Volume 5, Issue 8 - August 2002
NMRLS News:
Diversity Brown Bag Lunch Discussion Planned for the Fall
By Greg PronevitzNMRLS is planning a brown bag lunch discussion on November 1 (time and location TBA) for interested members to address the increasing diversity among regional residents and share how member libraries are meeting the needs of our changing population. The meeting will include brief presentations by member librarians on these issues. We have lined up a speaker on the "digital divide" and are looking for other members to address other topics related to meeting the needs of diverse populations. Please contact me, if you are able to provide a brief overview of your situation or a relevant topic.
Regional Population Trends 1990-2000 Hispanic/Latino +87.7% Black/African American +87.0% Asian/Pacific Islander +72.1% Under 18 +14.9% Total Population + 7.1%
Statewide Population Trends 1990-2000 Under 18 +10.9% Over 65 +8.9% Total Population +5.5% The illustration below shows the percent of census categories for non-white population in NMRLS communities. These categories are Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Multi. Twenty-four towns have non-white populations that exceed five percent.
Related Web sites
A town-by-town view of the 1990 and 2000 census figures for the Northeast Region.
A snapshot of composite population changes for the 54 towns in the Northeast Region. Several towns have percentages of diversity that far exceed the state average.
The Census Bureau Web site: includes all of the data collected in the 2000 Census. New analyses are added from time to time. Click on "American FactFinder" for detailed level data.
Good Byes
By Greg PronevitzKeith Fiels Joining ALA
Keith Fiels is moving to Chicago to become the Executive Director of the American Library Association. He leaves behind a stronger library community than he found when he arrived at the MBLC in 1992. The strategic plan, which established the multi-type regional library systems was passed under his leadership. With the help of numerous librarians and Library Commissioners, library construction and renovation funds have been used statewide to benefit many towns. Keith has worked with legislators, his staff, Library Commissioners, MLA, and librarians from all over the state to build support for libraries. His vision and leadership have been a great benefit to Massachusetts's libraries.
We wish him the very best at ALA!
Rob Maier, Acting Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,
and five regional administrators at a final "meeting" with Keith after his last
monthly MBLC meeting in July.NMRLS Board Members (former and present) Retiring:
We also extend our best wishes to NMRLS Executive Board Members at their retirement.
Ben Franckowiak, Director at the UMASS Lowell, O'Leary Library, is retiring to a top-floor office to become "Director Emeritus." Ben served on the NMRLS Executive Board and the ILL Committee.
Camilla Glynn has retired from the Salem State College Library. She can be found on the coast of Maine enjoying some well-deserved spare time after her duties on the Board and Reference Committee.
Joe Dionne has announced his "retirement." He will be using his spare time to direct the Nashua (NH) Public Library. The NMRLS Board will miss him.
Legislative Update
By Greg Pronevitz
NMRLS, other regions, automated networks, the MBLC, and all libraries are facing serious fallout from the state's budget crisis. The fy2003 budget line which includes regional library systems and the library of last recourse was reduced by about 15 percent. The effect, however, will be felt most strongly by the regional library systems which will be cut by about 23.8 percent. The library of last recourse remains level funded.
We are preparing a contingency budget and note that the most significant effect of a budget cut on the Northeast Region will be the inability to renew several electronic reference database titles. These services are our fastest growing and considered most important by a large number of our 328 member libraries. Last year library users performed some 1.25 million searches using regional databases.
Other across-the-board cuts to other services would reduce services in the following member service programs:
- Delivery services may be curtailed at low-volume libraries
- Interlibrary loan centers will be funded at lower amounts reducing their ability to cover ILL fees, shipping charges, and other services previously available to members
- MassCat membership growth allowance reduced
- Net lender reimbursement amount reduced
- Regional reference centers are compelled to reduce services and/or hours of service
- Supplementary deposit collection funds reduced
- Training - Outside trainer fees reduced, resulting in fewer training sessions
Internal reductions will be implemented for:
- Equipment/Furnishings
- Supplies
- Telephone/Internet services
There's Still Space in these August Workshop Offerings
Youth Services on the Web: Web Sites as Resources-Evaluating Web SitesCE Reminder: SIRS and Grolier Training Opportunities:
Tuesday, August 13, 1 - 3 PM -- NMRLS, DanversWeb Directories: LII, IPL, VL…What Are They?
Wednesday, August 14, 10 - 11:30 AM -- MVLC, AndoverPublic Domain E-Books on Web
Thursday, August 15, 10 - 11:30 AM -- MVLC, AndoverThe Basics for Youth Services: Designing Program Flyers
Monday, August 19, 10 AM - Noon -- NMRLS, DanversBasic PC Trouble Shooting
Wednesday, August 21, 10 AM - 1 PM -- Memorial Hall Library, AndoverWhat Are Plug-ins and Why Do I Need Them?
