Governor Names Katherine Dibble to Library Commission

Katherine K. Dibble of Roslindale has been appointed by Governor Mitt Romney to the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Her term runs through June of 2008 and she replaces former Commissioner Michéle Mann of Beverly who resigned in July.

Dibble has had a long career in libraries with the Boston Public Library where she began in 1966 at the Hyde Park Branch. Through the years she worked as an adult, library loan and research librarian. Most recently she was the Director of Public Services from 1999 to 2003 when she retired. Among her professional memberships are the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, and City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library. She has also served as President and other capacities with the Boston Chapter of the Women's National Books Association, as well as a Trustee of the French Library and Cultural Center in Boston, and is currently a Board Member of the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

A graduate of Yankton College in South Dakota, she has her Master of Library Science from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Library Science.

Just a Reminder! Massachusetts Library Directory Available on MLIN

Looking for a colleague? Don't know who to contact in a neighboring (or across the state) library for an interlibrary loan? Have a question about collections or access in a special library? Where do you turn to find the names of children's librarians in the NMRLS communities?

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) compiles a Statewide Library Directory of over 1,700 regional member libraries. The Directory is hosted on the Massachusetts Library and Information Network (MLIN) web site www.mlin.org/libraries/directory/index.php. It serves as a one-stop resource for library contacts in the state, covering main library buildings, branches, departments, and key staff contact in the libraries.

The Directory can be searched using a variety of criteria, including: organization name, library name, municipality, and library type. You can search for library staff by name or function, or click on "advanced search." There you'll have options to choose the entire region, or all the directors, or all circulation librarians, or a combination. There's a public view and a librarian's view with a bit more information. (The latter needs a user name and password, so call NMRLS if you don't know these.)

The Directory is a cooperative effort between the MBLC and the six regional library system offices. The regional offices are responsible for maintaining currency and accuracy in the database for their own members. For NMRLS, Lucie Gallagher keeps the information up-to-date.

But, we can only input the most current information if you let us know! Please look at your own library's record to ensure that your information is correct and provide updates to the NMRLS office via fax (978-739-4537), phone (978-762-4433), or email to lucie@nmrls.org.