Public Library Reference Survey:
Your help is needed. During the week of April 24th we are asking that you keep track of where each person lives for each reference question that your library receives.
Many recent reports and articles suggest reference service is changing and that libraries need to examine how they are providing the service. As the nature of reference service changes, on the state level we would like to measure reference in our libraries and to determine the mobility of residents, be they students, workers or retired, as they ask reference questions. The regional library systems and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners are asking that you participate in a week long survey to measure reference use in our libraries.
Please note that this survey is not mandatory. Although we look forward to receiving data from as many libraries as possible, your participation is not required. We recognize that your staffing is limited and therefore greatly appreciate those libraries that are able to take time to track this information.
After you send the information you collect to your regional library system, they will compile the data and send a report to the MBLC for final analysis.
Complete instructions and the necessary worksheets are at www.cmrls.org/services/RefSurvey.html.
Public Library Ad Campaign Expands:
Continuing its effort in raising awareness of public libraries and their resources, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is expanding its advertising campaign using transit buses throughout the Commonwealth.
Two ads, "Your Public Library - Think of it as an extended bookshelf," and "Your Public Library - Download a new version of yourself today," will once again be featured on buses of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), and in Brockton, Lawrence, Pittsfield, Springfield and Worcester, as well as in the Attleboro/Taunton & Lowell areas from mid March through May. To read more about the campaign and view the ads, go to
mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/pr/campaign/index.ph.
Funding for the campaign is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services www.imls.gov/ under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act mblc.state.ma.us/grants/lsta/index.php.
Statewide Database Update -InfoTrac:
As of March 20th, Massachusetts Regional Library staff and their patrons will see an additional database on the InfoTrac Common Menu - InfoTrac OneFile. Thomson/Gale has graciously offered to add the OneFile database to the list of statewide licensed databases at no additional charge beginning March 20, 2006. This file, cut from the statewide subscription several years ago when the state budget was severely reduced, includes most of the Thomson/Gale periodical content across all of their databases. It contains 5,156 full-text titles (more than 9,200 titles in all), including some legal and science and technology titles that will help round out the statewide license subject content. For more information, see the product fact sheet at: www.gale.com/pdf/facts/onefile.pdf
