National Library Week is April 13 - 19

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YouTube Video Description:

Academy-award-winning actress and honorary National Library Week chairperson, Julie Andrews, discusses what libraries mean to her. National Library Week is April 13-19, 2008.

© 2008 YouTube, Inc.

"Feelings: The Perception of Self " at D'Amour Library Today

Lecture: "Feelings: The Perception of Self" ~ 3/27/08 ~ 4:00 PM
Western New England College - D'Amour Library, Room 319

Event Description:
Common sense has it backwards: feelings don't cause behavior; they are the result of behavior. In fact, feelings are the way that we know about our own actions. Professor Laird will present research indicating that people's feelings can be changed by changing their behaviors. He will then discuss the implications for our view of human beings.

For additional information about this lecture contact: Daniel Eckert deckert@wnec.edu ; 413-782-1654

History & Mystery Book List Updates

Take a look at our updated and expanded Historical Fiction (Some Place in Time) and Mystery (Deadly Pleasures) book lists updated with new titles and authors http://www.wmrls.org/services/colldev/ra_lists.html. I hope you and your readers will find them useful. If you have additional suggestions, I'd love to have them.

Don't forget that Neal Wyatt, author of The Readers' Advisory Guide to Nonfiction, will be at WMRLS on April 15 to offer her tips on nonfiction and readers' advisory services. Sign up today while there is still space http://www.wmrls.org/ce/main.html#080415.

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Amherst Holds Legislative Breakfast

Friday, March 21, more than 52 library supporters attended the final 2008 western Massachusetts legislative breakfast at the Jones Library. It was a blustery day for the first Friday of Spring, but the trustees, friends, librarians, local officials and legislators had many warm things to say about libraries and their value to their communities. Speakers included: Bonnie Isman, Jones Library Director; Chair Gerald Weiss of the Amherst Select Board; Lisa Downing representing the Friends of WMRLS; Rob Maier, Director of the MA Board of Library Commissioners; Commissioner Mary Rose Quinn; Jan Resnick, WMRLS; and Joan Kuklinski, C/W MARS. In the 'Telling our Stories' segment of the program, Jones Library Trustee Kathleen Wang told of how important the library was to her as a child. Yukun Jia, high school student, spoke of the value of the Jones Library English as a Second Language program tutors who were able to help her parents learn English which helped them find jobs in their new country.

State Senator Stan Rosenberg spoke of his support for libraries and his concern that a November ballot question to eliminate the income tax might jeopardize libraries and other community services. Representative Ellen Story commented on the many valuable services libraries offer and that their cooperation improves services and controls costs. Representative Kulik appreciates WMRLS efforts to bring high speed Internet access to the libraries in the 16 communities he serves, and he has seen those cars sitting outside the libraries taking advantage of the WiFi access provided through the project. Representative Scibak used the statewide databases from his home to prepare for the lengthy casino hearings held this week. All the legislators encouraged breakfast attendees to come to the State House April 2 and speak out for libraries. (Join us on the bus http://wmrls.blogspot.com/2008/03/library-legislative-day-take-bus.html).

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS

Reading for the Light ~ Worthington Library

Worthington Library recently hosted a very successful program series entitled “Reaching for the Light”. In a town where a quorum for a special town meeting is 21 people, we were thrilled to average 20 at each of the five sessions. For four weeks, a minister or spokesperson for a different spiritual path practiced in Worthington spoke about their spiritual practices. We had a Buddhist, a Sufi, a Christian and a Pagan. The last week, brought all of them together in a panel. The response was extremely favorable. Many folk would have liked for the discussions to continue and all learned a lot about the differences and similarities of these paths. It was a great way to bring people together during the winter months.

~ Leona Arthen, Director, Worthington Library

Clip Art from LibraryClipArt.com

Troubleshooting Computer Problems

WebJunction is now offering a free course titled "Troubleshooting Computer Problems". This 1.5 hour self-paced online course is free to all WebJunction members (and WebJunction membership is free).

• Course information
• Register to become a WebJunction member (free)

Ghost Hunters in Belchertown

Check out the Sci-Fi Promo for Ghost Hunters at the Clapp Memorial Library Broadcast!

On Wednesday, March 19, the Sci Fi Channel will reveal the presence, or not, of a ghost in the Belchertown Library. In November, the Ghost Hunters visited the Clapp Memorial Library with their sensor equipment to check for the ghost or ghosts that have appeared to various staff over the years. The custodian at the library contacted the show. The season opener will be broadcast at 9 p.m. We wonder if the ghosts exist, will they support the library's proposed expansion grant? The full report and photos appear in the March 18 edition of the Springfield Republican.

Library Focus of Ghost Hunters by John Appleton in The Republican, Tuesday, March 18, 2008

See Also: November 28, 2007 WMRLS-One-Blog posting Sci-Fi Ghost Hunters Visit Clapp Memorial Library

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

Legislators Urged to Support Library Funding

Must Reading! This morning's Library Legislative Breakfast at the Chicopee Comprehensive High School Library is now featured in The Republican Newsroom's MASSLIVE News: Real-Time news for Western Massachusetts in an article titled Legislators Urged to Support Library Funding by Holly Angelo.

