New PowerSearch Widget! Give it a Try!

Read More About It! Visit our WMRLS Online Databases webpage.

WMRLS Night at the MassMutual Center A Grand Success!

Thank you to all of our member libraries that participated in our WMRLS Night at the MassMutual Center fundraiser on Saturday, January 24. According to the Republican newspaper, there were 6,789 people in attendance at the sold out game, the most since November 16, 2001.

The Falcons were very pleased by the turnout, and they hope to offer another fundraising opportunity for WMRLS next year, with more advance notice so more libraries can join in the fun. ~ Sincerely, John Ramsay, Administrator, WMRLS

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

Take the (Legislative) Bus!

Hold the date! Library Legislative Day at the State House is Thursday, April 2, 2009. The Friends of WMRLS will again sponsor a bus to take us all there. More information will be forthcoming as we get a little nearer to the time.

ALA's Tools to Help Libraries in a Bad Economy

From YouTube: "ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels discusses the economy, its effect on libraries, and what ALA offers to help libraries survive in tough times. This video also serves as an introduction to a special issue of AL Direct to be sent January 20 on the economy. To subscribe to AL Direct, visit www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldire ct.cfm."

See Also: ALA's Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit

Enhancing Children's Programs with Crafts

WMRLS/North Adams Public Library Collaborative Continuing Education Workshop

Enhancing Children's Programs with Crafts

On Thursday, January 15, North Adams Public Library’s Youth Services Librarian, Marion Grillon, generously showcased a selection of her unique collection of theme related story program kits. Each kit includes a cover sheet listing the theme, recommended book titles, a sample craft with instructions, and relevant craft supplies. Our program featured the opportunity for workshop participants to make and discuss a sampling of Marion's inspiring crafts as well as a tour of the library's beautiful new Green Building.

CBS Notebook: Libraries

From YouTube:

"Americans are saving money, and keeping the looming recession at bay, by going to their local libraries to rent books, CD's, and DVD's. Katie Couric reports" [December 2008]

Workshops at the Berkshire Athenaeum

Schedule of Computer Classes
 January & February 2009
Unless otherwise indicated, all classes held at 10 am in the Computer Lab
 and last for one hour.

***PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED: SIGN UP AT THE REFERENCE DESK***

Berkshire Funding Resource Center  
Introduction to the Foundation Center website and its resources; using the Foundation Center databases to locate foundation grant funding sources; orientation to Athenaeum resources to support grant research. (Taught by Madeline)  January 13; January 28 (6 pm); February 10; February 25 (6 pm)

Email
Setting up a free web-based email account. (Taught by Dick) January 8; January 22;
February 5; February 19

Evaluating websites
What to look for when you are taking information from the Internet. How to determine if a website contains authoritative information. (Taught by Mary Ann) January 21; February 18

Finding Business Resources Online
A review of useful business and finance oriented websites available on the internet. (Taught by Dick) January 15; February 12

Free Websites Useful to Small Businesses
A review of websites with free business tools of value and application to the small business owner and/or prospective entrepreneur. (Taught by Dick) January 29; February 26  

Library Catalog Series 
Part 1: Using the library’s online catalog to locate known items; items on a specific topic; items in a specific format (Taught by Mary Ann) January 7; February 4

Part 2: Placing reserves; making renewals of checked out items; changing your PIN; using My Reading History (Taught by Mary Ann) January 14; February 11

Part 3: Now that you understand how to utilize the library catalog, go behind the scenes with the Athenaeum’s cataloger to discover how the records are made and learn a bit about the philosophy of cataloging (Taught by Jeremy) January 28; February 25

An Introduction to LibraryThing
For many booklovers, LibraryThing is the greatest site online.  In this workshop you will set up a free account, learn how you can interact with fellow bibliophiles, and see how you can contribute to the Athenaeum's catalog as a result. (Taught by Jeremy) February 17 

New York Times Online
Using the library’s Proquest subscription to retrieve items from the Historical New York Times Online. (Taught by Madeline) January 6; February 3

Why Does the Library Owns a Wii? 
Video games have become a dominant force in entertainment, and one of the only industries shown to be recession proof.  Come and learn what's hot in gaming, why it matters, and why the Athenaeum now runs bi-weekly video game nights. (Taught by Jeremy) January 27

Pioneer Valley Legislative Breakfasts

The schedule for the Pioneer Valley Legislative Breakfasts has been added to the Friends of WMRLS website. For details on your own area's breakfast click here.

