Local Filmmaker Steve Alves to Speak at the Greenfield Public Library

MLA honors western Massachusetts Paraprofessional Librarians

The Paraprofession Librarian Section of the Massachusetts Library Association recognized the professionalism, work above and beyond the call of duty, relationships with users, and general enthusiasm of five Western MA library staff members. Those nominated for Paraprofessional Librarian of the Year Award are: Barbara Diamond Golden of the Emily Williston Memorial Library & Museum, Deborah Jankowski of Taconic High School Library, Heidi Kane of the Wilbraham Public Lirary, Michael Magelinski of the West Springfield Public Library, and Shirley Keech of WMRLS. Congratulations to these wonderful representatives of western MA libraries.
~ Jan Resnick, WMRLS, Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Berkshire Athenaeum receives donation

The  Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield's Public Library) received a generous donation of $4,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation. Pictured above are (left to right) Gary Schiff (Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, Private Investment Counsel, TD Wealth Management); Ron Latham (Athenaeum Director); Gwen Davis (Vice President, Commercial Lending, TD Bank); and Linda Skorupski (Retail Market Manager, TD Bank).

The Athenaeum will be directing these grant monies to the purchase of new books in the circulating non-fiction collections of the Adult Service Department.

Hearing Loss Program at Greenfield Public

Belated Tech services roundtable notes

1. Purchasing Co-op deadline March 31; bid by end of April - e-mail

Jan Resnick if necessary.

2. WMRLS Restructuring - process of merger continues; consolidation

of staff and services at the Regional level (47 staff to be reduced to 22); www.wmrls.org has link to merger transition report, with important summary beginning on p. 4; plan should be final by June; WMRLS building will be open for at least a year as delivery hub; MassCat and training will continue; one positive thing is that data bases will be state-wide eventually; MARLS Coop is state-wide already, and it works well.

Facebook: "We Love Western Mass Libraries."

3. FY11 budget - How have individual Tech Services Depts. been

affected? Frustration expressed re: TS staff getting cut, and the difficulty of using subs in TS; also, the difficulty of working as subs in public services, when staff are out sick, on vacation, etc.

4. C/WMARS -Janet Schrader on communicating with CWMARS and

especially when registering for workshops - PLEASE include full name, library name, e-mail and use subject line to state topic or workshop name.

5. CatExpress up for renewal; deadline is very soon. Janet

believes records will still be .99 per record, and it's the same rate for extra records.

6. Migration to Evergreen should be in 18 months. It will only

occur, however, after Serials and Acquisitions modules are ready.

7. RDA will begin to replace AACR2; it might be web-based only,

@$300/yr.

8. Next Meeting: June 9, 2010, 10 a.m. - Belchertown, Clapp

Memorial Library.

WMRLS ILL is Changing - Training Offered Next Week

Dear WMRLS Member Libraries,

Due to drastic budget cuts, the Regions are merging and ILL is changing. 

Although the major merger changes will happen in July, WMRLS needs to start clearing ILL loans and borrows so that everything for which we are responsible is cleaned up by the end of June.  We expect to stop as an ILL lender in early May and discontinue borrowing on behalf of our libraries around the same time.  We will be transferring the responsibility for handling member ILL title and periodical requests to your new ILL Center at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy.

The WMRLS ILL office will continue to handle subject requests through May to keep those school projects humming. 

Consequently, to prepare for the changes, we are offering training sessions next week to explain how ILL processes will operate in the new world.  Workshop registration information is at:  http://www.wmrls.org/events.  Workshops are April 27 and 28 in Lee, WMRLS and Palmer.  Registration is open until late Monday, but we will cancel sessions that are undersubscribed.  We apologize for the short lead time.

We hope to see you next week.

N. Janeen Resnick
Assistant Regional Administrator
Western MA Regional Library System

WMRLS Librarians Go Green with Project WILD

 

A BIG Thank you to ...

• Pam Landry, Education Coordinator of Massachusetts Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Gini Traub, Regional EE Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation
• Alexander Gillman, Regional EE Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation

For conducting the outstanding Project WILD Train the Trainer Workshops on April 9 at the Lenox Memorial Middle & High School Library and on April 16 at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls. 

A Summary about Project WILD:

"Project WILD is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. A national network of State Wildlife Agency Sponsors ensures that Project WILD is available nationwide --training educators in the many facets of the program. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet."

MLS Designated as Regional Administrative Entity

"The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) held a special meeting on April 13 at which it voted to designate the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) as the administrative entity to provide regional services to libraries and residents beginning July 1, 2010. This action was necessitated by a severe reduction in funding to the regional budget line...."   Read Complete Report

At Springfield City Library, Bases Are Loaded for FUN!

