A World Full of Story

A World Full of Story

The Greenfield Public Library, with support from the Greenfield Cultural Council, is proud to be hosting a series of world-class story performances on Saturdays in May. Each performance will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Greenfield Public Library and is free and open to all.

On May 3, Motoko will enchant and entertain with traditional Japanese storytelling. An award-winning storyteller, Motoko enchants audiences of every age with her weaving of ancient lore, original tales, lyrical movement and traditional music. Her repertoire includes Asian folktales, Zen tales, comical tales from rakugo (a Japanese traditional style of storytelling), funny mime vignettes, as well as personal stories from her childhood in Japan and her life as an immigrant in the U.S.

On May 17, local musician and storyteller Brendan Taaffe will amuse and entertain with a mix of stories from around the world. A popular elementary school music teacher, Brendan began using story as a way to capture attention in the classroom, and quickly his relaxed and magical telling became the hit of the school. Illustrating the stories with expert music, Brendan is sure to capture the imagination.

On May 31, Eshu Bumpus brings his mix of African and African-American stories, always a hit with every audience. A renowned storyteller, an accomplished jazz vocalist and a master at physical characterization, Eshu has performed on the Exchange Place stage at the National Festival and performed 36 sold out shows in 13 days at the Smithsonian. After appearing at the 10th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival in 1991, Eshu was acclaimed as "a fresh, responsible and knowledgeable voice... distinct and compelling... the hit of the Festival.”

All of these events are open to all. For more information contact the children’s librarian at (413) 772-1544 ext. 5.

Wheeler Memorial Library's POETRY SLAM a Big Success!

We had a lot of fun at our recent Library Poetry Slam -- it was a big success at the Wheeler Library in Orange.

• First Prize - Maureen Terence Moore of Shelburne Falls

Second Prize - Candace R. Curran of Orange

Third Prize - Robert Collen of Orange

I came in 2nd with a library poem performance titled Lamenting Your Loan. You might enjoy this...

If you had called to renew...tried
librarian's helper, reader's advisory,
conjured keyword or
asked the desk jockey for some assistance...

If you had talked to me maybe...

I would have organized a search, researched
the bottom of the drop box,
found it? deja vu displaced and steeled in stacks...
perhaps it's resting, that's all,
languid between the bed and the wall...

If you do find it,
heart, a bookmark, seems to be
caught somewhere inside it

I have and inkling
we could have kept it circulating -
rewritten in epic tantric, a shower-song and/or
refrigerator poetry to be or not to be summarized,
virtually cataloged and in rave reviewed
pillow-talk book talks...immortalized!...

with a seguel, a trilogy perhaps, but certainly not this
eulogy to a default - lost and paid!
Oh - think of the words we could have made
if you... had only called...to renew.

Candace Curran 2008
delivered with much theatrics of course

Guiding Readers to Nonfiction ~ A Training Session by Neal Wyatt

Now is the time to integrate nonfiction recommendations into your Readers’ Advisory service, to use the whole collection, bridge the Dewey Divide and help readers find both fiction and nonfiction that they will enjoy reading. Rather than thinking about our collection in separate segments (e.g. fiction, nonfiction, CD, DVD), think about the appeal that various topics and stories have for our users. The same reader can enjoy David McCullough’s John Adams or 1776, Jeff Shaara’s novel Rise to Rebellion, and the HBO special series on John Adams. Any of the books or the special can draw a user into new areas of our collections. On April 15, Neal Wyatt, author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Nonfiction (ALA, 2007), ‘the readers shelf’ column in Library Journal (LJ), and the online LJ suggestions in Wyatt’s World, conducted a workshop to help participants learn how to analyze users and collections for use in a nonfiction RA transaction. Through presentation, small group discussion and treats, Neal widened our horizons and taught us new skills. We are pleased to announce that Neal will return July 22 for a second workshop. It’s a whole new world. ~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Children's author Marguerite Davol to visit Lilly Library

The Western Massachusetts Library Club is sponsoring a visit from local children's author, Marguerite Davol, Wednesday, May 14th at 4pm at the Lilly Library in Florence. Ms. Davol will speak about her extensive picture books publishings and her lively career. Join us for light refreshments and to meet this wonderful author, bring any books you have in your collections for signing!

