Proposed Bylaws for the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates

On April 12, 2011, the first semi-annual meeting of the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates will be held at the Massachusetts Library System office in Whately. The meeting will convene at 10 a.m. Among the business items of the meeting is the presentation of and action on proposed bylaws. The text of the proposed bylaws follows. (Please note: for the purposes of organization continuity, these Bylaws are in the name of the Friends of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, Inc. As soon as all of the formal legal steps are completed to merge the Friends of WMRLS and the Western Massachusetts Library Club, the resulting organization will become the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates. The legal process is well under way.)

BYLAWS
THE GOVERNING DOCUMENT OF
FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM, INC.

Following the merger of
FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM, INC.
And the WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY CLUB

Merger Approved at the Annual Meeting of Friends, October 8, 2010
Merger Approved at the Annual Meeting of WMLC, November 16, 2010


ARTICLE I—NAME AND STATUS
SECTION 1.1. NAME: The name of this Corporation is the Friends of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, Inc. This Corporation shall be hereinafter referred to as the Organization or as the Friends.

SECTION 1.2. STATUS: The Corporation shall not be operated for financial profit.

ARTICLE II—PURPOSE
SECTION 2.1. The principal purpose of this organization shall be the promotion of library services and librarianship in the western part of the Commonwealth by:

a. Keeping members and the public informed of issues affecting Western Massachusetts libraries;
b. Keeping legislators and other elected officials informed of issues affecting Western Massachusetts libraries;
c. Encouraging the public to advocate for adequate library funding;
d. Supporting the Massachusetts Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, while keeping these groups informed of the unique needs of Western Massachusetts Libraries;
e. Promoting continuing and advanced education opportunities for library staff;
f. Encouraging active library staff members and retirees to participate in Organization activities for both professional enlightenment and enrichment;
g. Conducting fundraising activities in support of the Organization’s ongoing efforts on behalf of the libraries of Western Massachusetts.

SECTION 2.2. This corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SECTION 2.3. This corporation may undertake any other related activity which is consistent with its status as a Massachusetts Non-Profit Corporation (Chapter 180 of the General Laws) and which is consistent with its tax exempt status under USC Section 501 (c)(3).

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP, DUES
SECTION 3.1. MEMBERSHIP: Membership in this Organization is open to all who are in sympathy with its aims and purposes and who pay annual membership dues.

SECTION 3.2. DUES: Dues are fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors; any changes require a vote of approval from the membership at an Annual or Special Meeting. The membership year extends from October 1 to September 30.

SECTION 3.3. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES: Dues amounts vary according to the category selected by and appropriate to the member. Membership categories and annual dues amounts for each are listed in Appendix A of these Bylaws.

SECTION 3.4. Former members whose dues are in arrears shall be reinstated immediately upon payment for the current year. New memberships become effective upon payment of dues for the current year.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
SECTION 4.1. OFFICERS: The officers of the Organization shall be a President, a Vice-President/President Elect, Past President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer and a Clerk who shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the organization. The office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President/President Elect who has completed his/her one year term as Vice President/President Elect. The office of the Past President shall be filled by the President who has completed his/her one year term as President. Each officer shall hold office until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. The Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Clerk are elected for three-year terms staggered for continuity of service.

SECTION 4.2. DUTIES: The President shall have general charge and supervision of the Organization’s affairs and activities within the scope of policies determined by the Board of Directors. The President shall preside at all meetings of Members and of the Directors. The President shall make a report to the Members at each Membership Meeting. The President shall sign any contracts in the name of the Organization when authorized to do so generally, or in special instances by the Board of Directors. If deemed necessary by the Board of Directors, the President shall be empowered to sign checks for the Organization. After completion of his/her term of office, the President shall serve as Past President on the Board of Directors, with voting rights, for a one year term. The Past President shall chair the Nominating Committee.

The Vice-President/President Elect shall have and may exercise such powers of the President as may from time to time be assigned by the President and shall have such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors. The Vice-President will preside at Meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall chair the Education and Programming Committee. At the end of the outgoing President’s term, the Vice President/President Elect shall assume the office of the President for a full year.

The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the Organization and shall deposit the same with such bank or banks as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine. The Treasurer may endorse for collection checks and other obligations and shall deposit same as provided herein. The Treasurer shall cause to be entered regularly, in books kept for the purpose, full and accurate accounts of all monies received and paid on account of the Organization, and whenever required by the Board of Directors shall prepare a report for each fiscal year to be presented at the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Assistant Treasurer shall aid and assist the Treasurer in the performance of the duties of that office and shall have and may exercise such powers as the Treasurer may assign to him or her.

The Clerk shall keep the minutes of all Meetings of Members and the Board of Directors. The Clerk shall receive and retain copies of minutes of all committee meetings and shall give or serve all notices of the Organization. The Clerk shall have charge of the records of Members and shall perform all duties incident to the Office of Clerk subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.3. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, disqualification, or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting. A vacancy in an office shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors in office at the time such vote is taken.

SECTION 4.4. COMPENSATION: Officers shall serve without any compensation.

SECTION 4.5. TERMS OF OFFICE: Board Members serve three (3) year terms. For continuity, at least one Director-at-Large is elected each year. Presidents and Vice-Presidents shall be eligible for reelection for one (1) additional year. Treasurers, Assistant Treasurers and Clerks shall be eligible for reelection for a term of three (3) additional years.

ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 5.1. The Board shall consist, at minimum, of 9 persons: the 6 officers and three Directors. The maximum number, with the addition of more Directors, shall be no more than 12. The Board shall have charge of the administrative and financial affairs of the Organization. All six officers as defined in Article IV, Section 1, shall serve as voting members of the Board. The President shall act as Chairperson for meetings and a majority of Board members shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 5.2. MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE: One or more members of the Board of Directors may participate in any regular or special meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting are able to communicate with each other at the same time. Such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 5.3. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING: Any action required or permitted to be taken at any Board meeting may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action as taken, shall be signed by all of the directors with respect to such subject matter. Such consent, which may be signed in counterparts or communicated through facsimile or other means, shall have the same force and effect as a vote of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 5.4. WAIVER OF NOTICE FOR MEETINGS: Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given to any Board member under the Articles of Organization, these Bylaws, or the laws of Massachusetts, a waiver of notice in writing signed by the Board member, whether before or after the time of the meeting, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice.

SECTION 5.5. Directors shall be elected to a term of 3 calendar years. The Vice-President/President Elect/Past President shall be elected to a three calendar year term regardless of previous service on the Board. Directors shall be limited to 2 full consecutive terms. Previous Directors, having served two consecutive terms, must be absent from the Board for one year before serving again.

SECTION 5.6. This Board shall have the power to establish policies governing the affairs of the organization in accordance with these and any future Bylaws voted by the membership.

SECTION 5.7. This Board may establish Committees and appoint Committee Chairs as needed or prescribed in the Bylaws.

SECTION 5.8. Committee Chairs, whether of a standing or ad hoc committee, serve as voting members of the Board.

SECTION 5.9. Board Members shall serve without any compensation. When authorized by the Board, reimbursement may be made for any out-of-pocket expenses in discharging official duties, but no part of the net earnings of the Organization shall inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or individual.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES
SECTION 6.1. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees. Each Committee shall be composed of at least one (1) Director, together with other members as may be appointed by the Board of Directors from time to time to consider and make recommendations to the Board on matters affecting the Organization and to perform any function delegated to it by the Board.

SECTION 6.2. Standing Committees shall be named Bylaws Revision, Membership, Nominating, and any other committee deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. Members of any committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Upon receipt of a final report, the Board of Directors may discontinue such committee or committees.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS OF THE ORGANIZATION
SECTION 7.1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS: Board of Directors’ meetings shall be held at such dates, times and places as determined by the Board.

SECTION 7.2. ANNUAL MEETING: The Annual Meeting of Members shall be held in October at a day, time and place as determined by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing, as necessary, a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Clerk, and in staggered terms Directors-at-Large and for the transaction of such other business as may be brought before the meeting.

SECTION 7.3. SPECIAL MEETINGS: Special Meetings may be called at any time by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. At a Special Meeting, no business shall be transacted other than that stated in the notice of the Meeting.

SECTION 7.4. PLACE OF MEETING: Every Meeting of Members shall be held at such date, time and place as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the Meeting.

SECTION 7.5. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING: Notice of Annual Meeting of Members shall be given by the Clerk to be distributed (mail, email, delivery or other standard mechanisms) at least fourteen days before the Meeting to each Member at his/her address as it appears on the records of the Organization. The notice shall state the day, hour and place at which the meeting is to be held.

SECTION 7.6. QUORUM: There shall be no membership quorum requirement for the holding of any Annual Meeting or Special Meeting of the Membership.

VIII - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.1. REGULATIONS: The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary concerning and governing the activities of the Organization and the care, custody and use of its properties.

SECTION 8.2. FISCAL YEAR: The Fiscal Year of this Organization shall comprise the period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 in each year consistent with the membership year.

SECTION 8.3. CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.: All checks, drafts, notes or other obligations and orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Treasurer at the direction of the President. Any expenditure in excess of $200.00 shall be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. Checks, drafts, notes or other obligations and orders for payment of money to the Organization may be endorsed for deposit to the credit of the Organization with a duly authorized deposit by the Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer.

SECTION 8.4. WAIVERS OF NOTICE: Whenever any Notice is required to be given under these Bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.

SECTION 8.5. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY: The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this Organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of this Organization.

ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of this Organization, none of the properties then owned by the Organization shall be distributed to or inure to the benefit of any Director, Officer or Member thereof. Any such properties may, by vote of the Membership, be conveyed to a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization to benefit one or more organizations which have operations consistent with the purpose of this Organization anywhere in Massachusetts and are exempt under the provisions of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provisions of any federal tax law which shall be in effect.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
SECTION 10.1. These Bylaws and any amendments thereof may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors at any meeting by the affirmative vote of all members of the Board. Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered, amended or repealed and other Bylaws may be enacted by the Members of the Organization at any meeting, the notice of which shall have stated the proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or enactment as one of the purposes of the meeting.

SECTION 10.2. Proposed amendments must be announced to the Membership at least seven days in advance of the meeting at which a vote will be taken. The Bylaws may also be amended through a ballot to be distributed (mail, email, delivery or other standard mechanisms) to the Membership following a majority vote of the Board of Directors; in the latter situation, explanatory statements shall accompany the written ballot for any substantive change.

SECTION 10.3. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as conveying the ability to so amend the Provisions of Article IX hereof (Dissolution) to permit properties of the Organization inure to the benefit of any Director, Officer or member upon dissolution.



_________________________________________________
Approved on



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President


Appendix A: Friends of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System Membership Categories and Dues Schedule

Generous Friend OPEN
Business or Institution $ 100.
Library Group $ 50.
Patron $ 50.
Best Buddy $ 25.
Basic Membership $ 15.
Student / Senior/Retiree $ 10.

Book Launch: As You Write it

Exhibit: “Human Solidarity, Polish Solidarność”

UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES HOST

EXHIBIT: “HUMAN SOLIDARITY, POLISH SOLIDARNOŚĆ”

Amherst, MA – The UMass Amherst Libraries will host an exhibit “Human Solidarity, Polish Solidarność,” from April 6 through May 31, 2011, on the Lower Level of Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst.  The exhibit consists of twenty plates portraying the history of Solidarność through maps, photos, press clippings, and a narrative that also makes connections with the history of the American labor movement. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, April 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Consul general Ewa Junczyk Ziomecka will attend the opening.

 “Human Solidarity, Polish Solidarność,” which was created in 2010 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Polish “Solidarity” movement, was a joint Polish and American project carried out under the auspices of the Consulate of the Polish Republic in New York.

The exhibit, which has been shown at the State University of New York-Stony Brook and at Yale University, is sponsored locally by the Amesbury Professorship in Polish Language, Literature and Culture, and the UMass Amherst Libraries.  Among the Library’s holdings in Special Collections and University Archives is a major collection of underground Solidarity publications.

For more information, contact Sarah Hutton, shutton@library.umass.edu, (413) 545-6740.

Western Massachusetts Library Advocates ~ 1st Semi-Annual Meeting April 12, 2011

You are cordially invited to the first Semi-Annual meeting of the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates, a merged organization of the Western Massachusetts Library Club and the former Friends of WMRLS. The meeting will convene at 10 and will end by 1 at the MLS Offices in Whately. The agenda includes a discussion of the needs of western Mass libraries, what services are available to them, education and information plans for the new organization, and a vote on the new Bylaws.

"The principal purpose of this organization shall be the promotion of library services and librarianship in the western part of the Commonwealth by:
a. Keeping members and the public informed of issues affecting Western Massachusetts libraries;
b. Keeping legislators and other elected officials informed of issues affecting Western Massachusetts libraries;
c. Encouraging the public to advocate for adequate library funding;
d. Supporting the Massachusetts Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, while keeping these groups informed of the unique needs of Western Massachusetts Libraries;
e. Promoting continuing and advanced education opportunities for library staffs;
f. Encouraging active library staff members and retirees to participate in Organization activities for both professional enlightenment and enrichment;
g. Conducting fundraising activities in support of the Organization’s ongoing efforts on behalf of the libraries of Western Massachusetts." (The full Bylaws will be published here in a couple of days.)

The Board and Membership hope you will join them in this new venture to benefit western Massachusetts libraries. See you on the 12th.

Talking Points for Library Legislative Day March 28

If you are attending Library Legislative Day at the State House on Monday, March 28, or, if you are unable to attend, but will be contacting your legislator (and we hope that is all of you), the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates have identified some talking points of concern to libraries in the western part of the Commonwealth.

Ask your legislators to:

1. At least match the Governor's budget of level-funding for the MLS. Funding is needed for account 7000-9401 (Regional Libraries). This account enables the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) to provide critically important library support services for libraries statewide.

2. Maintain the budget language that ensures the maintaining of a physical presence for the MLS in Western Massachusetts. Make sure they understand that most of our libraries do not have meeting rooms with adequate parking for workshops and discussions on a regular basis. Also, the computer training center at the Whately office is a unique resource that is handicapped accessible and always available for regular training. There are only two public library computer labs in Hampden County. The excellent academic and school labs are only intermittently available due to the demands of their primary ‘student’ clientele. Library staff need readily accessible, updated computer training to be able to serve their users. Budget line: 7000-9401.

3. Write into the budget the addition of a consultant staffer who would be located exclusively in the Western office, and would be dedicated to working with and supporting the libraries in our area.

4. Help us to ensure that the new statewide delivery system will not be scheduled purely by volume. A delivery that drops off and picks up 20 items/week to a small library is as important to that library as 20 bins to a larger library. If delivery service is only assigned by volume, western Mass libraries could experience a significant drop in delivery service as the new system could potentially disproportionately serve the more populous areas of the state.
It is important that the new delivery system not penalize smaller libraries with fewer delivery items by requiring them to follow different procedures to receive delivery, particularly if those procedures are more labor-intensive than for other libraries. Many small communities do not have convenient access to commercial shippers, or even a Post Office. Requiring them to package and ship items individually is a burden on the smallest, most understaffed libraries in the Commonwealth.

Remember to advocate! Legislators cannot support us if they don't know what our libraries need.

