Extra! Extra! Hot off the Virtual Press ~ WRAPPER NEWSLETTER!
We have just posted the fall/winter issue of WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System This issue features the following:
WMRLS Annual Meeting: An Emotional Experience by John Ramsay, Regional Administrator, WMRLS
WMRLS Night at MassMutual Center Fundraiser – The Springfield Falcons Hockey Team is dedicating the Saturday, January 23 game to benefit the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System. Tickets (regularly $17) are only $10 for everyone who orders using the special form on page 3 of Wrapper. This offer of discounted tickets to the January 23 game is extended to the general public. Please help WMRLS promote this fundraiser by making copies available for people to take. (A great holiday gift!)
Self-Service Disc Repair Machine now available to ALL WMRLS Libraries at No Charge
Sincerely, Janet Eckert, Editor; WRapper: the newsletter of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Falcons vs. Wolfpack ~ WMRLS NIGHT AT MASSMUTUAL CENTER ~ Join us on January 23
Saturday, January 23 at 7:30
This offer of discounted tickets to the January 23 game is extended to the general public. Please help WMRLS promote this fundraiser by making copies available for people to take.
Come out and meet Wally the Green Monster along with a night of action-packed hockey to benefit the Regional Library System that faces deep State budget cuts!
Regularly $17, tickets are only $10 with this offer!
Simply fill out the order form and mail back to the Falcons office, or call Julia Kincade at (413) 739-3344 x105.
(*Offer not valid at the box office. Tickets will be mailed up to January 18th. Tickets ordered after this date will be available at the Will-Call window of the Box Office lobby on the night of the game.)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Together We Thrive LSTA Grant Project - Presentation at WMRLS Annual Meeting
As part of our recent Annual Meeting of the WMRLS Council of Members, Becky Marconi, presented a summary of the recently concluded Together We Thrive LSTA Grant Project. Complete information on this project is posted on our WMRLS website
Becky's PowerPoint presentation is posted below:
Upon the conclusion of the WMRLS Together We Thrive LSTA grant, the Self Service Disc Repair Machine is now available for the use of all WMRLS Member Libraries.
Becky's PowerPoint presentation is posted below:
Upon the conclusion of the WMRLS Together We Thrive LSTA grant, the Self Service Disc Repair Machine is now available for the use of all WMRLS Member Libraries.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sarah Pirtle in concert at the GPL!
Families with young children, treat yourselves to a special free concert Saturday morning, December 5 at 10:30 with the wonderful Sarah Pirtle. The community is invited to the Greenfield Public Library for a joyful concert for all ages with the award-winning singer-songwriter.
With humor and warmth, Sarah beckons us to experience the exploration and enchantment of the seasons, farm life, city neighborhoods, and family time. These lively songs encourage outdoor play and a childhood nourished by imagination, curiosity, and nature. The concert is free and open to all; for more information contact Kay Lyons at 772-1544 ext. 5 or online at http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/.
With humor and warmth, Sarah beckons us to experience the exploration and enchantment of the seasons, farm life, city neighborhoods, and family time. These lively songs encourage outdoor play and a childhood nourished by imagination, curiosity, and nature. The concert is free and open to all; for more information contact Kay Lyons at 772-1544 ext. 5 or online at http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org/.
Libraries and Autism
From the Libraries and Autism: We're Connected Website
"The Scotch Plains Public Library and the Fanwood Memorial Library, together with our partners, produced a customer service training video primarily for library staff to help them serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism and will empower you with specific techniques to offer more inclusive service to this growing and underserved population.
To receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" Decal for your library, contact us at autism@thejointlibrary.org. We encourage you to explore this site and make free use of our support resources. "
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Director Essentials: An Aid for MA Library Directors
A new resource for Massachusetts library directors in all kinds of libraries is now available on the web: http://directoressentials.org/. Arranged by topic or type of library, it is an ever evolving collection of tools and lists to help new directors understand their environment and challenges.
Developed by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems and funded by an LSTA grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the site is a collaborative effort to acquaint new library directors with a variety of tools and tips to help them acclimate to their position and their new circumstances. There is even a lot of information to interest 'old' directors.
The site was developed with the assistance of an advisory committee. Western MA representatives include: Christine Bergquist (Wilbraham), Tamson Ely (STCC), Alison Ernst (Northfield/Mt. Hermon), Howard Polonsky (Franklin Law Library), and Sharon Sharry (Sunderland and now Greenfield). Jan Resnick (WMRLS) serves on the Director Essentials Grant Committee.
~Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
America's Star Libraries: Pelham, Meekins, and Stockbridge Libraries
Congratulations to the Pelham, Meekins, and Stockbridge Libraries - all recognized by Library Journal as STAR LIBRARIES ~ Read more about it in the November 15 issue of Library Journal
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Annual Meeting of the WMRLS Council of Members
Our WMRLS Annual Meeting is always a great oppportunity for people from our member libraries to learn what is happening at the local, regional, state, and national levels. At today's Annual Meeting, Rob Maier, Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, our featured guest speaker, discussed the FY11 Library Budget Crisis and its negative impact upon the regional library systems (as well as the severe pressure with all state agencies that are required to propose 17% overall reductions). Commissioner Vicki L. Kaufman, urged all librarians to contact their legislators by phone and/or by writing a letter to advocate for libraries.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Barnes and Noble Fundraiser for Libraries - January 17 and 18, 2010
Barnes and Noble Martin Luther King Day Library Fundraising Event
Locations of participating western Massachusetts Barnes and Noble Stores: Hadley | Holyoke | Pittsfield
LIBRARY RESPONSIBLITIES to participate in January 17 and 18 Martin Luther King Day Barnes and Noble Library Fundraising Event:
• Library must register directly with their Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager* (CRM) by Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
• Each library that participates in this fundraising event must schedule an event to be held on one of the two days of this fundraiser. Event can be a booktalk, demonstration (Example: how to knit), library program (Examples: storyhour, readers theater, author talk).
• Events will be scheduled on a first-come, first served basis.
• Libraries may "team up" and conduct combined events.
• A representative from each of the library's (staff, Friend of Library, trustee) must man an information table (one table representing all of the participating libraries so that each library needs only to schedule one to two hours of table coverage time). Information tables can only be put up in the event space during an event.
• Prior to the fundraising event, the library contact meets with CRM to prepare a library "wish list" of items that the public can purchase for them. This needs to be done 4-6 weeks prior to the bookfair
BARNES AND NOBLE CRMS' RESPONSIBILITIES For This Event:
• Each library will register directly with their Barnes and Noble CRM
• The CRM will communicate directly with the libraries that are participating in this fundraiser
*Hadley Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Karen E. Lynn, Store Manager, Barnes and Noble Booksellers
335 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035; tel: (413) 584-2558;
fax: (413) 584-8750; crm2088@bn.com
*Holyoke Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Gail Harris, Barnes and Noble, 7 Holyoke Street, Holyoke, MA 01040; tel: (413) 532-1786; fax: (413) 532-1973; crm2747@bn.com
Pittsfield Barnes and Noble Community Relations Manager:
Melissa Swart, Store Manager, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 555 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201; tel: (413) 496-9051; fax: (413)496-9755 ; crm2661@bn.com
Barnes and Noble Bookfairs: How it Works, Custom Bookfairs, FAQs, and more!
GPL budget meeting time/location changed
The Greenfield Town Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 at the Greenfield Middle School has been changed.
The meeting will now be held at 7:00pm at the GCTV studio at 393 Main Street in Greenfield.
The meeting will now be held at 7:00pm at the GCTV studio at 393 Main Street in Greenfield.
Police and/or Government Requests for Library Records
The “Site Index” on our WMRLS Homepage also aims to serve as a “ready reference” and provides information on frequently asked questions posed by staff or our member libraries. Recently, we have fielded a number of questions about how to best handle police and/or government requests for library records. For this reason, my colleague, Jan Resnick, and I have researched this topic and created a new webpage titled “Police and/or Government Requests for Library Records” (accessible to all via our “Site Index” - http://www.wmrls.org/toc/index.html as well as directly at http://www.wmrls.org/wmrls/police-requests.html )
Monday, November 9, 2009
Greenfield Public Library Mid-Year Budget Cuts
Greenfield Public Library Budget Cuts: How Will this Impact You?
On November 18, there will be a Public Hearing at 5:30pm at the Greenfield Middle School Auditorium so the Council can vote on amending the FY10 budget. The amendment put forward includes a $30,300 cut in the library's budget. Below are documents that will help explain what a cut of this size will mean to the GPL.
What will these cuts mean to you and how you use the library?
The Greenfield Public Library has already lost 3 staff members, and 3.5 open hours this year.
With these cuts we are now facing:
- losing 4 more staff people, bringing us to a staff cut of 35% in less than a year
- closing 2 evenings and 1.5 hours on Saturdays
- reducing our magazine holdings by ½
- greatly reducing reference services and online databases subscriptions
- severely reducing or eliminating children and adult programming
- increasing wait time for holds to 2+ weeks
- longer lines at check out and more noise
- not being able to repair or replace any equipment or materials
- 2 more potential rounds of budget cuts; services now being reduced could be eliminated entirely
- the possibility of losing Interlibrary Loan next year if monies taken now are not replaced in next year’s budget.
The Greenfield Public Library is a service organization; when we lose staff, we cannot provide services.
Proposed New Library Hours
| Monday | 1-5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:30a-8p |
| Wednesday | 9:30a-5p |
Thursday | 9:30a-5p |
Friday | 9:30a-5p |
Saturday | 9:30a-12:30p |
~~~ Please attend ~~~
PUBLIC HEARING
November 18, 2009; 5:30pm
Greenfield Middle School Auditorium
PUBLIC HEARING
November 18, 2009; 5:30pm
Greenfield Middle School Auditorium