Please bring $2 to help defray the costs. The Club will also be meeting for dinner at a nearby restaurant following the event at Members' expense. Please RSVP to Mary Senecal at lakmary729@lycos.com


~ Mary Senecal, Western Massachusetts Library Club President

Recommended Program: Golden Wings and Hairy Toes

I wanted to share a program idea geared for adults that ties nicely into this summer’s reading theme. Todd McLeish, author of the book Golden Wings and Hairy Toes: Encounters with New England’s Most Imperiled Wildlife, gave a presentation at our library and it was really interesting. He is a great storyteller and shared some fascinating facts about endangered species in our area. “Todd McLeish profiles fourteen of New England’s most rare and endangered flora and fauna — mammals, birds, insects, plants, and fish — by following the biologists who are researching, monitoring, and protecting them. Todd traps bats in Vermont and lynx in Maine, gets attacked by marauding birds in Massachusetts, and observes the metamorphosis of dragonflies in Rhode Island. He visits historical cemeteries to see New England’s rarest plant, tracks sturgeon in the Connecticut River, and observes a parade of one of the rarest mammals on earth, the North Atlantic right whale, in Cape Cod Bay.” His fee was very reasonable and everyone seemed to enjoy it. His website with contact info is http://www.toddmcleish.com/.

~ Lisa Downing, Assistant Director, Forbes Library, http://www.forbeslibrary.org/

North Adams Poetry Slam a BIG HIT!

The North Adams Public Library’s first Poetry Slam was well received and a delightful event for the poets as well as the spectators. The winners of the Poetry Slam are:

First - Jacob Snow -- “Understanding Time”
Second – Cairo Voltaire – Annemic Dissipatent
Third – Seth Brown – Quarterstaff
Fourth – Casey Finnegan —Car Crash
Fifth – Void Sans Ange –Sleeping or blinking?
Sixth –Christian Phiffer -- Spit
Charlene Fiske – Visability

The first three place winners are invited to compete in the GRAND SLAM FINALE to be held on May 25 at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Prizes were awarded and donated by The Berkshire Bank and Legacy Banks, Angelina’s Subs, Wal Mart, Stop & Shop, Big Y and Quadlands.

~ Marcia Gross, Director, North Adams Public Library

Springfield Slammers rock!

We had over 60 people at our slam - about 20 people competed and we have 3 very hot poets who will hopefully all make it to the "Grand Slam" on May 25th. Local businesses were happy to donate prizes, so we had gift certificates for UNO's, Frigo's, L.A. Fitness (opening soon next to the Basketball Hall of Fame), etc... in addition to the $100 certificate from the BookLoft folks in Great Barrington (they donated $100 to every slam.... to be used to help defray the cost of self- publishing a chapbook). We are also in the process of contacting the winners of our 2008 Poetry Contest - they will all be invited to read at our awards ceremony on April 26th, and the top winners will be displayed in a storefront on Main Street (this will be part of a larger storefront art project being sponsored by the Springfield Cultural Council). We'll also post all the winning poems to the SCL website shortly after the awards ceremony.

