Volume 5, Issue 5 — May 2002
NMRLS News:
Delivery Update
By Susan GrabskiThe results are in from our Spring Delivery Survey and volume is up! The number of items moving throughout the region is up about 45% over last year. This is great news for libraries and patrons who are enjoying the ease of the new patron-placed hold system. Delivery services, on the other hand, are facing some challenges. With the increase in volume, our hard-working drivers have had difficulty accommodating all of the outgoing bins in their vehicles. The result has been a slow down in the expected 24-hour turnaround service that we had come to rely on. NMRLS hopes to resolve this dilemma in mid-May so that services can return to normal.
Issues that we will be addressing are:
Thank you to those libraries that participated in the survey. Tracking activity bi-annually provides a snapshot of what's going on out there in "delivery land." Since delivery services are the foundation for resource sharing in the region, we value your input. If you have additional concerns about delivery services or have suggestions that will help us improve the current structure, please feel free to contact Susan Grabski or Lucie Gallagher.
- The addition of a 7th route or the addition of a secondary Saturday or Monday (Tuesday on holiday weeks) route to the busiest 15 NMRLS libraries. This additional route would help offset the heavy Monday volume from the weekend and the even heavier Tuesday volume after a Monday holiday.
- The need for more red bins.
- Improved communication with our delivery service provider in order to anticipate the need for changes in service before volume becomes a problem in the future.
NMRLS at Library and Information Science Recruitment Fair for the Simmons College (GSLIS), April 16th
By Scott KehoeNMRLS attended a very successful Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science Recruitment Fair on Tuesday, April 16th. We handed out over 40 job description flyers for positions available at our member libraries! We also collected resumes from Library Science students about to graduate this May or next fall. If you are interested in having these resumes on file at your library please contact Scott Kehoe and we can have them mailed or faxed to you.
Annual Legislative Day at the State House
By Greg PronevitzThe Massachusetts Library Association held its annual Library Legislative Day at the State House on April 10, 2002. A large turnout of Librarians, Trustees, Friends, and Legislators (including a good representation from the Northeast) enjoyed a morning of legislative briefings followed by lunch and a series of speakers.
Visit our Web site for photos.
Reference Forms Online
By Jeff Klapes, Reference Committee ChairThe NMRLS Reference Committee has been working on two projects this year in which we hope libraries will participate. Two forms for gathering and distributing information on these projects are now available for you to fill out on the NMRLS Web site.
The first is to create a directory of libraries interested in informally trading staff for professional development. If you have reference staff that would like to visit other libraries, or host other reference staff at your own desks, please let us know via the online survey. We will maintain a list of libraries that would like to participate, along with contact information so you can arrange your own visits. Members of the Reference Committee have already done some trial trades and found them enjoyable and informative. It's a great way to see how other reference departments work, share ideas, and meet staff in the region. It's also a great way to see how other library types, or libraries much larger or smaller than yours, do business.
The second project is to maintain a directory of member libraries on the NMRLS web site that have particular strengths in foreign languages - either foreign language materials, or staff that are conversant in other languages. The 2000 census clearly shows that our region continues to see more and more residents who are non-English speakers, and the Reference Committee would like to find ways to encourage better service to these groups. If you collect books, newspapers, media, or other sources in foreign languages, or have fluent staff, we want to know! Please fill out the online form and we will tabulate the information so that librarians and patrons will be able to find libraries that may serve their language needs.
There is no deadline for filling out the forms, as this is an ongoing project, but we hope you will be able to take the time to make sure your library's information is known to others in the Region.
Electronic Reference News:
By Greg PronevitzWe thank the membership for participation in the recent survey of electronic services. Over 90 members responded. The NMRS Reference Committee met on April 9th to evaluate the results and make purchase recommendations. We expect to add one or two of these titles by the summer. The following services were listed as highest priority for purchase. NMRLS staff are in negotiations with three providers.
