Patty DiTullio is the Librarian for NMRLS new member school, Lowell Community Charter School.
Buffie Diercks is the LMS for the new school, Crisafulli Elementary School, in Westford.
Valerie Loughman is the new LMS for the Abbot Elementary School in Westford.
David R. Jelley, is the Library Manager for the new Special Library member R & D Library, OSRAM Sylvania, Inc.
Peabody Institute Library (Danvers) announced promotions of Donna Maturi, Reference Librarian; and Suzanne MacLeod, Assistant Director,
Hugh Williams retired in December as the Director of Stoneham Public Library. Mary Todd is the Interim Director.
Bill Whiting is the Director of the new NMRLS Special Library member,
Topsfield Historical Society.
Carol Ann Dumond is the Library Media Specialist for the new NMRLS member
Landmark School, in Beverly.
Susan Keroes has just retired from her position as LMS at the Marshall Middle School, Billerica, and her position was filled with Mary Melaugh. She began on January 6, 2003.
Ellen Rauch is leaving Carlisle to become the Director of the Somerville Public Library in mid-February.
Haverhill Public Library has hired a new director, Nancy Rea, to begin in March. They have an announcement on their website: http://www.Haverhillpl.org/

Ipswich Helps Immigrants:

A volunteer tutoring program has been instituted recently at Ipswich Public Library to help immigrants improve their English. The first phase was a six-week training program, provided free of charge by a State-funded organization called SABES (System for Adult Basic Education Support). Twenty-three people, mostly Ipswich residents, completed the training program, which was held during August and September at the Library.

The second phase has involved matching each tutor with an applicant. As of January 9, 2003, 49 people from 20 countries have applied to be tutored. Seventeen of the applicants are from Brazil, and many of the others are from eastern European countries, such as Greece, Poland, and Romania. Each pair meets once a week, usually in the Library, at a time that is good for them both.

Many of the learners in this program have some fluency in English and just want to polish their skills. Approximately 17 of the applicants, however, have very little ability to speak English, and plans are underway to offer them classes with more formal instruction. Ipswich Shellfish Company and Ipswich Co-Operative Bank have provided funding for the professional services of two ESL teachers.

Reference Librarian Paula Grillo, the coordinator of the tutoring program, has been both amazed and pleased by the response she has received from the Ipswich community in undertaking this worthwhile project.