Wednesday, August 28, 10 AM - Noon -- NMRLS, Danvers
At Your Library:Save This CE Date!:Representatives from Grolier/Scholastic Library Publishing and SIRS Publishing have offered NMRLS members the opportunity to receive free on-site training for these regionally sponsored databases.
Both workshops are designed to help users become more familiar with the databases and to offer insight into practical classroom and library applications.
District level training during in-service days is an excellent way to motivate and educate your staff.
To arrange Grolier training for your school or library, please contact Gwen Paquette at 1-800-825-4579, x4766.
To arrange SIRS training for your school or library, please call 1-800-232-7477 x619 to schedule an appointment.
At NMRLS:
Continuing Education workshops on the Grolier and SIRS databases are also scheduled at NMRLS in September:
- SIRS (two identical sessions) - Tuesday, September 10, 10 AM - Noon and 2 - 4 PM
- Grolier - Monday, September 23, 10 AM - Noon
Register online.
GASB34: What Librarians Need to Know
Thursday, Oct. 10, 9:30-12:30GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) Standard 34 changes the way that municipal governments view accounting and budgets. Libraries are significant assets in a community. Municipalities with budgets between $10M and $100M need to comply with GASB34 in FY2003; municipalities with budgets under $10M need to comply in FY2004. How well your community plans for GASB34 implementation can affect your library. Come hear Jim Powers, a CPA from Powers &Sullivan of Woburn, discuss the GASB34 standard and its implications for library buildings and assets, including collections. Registration begins in September.
Mark Your Calendars!
NMRLS 6th Annual Meeting
November 13, 2002
at Merrimack College
Keynote speaker: Newburyport author Andre Dubus IIINewburyport writer Andre Dubus III will be the featured speaker at the NMRLS Annual Meeting on November 13th at Merrimack College. Mr. Dubus' House of Sand and Fog, published in 1999, was a fiction finalist for the National Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award. He will speak on the craft of writing and read from his work.
 | Charting the Course: Looking ForwardBy Mary Behrle |
When you wrote your long-range plan for the MBLC, you included an action plan. This is a listing of activities and deadlines that are the measure of your long-range plan's success. No matter what the age of your long-range plan, you must update your action plan by October 1 each year in order to be eligible for MBLC grant rounds.
Summer is a good time to take a look at what you said you'd be able to accomplish this year. Check to see if you are on target. Adjust your activities to better meet your goals and objectives if something you've tried has not worked. Look beyond what you've achieved and build on your successes for the next fiscal year.
One of your library's goals was to provide programs to meet the needs of middle school age library users.
Accomplishments and challenges: The book club was begun in October. Participation was slow at first, but the library has seen membership increase these past few months. The homework center is successful, but the library staff feels that it is not possible to continue without added staffing and funding. For the next fiscal year, your library might adjust its action plan to:
- Engage student participants to help with public relations for the club in order to increase membership.
- Design a PR campaign for the second year of the program.
- Look for grant funding to keep the homework center going. Include staffing needs in this grant.
Accomplishments and challenges: The library was successful in setting aside a small percentage of its book budget to collect in the home language of the new citizen group. The collection has been well received and well used. The referral service has been slow to take hold. In order to look towards the next year, you might:
- Work to increase the size of this collection. Earmark the same percentage of the book budget this next fiscal year.
- Seek alternate funding through the library Friends or target a fundraiser for this collection. Consider collecting media.
- Find help within the new community to jumpstart the referral service. Double the use of the service next year.
Accomplishments: The monthly computer basics classes are filled. A few volunteers help staff with these sessions. The senior story hour worked well. The library sponsored one lecture funded through the Friends and held at the senior center. In order to continue your library's successes, the next year might see your action plan seek to:
- Continue the senior story hour during National Library Week. Add two more similar events during the year.
- Expand the lecture/lifelong learning series for older citizens. Complete work on a grant with the senior center staff aimed at offering quarterly programs.
Accomplishments: Campus facilities renovated a former study space for library instruction. Information Technology reconditioned and upgraded eight workstations for the space. Your new activities might be to:
- Publicize the new space to faculty. Target faculty who are not ordinarily library users. Offer two general instruction sessions for faculty at the beginning of the term.
- Offer general library instruction workshops for students. Schedule five sign-up sessions throughout the term.
Accomplishments: The faculty approved the new core curriculum for the next academic year. The library committee worked with faculty to voice the need for information literacy skills across the curriculum. In order strengthen what you've achieved you decide to:
- Design an information literacy program that will combine classroom and online instruction methods. Develop a library "class" using the college's course management software. Have both ready for the start of the next academic year.
- Apply for an information literacy grant to broaden the goals of the library's program.
 | Profiles in Collaboration: Making a Difference in the CommunityBy Kathy Cryan-Hicks, Head, Community Services Department, Chelmsford Public Library |
A public library is in a unique position to generate collaborative programs that can make a positive difference in a community. Ideas for such community ventures can evolve from something as simple as a reference question or a discussion with a patron.
Our Library's annual job fair began over seven years ago when we noticed an increase in students visiting our reference desk for information on summer employment. Over the years our Job Fair has become a community event. Instead of calling it the "Library's Job Fair," we titled it "Chelmsford's Annual Summer and Part Time Job Fair." The first step in planning the job fair was to touch base with potential partners. The coordinator of the high school's career center pledged to help with publicity at the high school. Our local business association, a non-profit group that includes most businesses in town, offered to mail our "Employer Registration Form" to all their members. We handled newspaper publicity and phone calls to those employers, not necessarily members of the business association, which would appeal to students. Each year our local Dunkin Donuts franchise generously donates coffee and munchkins. Many of the businesses have plenty of give-aways for the applicants from pens to sports bottles and T-shirts. We also work with representatives from the Business Association to present an employment workshop at the Library the Wednesday evening before the job fair. The workshop entitled, "What Employers Want - A workshop for students entering the work force" helps to prepare our teens for the job fair. After the panelists finsh their talks and answer the many questions, each student has an opportunity to walk up to the panelists, look them in the eyes, and shake their hands.
Our newest program success is a collaborative effort of the Library, our high school students, the local senior center and several adult volunteers. Our challenge is to open the world of the Internet and online databases to our senior population and show them the valuable resources their library has to offer. We brought together teen volunteers and our senior citizens for a training program we titled, "Connecting with Computers." Our adult volunteers help to coordinate things for us. This program creates a real sense of community. Our teens are doing something important to help others in their community, our seniors are learning valuable skills and are staying in touch with the youth in the community, and our reference staff will be able to devote more time on finding answers and less on teaching how to click, double- click and scroll.
There are easier and less time-intensive ways to collaborate with community groups and be just as successful. We have teamed up with a local citizens group to present a program on xeriscape gardening and water conservation and with our Police Department to present a series of programs on safety. Working with our middle schools we set up our middle school textbook shelf. This collection has become quite popular with parents, students and teachers in grades 5-8. Our publicity calls it, "No Textbook is No Excuse" or "Homework Insurance." (For more information see our web page.)
The public library can be the pivot point in a community to bring people and groups together, to help organizations and town departments share information with the public, and to create a real sense of community. Further by staying in touch with your community the programs and services your library offers can help to clarify community issues and solve problems.
(A longer version of this article will appear in a forthcoming edition of "The Shy Librarian" magazine, )
(Editor's Note: We are hoping to run a "Profile" each month. This month we are running an additional "Profile" in the Youth Sevices Column. These articles are submitted to the Editor. The only criterion is that the article include at least one type of collaboration between 2 different institutions. Also, that the submitter be willing to be contacted for more information.)
 | News |
Net Lender Reminder:Statewide ILL Net Lender Forms must be returned to the MBLC offices, postmarked no later than September 3, 2002. Report both statewide and regional interlibrary loan net lending statistics on this form.
If your library is neither a statewide or regional net lender, you should not submit the forms.
Program forms and information can be found on MLIN.
The Statewide ILL Net Lender Offset Program was established to encourage resource sharing among multi-type libraries by helping to defray the cost of inter-regional ILL transactions. Regional library system members who self-certify that they lend, at no charge, a greater amount of library materials to libraries than they borrow from libraries outside their region are eligible to receive a net lender offset from the Board.
Statewide Databases Update:
Starting July 1, 2002, the following Gale Group databases will be added to the statewide licensed databases. All databases are available from your library, K-12 or academic campus, or from home with your library card.
Database overviews for these new databases will be offered in the fall. Below are some quick descriptions:
- Biography Resource Center w/ Marquis Who's Who- This database combines award-winning biographies from respected Gale Group sources. Biography Resource Center also includes full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals. Search for people based on one or more personal facts such as birth and death year, nationality, ethnicity, occupation or gender, or combine criteria to create a highly-targeted custom search.
- InfoTrac Student Edition - InfoTrac Student Edition is designed for high school students, with access to a variety of indexed and full-text magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
- InfoTrac Junior Edition - InfoTrac Junior Edition is designed for students in junior high and middle school and offers them magazines, newspapers and reference books (most full-text) for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
- InfoTrac Kid's Edition - Designed for grades K-6, InfoTrac Kid's Edition introduces young students to the research process - challenging them to think and explore in fun new ways. Kid's Edition gives children easy access to magazines, reference books and newspaper articles selected just for their age group.
- Professional Collection- Professional Collection is a custom selection of more than 300 full text journals for educators and administrators, providing balanced coverage for any professional educator.
- General Reference Center Gold (upgrade from General Reference Center)- Find articles from newspapers, reference books, and periodicals, many with full-text and images. Find the latest current events, popular culture, business and industry coverage, the arts and sciences, sports, hobbies, and more.
Marlene Sue Heroux
Reference Information Systems Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
617-267-9400 ext. 250
LSTA Grants Announced:
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is pleased to announce $1,980,873 in grants has been awarded to 70 public, academic, school, special libraries and regional library networks across the Commonwealth under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
"These grants will be used to implement projects to train adults in the use of the library's computers and electronic resources; offer programs for young children, their parents and caregivers; promote cross-cultural understanding; improve customer service; assist adult literacy students; train librarians via the Web; and help to preserve library's valuable historical records," said Keith Michael Fiels, Director.
Grants were awarded in 12 categories:
- Community Languages
- Customer Service
- Discovery Kits
- Early Childhood
- Information Literacy
- Management of Special Collections
- Mother Goose Asks Why
- Network System Upgrade
- Open Projects
- Preservation Survey
- School Library Incentive
- Serving People with Disabilities
In the Northeast region, the following libraries received LSTA grants:
Beverly Public Schools Information Literacy Grant Beverly Memorial Middle School Discovery Kits Parlin Memorial Library, Everett Early Childhood Parlin Memorial Library, Everett Community Languages Haverhill Public Library Mother Goose Asks Why Northern Essex Comm. College Information Literacy Ipswich Public Library Management of Spec. Collections Manchester-by-the-Sea Mother Goose Asks Why Flint Memorial, North Reading Customer Service Swampscott Public Library Customer Service
Commissioners Elect New Officers:
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners elected new officers on Thursday, July 11, 2002, to serve for FY2003.
Elected Chairman was Joseph S. Hopkins of Amherst; elected Vice Chairman was John E. Arnold of Westborough, and elected Secretary was Dr. Em Claire Knowles of Medford.
"We and the library community face difficult times ahead," says Hopkins. "Our country is in economic turmoil; and our state and its cities and towns are experiencing significant limitations in their ability to maintain valued public services. It is also a time when the availability and delivery of reliable information and knowledge is essential for our well-being and security. It is a matter of public trust," he continued. "Our libraries will continue to fulfill that role: a daunting task."
First appointed as a Commissioner by Governor Paul Cellucci in 1998, Hopkins served as library director in Worcester, Watertown and Meadville, Pennsylvania. He has also served as president of the Massachusetts Library Association, and is a member of the American Library Association, Massachusetts Library Association and New England Library Association.
Arnold is serving his second term on the Board having been appointed a Commissioner by Governor William Weld in 1994. A former library trustee, he served as a delegate to the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services, and is currently serving as co-chair of the Search Committee for a new Director for the Board of Library Commissioners.
Dr. Knowles recently was named a Commissioner by Acting Governor Jane Swift last year, and is the current Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College. She also serves on a number of other boards including the American Library Association, Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Massachusetts Black Librarians' Network, Massachusetts Library Association and the New England Library Association.
The Board of Library Commissioners is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate, regulate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.
 | Regional ILL Centers Updates |
| Memorial Hall Library (Andover) Phone: 978-623-8401 x15 Fax: 978-623-8406 |
NOBLE (Danvers) Phone: 978-777-8844 Fax: 978-750-8472 |
Interlibrary Loan Best Practices Task Report now available!
The NMRLS Interlibrary Loan Best Practices Task Force was a result of the NMRLS Interlibrary Loan Committee Plan of Service objectives for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. The Interlibrary Loan Best Practices Task Force was charged with the task of investigating ILL practices and making appropriate recommendations to the ILL committee. The final report was issued by the Task Force on June 28, 2002 and accepted by the ILL Committee on July 18, 2002.
The ILL Task Force decided that the best way to gather information related to their charge would be a three-pronged approach. First, conduct a professional literature search using the online full-text databases available in our Region (Gale InfoTrac and EBSCOHost). Second, search for web sites on ILL best practices. Third, survey other multi-type regional library systems throughout the United States. The results of this research are available in the appendixes to the final report.
The research conducted by the Task Force not only served as catalyst for new ideas but also as a self-check of ILL services in our Region. The work behind this report allowed the Task Force to re-examine the services and procedures already provided by the ILL centers in the Region. The Task Force findings indicate that NMRLS is at or exceeds the level of services offered by other regional library systems across the United States. The most striking example of innovation in NMRLS is the use of ARIEL document delivery software as a regional ILL tool. The use of ARIEL was not uncommon in the survey of other regional library systems; however that use was limited to specific libraries and not seen as a shared tool for other members in that region.
The Task Force's nationwide survey of other multi-type regional ILL centers confirmed many assumptions about ILL and delivery. Demand is increasing while funding is not. Nearly every library system surveyed had implemented patron placed holds via an OPAC. That in itself has had tremendous impact on ILL and delivery for regional systems. At the same time this service has increased positive feelings about library services by both librarians and their patrons. Also, given the reality of fiscal restraints that many systems, including NMRLS, operate under, an overwhelmingly "can-do" attitude was evident from the interlibrary loan librarians surveyed. This reflects quite positively on libraries and the library profession as a whole.
The Task Force recommended action in the four areas listed below. The ILL Committee will be taking these recommendations into consideration for action during the next year.
- Finalize the NMRLS ILL procedures and best practices manuals for member libraries in FY03.
- ILL Promotion.
- Copyright education for ILL issues.
- Centralized pick-up/drop-off points for NMRLS member Libraries not on delivery.
- Scott Kehoe, Consultant/Trainer - NMRLS, Danvers - Chairperson.
- Mary Ann Blair, Circulation Librarian - Winthrop Public Library, Winthrop.
- Marilyn Graves, Interlibrary Loan Librarian - NOBLE, Danvers.
- Anna Kjoss, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator - Memorial Hall Library, Andover.
- Kevin McGrath, Library Media Specialist - Beverly High School Library, Beverly.
- Kristina Worcester, Head of Information Services - J. V. Fletcher Library, Westford.
 | NMRLS Regional Reference and Research Centers |
| Regional Reference Centers | ||
|
Memorial Hall Library (Andover) Phone: 978-623-8401 Fax: 978-623-8407 |
Lawrence Law Library Phone: (978) 687-7608 Fax: (978) 688-2346 |
Reference On Call Phone:866-733-6622 (toll-free) |
By Eleanor Sathan
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Memorial Hall Library in Andover is contracted by the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System to provide supplementary reference service to all NMRLS member libraries. You are encouraged to call the reference desk at Memorial Hall Library with questions that cannot be answered with the materials available in your library. The Memorial Hall reference staff of twelve MLS certified librarians is eager to assist you. This service is available by telephone at 978/623-8401 ext. 31, by fax at 978/623-8407, or via the Web.
New Reference Additions:
The two volume set, Dictionary of American Literary Characters, lists the major characters in novels published from 1789 to 2000. The characters appear in novels that have either won book awards, or are included on major bestseller lists.
Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders describes over 350 rare and common genetic disorders. The information for each disorder includes a description of the disorder, its symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment.
World Atlas of the Oceans, published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service, contains charts, graphs and topographical maps of the seas and oceans. Also included are descriptions of the marine animal and plant life, information about geological formations, and maps of ocean currents.
Interesting Web Sites:
International Telephone Codes
Use this site to find international dialing codes.
Home Remodeling Ideas
Detailed "how to" instructions for home improvement projects are easily accessible on this site sponsored by House and Garden TV.
Nutrient Data Laboratory
The Nutrient Data Laboratory, sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, contains a wealth of nutritional information including the nutritional values of foods.
Stumper for July:
What is a group of pigs called?
Answer: A group of domesticated pigs is called a herd or a drove. A group of wild pigs is called a sounder.
Source
Gwen Charter of the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody found the answer In the Oxford English Dictionary. Thanks, Gwen!
Stumper for August:
I know that it is customary to bring bread and salt as a housewarming gift. Are there other traditional housewarming gifts?
Submitted by Brian J. Archambault , Head Law Librarian, Lawrence Law Library. (The opinions expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries.)
Lawrence Law Library Continues to Offer Extended Hours Through the Summer:
The Lawrence Law Library, located at the Fenton Judicial Center, 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence, MA is open to the public as follows:
| Monday through Thursday: | 8:30AM to 9:00PM |
| Friday: | 8:30AM to 4:30PM |
| Saturday: | 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
Trial Court Security Officers are stationed at the Appleton Street entrance, and the Law Library is on the second floor.
Evening and Weekend Hours are made possible by NMRLS funding, as part of the Reference-On-Call service. We are available in person, by telephone (978-687-7608), fax (978-688-2346) or email.
The NMRLS Region includes three of the seventeen Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries: Lawrence Law Library, Lowell Law Library, and the Essex Law Library (Salem, MA). Directions, hours, telephone numbers and email addresses for all Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries can be found on the Web site.
 | Reference On Call |
 | This month, Reference on Call has been an exciting one. Our 24/7 Reference continues to challenge our staff with interesting questions, and interesting patrons from all over the country. |
 | If you haven't already done so, please consider creating a link from your homepage to Reference On Call. This is the best way to make the service useful to your patrons, and it will enhance your services without added effort on your library's part! |
To help you get the word out, see the many promotional tools that are available, such as magnets, bookmarks and business cards.
Remember that we are always available to meet with you or your students to show you ways you can get the most out of this service. Feel free to contact me at 781-944-0840.
Reference on Call is provided by NMRLS through state funding administered by the MBLC in co-operation with your local library.
 | Youth Services Column |
Profiles in Collaboration:
Story Time Train
by Sara Collins, Children's Librarian, Manchester-by-the-Sea LibraryHundreds of eager children, a hundred or two of tired parents, and several exhausted train conductors. Have I left anyone out? That's right, what about the 15 libraries and their staff who organize, coordinate, volunteer, fund, and have offered the Story Time Train to the public for nine years (with only one cancellation due to rain, so make it eight successful years). If it takes a village to raise a child, surely it takes the entire North Shore, or much of it, to keep this wonderful summer tradition going.
Over 557 children and parents boarded the Northbound train on Wednesday, July 11, 2002, to all arrive in Rockport. The children had signed up with their local participating libraries, many of whom are not on the train but still assigned a nearby stop for their patrons to board. Children were giggling, excited about what would be the first train ride for many, a favorite summer activity for others. The conductors seemed well prepared this year and greeted the children smiling and with patience. (Imagine if one hundred extra bouncing bodies showed up at your office this morning. Okay, but you're a children's librarian!)
Rockport always has provided a grand welcome and this year the Junior Friends were waving flags for the Star-Spangled Summer Reading Club as well as their welcoming banner. The Friends led the way to the meadow, the Rockport police provided traffic guidance, and we were well on our way. Josh Kennedy, of Boxford Public Library, greeted the children musically at the meadow's entrance as the parade of families found its way into the park and selected picnic sites. Soon, four stations of activities were underway. Tattooing at the yellow balloons was led by JoAnne Dearin of the Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, while Rich Nunziato, a magician/conductor from Ipswich offered magic tricks at the white balloons. Marilyn Pauley of the Ipswich Public Library who wasn't even participating this year had suggested Rich. What great teamwork! Two stations of storytelling, Professionals Lucille Lepage and Merrill Kohlhofer at the blue balloons and Yours Truly of Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, plus Liza Craig-McCormack of Hamilton-Wenham Public Library and Rockport volunteers, Anne Ouellette and Mike Parillo, at the red balloons. We finished with a brief concert from Scott Kepnes, and a content and weary group of smiling children made their way back to the train. The train conductors surprised us all with train bookmarks of MBTA safety tips, truly getting into the spirit of the day. Perhaps a few more children were in strollers going home, some in a parents arms, some asleep on the train, but all had memorable day and a fine ride home.
End of the story? Not quite. What does it take for this incredible event to occur? I say incredible because that is exactly what it is. When was the last time you saw hundreds of families from Revere, Swampscott, Nahant, Marblehead, Salem, Danvers, Hamilton-Wenham, Boxford, Beverly, Beverly Farms, Manchester, Essex, Gloucester, and Rockport picnicking, playing, singing, together? It can only happen when each of those towns has a children's librarian who thinks great library fun is worth the effort, when library directors can imagine what a terrific lasting impression each library patron is experiencing, when the MBTA rolls with the punches as we all ride the rails, and everyone pulls together.
It started as a Cape Ann Plan. Jane Knight of Rockport, Nancy Bonne of Beverly, Cathy Talty of Gloucester, Christy Rosso of Gloucester, and I, Sara Collins of Manchester, have been commuting together to monthly children's librarians meetings for years. We brainstorm in the car, we share library successes and pitfalls, and we talk, a lot, as we all live within a mile or two of each other in Gloucester and Rockport. We might be in car an hour each way. That year our state theme was "Ticket to Read". I was planning on focusing on trains but didn't see how I could hold the final party on the train (although I loved the idea). Nancy mentioned Millbrook meadow, Cathy mentioned entertainment, Jane mentioned the Junior Friends and away we went! (Okay it wasn't that smooth, but here we are, years later with staff from 15 libraries either assisting on tattooing, performing, or in Jane's case, arranging all on-site, permit, police, welcome, balloon set-ups, Nancy's case, coordinating with the MBTA and getting counts from each town, my case, assigning seat counts, train buddies for each town, organizing the performers, booking and scheduling them and getting each town to chip in $25 for stipends to the professionals. The towns might use petty cash, money from Friends of the Library, grant funds, you name it for their contribution.) Many staff members are involved at the participating libraries, I haven't listed them all simply because I don't have a list from each town and I'm taking too much space for Susan Babb's request of "Could you say a few words about the Story Time Train and how it's all pulled together?" Well, yes!