Just like my Dad, in spring my mind thinks baseball, and in my opinion our team looks very good this year. You met our new manager Molly Fogarty last month. She’s backed by seasoned veterans like Reggie Wilson, Norma Couture, and Ed Lonergan, and up-and-comers like Matthew Jaquith, Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe, and Anna Mickelsen. They cover their bases like the pros that they are. Look at a map of the City; our bases (or branch libraries) are spread out similar to the players on a diamond, except we have one additional fielder, which is not a bad thing-less distance for you to cover to catch our hits! We’re always pitching exciting new materials and fantastic programs, so let me tell you who’s on-deck next week, for the visiting team.
Leading off at the Forest Park Branch, 380 Belmont Avenue, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20 is a real power hitter! Tom Ricardi, bird of prey rehabilitator, brings an exciting live presentation to their Community Room. At his non-profit Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Ricardi cares for more than a dozen varieties of raptors, including owls, hawks, falcons, and breeding bald eagles in captivity, so the chicks can be released into the wild. You’ll be able to catch the same program the same day at 3 p.m. at the Liberty Branch, 773 Liberty Street. A not-to-be-missed event!
At 2 p.m. the Central Library Community Room, 220 State Street, has a show with Bill Ross, titled “Book’Em” at the Library. Through juggling, movement, and storytelling, Mr. Ross will explore books of all kinds-adventurous, educational, and those that tickle your funny bones. He’ll turn your kids into fans!
Slide on in to the Central Library between noon and 8 p.m., or Mason Square Branch (765 State Street) from 2-4 p.m., on Wednesday, April 21st for a Drop-In Scavenger Hunt. Children will use clues to find hidden items around the room. Save the 1 p.m. hour for a catbird seat at our Indian Orchard Branch, 44 Oak Street, and be ready for the curve. It’s Shenandoah with Dance of the Hoops! Your children will experience the rhythms of hooping as she leads them through this active, fun program.
Earth Rhythms, with Roger Tincknell, 2 p.m. at Pine Point Branch (204 Boston Road), also on Wednesday the 21st, is a sure bet. From recycling to rainforests, conservation to compost, Mr. Tincknell will explore environmental issues through stories, singing, dancing and percussion. Hitting from all sides of the plate, he wields the Native American rainstick, Incan Charango and flute, Russian balalaika, African Achika drum, as well as guitar, mandolin, banjo and harmonica!
Curious George is Wednesday’s closer, going in at 6 p.m. at the East Springfield Branch, 21 Osborne Terrace. (You all must know him; he’s been around since Ted Williams was with the Red Sox!) There will be a special storytime and fun crafts!
Cheryl Melody starts the Thursday, April 22nd line-up with her Peace Begins With Me program. Ms. Melody uses songs, poetry, storytelling, Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, puppets and instruments to raise awareness about the value of respect and peace. Scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Central Library Community Room, this event is a proven winner!
If you didn’t catch Dance of the Hoops yesterday, slide in to Brightwood Branch Library, 359 Plainfield Street, by 1 p.m. for a replay by Shenandoah. She’ll be hooping it up again and would love to see you there! If you want to whoop it up in a different way, travel to the Sixteen Acres Branch, 1187 Parker Street, by 1 p.m. That’s when Robert Rivest will be pitching his funniest and most heart warming stories in rapid fire succession. Laughter is the Best Medicine, and your kids will be smiling, giggling and laughing with this comic mime master!
At the Mason Square Branch, children will enjoy our 2-4 p.m. program titled “See How Our Garden Grows.” They can drop-in, get creative with our craft supplies, and make a flower to add to our window garden. It’ll be a hit.
I’m calling it- Bonaparte will hit two right out of the park on Friday! Bonaparte’s Magic Show is billed as a high energy, interactive funfest, featuring amazing magic and hilarious comedy! He’s on at 1 p.m. at East Forest Park, 122 Island Pond Road. He’s on again at 3 p.m. at the East Springfield Branch, 21 Osborne Terrace, and my guess is you’ll want to see him! He’s even got a couple of tricks up his sleeve, or in his hat, by the names of Snow and Frisky. Or, if you prefer something more low key, drop in to Mason Square Branch from 1-5 p.m. and work some of our puzzles. We’ll keep you busy for quite a while.
Again Curious George will be closing. What an energetic old timer! At 1 p.m. the Liberty Branch will be hosting a party with special storytime and crafts. Come and monkey around with George and his friends.
Thanks to the generosity of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, all of the visiting programs are free of charge. We hope to see you there!

Agriculture Without Borders

It's not too late! Registration for the U.S. Agriculture Information Network (USAIN) 2010 Conference at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, is still open through April 19, 2010!

 

Updated details on programming and speakers of this Conference can be found here:
http://usain.lib.purdue.edu/program.html

 

A few highlights include:

• Dr. John Ikerd and Matthew Jose, "Local Food: Revolution and Reality"
• Dr. Gebisa Ejeta "Serving Humanity through Science: a U.S. Land Grant Spirit"
• Dr. Keith M. Moore, Dr. Corinne Valdivia, and Dr. Elizabeth Ransom "Negotiating local change in Globalized Agriculture"
• Dr. John Thor Arnason, "Traditional botanical knowledge meets modern
• science: (and the mystery of the Crystal Skull)"

For more information, contact:

Marianne Stowell Bracke, Agricultural Sciences Information Specialist Associate Professor of Library Science Purdue University Libraries, mbracke@purdue.edu, (765) 496-9620

~ Madeleine Charney, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, W.E.B. Du Bois Library

Shake It Up, Baby! The Future of Academic Libraries

Shake It Up, Baby! The Future of Academic Libraries Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 4:30 p.m., Neilson Library Browsing Room, Smith College

Lecture by Sarah Thomas ’70, Bodley’s Librarian & Director of the Oxford University Library Services. Thomas is the first woman and the first non-Briton to serve is this position. She has received accolades for her work on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Melvin Dewey Award in 2007. For more information, see http://www.smith.edu/libraries/fyi/666.htm.

Mary Irwin, Library Gifts and Development Officer, Friends of the Smith College Libraries,  Neilson Library, Smith College, Northampton, Tel: 413-585-2903, Fax: 413-585-2904

Libraries Centennial Happenings:  http://www.smith.edu/libraries/fyi/centennial.htm

WAMC: Governor Patrick Fields Quetions in Great Barrington (2010-04-12)

WAMC: Governor Patrick Fields Quetions in Great Barrington (2010-04-12)

"GREAT BARRINGTON, MA (WAMC) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick made a campaign stop in Great Barrington Sunday morning, our Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports that Patrick also took time to answer questions from the public and the press regarding library funding, health care and education spending © Copyright 2010, WAMC "