Summer 2009 - Library Displays

Thank you to the following libraries for sharing photos of their Summer Reading Program Library Displays:

• Palmer Public Library
• Agawam Public Library
• Wilbraham Public Library
• West Springfield Public Library

Governor Patrick Holds Town Meeting At the Chicopee Public Library

On Thursday evening, August 6, 2009, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick held a town meeting in the amphitheater behind the Chicopee Public Library. It was a beautiful evening and after a few opening comments, the Governor turned the meeting over to questions from those present.

From a library and Regional point of view, the most important question was from a library user from Sunderland. She is concerned that Sunderland rejected an override that included funding for the library and that the library might not be able to maintain its certification. She wanted the Governor to know that being able to request materials from other libraries and have them delivered to Sunderland and being able to return materials anywhere were services that were very important to her. She was very concerned that her library and The Jones Library might lose their certification and thereby their access to materials from all over the state and her library’s membership in the Western MA Regional Library System. The Governor was quite impressed that she could get materials from any library and return them to any library.

The mayor of Chicopee offered that waivers may be available and referred to his education on the matter by Chicopee Director Nancy Contois. The Governor asked Nancy a couple of questions about the state aid grant. Assistant Regional Administrator spoke with Elizabeth Cardona, Director of the Governor's Western MA Office, and will be in touch with the staff of the Sunderland Library and the Sunderland patron.

Governor Patrick is holding Town Meetings across the Commonwealth. This is a good opportunity to see state government up close and get a chance to air your concerns with the Governor directly. Give it a try.

~Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator

Summer 2009 - Library Displays

To christen our brand new WMRLS FLICKR PHOTO website we sent a "Call for Summer Reading Program Library Display Photos" to each library that is participating in our MRLS/MBLC Starship Adventure at Your Library Statewide Summer Reading Program. Thank you to Terri Mitus, Youth Services Librarian of the West Springfield Public Library, who is the first to answer our call!

Read and React: Restore the noble purpose of libraries?

From The Christian Science Monitor:

Opinion: Restore the noble purpose of libraries ~ Focusing so much on their technology actually dumbs them down. By William H. Wisner, from the July 17, 2009 edition

"Laredo, Texas - Libraries were once a sacred secular space of silence and reverence – a place where one automatically lowered one's voice. As a direct heir to the Enlightenment, the establishment of libraries was a testament to the self-evident integrity of mankind, the belief that we all desire to find the truth through knowledge.

Librarians once framed our mission in those terms – before libraries became the noisy computer labs they now are, with their jingle of ringtones, clattering keyboards, and unquenchable printers. And we reference librarians had a higher, more dignified calling than merely changing the printer paper. " READ MORE....

Did You Know ....

Best Websites for Teaching and Learning

From the American Association of School Librarians website:

"Top 25 Web sites for Teaching and Learning

The "Top 25" Web sites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover.

• Organizing and Managing
• Content Collaboration
• Curriculum Sharing
• Media Sharing
• Virtual Environments
• Social Networking and Communication"

ALA Conference Materials Now Online

Read All About It!

• ALA Conference Materials Archive

• ReadsinMA Online Reading Program Featured at ALA Conference Program

From the ALA Conference Materials Archive Website:

"This site is designed to make it easier to find materials before, during, and after ALA conferences. If you are a presenter at an ALA conference, we ask that you please post your session materials here or add a link to them if they are hosted on another site. It is also our hope that working groups within ALA will use this resource to link to materials generated from ALA conferences, such as meeting minutes, collaborative documents, etc. Thank you!"

Massachusetts Broadband Survey - Display this web button on your library's website

Ensure your voice is heard by telling us about broadband availability where you live or work!

Display this Web Button on your library's website or blog to ensure your library users make their voices heard. [HTML Code to insert within your library's webpage and blog is posted in the drop down menu under image.]
<a href="http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/broadband/broadband_survey_map.htm"><img src="http://www.wmrls.org/code/mbi-survey-for-web.jpg" alt="Make Your Voice Heard Take the Mass Boradband Survey!" width="262" height="78" /></a>

ALA Book Cart Drill Winners ... The Oak Park Public Library Warrior Librarians

Featured on National Public Radio -

Librarians Go Wild For Gold Book Cart by Gabriel Spitzer

• Read the complete story
• Listen to the NPR broadcast
• Watch the winning video

Plus ~ YouTube of previous library book cart competition (below)

MSLA en Mass. ~ The Next Best Thing to Attending ALA Annual!

From the MSLA en Mass. Blog "MSLA members will be attending the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago July 9-15. Join us here as we document our experiences.

Plus ...

ALA's Blogging Annual Website

And

ALA's Microblogging Annual

Greenfield Community College Library's Award Winning Library Video

From YouTube: "At Greenfield Community College using a 70's Charlies Angel's theme, the Library staff creatively promotes the Library services. Greenfield Community College was awarded 2009 Massachusetts Library Association, Public Relations Award in the Media Presentation Category for this video."

Buckland Public Library Presents ...

Buckland Public Library presents

Pizza Pie & The Sky

For: Individuals aged 10-100

On: Friday night, July 10th, 7-9:00 pm

At: Buckland Public Hall at 17 Upper Street (behind the church)

Celebrate the wonders of summer -- and all that leisure time you will have to gaze at the sky -- by joining friends and amateur astronomer Paul Cardone of East Longmeadow for an interactive media presentation on deep sky and its infinite possibilities. Paul is a longtime member of the Springfield Stars Club, and is well known for his wry wit and lively presentations to audiences throughout Western Massachusetts. You don't have to reply in order to come to this free event, but we'll have more pizza if you do! Email ljacobson-carroll@cwmars.org with the number of folks you will be bringing.

and . . .


Stories of the Stars

For: Kids of single-digit ages

On: Saturday morning, July 11th, 10:00-11:00 am

At: Buckland Public Hall 17 Upper Street (behind the church)

Enjoy a star-studded slide show about our solar system! Whirling, twirling, spinning, hurling, exploding, and burning: it is all happening out there, and you'll be better off knowing about it! Amateur astronomer Paul Cardone, of East Longmeadow, is a longtime member of the Springfield Stars Club, and is well known for his lively presentations to audiences throughout Western Massachusetts. A constellation of refreshments will be served. You don't have to reply in order to come to this free event, but adults who email ljacobson-carroll@cwmars.org with # of kids they plan to bring will be rewarded with ample coffee!

Buckland Public Library is located at 30 Upper Street, Buckland MA
Hours: Tuesday 2-8 pm, Friday 1-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm
Phone: 413-625-9412