Career Spotlight Series at Springfield City Library

FOCUSING ON A VARIETY OF JOBS


The upcoming nine-part Career Spotlight Series at Springfield City Library will help adults and teens understand the realities of various careers while they consider different work opportunities. Discussions will feature adults who make their living in a specific field talking about job conditions and opportunities, training requirements, and future expectations in that field. The series begins on Tuesday, April 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sixteen Acres Branch Library, 1187 Parker Street, with graphic artists and web designers Victoria Chapman of Weyakin Designs and Julie Waggoner of MicaBlue Creative. During National Library Week, April 10-16, we’ll focus on librarianship, hosting Karen Demers of Wilbraham Public Library and Eric Warren of Springfield Technical Community College Library on Monday, April 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Central Library, 220 State Street. The next day, Tuesday, April 12, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., teaching as a career will be discussed at the Sixteen Acres Branch Library, with Amy Turner of East Longmeadow High School and Robert Chasen of Catholic Charities Southside. Additionally we will highlight: nursing, Tuesday, April 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sixteen Acres Branch; artists, Tuesday, April 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sixteen Acres Branch; real estate, Thursday, May 12, 6:30-7:30pm, at the Forest Park Branch, 380 Belmont Avenue; postal workers, Thursday, May 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Forest Park Branch; and accountants and tax preparers on Thursday, May 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Forest Park Branch. For additional information please call (413) 263-6828, ext. 221.

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Urban Gardening Series at Springfield's Pine Point Branch Library

Grow Food Everywhere!

Join urban farmer/food educator Peter Merzbacher for an interesting, informative, and free agriculture series being offered at the Pine Point Branch Library, 204 Boston Road, Springfield. Mr. Merzbacher, of New Growth Gardens, believes in cultivating healthy urban ecosystems with community engagement and creating commercially viable urban farms and gardens. Topics include how we benefit from locally grown food and gardening in the city, how to evaluate your site, build raised beds, create a compost pile, decide what to grow, use mulch, and generally maintain your garden from early spring through late fall! All workshops will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Pine Point Branch. To sign up and to learn more, please call (413) 263-6855, or visit us online at http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/. The upcoming workshop schedule is:

• March 30 Introducing Urban Gardening


• April 6 Garden Planning


• April 13 Garden Preparation and Installation


• April 20 Garden Maintenance

Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries Host Reception and Dinner

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries will host the ninth annual “Dinner with Friends” in the Learning Commons at the W.E.B. Du Bois Library on the UMass Amherst campus. The event features talks by two notable speakers: Roy Blount, Jr. and Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, as well as a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception with UMass Amherst student jazz musicians, and a gourmet dinner.

 Corporate sponsors of the 2011 “Dinner with Friends” to date include Amherst Books, Brattle Book Shop; EBSCO; Elsevier; Gale, a part of Cengage; Hampden Bank; Herman Miller/OFI; Marcus Printing; MicroTek, Inc.; Print Associates; Taylor Rental; UMass Catering; and Wiley-Blackwell. The evening is a key fundraising event for the UMass Amherst Libraries.

This year’s proceeds will benefit the W.E.B. Du Bois Center. For more information, visit: http://www.thewebduboiscenter.com/.

 Tickets are $140 per person or $250 for two ($95 and $160 are tax-deductible donations respectively). Complimentary passes for the parking garage will be provided. Handicap parking is available next to the Library.

UMass Amherst Libraries are open to all residents of Massachusetts, offering a rich array of resources and services.

For more information and to make reservations contact Carol Connare at (413) 545-0995, email friends@library.umass.edu, or visit the Dinner with Friends web site http://www.library.umass.edu/dinner. Individual and corporate sponsorships are available starting at $250. For more information about the Libraries visit http://www.library.umass.edu.

Dinner with Friends, April 9, 2011 – Speakers’ bios:

Roy Blount, Jr. is a humorist, sportswriter, poet, performer, lecturer, dramatist, and writer. He is the author of 21 books, including Alphabet Juice (2009) and Hail, Hail, Euphoria!: Presenting the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup, the Greatest War Movie Ever Made (October 2010). Blount’s writing has appeared in numerous publications, including The New Yorker, Playboy, Vanity Fair, GQ, Rolling Stone, and National Geographic. His work has also been anthologized in such collections as The Best of Modern Humor and many others. He is a panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me and the president of the Authors Guild. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Blount received a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt and a master's degree from Harvard.

Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina is the host of the nationally-syndicated program “The Book Show,” on which she interviews every week some of the finest writers working today. She has appeared frequently on British television and radio documentaries. Some of her books include Mr. and Mrs. Prince (2009), A Room of Their Own (2008), The Annotated Secret Garden (2007), and Francis Hodgson Burnett (2006). Gretchen has a B.A. from Marlboro College, an M.A. from Simmons College, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. She has been a tenured professor at Vassar College and at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is now the Kathe Tappe Vernon Professor in Biography at Dartmouth College, where she is the first woman ever to chair the English department, and the first African American woman to chair an Ivy League English department.

UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES PROVIDE RESOURCES ON JAPAN

UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES

PROVIDE RESOURCES ON JAPAN

In response to Friday’s earthquake in Japan, the UMass Amherst Libraries have compiled a list of resources for the campus community and the public.  This list is available at http://guides.library.umass.edu/jpnearthquake. The web page includes links to live video streaming in Japanese and English, newspaper resources, official web sites, and scientific information regarding this tragedy.  

This page will be updated frequently in the coming days and will reflect current efforts by the library and community organizations to serve residents affected by this event. 

For more information, contact Sharon Domier (sdomier@library.umass.edu, 413-577-2633). 

Victorian Jewelry Program at Greenfield Public Library

Legislative Day: A Guide For Newbies

“Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their libraries.”

The Legislative Day Bus is organized and underwritten by the Friends of WMRLS. Legislative Day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) and in recent years MLA joined forces with the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA). The sponsoring organizations pay for the lunch; there is no cost to you or your legislator.

The drill for the day is pretty straightforward.
~ The bus arrives between 10 - 10:30,
~ The rally is at 11.
~ Lunch is at noon,
~ The bus leaves at 2:30.

When we arrive at the State House:
1. Proceed to the General Hooker entrance of the building and go through security.
2. At the Hall of Flags, visit the sign in desk and pick up information packets for legislators. If you've attended a legislative breakfast you will have seen the MBLC Legislative Agenda packet.
3. It is now time to go to visit legislators. A list of legislators and office numbers will be available, and there are plenty of people and signs to help you find your way.

It is not imperative that you make an appointment. Library Legislative Day is a significant recurring event. Legislators and their staff know to expect library visitors. The important thing is to:
• Stop by your legislators’ offices,
• Speak to your legislators. Describe what your library provides for your community, why the Massachusetts Library System and the Central/Western MA Automated Resource Sharing network are important for your library, and why your library is important and necessary for your users. You'll have a few minutes to make a couple of key points on the value of state funding for libraries and to ask for their support. Specific local examples of library use or need are particularly effective.
• Invite them to join you for lunch. (The podium will recognize all legislators present at the luncheon.)
• If you can’t speak with your legislator or an aide directly, leave your card, an info packet or a note so that they know you were there and what action you would like them to take. These notes and your presence are very important. Our legislators are aware of the commitment we have made to take the day and travel to Boston. Your note, even if your legislator is not available, makes a significant impression.

Join us March 28. It's easy, it's fun, and it benefits our libraries. See Eric's March 7 post for registration details.

Bus to Legislative Day

Hey Everyone!

Just a reminder that Monday, March 28 is Library Legislative Day--and the Friends of WMRLS are once again arranged for a bus to Boston out of Western and Central Mass.

We have done such a historically incredible job advocating for our libraries in recent days--and its more important now than ever to keep at it. Attending Legislative Day is a huge part of this!

The pickup spots are:

6:45 am--MLS Whately
7:30 am--Table and Vine, West Springfield
8:15 am--Palmer Public Library
9:10 am--Auburn Mall, Auburn

The cost is only $20/person--and the bus will be back in Whately by 5:45. You can make your check out to the Friends of WMRLS and send it to:

Lynn Coakley
STCC Library
One Armory Square
Springfield, MA 01102

You can also send it via delivery to STCC Library, attn: Lynn Coakley by using the W/CLGS deliver form.

Please do all that you can to join us that day! If not you, then who??? :)