BUS!

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

Let's Fill the Bus!

 STATE HOUSE, BOSTON

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Western Mass. Library Advocates (WMLA) have arranged for a bus to take us to Boston for Library Legislative Day. Please consider taking the bus and using this opportunity to advocate with your legislators to fund libraries, networks and the Regional System.  

 The pick-up spots are:

            6:45 am            MLS/ Whately

7:30 am            Table & Vine Liquors (formerly Town & Country),

West Springfield  (Park close to Riverdale St.)

8:15 am            Palmer Public Library (Park across the street.)

9:10 am            Auburn Public Library  (Park in the corner of the lot away from the building.)

The bus will leave Boston at 2:30 pm and will arrive in Whately by 5:45 pm.  The group discount cost is still only $20 per person.  This price is a great deal, less than the cost of parking in a Boston garage for five hours. 

Complete the form below and mail with your check to: WMLA, PO Box 609, So. Deerfield, MA  01373 ~or~ send through delivery to MLS/ Whately Attn: WMLA .  Please include the memo “Legislative Bus” on your check.

New this year:  WMLA will reimburse round trip mileage from the Berkshires to either MLS/Whately or West Springfield – Table & Vine at the flat rate of $25.00 per car holding 2 or more people. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

your name:                                                                                library:

your email address:

your cell phone:

pick up spot:                                                                             amount enclosed:

¨ I want to be a WMLA member!  Enclosed is my additional $25 ($10/retirees) check for membership.

Questions?  Send an email to wmladvocates@gmail.com     REGISTRATION DEADLINE  MARCH 22, 2013