The Agawam Public Library TWEETS!

The Agawam Public Library is moving further along into the 2.0 world, and can now boast we have our very own Twitter page. Twitter is a form of social networking, which is nick-named micro-blogging, because of the short messages that may be posted. On our Twitter page you can find out information on Library Services, Resources, Programs and Events. Check out our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/agawamlibrary

~ Maria Yacovone, InterLibrary Loan Services, Agawam Public Library

Everyone flies to the Springfield City Library these days!

A very unusual visitor to the Springfield City Library this morning!
Springfield City Library - A Place For You

~ Janet Stupak, Community Relations Coordinator, Springfield City Library

Update: MBLC Account (7000-9401)

Dear WMRLS Library Supporters:

I’m pleased to share some GOOD NEWS in these difficult times!

The FY10 budgets of both Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate resulted in an increase of over 14% for the 6 Regional Library Systems in MBLC account (7000-9401). At the same time, there was no specific language about funding for Boston Public as Library of Last Recourse (LLR), so the amount the LLR gets from this account was decreased dramatically.

Since both the House and Senate versions of the budget were the same, this account is not subject to revisions by a legislative Conference Committee.

It is gratifying that the encouragement and advocacy of so many people made a real difference with our State legislators, who responded in a big way. We express our appreciation to our Representatives and Senators for their support of the Regions and the important services they provide, especially in this tough economy.

~ Thank you, John Ramsay, Regional Administrator, Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Weeding with the CREW Method - WMRLS May 21 Continuing Education Workshop

Weeding with the CREW Method

Summary of WMRLS May 21 Continuing Education Workshop:

This workshop explored the straightforward guidelines recommended in The CREW Method, a nationally recognized tool for intelligent de-selection. Through hands-on weeding, participants discovered for themselves that these methods really work! Belinda Boon, author of The CREW Method, presented the workshop to help participants identify reasons for and against weeding and discover how to overcome obstacles, learn how to weed using The CREW Method and practice techniques for weeding non-print and children’s materials. This workshop was funded by the Together We Thrive LSTA grant.

Visit the WMRLS Weeding the Library Collection Website for links to selected handouts and more! [Our WMRLS Weed It! For an Attractive and Useful Collection website was one of the first websites to cover this important collection development topic and continues to be among the Top 10 most visited pages on our 242 page website.]

Puppetry ~ WMRLS May 19 Continuing Education Workshop

Puppetry


Summary of WMRLS May 19 Continuing Education Workshop:

Presenters Joan Knight, Director of the Jaffrey (NH) Public Library, and Judith Stoughton, Children's Librarian of the Mansfield (CT) Public Library demonstrated how to incorporate puppetry into library programs and make puppet magic. They offered practical ideas, tips, techniques and specific activities that can be transported to your library.


Resources on Puppetry Available from the WMRLS Professional Collection

Tips & Techniques: Storytelling with Puppets and Props. Library Video Network, 2002. [DVD PROF 027.62]

Leading Kids to Books Through Puppets by Caroline Feller Bauer. ALA, 1997. [PROF 027.625]

We the People Bookshelf awarded to Huntington Public Library

The Huntington Public Library is pleased to announce that the Library is a recipient of the “We the People” Bookshelf grant that includes free hardcover editions of 17 children’s classics. The grants, presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association, are provided to support the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture in our library. Each year, the National Endowment for the Humanities identifies a theme to build the “We the People” Bookshelf. This year the theme for the bookshelf is “Picturing America”. In 2009, 4,000 school and public libraries in all 50 U.S. states were selected from a pool of more than 7,000 applicants to receive “We the People” Bookshelf grants.

The books will be available at the library for patrons to check out and read. For suggestions for programming or more information about library programs visit or telephone the Library. Telephone: 413/667/3506.

~ Margaret Nareau, Director, Huntington Public Library

Library cards—a great promotional tool

Contact: Megan McFarlane
Campaign Coordinator
Campaign for America’s Libraries
ALA Public Information Office
312-280-2148
mmcfarlane@ala.org

For Immediate release
May 19, 2009
Library cards—a great promotional tool

(CHICAGO) Librarians can use the value of a library card to promote their libraries.

During Library Card Sign-up Month, the American Library Association and libraries across the country highlight the library card as the “smartest card” in every American’s wallet.

Library cards offer users a wide variety of free resources: access to computers and the Internet; financial literacy skills; assistance with job searches; resources to help small businesses; DVD rentals; storytime sessions; and, of course, books.

But library cards have value for librarians as well, whether they are promoting public awareness about their library’s green efforts or programming for children.

The Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, N.C., used the Association for Library Service to Children’s “Kids! @ your library” slogan “So much to see. So much to do. @ your library” to engage its community and encourage children in grades K-5 to register for a library card. The library has since reported that 20,000 students have signed-up for library cards.

The Clermont County Public Library of Clermont County, Ohio recently redesigned its library cards and now offers library users the choice of seven library cards, including one that supporting the library’s green initiative, which reads “Go green @ your library.”

“It fit in perfectly with the ‘green’ overhaul we’ve been working on,” said Amy Prewitt, the library’s media relations manager. “Besides, the library is the ultimate recycling center — we use and reuse the same materials over and over again.”

Prior to the card’s redesign, the library used the “Smartest Card” to promote its services.

Berkeley County Public Library of Berkeley County, S.C. uses its card to remind visitors that there is “Something for everyone @ your library.” The library card is also available as a key fob.

Library Card Sign-up Month, which is held in September, was launched in 1987.Since then, thousands of public and school libraries join each fall in a national effort to remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

The Campaign for America’s Libraries is the ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions.

