A Wild Summer at the Emily Williston Memorial Library

In celebration of the Wild Reads theme, more than 100 adults signed up for our Adult Summer Reading Program. Different events touched upon the five sections of Wild Reads. For example, to celebrate Wild about Shakespeare, patrons watched as swordfighters from the Pioneer Valley Fencing Academy introduced them to the world of fencing. Afterwards, patrons chose a Shakespearean monologue and spoke the text aloud. Wild Rides was celebrated by showing the Charlie Chaplin classic film “The Circus”. The following day author Jay Ducharme discussed his book, "Mountain Park". Jay gave an in-depth 75- minute lecture and slideshow on the history of this fondly remembered local institution.

Included in the Adult Summer Reading Program were two book discussions. The books were the acclaimed graphic novel "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons and "King Leopold’s Ghost" by Adam Hochschild.

On August 13th the program closed with our traditional Final Event at the library. The event featured food, live music, and a drawing of names from our raffle box for some very special prizes. Our musical guest for the evening was the immensely entertaining violinist and singer-songwriter, Emily Greene.

In the Youth Department, three-hundred and thirty-one children signed up for the summer reading program. This year’s raffles included: a ride in the police cruiser and tour of the police department; breakfast with the mayor; a tour of the state house with Rep. Scibak; a trip to Mt. Tom Ice Cream; Mandarin Chinese language lessons, a haircut, gift certificates for teens, and more.

On Thursday, July 17, a crowd of children collaborated with storyteller Jennifer Jacobson during her “Helping the Earth” workshop. The children left the workshop empowered by specific plans that they developed to help clean up our environment. For the “Bag Share Workshop” a group of adults and teens met at Anita Eliason’s Studio in the Eastworks building and created canvas tote bags for patrons to share in order to decrease the use of plastic bags.

Youth librarian and author Barbara Diamond Goldin led creative writing workshops in July. Some of the participants have started a weekly writing group in the Youth Department for kids led by kids. On July 24th, Justine Johnson and Richard Hutchinson presented “Worms, Worms, Worms!” to a packed house of delighted children. All the children were given two worms and a worm palace with instructions on the care of the wiggling creatures. Finally, a large group of children was entertained by wild, young actors during the Wild Pajama Storytime on July 30th.

The last two events of the Youth Summer Reading Program were, papermaking with our dear friend Sandy Records, and the Final Event held on Tuesday, August 5th in Nonotuck Park. This year’s picnic featured storyteller Tim Van Egmond and was supported by the Easthampton Cultural Council. The Easthampton Cultural Council, also supported Jennifer Jacobson’s program, as well as our kick-off event.

The annual Friends Book Sale will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This year’s sale will be in the parking lot of the Center/Pepin school. The Library Reading Group, led by Art Oriel, has relocated to the Emily Williston Memorial Library Beginning in September; this group will meet on the second Wednesday of the month. The Easthampton Book Group will resume on Monday, September 29th at 6:30 p.m.

One of our many goals is to make certain that our library is meeting the needs of our community. To that end, we have developed a survey for our patrons so we can better ascertain their needs. The library will continue to serve the needs of English Language Learners when the English Conversation Club begins again this September. Patrons who want to expand their conversation skills in English are invited to attend. On September 3, the library hosted an evening on resume writing with an expert from Cambridge College. We are also looking forward to September 24, when we will host an evening discussion on Organic Lawn Care.

~ Johanna Douglass, Program Director, Emily Williston Memorial Library, Easthampton

UMass Amherst Libraries Exhibit: "More Images from VISUAL"

The UMass Amherst Libraries will host an exhibit “More Images from VISUAL” through December 19, 2008, in the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library in the Lederle GRC Lowrise, Floor 2, at UMass Amherst. VISUAL (Ventures in Science Using Art Laboratory: http://www.umassvisual.org) is based on the premise that the visual arts can serve as an effective means to educate the general public and students of all ages on the importance of scientific research in our everyday lives. An opening reception will be held on September 23, 2008, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information: http://www.library.umass.edu/news/08/moreimage08.html

~ Leslie Schaler, Library Communications, UMass Amherst Libraries

UMass Amherst Libraries Hosts Cookbook Discussion and Reception on October 5

The Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries will hold their 10th Annual Fall Reception in Memorial Hall at UMass Amherst on October 5, 2-4 pm. The speakers for “Why Cookbooks Matter” will include cookbook collectors, curators, and donors. The program starts at 2:30 p.m.; the event is free and open to the public.

For more information: http://www.library.umass.edu/news/08/cookbooks08.html

~ Leslie Schaler, Library Communications, UMass Amherst Libraries

Get Ready for 2008 BANNED BOOKS WEEK

Visit the American Library Association's website for complete information on how your community can celebrate 2008 Banned Books Week which takes place September 27 to October 4. This year's theme is Celebrating the Freedom to Read.

Massachusetts Library Association Technical Services Sections One Day Workshop on Digitization October 28th

MLA Technical Services Section proudly presents “Introduction to Library Digitization”, a one day program on Tuesday October 28th, 2008, at the Worcester Public Library. This program will cover what libraries need to consider before starting a digitization project. The speakers will be Massachusetts librarians who have successfully implemented digitization projects at their libraries. The sessions will be:

Virtual Archives: Preparing to Create a Digital Collection
Speaker: Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, M.A.L.S., C.A., F.S.A. Scot Preservation Specialist, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Digitizing Dissertations at UMass Worcester Speakers, Mary Piorun, MLS, AHIP Associate Director for Technology Initiatives and Resource Management, Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts, Worcester Lisa Palmer, MLS Catalog Librarian, Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Digital Copyright in the 21st Century.
Tentative: We are still looking for a speaker on this topic.