~ Anna Brandenburg, Program Coordinator, Springfield City Library, abrandenburg@springfieldlibrary.org

The Digital Commonwealth: Information Session April 24

The Digital Commonwealth, a statewide digital library project, (www.digitalcommonwealth.org) is now in its second year and growing. The portal and website were launched in 2007 and the Repository will be launched later this year. On Thursday, April 24 from 10 - 12, at WMRLS HQ in Whately, Jan Resnick of WMRLS and Digital Commonwealth Executive Committee members Julie Bartlett and Marilyn Billings will present an information session for non-members on what the Digital Commonwealth is, why your organization should consider participating, how to join and what resources are available to get you started. We will repeat this program at NARA in Pittsfield on Thursday June 26, 10-12. If you are unable to attend and would like more information, contact Julie at jbartlett@forbeslibrary.org or Marilyn at mbillings@library.umass.edu. This program is co-sponsored by the Digital Commonwealth, WMRLS, and the Western Mass Library Club. Jan Resnick is the WMRLS contact person for this program. Registration for this event is available at: http://forms.wmrls.org/ceform

~~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

WMRLS 25th Annual Summer Reading Program Power Workshop

Many Thanks to AJ Cole, Director of the West Stockbridge Public Library, for sharing information on Slide.com
Take a look at the West Stockbridge Public Library's What's Happening in the Library Slideshow!

Visit WMRLS Reads! for more Summer Reading Program Information

MA Legislative Day 2008

On Wednesday April 2, 2008, intrepid librarians from western Mass. hit the bus for the State House. On the way, we picked up another contingent from central Mass. The bus was organized and underwritten by the Friends of WMRLS. Donuts for the journey were generously provided by North Adams Representative Dan Bosley.

Legislative Day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) and this year, for the first time, MLA joined forces with the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA). The drill for the day is pretty straightforward for those of you who haven't joined us before. A few weeks before Legislative Day, attendees contact their Senator and Representative to alert them to the event and invite them to attend the program and lunch, usually as this year, held in the Great Hall of Flags.

Let your legislators know you are coming and will be stopping by their office. If several of you from a particular district are attending, its a good idea to make an appointment. (The bus usually arrives between 10 - 10:30, lunch is usually at 12, the bus leaves at 2 or 2:30.)

When we arrive at the State House, the bus driver drops us off and reminds us of the departure time. We proceed to the General Hooker entrance of the building and go through security (usually to comments like 'the librarians are here.') At the Hall of Flags MLA/MSLA volunteers staff a sign in desk where we pick up information packets for legislators and carnations. There are one or two briefing sessions conducted by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to review the legislative agenda. The briefings are generally at 10 and 11. If you've attended a legislative breakfast you will have seen the packet before and may not need to go to the briefing.

It is now time to go to see your legislators. You'll have a list of legislators and office numbers in your packet, and there are plenty of people and signs to help you find your way. Your reps and senators will be pleased to see you. You'll have a few minutes to make a couple of key points on the value of state funding for libraries and to ask for their support. If they or an aide are not available, drop off a business card if you have one, a packet and a short note. These notes and your presence are very important. We'll hope to see you on the bus next year.

A summary of the day is available at http://www.masslib.org/legislative/legday2008.html.

~~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

Information 911: Competencies for 21st Century Library Services

The informative PowerPoint presentation titled 911: Competencies for 21st Century Library Services by Tracie Hall is now available for downloading from the Public Library Association website. In addition to 911, PLA is making available selected handouts from a number of its recent National Conference Program. Be sure to check out the PLA 2008 website today!

Handouts include: Ins and Outs of Community Surveys, Libraries as Greenbuildings, Weeders Attract More Readers!, Everyone is Getting Crabbier, and more!

Worthington Library Poetry Slam a BIG HIT!

"And the winner is---


Congratulations to the winners of Worthington Library's Poetry Slam! First place went to Kate Ewald, second to Vati Srieberg, third to Mary Wheelan and fourth to Darrell Moore! A fantastic collection of poetry was heard and a fun evening was had by all. We'll all be rooting for Kate as she goes on to the Regional Slam to be held at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst on May 25 between 3 and 5 pm. "

Upcoming Western Massachusetts Library Poetry Slams

This poster includes locations, dates, and times.

The above information is taken directly for the April 12 posting on the Worthington Library Blog