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE BREAKFASTS - 2008

West Stockbridge Poetry Slam a BIG HIT!

The West Stockbridge Public Library hosted it's first Poety Slam on March 13th! The emcee, Vanessa Vargas, was wonderful and really had everyone participating. There were three winners who are all eligible to go on to the Regional Competition in May. Hilary Russell, from Sheffield, came in first place, Karel Fisher, from Richmond, was second, and the super brave local youngster, Juri Kiin of West Stockbridge, stole third. Prizes were donated by Hotchkiss Mobiles, Molly Bruce Jacobs, Hoffman Pottery, West Stockbridge Video, and the Bookloft. The West Stockbridge Public Library Friends of the Library and Cultural Council also helped sponsored the event. A big THANKS to everyone that helped pull this together!

~ AJ Cole, West Stockbridge Library Director

READ MORE ABOUT IT ~ Western Massachusetts Poetry Slam Series!

Library Community Must Make Their Voices Heard

WMRLS Legislative Breakfast: Library Community Must Make Their Voices Heard

Visit the MBLC Website for photos of this event

Holding an event at Hampden Public Library would have been impossible three years ago. The library was forced to close its doors for almost a year in 2005 after the town voted down an override that would have provided library funding. On Friday March 7, 2008 Hampden Public Library hosted a Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS) Legislative Breakfast that brought out members of Hampden Board of Selectman, Commissioners from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and several state legislators.

"We need to realize what's at risk when we don't fund libraries," stated Representative Mary Rogeness. "Here in Hampden you know what's at risk, but the state needs to realize that it's not just losing a library; it's losing the town's center; it's losing access; it's losing critical services that everyone needs in Massachusetts." Senator Gale Candaras encouraged the library community to make their voices heard on Beacon Hill, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease; you've got to squeak more, especially during this difficult budget year."

Mary King, WMRLS Regional Librarian, noted that the WMRLS Budget is down 17% since 2002 while MBLC Commissioner Katherine Dibble talked about the increase in demand for library services. MBLC Commissioner Richard Dunbar added "There are many issues competing before the legislature." "But whether the issue is global warming, health care, or how government works libraries are part of it all and we need to make sure that the legislature understands that."

Toni-Golinski-Foisy, Director of West Springfield Public Library and Friends of WMRLS, encouraged the crowd to attend Massachusetts Library Association's Legislative Day on April 2 at the State House, calling attendance at the event "critical in making our voices heard and letting our legislators know how vital libraries are."

Library trustees Beth Burger and Raymond Andree perhaps best captured the feelings of the crowd. "When libraries close, lives are shattered,"said Mr. Andree. "It's dangerous to become complacent" added Ms. Burger. "We need to make our voices heard."

The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.

~ Celeste Bruno, Communications Specialist, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Western Massachusetts Poetry Slam Series

This spring, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System will sponsor the first ever Western Massachusetts Poetry Slam Championship Series. Poets will compete, live and on stage for:

Fame, Glory and Prizes

Please see the libraries listed below for venues and dates. Visit poetry.wmrls.org for details or ask your librarian for more information.

If you’re not a poet, come and witness the amazing talent lurking just below the surface of your town!. Admission is free.

West Stockbridge Public Library - March 13 - 6:30PM
Worthington Library - April 10 - 7PM
Springfield City Library - April 12 - 1 PM
Stockbridge Library Association - April 22 - 6PM
North Adams Public Library - April 22 - 6PM
Wheeler Memorial Library ,Orange - April 26 - 2PM
Milne Library, Williamstown - April 26 - 1PM
Chicopee Public Library - April 30 -Event is cancelled

Monterey Library - May 10 - 7PM
Forbes Library, Northampton – Event is cancelled

Pelham Library - Event is cancelled

Many thanks to Adam Novitt and Vanessa Vargas for coordinating this event.

Berkshire Legislative Breakfast - March 7, 2008

The very first event held in the North Adams Public Library's new meeting room was the Berkshire Legislative Breakfast on March 7, 2008. Staff and trustees from more than 21 public and school libraries were represented at the breakfast urging support for state budget line items 7000-9401 (Regional Systems) and 7000-9506 (networks like C/W MARS and funding for data bases). The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) Legislative Agenda is advocating significant funding in these lines to try to return them to the 2001 funding levels. The Regional Systems' budgets are 17% below where they were in FY2002.

Speakers included Director Robert Maier (MBLC), Regional Administrator John Ramsay, Sally Caldwell (Friends of WMRLS) and Tom Corbett, Assistant Director, C/W MARS. Dignitaries included John Barrett III, Mayor of North Adams, Senator Benjamin Downing, and Representatives Daniel Bosley, Denis Guyer, and Christopher Speranzo. The Master of Ceremonies was Joseph F. Truskowski, Jr., President of the North Adams Board of Trustees and Adams Cooperative Bank. The weather was glorious, the food was great, and the North Adams Public Library is a great place to visit.

~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS