WMRLS READS!

TD Bank Rewards Summer Readers with 10 Greenbacks!

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:27:00 +0000

From TD Bank's Summer Reading Program Website - http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/index.html

"Looking for a way to make summer reading even more fun for your kids?

It’s easy! Here’s what they need to do:

Read 10 books this summer.
Open the Summer Reading Form from this website.
Fill in the form with the names of the books they've read.
Print the form.
Take the form to your nearest TD Bank location to get $10! One $10 offer per reader.*

To learn more about the Summer Reading Program " ...Visit the TD Bank Summer Reading Program Website

tnk grEn with Teen Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:42:00 +0000

Thank you to Doris Madsen (Springfield City Library) and Mia Cabana (West Springfield Public Library) for facilitating our tnk grEn with Teen Crafts workshop on Monday, May 10 at the Springfield City Library.

In this hands-on workshop, Doris and Mia showcased four fun crafts for teens - all using recycled materials.

Crafts included the following:

Recycled Coziness Hat
Magazine Beads
Tissue Paper Vase
A transformed T-Shirt inspired by Megan Nicolay's Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt, Workman Publishers, 2006.

Skit to introduce 2010 Summer Reading Program

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:23:00 +0000

Thank you to Mia Cabana, Assistant Youth Services Librarian of the West Springfield Public Library who is generously sharing her Go Green at the library Summer Reading Skit with all Massachusetts colleagues.

Go Green at the library Summer Reading Program Skit

Pictured at left are Doris Madsen, Springfield City Library, and Mia by their collaborative Go Green with Teen Crafts Display. Doris and Mia will be conducting next Monday's tnk grEn with Green Crafts workshop.

For complete information about our 2010 MRLS/MBLC Statewide Library Reading Program, visit the WMRLS Summer Reading Program website.

2010 Summer Reading Program Coupons and Passes

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Coupons and passes are a natural way to provide incentives to participants of our 2010 Go Green at your library Statewide Library Summer Reading Program. This year, seven western Massachusetts tourist attractions have generously accepted our invitation to enhance our reading program with discount coupons and/or passes. On April 21, WMRLS will email the user name and password to access this year's coupons to the contact person at each western Massachusetts Library that is participating in our upcoming summer reading program.

Be sure to visit our WMRLS Summer Reading Program Information Webpage to read more about our 2010 Coupons. ~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Photos from our 28th Annual WMRLS Summer Reading Program Power Worskhop - March 31, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Coupons and Passes for Summer 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Our Statewide Library Summer Reading Program celebrates libraries, reading, and Massachusetts pride!

Thank you to this year’s western Massachusetts Supporters (to date):

Basketball Hall of Fame • Children’s Museum at Holyoke • Eastern States Exposition • Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art • Hancock Shaker Village • Holyoke Merry-Go-Round • Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle

Ideas for Summer Reading Program Coupon Use:

Coupons and passes are a natural way to provide incentives to participants in the Statewide Library Summer Reading Program. Hand them out at sign-up time or when participants reach goals during the summer. Use creative ways to distribute these incentives:

• Some librarians have reported success by creating a bulletin board featuring a master of each of the coupons and passes, and, then, inviting the library user (young or old) to select one coupon each time they visit the library.
• Have a selection available during your library’s summer reading program story time series.
• Use them as prizes as children complete your library’s summer reading program games and activities

Instructions for Use:

• Photocopy the master sheets (WMRLS will post these on a password protected website in mid April). Stamp each coupon individually on the back in contrasting ink with the name of your library. This procedure both insures that coupons are appropriately distributed and helps sponsors track usage.
• Make a note of expiration dates. Do not hand out expired coupons.
• Inform patrons that our supporters are making these incentives available to them. A reproducible flyer to promote supporters and coupons will be included on our WMRLS Summer Reading Program website in mid April – http://www.wmrls.org/sum
• Thank our supporters. Encourage patrons to add their signatures to the reproducible Thank You sheet ((WMRLS will post this on a password protected website in mid April).

Important:

Do not issue any of the summer program incentive coupons and passes after your summer program has concluded. These incentives are meant only to be used in conjunction with Go Green at your library and tnk grEn MRLS/MBLC Statewide Summer Library Reading Program. Distribution after the program is over may jeopardize the continuance of the supporters’ donations.

WMRLS offers a bounty of SRP Programming for Librarians this Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:27:00 +0000

Greetings,
Our upcoming annual WMRLS SUMMER READING PROGRAM POWER WORKSHOP is filled to maximum seating capacity and registrations have closed.
In addition to our annual WMRLS SRP Power Workshop, we have a number of upcoming workshops that provide a bounty of information for staff who will be conducting your library's upcoming summer reading program. They are all listed chronologically on our WMRLS online EventKeeper Calendar as follows (register online at http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=WMRLS ) :

PROJECT WILD: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR GRADES K TO 12

Friday April 9, 2010 from 9 to 3:30

and repeated on

Friday April 16, 2010 from 9 to 3:30

Project WILD links students (grades K-12) and wildlife through its mission to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. Through the use of balanced curriculum materials and professional six-hour training workshops, Project WILD accomplishes its goal of developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment that result in informed decisions with regard to nature and the environment. Gini Traub and Alexander Gillman of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation are the program leaders.

April 9 Location: Lenox Memorial Middle High School Library

April 16 Location: Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls

________________________________________

READSINMA ONLINE READING PROGRAM AND SUMMER 2010

APRIL 2010: Numerous sessions and locations throughout this region

Are you ready to jump on board the online registration train this summer? If you are interested in offering an online component of the 2010 Summer Reading Program for your library users, you're invited to attend this ReadsinMA.org training. The summer reader from Evanced Solutions offers you better management of in-house registration, prize management and a simple self-service option for your library patrons. You can even post and send e-mail announcements of library events, promote school and library reading lists and add book reviews. Begin THIS summer to offer online reading program registration for your patrons to use throughout the entire year.

________________________________________

TNK GREN WITH TEEN CRAFTS

Monday, May 10, 2010 from 9 to 11:30

What is better than recycling? REUSING!!! Get prepared for the teen summer reading program, tnk grEn, by seeing what you and your kids can make reusing materials and supplies destined for the trash and recycle bins. Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn to make three crafts from used materials. You'll also get tips on how to lead teens in making their own creations. Possible projects will be totes, wallets, paperbeads, and altered T-shirts. Upon registration, participants will be notified what materials they should bring. Presented by Mia Cabana, YA librarian at the West Springfield Public Library, and Doris Madsen, reference librarian at the Pine Point and Sixteen Acres branches of the Springfield City Library.

Join us for an "On-Your-Own Book Review" from 9 to 9:45. This portion of the program is led by Jean Canosa Albano, Manager of Youth & Outreach Services of the Springfield City Library.

Location: Community Room, Springfield City Library

~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, Youth Services Librarian and Continuing Education Coordinator, Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Your vote counts! Summer Reading 2012 slogan vote and 2013 theme vote! Deadline April 2, 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Greetings Friends,

Due to the regional consolidation and the loss of staff and funding, the youth services consultants of each of the six regional library systems have decided to make every effort to continue a statewide summer reading program, provided to you as a member of the new Massachusetts Library System, by joining the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).

Sarah Sogigian, Youth Services Consultant of the Metrowest and Boston Regions, will be representing Massachusetts libraries by attending the CLSP Annual Meeting on April 6-10 in Tacoma, WA. As statewide members, Sarah will represent us in voting on our favorite slogans for the 2012 program, and our favorite theme for 2013 (The collaborative plans well in advance).

Since we want to get all MA librarians' input, we've created an online survey. We invite all staff involved with summer reading to participate! Again, since MA just joined the collaborative, we are not responsible for the selection of themes and slogans, but they do want our thoughts on narrowing it down. There are different slogans for Adults, Teens, and Children.