(Editor's Note: An article on this event was written up in the Gloucester Times, July 11th.)
A Star*Spangled Summer at Your Library
Nanci Milone Hill, Assistant Director at the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield has created a web based booklist in conjunction with the 2002 State-wide reading program. "From Sea to Shining Sea" is a list of adult fiction taking place in each of the states. The list is indexed and connects into the NOBLE catalog. In order to view shelf status and/or availability, you need only to click on a specific title. She hopes that libraries know about this list and encourages them to link to it from their web sites. Comments, suggestions, observations about the list are greatly appreciated.
Star*Spangled Massachusetts Web Sites:
To inform our patrons of the supportive role of the regional library systems, participating libraries are required to use the following credit line on all library summer statewide reading program publicity and in press releases:
A Star*Spangled Summer at Your Library!, the 2002 Statewide Reading Program, is funded by your local library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.The libraries creatively promoting our A Star*Spangled Summer at Your Library! statewide summer reading program via the Internet with sites that include our credit line are featured on the web site.
The MFA Sparkles in "A Star*Spangled Summer"
Links to this very special program.
Final Call for Submissions for 2003! Read! Think! Create! @ Your Library!
Beginning in 2003, the support materials for the Statewide Summer Reading Program will be presented to Massachusetts librarians in two new formats. Rather than a lengthy manual, librarians will receive a "Planning Kit" in December, containing all the resources needed to start planning a summer reading program. Then, in February, the new "Web Resource" will become available online. This online resource will contain program ideas and reproducibles similar to those included in summer manuals of the past.
However, the materials will be presented in a new format: sample 6-8 week summer reading programs for several age groups ranging from birth to young adult. Each sample program will provide book lists, activities, songs, and reproducibles to go along with the 2003 theme. Each of the six regions has agreed to manage the compilation and development of an age-specific section of the Web Resource. Please assign an age level to your contribution, and direct your submission to the regional representative coordinating the materials for that age group.
Templates and guidelines are available at the Statewide Summer Reading program site under "Upcoming Statewide Summer Reading Programs" to help you with page layout. Please follow these guidelines when submitting entries. The Massachusetts Regional Library Systems Statewide Reading Program Steering Committee needs submissions by August 30, 2002 to allow time for revision and proofing.
On behalf of the Summer Reading Program Committee and the Regional Consultants, thank you for your help and participation! If you have any questions about the "new look," please contact me!
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Grants:
The Foundation offers Minigrants of $350 to School and Public Libraries for programs that encourage literacy and creativity in children. The deadline is September 15. Programs relating to the work of Ezra Jack Keats are welcome, but not required. For more information, please visit the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Web Site.
Upcoming NMRLS Youth Services Programs:
Youth Services Book Review meetings, NRMLS Headquarters, Danvers:
All meetings begin at 10:00 and end at 12:00.
August 26, 2002Youth Services on the Web: Web Sites as Resources
8/13/02 -- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers -- Evaluating Web Sites
With millions of sites to choose from, how do you know which sites are legitimate or suitable for using with your library patrons or students? In this workshop, participants will create criteria to look at sites and analyze sites, using the criteria.The Basics for Youth Services: Designing Program Flyers
8/19/02 -- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers
Learn basic principles of design and layout for flyers, using Microsoft Word. Also learn how to use clip art and graphics from the Internet. Practice your skills in the NMRLS lab and produce a finished flyer that you can use back at your library. Participants may bring images to scan and use in their flyers.
 | What’s New with Staff and Libraries in the Region? |
Pollard Memorial Library's Story Brigade:
There's a different summer program for YA's at the Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell. Coordinator of Youth Services, Molly Hancock, and YA librarian, Vicky Woodley, knew an active and interactive program would be the way to go. The result is the Story Brigade. Made up of 8 students ranging from middle school to high school, the Brigade conducts drop in story times. Weeks prior to the story time event, members met for training sessions where they learned about what makes a good story, read aloud techniques, the importance of songs and finger plays and of course to socialize! The Brigade practiced reading and offered suggestions to each other. They also received special "Story Brigade" t-shirts to wear for story times. Vicky Woodley coordinated the trainings and works directly with the group. The members are excited and enthusiastic. Vicky is hopeful that the Brigade is not limited to a summer activity and becomes a year round fixture.
The Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen, Reopened on June 15, 2002
Library trustees and Methuen residents turned out to view the new Nevins Memorial Library during its gala reception and preview on April 13, 2002. The $6.8 million renovation and construction project took three years and expanded the library, built in 1883, from 17,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet. The community again supported their beautifully expanded library in overwhelming numbers during the June 15, 2002 ribbon cutting ceremony. Although the weather was not cooperative, the festivities and refreshments were enjoyed by a full house of well wishers of all ages from near and far.
As we watched, the old library was virtually cloned and reattached to itself at a 90-degree angle, yielding a rejuvenated building, which is at once both new and spacious as well as old and comforting. The old has met the new with style and class. The original structure is barely distinguishable from the new wing on the outside, and inside the differences are clear and subtle at the same time. "We now have an elevator, air conditioning, lots of electrical plugs (something that used to be in very short supply), three meeting rooms, a quiet study area and we are now a modern state-of-the-art facility," said library director Krista McLeod. No more apologies for being far too small. No more 40-degree rooms in the winter and 100-degree rooms in the summer. No more discarding an old book for every new one that needed shelf space. And, since the entire building project started because of the lack of handicapped accessibility, no more of the shame that was the price of historic charm.
The main entrance, now located at the intersection of the two wings, opens to the circulation desk and reserve section. The ground level also hosts the elegant trustees meeting room and the ever-growing multimedia collection. A convenient and inviting area for young adult patrons has also been created. The unique character of the older section has been given special attention. The elevated stacks are now accessible to all and contain study carrels. The library's two fireplaces have once again become focal points and a retro tinned ceiling has been added. The usability of the Great Hall has been improved with the addition of a restroom and a kitchenette for functions.
The Children's section on the lower level has grown from 600 square feet to 4,000 square feet and offers an inviting motif of bringing the outside in with animal prints and unique stained glass windows. The Technical Service areas now have more adequate work areas and modernized office space. The reference collection has its home on the upper level with the Director's office and an enclosed private study area. The overall Internet access computers have risen from 1 to 35. From inside and outside the entire facility seems perfectly nestled into its location as if it has always been there. Despite all the changes, the special features that placed the Nevins Memorial Library in the National Register of Historic Places were kept and restored. The Nevins Memorial Library Community extends a sincere invitation to all to come visit us and to share in our new library experience.
Terry Kyrios has been appointed the new director of the Salisbury Public Library. Gail Lyon retired as director. Terry most recently served as a combination reference, technology and children's librarian for Salisbury.
"The force was with them" at the Wilmington's Star Wars Festival!
On June 27th Star Wars "junkies" of all ages gathered at the Wilmington Memorial Library to share their enthusiasm and knowledge of the ever-popular Star Wars phenomenon. Attendees participated in not one but two action-filled rounds of Star Wars Jeopardy. Yes, even a few double Jeopardy questions popped up! That activity was followed by Star Wars monopoly, a pizza party, listening to Star Wars movie soundtracks and drawing Star Wars ships, characters and light sabers on a wall mural and book marks. Participants gravitated to and checked out items from the extensive Star Wars display. The display included books, audio books, videocassettes, graphic novels and music soundtracks. And to top if all off, a parent picking up his son at the end of the program, suggested a great website where one can take a personality test to see which Star Wars character they are like. It turns out that this Young Adult librarian has the same personality traits as Luke Sky Walker . Not bad!
Nathalie Demers
Young Adult Librarian
Wilmington Memorial Library
Newsletter Deadline for September
We are transitioning to a PDF format for the Newsletter. Please look for the "new look" this month and then look for the September Newsletter online in PDF in early September.
Please send your articles to Susan Babb by August 28, 2002.
Share information about your staff and your library with the NMRLS community! Book reviews, articles, letters, success stories are all welcome!
 | Job Postings |
- Director, Burlington Public Library
- Part Time Reference Librarian, Salem State College
- Clerical Assistant, Tewksbury Public Library
- Director, Haverhill Public Library
- Technical Services Assistant, Wilmington Memorial Library
- Coordinator of Children's Services, Memorial Hall Library, Andover
To have a listing from your library included on our web site, please email the posting to Lucie Gallagher. The listing will be the first and third Fridays of the month.
NMRLS posts library-related jobs on our site for positions within the region or related to the region, e.g., positions in other regional systems, automated resource sharing networks, or at our funding agency, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. For positions outside the region, search the Board of Library Commissioners' Web page under "Library Position Vacancies".