In addition, we are considering implementation of a title list service from Serials Solutions to compliment our electronic databases. This service will provide an alphabetical list of serials included in NMRLS, NOBLE, and MVLC electronic databases with links from each title to the appropriate database. This will assist library staff and patrons looking for electronic versions of specific serial titles.
- CQ Researcher
- InfoUSA (residential/business phone directory)
- Access Science
License Renewal Status for Current NMRLS Services:
SIRS Researcher and Discoverer renewed until July 31, 2003 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, New Book of Knowledge, Encyclopedia Americana Online, and a new Spanish-language title, Nueva enciclopedia Cumbre en línea negotiations complete, renewal planned until July 31, 2003 Electric Library expires August 31, 2002, negotiations underway for possible renewal Informe expires August 31, 2002, renewal planned OCLC FirstSearch, NetFirst, WorldCat expires July 31, 2002, renewal planned Dialog@CARL Basic Collection expires November 30, 2002, renewal planned License Renewal Status for Statewide Services:
Gale Group (expanded collection) - renewed until June 30, 2004
Dialog@CARL Boston Globe - expires June 30, 2002; renewal not planned
Wilson Biographies - expires December 31, 2002; renewal not plannedSIRS On-site Training Opportunities
Deborah Bergeron of SIRS Publishing would like to offer NMRLS members the opportunity to receive on-site training for the SIRS databases - Discoverer and Researcher. Deborah taught at the high school level for 10 years prior to joining SIRS and can offer knowledge about the databases as well as insight into practical classroom and library application. District level training during in-service days is an excellent way to motivate and educate your staff.
If you would like to arrange a FREE on site training for your school or library please call 1-800-232-7477 x620 to schedule an appointment.
Executive Board Summary - NMRLS, Danvers - April 29, 2002
Upcoming Meetings: Susan Grabski reminded the Board that the next scheduled meeting would be on May 15, 2002 at the Beverly Public Library from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.
Membership Recertification Task Force: Vicki Yablonsky provided a brief history of the process to determine eligibility requirements for NMRLS membership. She explained that the Task Force had met to discuss some of the issues associated with the decertification process. They felt that standardizing the current forms (Certification of Membership Eligibility Form and the NMRLS Eligibility Form for Mass. DOE Certification of On-site Library Media Specialist Form) so that the Principal is the primary contact would help eliminate confusion about who is the one responsible for assuring that a school meets eligibility standards. In the past the librarian had been the first point of contact. The Task Force is looking to make the process as smooth as possible. The revised certification forms were approved unanimously.
Discussion about need for an appeals process when a library no longer meets eligibility standards - Greg asked the Board how they felt about formulating an appeals process for libraries facing decertification. A discussion ensued with some Board members expressing that the current process gives libraries sufficient opportunity to present their situation. Other Board members felt that allowing former members the opportunity to reapply at any time was all that was needed in terms of appeal. The question arose about how other regions were handling similar situations. Some members felt that the regions should adopt a standard policy so that schools are not treated differently from region to region. Greg reported that the MBLC and regions are working to establish a statewide interpretation of the standards.Reports:
MBLC: Keith Michael Fiels will become ALA's New Executive Director. ALA President, John W. Berry announced the appointment of Keith Michael Fiels as the American Library Association's new Executive Director effective July 1, 2002.
Supplemental Services: Carol Bacon, Committee Chair, informed the group that the committee was looking for new members. The Committee will be continuing to give the under 25,000 libraries $600 each to purchase materials. The program has been working well and, therefore, will be continued.
Reference: Greg explained that NMRLS has just concluded an electronic reference trial that resulted in the following recommendation from the Committee. The Committee prioritized the following three titles. It is likely that NMRLS will purchase 2 of these titles by June 30, 2002. We are currently negotiating with three vendors.