The survey can be found at this link: http://tinyurl.com/y9yrcur

Please take a few minutes to fill out the online survey. Responses are due by Friday, April 2, 2010.

The 2011 general theme for the summer reading program is World Culture/World Travel and the slogans are:

Children's - One World, Many Stories
Teen - You Are Here
Adult - Novel Destination

2011's themes and slogans were decided last year, and our voting privileges begin with the 2012 program.

You may find information about the Collaborative at their website: http://www.cslpreads.org/

Most importantly, you will find information on the upcoming merger of the six regional libraries systems on both our WMRLS Homepage at http://www.wmrls.org and on our Friends of WMRLS homepage at http://friends.wmrls.org/

~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Encore Post: Ware High School Library Goes GREEN!

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:05:00 +0000

Many thanks to Ware High School Librarian, Valerie Wlodyka, and all of the faculty, staff, and students, who decorated the library GREEN in preparation for our recent WMRLS Summer Reading Program Roundtable (Focus on Teen Programs)

Lucky March - How has reading brought you good luck?

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:06:00 +0000

I invite one and all to give your luck (and our online reading program – READSINMA) a try! I have just created a “Lucky March” ReadsinMA program in which I am asking staff of WMRLS libraries to share a story of how reading has brought you good luck. On March 17, I’ll pull the name of one participant who will win a Lucky Library Mystery Bag! I wish you all the best of luck by visiting WMRLS “Lucky March” ReadsinMA at http://www.readsinma.org/wmrls/

~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Growing Up WILD Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:08:00 +0000

A BIG THANK YOU to Pam Landry, Education Coordinator, MassWildlife, who led this week’s Growing Up WILD workshop. Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education activity guide (ages 3 to 7) that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, it provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about nature while also building lifelong social and cognitive skills. This interactive six-hour hands-on workshop included crafts, music, conservation activities, reading and math connections and much more.

Reads More About ... MassWildlife's Growing Up Wild Project

Register soon for our next WMRLS MassWild Life Nature and Wildlife workshops – held in 2 western Massachusetts locations!

• Project WILD ~ Friday, April 9 at the Lenox Memorial Middle High School Library

• Project WILD ~ Friday, April 16 at the Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls

~ Janet Eckert, WMRLS

School’s Out @ Your Public Library: Program Ideas for After School

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:00 +0000

School’s Out @ Your Public Library: Program Ideas for After School

The Texas State Library is hosting this webinar and has invited people from anywhere in the country to join in. It is free so take a look. Note that the time is CENTRAL and adjust for your location.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 10-11 AM Central Time [11 to noon Eastern Time]

Providing innovative programming for the school-age crowd during the school year can be a challenge, especially when libraries are competing with children’s busy after-school schedules. Participants in this webinar will learn how to provide fun and educational programs for children ages 5-12 that will have them running to your library after the school bell rings. Programs featured include Chess Club, Fun with Science, Art Explorers, Craft Time, and a KidTrekkers around the world cultural program.

About the Presenter
Anne Neidinger is a Children’s Librarian at the Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library. She holds a Master’s in Library and Information Science with a Youth Certification from the University of North Texas. She has presented at several Texas Library Association conferences and co-authored “Igniting a Children’s Summer Reading Program on a Piggy-Bank Budget” in the Texas Library Journal (2006). Anne also co-wrote the Elementary Programs Chapter of the 2009 Texas Reading Club manual. At her library, she has coordinated many after-school programs and enjoys seeing her school-age customers return again and again to the library.

Register here:
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/workshops/webinars/afterschoolprograms/index.html

Early Literacy Storytime Exchange Website

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:58:00 +0000

Have you discovered the Early Literacy Storytime Ideas Exchange website?

This content rich website is managed by the Hennepin County Library and called ELSIE (Early Literacy Storytime Ideas Exchange). When you visit this website, be sure to click on each of the skills in order to locate titles and activities that matches the item that you have selected. I am sure that you will join me in saying "Wow!"

FROM ELSIE - Early Literacy Storytime Exchange (ELSIE)::

"What is early literacy? Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. You can help children learn important skills now so that they can become good readers and writers later.

According to research, there are six pre-reading skills that children must learn in order to learn to read. Click on each of the skills below to read more about them. Then search for great literacy-rich activities and books. Check out the reading tips provided by Youth Services librarians from the Minneapolis Public Library, and most importantly, make book-sharing a time for fun interaction."

2010 Statewide Summer Reading Program Update

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:18:00 +0000

2010 Summer Reading Program

Our annual 2010 Massachusetts Regional Library Systems/MBLC Statewide Summer Reading Program is one of the many benefits of your WMRLS membership.

The following WMRLS member libraries are participating in this year's MRLS/MBLC Statewide Summer Reading Program

Adams Free Library
Agawam Public Library
Arms Library, Shelburne Falls
Becket Athenaeum
Belding Memorial Library, Ashfield
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Buckland Public Library
Bushnell Sage Library, Sheffield
Cheshire Public Library
Chicopee Public Library
Clapp Memorial Library, Belchertown
Clarksburg Town Library
Cushman Library, Bernardston
Dalton Free Public Library
Dickinson Memorial Library, Northfield
East Longmeadow Public Library
Edward Public Library, Southampton
Emily Williston Memorial Library, Easthampton
Erving Public Library
Field Memorial Library, Conway
Gilbertville Public Library
Goodwin Memorial Library, Hadley
Grace Hall Memorial Library, Montgomery
Granby Public Library
Granville Library
Greenfield Public Library
Griswold Memorial Library, Colrain
Hamilton Memorial Library, Chester
Hampden Free Public Library
Hatfield Public Library
Heath Free Public Library
High School of Commerce Library, Springfield
Hinsdale Public Library
Holland Public Library
Holyoke Public Library
Hubbard Memorial Library
Huntington Public Library
Jones Library, Amherst
Lanesborough Public Library
Lee Library Association
Lenox Memorial Middle & High School Library
Leverett Library
Lilly Library, Florence
M.N. Spear Memorial Library, Shutesbury
Mason Library, Great Barrington
Middlefield Public Library
Monson Free Library
Montague Public Libraries
Monterey Library
New Marlborough Town Library
New Salem Public Library
North Adams Public Library
Northfield Farms Field Library
Otis Library and Museum
Paige Memorial Library, Hardwick
Palmer Public Library
Pelham Public Library
Peru Library
Porter Memorial Library, Blandford
Richmond Free Public Library
Robertson Memorial Library, Leyden
Rowe Town Library
Russell Public Library
S. White Dickinson Memorial Library, Whately
Sandisfield Library
Shaw Memorial Library, Plainfield
Shelburne Free Public Library
Slate Memorial Library, Gill
South Hadley Public Library
Gaylord Memorial Library, South Hadley
Southwick Public Library
Springfield City Library
Storrs Library, Longmeadow
Sunderland Public Library
Tilton Library, South Deerfield
Tyler Memorial Library, Charlemont
Wales Public Library
Ware Jr. Sr. High School Library
Warwick Free Public Library
Wendell Free Library
West Springfield Public Library
West Stockbridge Public Library
Westfield Athenaeum,Westfield
Westhampton Memorial Library
Wilbraham Public Library
Williamsburg- Meekins and Haydenville Libraries
Williamstown Public Library
Worthington Library
Young Men's Library Association, Ware

~ Janet Eckert, WMRLS

JanWay Incentive Items for Summer 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +0000

Visit the JanWay website to order incentive items to compliment your 2010 Library Summer Reading Program
Plus ...
Complete our WMRLS Summer Reading Program 2010 Summer Reading Program Order Form to receive free posters, bookmarks, reading logs, and certificates - free-of-charge - as one of your many benefits of WMRLS membership.

What is your New Year's Reading Resolution?

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:05:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has secured grant funding to renew our ReadsinMA online reading program for the next 3 years. This online reading program is available free of charge to all public libraries in the commonwealth.

If you are interested in giving ReadsinMA a test drive OR if you are interested in becoming eligible to win a mystery bag filled with library goodies, do visit our new WMRLS “Happy New Year ~ Reading Resolution” ReadsinMA program

WMRLS Libraries may register for ReadsinMA via our new 2010 Summer Reading Program Order Form

~ Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

WMRLS Annual Summer Reading Program Power Workshop is March 31, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Save the date: March 31, 2010 for our Annual WMRLS Summer Reading Program Power Workshop.

This year’s program will take place at the Delaney House in Holyoke from 9:30 to 3:30. Program registration will begin on February 1, 2010.

PLUS ...

Visit our WMRLS Continuing Education website to register one of more of the following “Summer Reading Program” Themed Events:

February 8, 2010 – Growing Up Wild: Exploring Nature and Wildlife with Children ~ 9 to 4 at WMRLS

March 10, 2010 – Summer Reading Program for Adults: A Roundtable ~ 10 to noon at the Agawam Public Library

March 31, 2010 – Summer Reading Program Power Workshop ~ 9:30 to 3:30 at the Delaney House, Holyoke

April 9, 2010 – Project WILD: Environmental Education for Grades K to 12 ~ 9 TO 3:30 at the Lenox Memorial Middle High School Library

April 16, 2010 – Project WILD: Environmental Education for Grades K to 12 ~ 9 TO 3:30 at the Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls

Time to Order 2010 Summer Reading Program Materials

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Our annual 2010 Massachusetts Regional Library Systems (MRLS) Statewide Summer Reading Program is one of the many benefits of your WMRLS membership. This year, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System will provide access to the online summer reading program planning manual and clip art as well as program promotional materials (posters, bookmark, certificates, reading records), free of charge, to all WMRLS member libraries that submit orders by January 29, 2010.

WMRLS 2010 Summer Reading Program Online Order Form

Visit our MRLS WIKI for statewide summer reading program updates. Please do contact me if you need additional information on this topic. Sincerely, Janet, WMRLS

------------------------------------------
Janet Eckert, Youth Services Librarian,Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

Phone 413/665-9898 x127 | Fax 413/665-8877 | AOL IM: wmrlsyouth
Website http://www.wmrls.org/sum

WMRLS READS! blog – wmrlsreads.blogspot.com

Ware High School Library Goes GREEN

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:52:00 +0000

Infectious Fun @ Your Library!

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:22:00 +0000

The following message is sent to us from Michele Farley, Children’s Services Consultant of the Indiana State Library:

Have you ever had a song get so stuck in your head that you find yourself humming it all day? With the incredibly catchy “At Your Library” song from the Kids! @ your library® Campaign tool kit, this is a good thing! Play Bill Harley’s lively, fun song at the beginning and end of your programs or as the message on your phone system while patrons are on hold, and we can guarantee that listeners will be thinking about the library a lot over the next few days!

The song may be freely downloaded in any of its four different versions. There are also ideas for using the song in your library and your community, a public service announcement, the lyrics to the song, and sheet music. This resource is versatile! Find all this and much more in the free Kids! @ your library® Campaign tool kit here:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/kidscampaign/kidssong.cfm
There are only positive side effects from catching the library bug . . . infect your community today!

Have you discovered the ... UPSTART ACTIVITY GUIDES?

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:09:00 +0000

A Must Read to prepare for our upcoming 2010 environment themed Massachusetts Regional Library Systems Statewide Summer Reading Program Gogreen at your library - The "Get Your Green On" Upstart Activity Guide !

Be sure to visit the Upstart Activity Guide Homepage for a wealth of activity guides that include bulletin board and book display suggestions, recommended programs and special events, and reproducible game sheets!

Junior Duck Stamp Program - Get Ready for Summer 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:45:00 +0000

Even before we gather together at our upcoming WMRLS Summer Reading Program Roundtables, it is time to start planning for Summer 2010's environmental themed statewide library summer reading program.

Be sure to visit the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services' Junior Duck Stamp Program to read about (and possibly encourage your young readers to particiapte in) the upcoming 2010 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest!

Sincerely, Janet Eckert, WMRLS

WMRLS Summer Reading Program Roundtables

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:21:00 +0000

WMRLS SUMMER READING PROGRAM ROUNDTABLES

Register online at http://www.wmrls.org/events (all roundtables are listed chronologically by event date)

• Wednesday, November 18 - 9 to 11 at the Ware High School (focus on teens)

• Wednesday, November 18 - 1 to 3 at the Palmer Public Library (focus on the general summer reading program)

• Thursday, November 19 – 9 to noon at the Mason Library in Great Barrington (focus on the general summer reading program)

• Friday, November 20 - 10 to noon at the Agawam Public Library (focus on the online reading program)

• Tuesday, November 24 - 1 to 3 at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield (focus on tweens and teens)

All of our WMRLS Summer Reading Program Roundtables (conducted throughout this region this month) will cover the following:
• Reviewing Summer 2009 Evaluations – what worked, what didn’t work, and what can be improved
• Sharing of Your Library’s Summer Reading Program Bests (Ideas, Programs, Services)
• Evaluating the ReadsinMA Online Reading Program – what worked, what didn’t work, and what can be improved
• Preparing for Summer 2010 – A look at the artwork and JanWay promotionals – this is your opportunity to see the items before placing your library’s order
• Planning our annual WMRLS SRP Idea

Janet Eckert, WMRLS Youth Services Librarian, will facilitate.

Consolidation of Regional Library Systems - Let Your Voice Be Heard

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Dear Youth Librarians,

I want to keep you updated on the recent discussion about consolidation of Regional Library Systems. In case you didn't see the messages earlier, the MBLC is facing a 16% cut for FY2011 which begins July 1, 2010. They are planning to take the funds out of the Regional Library Systems line, which will amount to a 28% cut to the Regions. The plan is to consolidate the Regions from 6 down to one or two.

We will begin to know more in the next weeks. Rob Maier, Director of the MBLC, will be taking comments about the budget cut at a special meeting today at the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough. In addition, Rob is asking librarians to email comments to him by Monday, October 5.

Right now, it looks like there will be consolidation with a focus on delivery, databases, and continuing education. We're not sure yet how youth services projects like Summer Reading, our annual Teen Summit, and the performer's directory, will continue.

If it is important to you that we somehow maintain some sort of system where members do have localized programs and services as well as support for librarians who serve children, teens and families, please write a short email to that effect and send it to Rob Maier by Monday, October 5. Rob’s email is: Robert.Maier@state.ma.us

It isn't much time but a quick email to Rob could help.

FY10 Budget and Regional Services

noreply@blogger.com (Boyden Library Staff) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:28:00 +0000

To: Members of Regional Library Systems

Last week at a regular meeting with regional administrators I began a conversation about reductions in the state budget that are being proposed for fiscal year FY2011 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011). The Board of Library Commissioners has been given a budget cap by the administration of a 16% reduction compared to this year. Most other state agencies are facing a similar budget-making scenario. This is the result of declining state revenues and the fact that the FY2010 state budget benefits substantially from the use of one-time federal stimulus funds.

Even if a 16% reduction was to be imposed equally on all library programs the impact on regional library systems would be significant. However, given the recent erosion of funding for State Aid to Public Libraries, it is unlikely that that account would be cut further. The reduction in regional and library of last recourse funding may be as great as 28%.

With this information in hand I have asked the regional administrators to work with me and with regional member libraries and regional staff to prioritize regional services for FY2011 and beyond. This planning will include options for the consolidation of regional library systems with the likelihood of 1 or 2 restructured regions going forward and changes in required services including support for regional reference centers.

I fully recognize that changes of this magnitude are challenging. I know that if we work together we can continue to provide the regional services that the libraries and residents of Massachusetts value and rely on every day to improve their lives.

Robert C. Maier, Director,Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
98 North Washington Street, Suite 401,Boston, MA 02114; Ph (617) 725-1860 x249