Hope to see you at one of the events.

Lynn Coakley
Friends of WMRLS Board

Online Database Brochure

The WMRLS Reference Advisory Committee has created a new trifold flyer to share with your staff and patrons. The updated Electronic Resources Brochure reminds users of the variety of electronic resources available to them and includes helpful information on the "How & Why" of databases. Check it out today! Download the pdf for easy printing and distribution by clicking on the title above or by visiting www.wmrls.org and clicking on "Online Databases."

ALSC announces exceptional Web sites for children

Immediate Release December 23, 2008

ALSC announces exceptional Web sites for children

CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has added more recommended Web sites to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites), its online resource containing hundreds of links to commendable Web sites for children.

Great Web Sites for Kids (GWS) features links to beneficial Web sites of interest to children, organized by subject headings such as animals; literature and languages; sciences; the arts; and reference desk. There is also a special section with sites of interest to parents, caregivers and teachers, plus an area devoted to sites in Spanish. The ALSC Great Web Sites for Kids Committee maintains and updates the site.

The newly added sites are:

• Activity TV - http://www.activitytv.com/
• Animal Fact Guide – http://www.animalfactguide.com/
• BaseballRox – http://www.baseballrox.com/
• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art - http://www.carlemuseum.org/
• Chemicool – http://www.chemicool.com/
• Dawn - http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/DawnKids/index.asp
• Mem Fox: Teaching, Learning, Living - http://www.memfox.com/
• Kevin Henkes - http://www.kevinhenkes.com/
• Horizon Magic Porthole – http://www.magicporthole.org/
• KidsClick! Web search for kids by librarians – http://www.kidsclick.org/
• Maisy’s Fun Club - http://www.maisyfunclub.com/
• School Time Games - http://www.schooltimegames.com/
• Jon Scieszka Worldwide - http://www.jsworldwide.com/
• Charles R. Smith, Jr. - http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/
• Speakaboos - http://www.speakaboos.com/
• Tate Kids - http://kids.tate.org.uk/
• The Audrey Wood Clubhouse - http://www.audreywood.com/

Members of the 2008 Great Web Sites for Kids Committee are: Karen Lemmons, co-chair, Howe Elementary School, Detroit; Becki Bishop, co-chair, Campbell Court Elementary School, Bassett, Va.; Amy Brown, Worthington Libraries, Columbus, Ohio; Robin Gibson, Granville, Ohio; Diana McFarland, Brunswick, Maine; Carla Morris, Provo City (Utah) Library; Marilyn Sobotincic, Medina County (Ohio) District Library; Terrell Young, Washington State University, Richland.
The complete listing of great sites with annotations and selection criteria can be found at www.ala.org/greatsites.

Clip art from LibraryClipArt.com

"webforchildren," American Library Association, December 23, 2008. http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/december2008/webforchildren.cfm (Accessed December 26, 2008)Document ID: 523689

Library Updates from the MBLC

Massachusetts Libraries ~ Inform, Empower, Inspire
Update: December 23, 2008

Gates Foundation Awards $6.9 Million to Improve Library Internet Connectivity. Massachusetts among states to receive grant funds.

All Aboard! Young and old alike enjoy Yarmouth's annual Polar Express tradition. Watch this fun video:




Dickens Online. Through digitization, WPI's Gordon Library is sharing Dickens' work in its original form. Hear more about this fantastic project through this report on PRI's The World |
View the actual original serial ~ This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the MBLC.

When school lets out early, kids hang out at the library!
If you're one of those old-timers who still believe that a public library means books and maybe some out-of-date magazines, you've got another thing coming. "Kids aren't reading less these days they are reading different things," said Deborah Dowson, young adult librarian at the Groton Public Library.

Energy grants given to towns ~ Greenfield and Holland to use funds on library projects.

My Haverhill: The keepers of Haverhill's history ...the writers point out the unique system in Haverhill where contributions and private income supply all of the books and other material and where part of the money raised through calendar sales makes it possible for the Haverhill library to function at a much lower cost to the city government than most libraries in the country.

~ Celeste Bruno, Communications Specialist, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners