Fanbase to the Rescue

Our own Eric Poulin of Greenfield Community College has had an essay published in American Libraries, May/June 2011 issue. It talks about how the We Love Western Mass. Libraries Facebook page rallied us all around the cause of attempting to keep our own WMRLS in operation.

Second Wave in the Valley: Reflections of the Valley Women's History Collaborative Collections, on display through Aug 30, 2011, Lower Level, Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst.  

The theme of the exhibit is the Valley Women’s History Collaborative, formed in 1998 by UMass Amherst history professor Joyce Berkman, Hampshire College professor Susan Tracy and Kaymarion Raymond, to document and preserve contemporary local women’s history. Second Wave in the Valley consists of records portraying the history of the second wave of feminism, including papers of the Springfield Women’s Center, Mudpie Childcare Cooperative, the Valley Women’s Union, and the Mary Vazquez Softball League.  

Reception: Friday June 10, noon-2 pm, Lower Level, Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst. 

More Info: shutton@library.umass.edu.

Online Job Searching @ GPL

Professional Library Materials Collection Available For Loan

The professional collections of the former regional library systems have been merged together and are now housed at the Whately office of the Massachusetts Library System. You can browse the entire professional collection from the link below:

http://masslibsystem.masscat.org/

You can even place your own requests to borrow items from the professional collection! You can find instructions on placing your borrowing requests at this link:

http://www.masslibsystem.org/mls-professional-collection/

If you have questions about how to access the collection, contact Mary King, Nora Blake or any of the other MLS Advisors.

Mary King, Advisor
MLS-Whately Office
800/282-7755, ext. 117
Email: mking@masslibsystem.org

Nora Blake, MassCat Manager
ext. 123
Email: nblake@masslibsystem.org

MLS Delivery Services Meeting [Whately]

On Wednesday, May 4, the MLS is meeting with interested members of all Massachusetts library networks to discuss changes to MLS Delivery Services that are planned for July 1, 2011. The MLS plans to change vendors and begin implementation of new technology that will eventually allow most libraries to eliminate the need to place a routing label on outgoing items. While this technology is not imminent for all Networks, the MLS would like to discuss their plans with member libraries. Remote access to this meeting will be made available to those who cannot attend in person.

Computer Basics Workshop at Greenfield Public Library

"A Revolutionary Evening with the UMass Amherst Libraries"

“A Revolutionary Evening with UMass Amherst Libraries” will be held at the Boston Athenaeum, 10 1/2 Beacon Street, on May 5, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  The event will include a reception and author’s talk with UMass Amherst history professor Marla Miller about her most recent book, Betsy Ross and the Making of America.  

Marla Miller is director of the UMass Amherst Public History Program.  Betsy Ross and the Making of America (Holt, 2010) explores the legend of the famous flag-maker and illustrates how other ordinary citizens played a role in our country’s battle for independence.  “By turning a keen biographical eye on Betsy Ross, she illuminates the significant role that ordinary citizens—especially women—played in the birth of the new nation,” says Margaret Flanagan of Booklist.

Betsy Ross and the Making of America was a finalist for the Cundill Prize in History at McGill University (the world's largest non-fiction historical literature prize), and was named to the Washington Post’s “Best of 2010” list.  Miller is presently completing work on a microhistory of women, work, and landscape in Federal Massachusetts, and a short biography of Massachusetts gownmaker Rebecca Dickinson. 

At the event, the UMass Amherst Libraries will unveil a major Revolutionary-era gift of materials to Special Collections and University Archives.  Guests may also view an exhibit “Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey,” on display at the Athenaeum. 

The opening reception will feature light gourmet fare prepared by Le Fête Catering, thanks to UMass Amherst alumna Amy Colombi ’89.

Tickets are $15 per person.  To register online visit bit.ly/revolutionary_evening, or call 1-800-456-UMASS by April 27, 2011.

For more information on the event, contact Carol Connare at 413.545.0995 or cconnare@library.umass.edu.

Reminder: SLA-Boston Luncheon in Northampton on Saturday, April 30th

We only have a few folks registered so would like to see many more. The deadline for registering has now been extended to April 27th.

Hope to see you there!

Roger Magnus

(For details on the luncheon, see the April 13 post below.)

WRPLS: First Regional Meeting - April 18, 1961

On April 18, 1961, the group that was to become the Western Regional Advisory Council (WRAC) conducted its first exploratory meeting to plan for the Western Regional Public Library System (WRPLS), the predecessor of WMRLS (the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System). The meeting was held at the Greenfield Public Library. On December 1, 1961, the contract for the first regional public library system in Massachusetts was signed.

Our information source? Mr. Franklin P. Taplin, first WRPLS Regional Administrator, who was attending the first formal meeting of the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates. Frank has been present at a lot of Massachusetts library history. Frank, thanks for the memories.

Building a Library With Flowers

Can you build a library with flowers? The South Hadley Public Library is holding an online flower fundraiser through April 29 to raise money towards a new library building.  Flower Power Fundraising offers a completely green way to raise money -- no catalogs or order forms to recycle... everything is handled over the computer, from automated emails to a customized website and ordering form.  Our goal this first year is to raise $1,000 and so far we've had a positive response.  We used the Friends of the Library list as a base for emails and publicized it with handouts, Facebook, and a link from our homepage.  I figure other libraries may be interested in this, and if you feel the urge to place an order while you're looking around.... click here.

SLA Boston - Dine Around Western Massachusetts Spring Lunch at Paul and Elizabeth's

Spring is here and before long flowers will be blooming and temperatures warming. Please join other information professionals from Western Massachusetts, Central Connecticut, and beyond for a delicious lunch at Paul and Elizabeth's in Northampton, MA on Saturday, April 30th at 12:30PM. All librarians whether SLA members or not are welcome.

Paul and Elizabeth's (http://www.paulandelizabeths.com/) is centrally located in Thorne's Marketplace on Main Street and features all-natural seafood, salads, sandwiches, and more.

Chapter President Nancy Burt and other current board members will discuss the upcoming chapter name change to SLA New England, and this will be an opportunity to ask them your questions on your mind about the chapter, SLA, the annual conference, etc.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Saturday, April 30th

Time: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Place: Paul and Elizabeth's

Directions: Map at http://www.paulandelizabeths.com/directions.htm

Cost: Your own food and drink

Please register via this SurveyMonkey Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/luncharound04302011

"Dine Arounds" are smaller, more casual meals where you can connect with other SLA colleagues and other fellow colleagues while having a good time!

Please respond by April 23rd, so that we can provide the restaurant an accurate count of attendees.

Questions? Contact Roger Magnus at magnurog@yahoo.com or call me at 413-230-3694.

National Library Week Freeze/Read Flash Mob

On Sunday, April 10, at the Holyoke Mall, Becky Plimpton organized a freeze/flash mob to celebrate libraries and reading. Have a look at the video