Dear Library Advocates,

A new school year has started and so have plans for a new Legislative Session at the Statehouse. It's time to renew your membership in Western Massachusetts Library Advocates! What, you're not a member? WMLA needs your help to speak up for libraries.

Our libraries are still struggling to keep up with demands for digital and print resources following severe funding cuts in 2009. Your membership in Western Massachusetts Library Advocates will help strengthen libraries through cooperative action and restoration of critical state funds. When we act together we can have a more powerful impact on statewide library developments.

WMLA was very active in the past year, connecting with legislators and bringing libraries together to take action. WMLA projects included:

• Sponsored Legislative breakfasts at Springfield Technical Community College, Jones Library in Amherst, Holyoke Public Library, Storrs Library in Longmeadow, and collaborated with the Berkshire Breakfast Committee at the event in Williamstown. Over 200 people discussed library issues with their State Senators and Representatives.
• Chartered a bus to Boston allowing 42 people to attend MLA Legislative Day where Amherst Senator Stanley Rosenberg was honored as Library Advocate of the Year.  The bus saves time, money and hassle for all attendees and brings an important group of advocates to the State House. 
• Provided initial funding and negotiated licensing of Western Massachusetts newspaper back files for use by all of us in Western Massachusetts.
• Distributed free Big E tickets and coupons from Friendly's and Yankee Candle for summer reading club prizes to 103 Western Massachusetts libraries and 163 libraries in the rest of the state.
• Awarded scholarships to conferences, hosted author discussions, professional networking meetings, and much more.

Thanks to you, $3.5 million in funding for library state aid and technology was restored for Fiscal Year 2015. There is so much more to do. We are counting on you to join or renew your membership today!

  

John Ramsay, President 

Judy Clini, Past President

Susan San Soucie, Treasurer

Eric Poulin

Deb Kern

Mary Anne Antonellis

Cher Collins

Betty Johnson

Eliza Langhans

Dan Paquette

Jan Resnick

     Find us on facebook.com/WMassLibraryAdvocates

Join us in South Hadley - Saturdday, September 13, 2014

Have any new ideas for an old library?

The Town of South Hadley is seeking proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the soon to be former Public Library, a 8,800 square foot building on .55 acres located at 27 Bardwell Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. Click here to visit the Town website where you can register and download the documents.

SUMMER READING PRIZES FOR MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARIES

If your library is conducting a Summer Reading Program for children or teens, the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) and contributing sponsors have incentives to supplement your program.

The WMLA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have arranged with the Eastern States Exposition to provide each Massachusetts library conducting a summer reading program free tickets for this fall’s Big E (9/12-28/14) in West Springfield.  The Big E will provide two (2) free general admission tickets to each library in Massachusetts with the understanding that these tickets will be used as incentives or rewards for children and teens to encourage them to read over the summer.  

In addition, Yankee Candle has created a prize for the Summer Reading Program. It is a free wax hand mold and is redeemable at their flagship store in South Deerfield. Yankee Candle has a section of the store called Wax Works where guests are allowed to make molds of their hands in wax, color the mold and bring them home. The wax hand normally retails for $8.

Friendly’s is a new sponsor this year.  They are providing 5,000 bookmarks including a coupon for a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal.  WMLA will distribute the number of coupons based on a population formula. 

To participate—NOTE PROCEDURE CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR

We have so many prizes this year, we need to ship via MLS delivery.  If your library is not on the delivery network, contact Jan Resnick at njrezz@comcast.net.

• Prepare a large (10x13) envelope with a DELIVERY ROUTING SLIP made out to your library. 
• Address the DELIVERY ROUTING SLIP to YOUR library with “ATTN:  [your library’s person designated to receive these valuable prizes.]”
• Place the ROUTING SLIP Envelope (IT’S OK TO FOLD IT) inside another envelope.

Mail to:

   WMLA

   ATTN:  SUMMER READING 

   P. O. BOX 609

   South Deerfield, MA 01373

NOTE: Your request must be received by WMLA by Thursday, July 3, 2014.

For security reasons, DO NOT write the words “Tickets” or “Big E” on the outside of your envelopes.

One request for each library building.  For public library systems with branch libraries, you will need to tell us how many branches for which you need prizes.

The only request that our donors have made of Massachusetts public libraries receiving these prizes is that the public be notified of their donation to encourage reading among our young people.  Please add to or create signs or posters with the sponsor information. 

The sponsors suggest that winners of the prizes be chosen through a random drawing of names at the end of your summer reading program.

WMLA Board members will process your requests and mail the tickets shortly after July 17th.

Other questions, contact Jan Resnick at njrezz@comcast.net.

WMLA Invites You a Conversation with the Author

Conversation with:  Jennifer Haigh, author ~ News from Heaven: the Bakerton Stories, Mass Book Award Fiction Winner, 2014.

When:             June 19, 2014 at 2.p.m.

Where:           Massachusetts Library System, Whately 4 Sandy Lane Whately, MA 01093

 What:             Jennifer Haigh is this year’s winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction 2014.  The Western Massachusetts Library Advocates 2^nd Annual Author Program is an opportunity for a conversation with Ms. Haigh about News from Heaven, a collection of linked stories set in the closely knit community of Bakerton, Pennsylvania, the community featured in her bestselling Baker Towers.  Ms. Haigh will answer questions, and discuss this collection and her other books (Baker Towers, Mrs. Kimble, The Condition, and Faith) with us.  Join us for this informal occasion to talk about Massachusetts books and writing, and the ins and outs of creating such diverse stories and such captivating characters. 

There will be refreshments, door prizes, gifts, and signing opportunities.

Registration is necessary:  Go to the Massachusetts Library System’s Continuing Education Calendar and select June 19 or click here.