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/.

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.

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 )