BIG E TICKETS OFFER for W. MA PUBLIC libraries

Once again, the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have made arrangements with the Eastern States Exposition to provide each Western  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 Western 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.   The winners should be chosen through a random drawing of names at the end of your summer reading program.

To participate--

•  Place a self-addressed #10 business-sized, STAMPED envelope (SASE) [must hold 2 tickets and one Big E brochure] addressed to YOUR library with “ATTN:  [your library’s person designated to receive these valuable tickets]” 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 Friday, July 13, 2012.

For security reasons, DO NOT write the words “Tickets” or “Big E” on the outside of the envelopes.

For Western MA public library systems that have 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 The Big E has made of Western Massachusetts public libraries receiving these free tickets is that the public be notified of their donation to encourage reading among our young people.  Please create signs or posters with this information. 

 The WMLA Board members will process your requests and mail the tickets shortly after July 13th.

Shutesbury Library Trivia Saturday, June 2, 2012

Here are a couple more pictures of the evening.  Click here to go to the WMLA Facebook page to see a picture of the 3rd place winners

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Mass-Library-Advocates-formerly-Friends-of-Wmrls/98164952633

Jaime, Alicia and Harpo

Mary Anne thanking everyone, esp. Harpo and staff

MBLC Appointment

On Friday, May 25, 2012, long time supporter of libraries in Western Mass, Jan Resnick, was celebrated as she was sworn in as the newest MBLC commissioner.  She is the 2nd commissioner to be appointed from our end of the state in the past 12 months, following the October 2011 appointment of Blandford's Mary Kronholm,  Here are a few pictures from the very nice celebration.

Commissioner Jan Resnick

Standing ovation - happy people

Left to right: Bob Judge (representing Rep. Scibak), Rep. Ellen Story, Jan, Rep. Kulik, Mid. Berk. Reg. of Deeds Andrea Nuciforo

goodies

Master of Ceremonies Eric Poulin

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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!

Jacqueline Sheehan at ALA

Novelist Jacqueline Sheehan from Northampton will be attending the ALA conference in Anaheim, June 23 & 24. She’ll be signing copies of her new book, Picture This, the much-anticipated sequel to her bestselling novel, Lost and Found. She wanted librarians from Western MA to know that one of their own was at the conference signing, and she'd love to see you. She’ll be signing from 9-10 am on Sunday morning. 

Lisa Downing from Forbes, Northampton

Snapshot Day @South Hadley Public Library

We've taken our Library Snapshot Day photos from 4/12/12 and turned them into this fun video. Enjoy!

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+++

Hampshire Council of Governments and UMass Amherst Libraries Honor County's 350th

Limited Edition Prints will be available for sale at Northampton's Art Night Out on Friday, May 11 

 

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (April 12, 2012) – The Hampshire Council of Governments and UMass Amherst Libraries recently selected 44 historic documents to reproduce and offer for sale as a cooperative fundraising effort and to commemorate the 350th Anniversary of Hampshire County. The reproductions were selected from the collection of dockets, session books, maps, and other paper records dealing with Hampshire County business from as early as 1677 that the Council transferred to UMass Amherst Libraries last year.

Proceeds from the sale of limited edition prints during the summer months of Arts Night Out in Northampton will benefit the Old Hampshire County Courthouse renovation project and the continued digitization of the collection at UMass Amherst Libraries. The reproductions include an indictment for witchcraft in 1683 and lists of licensees for selling spirituous liquors to a copy of a Shay’s Rebellion broadside. Rare maps of area towns are also part of the limited edition offering, most dating to the mid-1800s.

The Libraries received the historic collection, which has been valued at $206,000, from Hampshire Council last year. “We wanted to allow for the permanent preservation of our valuable history in a manner that would keep the records in the public domain and in a format that will permit easy access,” says Todd Ford, Executive Director of the Council.

Rob Cox, head of Special Collections and University Archives at UMass Amherst, calls the collection “a historic treasure of western Massachusetts… an acquisition that expands our services and resources to scholars in legal studies, genealogists, landscape and regional planners, developers, and engineers.”

The records are securely housed in the Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives offices on the 25th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Many are available for view online, and all are available for use on site by appointment.

The reproduction prints will be framed by local framers and will be part of a summer-long silent auction. A limited number of additional prints will be available for sale on an ongoing basis through the Arts Night Out Gallery in the Old Hampshire County Courthouse.

Contact: Todd Ford, Executive Director, 413-584-1300 x 121, tford@hampshirecog.org
Carol Connare, Director of Library Development and Communication, 413-545-0995, cconnare@library.umass.edu