Westen MA Poetry Slam Website

Hi,

Now that the holidays are past us I am getting to work on the regional poetry slams. We have the round table coming up Friday (tomorrow!) and another at Pelham next week.

I threw up this quick Google Pages website to give people an idea of what the slam is and as a central place to draw resources from. Within a week or so all the resources should be there. These should not be a lot of work for people and I think they'll be fun and attract a lot of attention!

See the page at http://taxonomy.googlepages.com/home2

Questions? ask me at taxonomy@gmail.com

Happy New Year!

Recommended Reading:

The January 1 edition of U.S. News & World Report features a fascinating article titled 50 Ways to Improve Your Life. Under the category of "Improving Your Mind" are directions on how the reader can "Get an MIT or Yale Education Free". Reporter Kim Clark states "You can finally get that MIT, Yale, or University of Tokyo education you've always wanted without spending a cent. All it takes is an Internet-connected computer and a little familiarity with skills like downloading programs and unzipping files."

Complete information online at
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/50-ways-to-improve-your-life/2007/12/20/get-an-mit-or-yale-education-free.html

Forbes Library Special Collections Online Exhibit

Northampton State Hospital Photos Added to Forbes Library Special Collections Exhibit
December 2007 - January 2008 Online Exhibit: http://www.forbeslibrary.org/vewebsite/exhibit5/vexmain5.htm

Image printing, framing and digitization funded by the Friends of Forbes Library. Mark Majeski photographed the Northampton State Hospital buildings in 2002, when they had been unused since the early 1990s, and several years before they were finally torn down. The result is a series of exterior and interior views showing the buildings' architecture and how they were affected by years of neglect. The color images include the former theater, kitchen, cafeteria, visiting area, doctor's office/apothecary, among others. The buildings and rooms, even while uninhabited and in a deteriorated condition, give the viewer a sense of the people and activities that took place there during a period of over 100 years.

Twenty-seven 10"x15" archival prints made from the original 35mm negatives are on exhibit. Events during the exhibit include a public reception and slideshow of additional images by Mark Majeski, and a talk by local author Mike Kirby on the history of the State Hospital and the plans for redevelopment of the Hospital site. After the exhibit is over, the prints will become part of the library's Special Collections of historic photographs where they will be accessible for future research or any interested member of the community to explore. In addition, the process of creating the archival prints involves digitizing the images, so they could be cataloged and put into an online Virtual Exhibit with Past Perfect museum software.

The life and death of Northampton State Hospital is an important chapter in the history of our community. The exhibit, and the preservation of the images, will promote a better understanding of the environment that patients lived in. The interior views are of particular significance since while the hospital was in operation, only patients, staff and visitors saw the inside of these buildings. These documents can shed light on the history of health care in Northampton, treatment of the mentally ill, architecture, community preservation, and the ongoing controversy regarding the disposition of the land and buildings.

News coverage:

• Daily Hampshire Gazette [December 13, reproduced on Library website]: http://www.forbeslibrary.org/news/NSHphotos.shtml
• Downstreet.net [December 10]: http://www.downstreet.net/StateHospitalPhotos.htm
• Valley Advocate [December 28]: http://valleyadvocate.com/listings/cat.cfm?cID=4

~ Faith Kaufmann, Information Services Librarian/Head of Arts & Music Dept., Forbes Library, Northampton [fkaufmann@forbeslibrary.org http://www.forbeslibrary.org/ ]

10 Ways to Make Your Library Great in 2008

From the WebJunction "Learning Webinars" website:

10 Ways to Make Your Library Great in 2008—via Web 2.0

1/16/08 - 2 - 3 PM ET
As you think about your resolutions for the New Year, why not resolve to make your library a great educational asset within your community? This webinar will show you how to leverage social networking tools such as del.icio.us and Librarything to enable knowledge sharing and create collections of information around professional development. Ten key themes are presented to empower library staff as well as to increase a library's value within the community. Presented by guest speaker Ed Rossman, adult services librarian at Shaker Heights Public Library and author of Castles Against Ignorance: How to Make Libraries Great Educational Environments.

Note that registration for this free webinar is optional. If you wish to register and receive email reminders with instructions for attending, please visit the WebJunction website - http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15543

The Big Read

From the Big Read Website:

"The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

Approximately 300 organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country will be selected to participate in The Big Read from September 2008 through June 2009.

Please note:
Applicants will be notified of their application status in late April 2008. The programming cycle has changed, and now extends to events from September 2008 through June 2009. The Big Read granting schedule is now on an annual basis."

For complete information, visit the Big Read Website - http://www.neabigread.org/application_process.php

WMRLS READS!

The secret is out - WMRLS has not One-Blog but TWO-Blogs! The goal of this, our One-Blog, is for all of our member libraries - academic, public, school, and special - to come together to communicate, cooperate, and share. While the goal of our second blog, titled WMRLS READS! is to plan our upcoming statewide summer reading program - we have TWO this year. Wild Reads at your library is our nature themed summer reading program geared to all ages while X-Pect the Un-X-Pected is geared to teens. Read more about these sure to be fun-filled library programs by visiting WMRLS READS!

Happy Anniversary to Granby Free Public Library

On December 1, 2007 the Granby Library Trustees held an Open House from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Granby Free Public Library’s Carnegie Building. This Building was officially opened on Nov. 23, 1917. It was built with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation on land donated in the 1880’s by Dexter Taylor, a descendant of Granby’s original settlers.

December 1 was a day set aside to celebrate the present and remember the past. Food and entertainment were provided, including World War I recipes, baked by Library Trustees. Library staff, some Trustees, and two Granby patrons came dressed in period costume. Original blueprints and architectural renderings of the building were displayed. Many other Carnegie libraries sent the Library cards and other mementos, which were also on display. Entertainment included a performance by Richard Clark, who reenacted Andrew Carnegie’s life. Attendees were given commemorative bracelets and a newspaper entitled Then And Now. A commemorative quilt was on display at the Library and included the thank you Andrew Carnegie cards that school aged children had created. Available for sale were notecards depicting the Library during the different seasons. Also on sale were watercolor prints of the Library… A special cancellation stamp, designed by Library Trustee Nancy Evren, which commemorated the dedication of the Carnegie Library building, was available for use for the first time at the Open House. A time capsule, containing items culled from library patrons’ suggestions, was buried on the library grounds. Senator Gale Candaras presented the Library with a citation from the Commonwealth. Trustee chair, Virginia Snopek, presented Library Director, Jennifer Crosby, with a plaque, listing all the directors of the Library since its inception (pictured above right).

While planning for a future home in a community library, the Trustees of the Granby Free Public Library were proud to provide the Town with this special day of celebration, remembering our past.

~ Virginia Snopek, Trustee Chair, Granby Free Public Library

The Best of the Best in 2007

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS:
Picture Books of Distinction in 2007

Saturday, December 15
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
http://www.picturebookart.org/
1:30 – 3:00 pm

Presented by Susan Bloom, Emeritus Director of the Center for The Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College. In anticipation of the presentation of the 2007 Caldecott Medal awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children for the preceding year, Susan selects her favorites. In her presentation she shares with the audience what makes these particular books rise above the others. Focusing on illustrations and the interplay of words and pictures she shares her insights as to why she considers these books the “best of the best.” (2 Professional Development Points) Free with Museum Admission.

Buzz Marketing

watch video

Video Description

A new trend in marketing for libraries

Copyright © 2007 YouTube, Inc.

A Librarian's Worst Nightmare

I subscribe to "The Library Link of the Day" as a means of keeping updated on the latest news in our field. Today's link, "A Librarian's Worst Nightmare" by Jacob Leibenluft [Slate, December 7, 2007] is a fascinating article that focuses on the many reasons why Yahoo!Answers "now draws 120 million users worldwide".

Recommend:

• Read "A Librarian's Worst Nightmare"
• Check out Yahoo! Answers
• Subscribe to Library Link of the Day

~ Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Friends of WMRLS "Honor Someone Special Event"

Honor someone special
BUY A CHILDREN’S BOOK FOR THE BOOKMOBILE!

Recognize someone special - a friend, relative, employee or retiring club officer – for achievement or favor. Mark an anniversary or a birthday. A card will be sent to the person honored. No dollar amount will be mentioned.

FOR THE FAMILY - Wouldn’t a special child you know love to read a book with his or
her name in it?

AS A GIFT - The perfect gift for the person who has everything.

AS A MEMORIAL - A book memorial is a fitting way to preserve the memory of a special
person. (An acknowledgement will be sent to the family.)

SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY!!

$20 will purchase a book that will travel as part of the WMRLS Bookmobile’s collection to libraries throughout western Massachusetts. A book plate bearing your name and those honored or remembered by your gift will be placed in the book. Visit the Friends of WMRLS website to download the "Honor Someone Special" order form.

BOOKS ARE A SOUND INVESTMENT. THEY ARE USED - AND THEY LAST.

~ Friends of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

The Great Pumpkin Roll

"Everyone who loves libraries and cares about books has got to hear this CD."

Mark Edmundson, NPR Culture Critic & author of "Why Read"

A Great Holiday Gift Idea for the Book Lover & Library Supporter in Your Life!

A 10-Song CD Celebrating Libraries & the Joys of Reading ~ $15.00 plus $2.00 for shipping

TO ORDER YOURS IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
greatpumpkinroll@gmail.com or call 413-527-5386
or visit http://www.librarywesthampton.org/ and pay with PayPal

All proceeds support the building of a new library in Westhampton, Massachusetts. The Friends of the Westhampton Memorial Library is a 501(c)3 organization.