The “Smartest Card” was created by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of ALA.

EZ Library Programs for All Ages

From the Mid-Hudson Library System EZ Library Programs Website:

"The EZ Library Program Directory was created by the Mid-Hudson Library System to help librarians find easy, inexpensive program ideas covering a wide range of topics, activities, costs and ages--from infants to adults.

To look for a program idea, choose Search for a Program and search by one or more of the categories or search by keyword. If you wish to share programs that have been successful in your library, please use the Submit a Program section."

MARLS Coop Extended Through June 2010

Dear MARLS Purchasing Cooperative Libraries:

Some good news! The MARLS Statewide Purchasing Cooperative will remain in effect through June of 2010.

The vendors of library materials and supplies have agreed to continue extending their excellent discounts and services to participating libraries for another year. These discounts help stretch library budgets in these difficult times. Technical services staff at libraries do not need to change their ordering procedures for at least another year.

During FY10, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, with assistance from the other Regions, will begin working on a brand new, even more comprehensive, statewide bid to go into effect in July of 2010.

For details on the MARLS program, please visit the Western Region's MARLS website at http://www.wmrls.org/coop/index.html. FYI, we notify participating libraries about any Coop news, clarifications and changed contact information through the statewide "allregions" email distribution list, and also note them in the "Updates" section of the MARLS website.

We hope you continue to enjoy the Cooperative for FY10. It is one of the many benefits of your library's membership in one of the 6 Regional Library Systems.


Thanks, John Ramsay, Regional Administrator, Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Facebook Social Networking Software ~ An MLA Report

facebook logo

Originally uploaded by AJC1

On Friday, May 8, I attended MLA hoping to learn more about the many uses of Web 2.0 tools and applications; specifically the Facebook social networking site … and the MLA Annual Conference delivered!

Below is a brief summary that highlights my Facebook education by attending 21 Examples of 21st Century Libraries, the Do-It-Yourself Series: Session II, and Social Software and Intellectual Freedom.

The Good:
Facebook is where it’s at! Libraries should have a goal of becoming its users’ Third Place ~ (First Place being Home and Second Place being Work and/or School). Both the library building and its virtual space should be warm, welcoming, and located in a highly accessible place. According to Andy Kazeniac in Social Networks: Facebook Takes Over Top Spot, Twitter Climbs published on February 9, 2009, Facebook had 1,191,373,339 visits in January, 2009 – becoming the Number 1 Social Networking site. A Library Facebook page is most definitely in a highly accessible online "place".

Great for Library PR! A Library Facebook page is a great way to promote library services and programs.

Facebook is easy. While you do have to open a Facebook Account (which I consider The Bad ~ see below). A library Facebook Page is fun and easy to create.

The Bad:

Privacy: Libraries embrace the users right to privacy. When patrons sign up for a library card, they can be confident that their information will not be shared. Can Facebook (and other social network sites) make the same promise? To view a library’s Facebook page, the user is required to register for a Facebook Account. Should the library, by hosting a Facebook page, be endorsing one social networking site over another?

Recommend:

Develop a Library Social Networking Policy ~ Examples (though a little dated) can be found on the website, What I Learned Today … Social Software Policies.

Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

MLA: Building a Great Library

Two morning programs on library construction were filled with the wisdom of the experienced and advice from professionals. "MBLC Grant Process and the Building Program" featured Patience Jackson and Rosemary Waltos of the MA Board of Library Commissioners overviewing our state's "very well run library construction grant program", a compliment given by Richard Marks, President of project management firm Daedalus Projects. In MA, libraries must meet well laid-out milestones to receive grant money and that makes our library construction grant program predictable and achievable locally---thank you MBLC! Patience and Rosemary spoke of the Planning and Design Grants that help the smallest communities move toward new libraries, and the new "green incentive program" to help communities build energy efficient buildings. Building Consultant Marjorie Judd described how she gathers data in order to write building programs for communities, and Aaron Cohen spoke of the visual scan that guides his work producing a library facility plan. He recommended that you put the largest pots of money into aspects of the new library that your community will see and use in order to earn their support. Two owner project management firms, Daedalus Projects and Scanska USA, cautioned that hiring a project manager should come at the beginning of your project so that their expertise can help you define a budget that will work throughout your building program.

"Library Construction: Notes from the Field" featured two library directors who have built new facilities and two architects who design community libraries. Carol Mahoney, Director of the Greenwich (CT) Public Library, won my heart when she emphasized planning a delivery area that is sized and located for the safety and convenience of those staff members who prepare and receive deliveries, and in consideration of the delivery drivers who move all the bins of materials into and out of our libraries every day. The slide show that Leslie Morrissey of the Falmouth Public Library shared emphasized how an historic building can be beautifully renovated and added to, more than once! Charlie Van Voorhis is an architect specializing in renovating historic buildings. He admitted that it can take more energy and creativity keeping the old parts in a renovation project but such renovations can be competitive financially with building brand-new, and are very helpful in maintaining a community's spirit. Stewart Roberts of the firm Johnson Stewart Roberts Associates listed the pros and cons of new construction versus renovation of historic spaces. He proved his love for older libraries by giving us his company web address
http://www.johnson-roberts.com where you will find "Library Postcards Online". It's organized by state so look for your library there!

MLA Conference Reports on its Blog

MLA is going Web 2.0 this year with Twitter Tweets, Flickr Photos, and its annual MLA Conference Reports Blog ~ http://mlamasslib.blogspot.com/