Good Bye and Good Luck to Two Friends and Colleagues:

Meredith Turner has retired from being the Children's Librarian at the Flint Public Library in Middleton. She held that position since September of 1986, providing services and programs to the community with unflagging devotion and dedication. Previous to that position, she was Assistant Children's Librarian at the Flint Memorial Library (North Reading) for 11 years and had also worked as a librarian in one of the elementary schools in North Reading.

She takes great pride in being the founding creator of the "Under 10's Children's Librarians" (those who work in communities with populations of under 10 thousand). She remembers how about 10 years ago it became very clear to her that children's librarians working in these small communities were not only "not on the same page" as larger communities but also "not even in the same boat" in regards to budgets, facilities, and staffing. This group will continue to meet on a quarterly basis in Middleton under the leadership of Children's Librarian Josh Kennedy (Boxford) and Assistant Children's Librarian Karen Tivnan (Middleton). Problem solving, sharing program ideas, and lending an ear to each other is invaluable to these children's librarians who have the job of their colleagues in larger libraries but with fewer resources.

Meredith was feted in her library during her last week by over a 100 people, including legislators who gave her declarations of thanks. The town gave her a Hitchcock chair, but she won't be seen sitting in that too often! She looks forward to volunteering her time and expertise to local libraries and schools. Among many of the gifts she received in her party, one was a bouquet of chocolate. She will be missed in her community, and she will be missed in the region.

Eilene Chadbourne resigned as the Children's Librarian at the Rowley Public Library. Eilene stated "as my husband and I move toward retirement, it is time to make some changes in my life." Eilene was the Children's Librarian in Rowley for 19 years, but her association with the Rowley Public Library began much earlier. As a lifelong Rowley resident, Eilene attended the Library in its first town location. She worked at the library while she was in college, and then again when she became the Children's Librarian in 1984. Her kids attended Story Hour and Craft Times when they were young, and Eilene's love of literature has made her one of the most active material borrowers in town.

Through her 19 years, Eilene made countless connections with kids and always followed their progress throughout the years. She never failed to recognize a high school, college student, or adult, who was once one of her Story Hour children. Her genuine interest in people was apparent.

Eilene will be missed, by not only the staff, but by the community as well. We all wish her much luck in her future endeavors.

YSLead Massachusetts 2003:

Congratulations to seven NMRLS library staff members who are successful applicants to YSLead Massachusetts 2003, to be held July 24 - 26 at Endicott College in Beverly. Names of those who have accepted the YSLead challenge will be published in the April issue of the Newsletter.

Two NMRLS YSLead steering committee members ably reviewed applications. Thanks to Beth Kerrigan, Memorial Hall Library, and Corinne Fisher, Reading Public Library for their thoughtful work.

For more information, please visit http://www.wmrls.org/YSLead/ .

The Youth Services and Young Adult web sites of the J.V. Fletcher Library in Westford are up!

Log on to www.westfordlibrary.org, click on Services, then Children's and Young Adult and Voila! Kathy Hutchins, Head of Youth Services and Kira McGann, Young Adult Specialist

Youth Services Makes the Front Page!

Be sure to visit our refreshed front page http://www.nmrls.org/ and be able to click directly upon Youth Services! Now there's no excuse for not knowing the latest! There's also a direct link to the Statewide Summer Reading Page.