Panel Discussion:
The day will end with a panel discussion with Massachusetts & Connecticut librarians on:
* How real libraries actually began their digitization project?
* The issues faced by librarians doing real projects
* Project planning and management
* Hardware needs
* Copyright considerations
* Metadata Standards used for data creation

Location:
Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room
3 Salem Sq
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 799-1655
‏
Cost:
Early bird registration: (before Oct 1st) $40.00 per person $30.00 for MLA members

After October 1st:
$45.00 per person
$35.00 for MLA members

Deadline to register:
October 14, 2008
Early bird deadline is October 1, 2008

Catering by: by Eric's LaPatisserie Café ____________________________________________________________________________


To register:
1. Please send your check made payable to the Massachusetts Library Association to:

Lois Bacon
Attn: MLA-TSS program
29 Harding Rd
Needham MA 02492

2. Please fill out the information below and send it with your check

Full name: _______________________
Address: _______________________
_______________________
_______________________ If you would like a vegetarian meal, please check here ___

For registration questions, please contact: LBacon@EBSCO.COM

101 Free Learning Tools

Discovered on SlideShare:

"From zaid, 1 week ago
Let's explore the idea that there is at least one excellent free learning tool (or site) for every learning problem, need or issue! Here are 101 :) "

Note: If slides are slow in loading, try this URL:
http://www.slideshare.net/zaid/101-free-learning-tools-presentation?src=embed

101 Free Learning Tools

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: teaching thinking)

Library Security Summit - Saturday, October 4

MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS PRESENTS
"LIBRARY SECURITY SUMMIT"

On Saturday October 4, 2008, a library security summit will be held at the Lunenburg Public Library. The program will be from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Recent news articles remind us that public libraries are not immune from many of the safety problems which affect our society today. Libraries experience a wide variety of security issues, including child safety concerns, theft of materials, unruly teens, etc. The "Library Security Summit" will provide an opportunity to hear library administrators and a representative from the law enforcement community speak about providing a safe environment for library users. MBLC Chairman, George Comeau, will moderate a panel of library directors who will talk about security issues at their libraries. A representative from the police will discuss safety awareness for parents, children, and teens. Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, MBLC Preservation Specialist, will discuss steps to minimize the possibility of theft or destruction of library materials, developing security policies and procedures, and facility issues which impact library security.

Everyone is invited to attend including Friends, Trustees, and Library Staff.

Admission is free, however registration is required.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Lunenburg Public Library
1023 Mass. Ave.
Lunenburg, MA 01462-1321
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

TO REGISTER:
Contact: Maureen Killoran, Head Public Library Advisory Unit
Phone: 1-800-952-7403
Fax: 617-725-0140
E-Mail: Maureen.Killoran@state.ma.us
Mail: MA. Board of Library Commissioners
98 N. Washington St., Suite 401 Boston, MA 02114

Please Register by September 26, 2008. Upon receipt, confirmation will be sent.

Friends of WMRLS Annual Meeting

SAVE THE DATE!

The Friends of WMRLS will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, October 3 from 10 - 12 at the Wendell Free Library on Wendell Common.

Have you been wishing you could take the time to visit the beautiful Wendell Free Library? Well, here’s your excuse! Wendell Free Library, a Together We Thrive and totally cool small library, will be the location for this year’s Friends of WMRLS, Inc. annual meeting on Friday, October 3rd. The meeting will begin at 10:00 with food and remarks by Rosie Heidkamp, Wendell’s Library Director, about the green design aspects of one of the newest libraries in one of the smallest towns in Western Massachusetts (Wendell has a population of about 1000). After a brief business meeting, Becky Marconi, Together We Thrive grant coordinator, will give a presentation and update on the progress of this LSTA project that WMRLS developed to help small public libraries.

Watch for more information and directions to the Friends of WMRLS annual meeting at Wendell Free Library on Friday October 3!

Databites

You spoke - they listened! In the Fall, Gale Cengage will launch a new interface for the individual Infotrac databases and Powersearch. You may recognize some of the changes as suggestions that were made by western Massachusetts librarians at our training programs, including more visible navigational links and the ability to search within a result list. To get a sneak peak at the new interface, visit http://sizzle.gale.com/ and use your browser's find command to locate "Flash Tour." Check it out and let me know what you think!

BOOKMOBILE UPDATE

Small libraries that receive bookmobile service have been responding to our request that they consider giving up bookmobile visits if their own collections are strong enough to support most of the collection browsing that their patrons do at the local library. With more than 10 libraries offering to either visit regional headquarters to borrow or receive deposits of materials by delivery instead of bookmobile, and with several libraries agreeing to meet the bookmobile at another library instead of at their own buildings, the WMRLS Bookmobile Department is well on its way to developing a shorter, more efficient and less expensive bookmobile schedule.



The bookmobile will not be on the road for much of the month of September to allow the driving staff time to develop new bookmobile routes as well as contact librarians about this new rotation of appointments. The Delivery Department will also be making some changes in delivery routes to keep up with the ever-increasing loads of materials that our member libraries are sharing with each other. We thank our bookmobile libraries for their cooperation in helping us keep this old service running.

Technical Services Roundtable October 7th

Hello Everyone,

You are invited to our next Technical Services Roundtable meeting, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7th. It will be held at the North Adams Public Library.

Carolyn Platt, of the Jones Library in Amherst, will lead the meeting.

Please RSVP and send agenda items to Carolyn at PlattC@joneslibrary.org.

I look forward to seeing everyone in October

Databites! News and Updates on the Statewide Databases

EMBARGO ENDS!

Gale-Cengage has announced that the 90 day embargo on Consumer Reports has come to and end! You can now search the full text of all the articles in this popular consumer magazine. In fact you can read the September 2008 issue right now in Infotrac's OneFile or General Reference Center Gold.