- CQ Researcher
- ReferenceUSA
- AccessScience
Special Libraries: Greg said that the Committee now has two co-chairs, but no members. Mary Behrle will be the new staff liaison to the Committee. A group of special librarians continue to meet quarterly at each other libraries.
Regional Administrator Report: Greg informed the group that the Digital Library Task Force had met and unanimously approved the purchase of a planetary scanner that would be housed at the NMRLS office, but would be available to member libraries for their use. The scanner is top of the line and has the ability to scan fragile documents. The group felt that enabling libraries to digitize historical records would benefit the entire region. It is also in keeping with the regions efforts to provide remote access to NMRLS services as images could be viewed from patron's homes.
Other: Victoria Yablonsky announced that she had been elected to the Reading Public Library's Board of Trustees. She added that she could not participate in any votes pertaining to Reading because it could present a conflict of interest. The Board congratulated Vicki on this achievement.
Executive Board Retreat Priorities - April 29, 2002
After a morning session of discussion and an afternoon of break-out sessions, retreat participants prioritized the next directions they believed the Executive Board should take, including the following initiatives:
- The creation of a Board Development Committee would provide continuing education opportunities to Board members and establish a process to prepare new members. An idea was presented to bring members up through the committee structure and establish a mentoring program for them.
- The call went out for more member involvement in NMRLS planning. Led by present committee chairs, the establishment of more focused task forces and ad hoc committees (the models being the digitization initiative and ILL Best Practices Task Force) would help lighten the work of NMRLS staff.
- Members discussed the idea of creating a small Legislative Education Committee to complement the efforts of the MBLC in the region. The Committee would take roles as liaisons to MBLC meetings, to MLA, and to MSLMA. They would proactively connect with legislators throughout the year.
- A Public Relations Committee, made up of Board members, library staff, and interested community members, would present a consistent and strong message knowledgeably and "joyfully sung." They would create and establish a public relations plan for NMRLS to increase support among the user population and funders.
 | Charting the Course: Planning Ahead for MBLC GrantsBy Mary Behrle May is not too early to be thinking about your long-range plan on file at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Depending upon its age, an update or a revision of your library's plan is due at the MBLC on October 1st. If you are looking for support from a state or federally funded grant program, all the pieces need to be in place before you can apply for grants. |
The MBLC requires several parts to long-range plans. We will, over the upcoming months, help you chart your planning course, keep an eye on the October deadline and look ahead to the grant round announcements that will follow in mid-Fall. If this is your first time writing a plan, you will find some help here as well.
Long-range plans include a mission statement, needs assessment, multi-year (3-5) goals and objectives, and an action plan. As you complete the plan, you will tie it together with a description of the methodology involved in its writing and a final stamp of approval by your governing body.
The first part required is the mission statement. A mission statement defines concisely:
- Who are you? A public, school, academic, or special library.
- Why are you in operation? To provide service to your community, your campus, or your organization. In a public library, this could be in the form of research and recreational material, along with services to your various constituencies. In a school or college library setting, your job is to support the curriculum and the mission of the school. In a special library setting your library collection affirms the mission of your institution.
- Who do you serve? Your local community members, constituent members of your automated network, faculty, students, alumnae, researchers, co-workers, corporate administrators.
 | PLA (Public Library Association) Perspectives: Part TwoThe 9th National Public Library Association was recently held in Phoenix, Arizona, March 12 - 16, 2002. We had reports in the April Newsletter from several members who attended the conference and have a few more to share! |
Corinne Fisher, Head of Youth Services at the Reading Public Library, offers some quick synopses of several of the programs she attended:
Mentoring: Library Leaders for our Future was presented by representatives from large library systems - Multnomah, Chicago and Los Angeles. They talked about growing your own leaders and ways libraries can encourage staff to become librarians. Many of them have leadership seminars or monthly meetings of interested parties, incentive and release programs and encourage conference attendance. The topics covered in the seminars/meetings include the "Big Picture", library's vision, finance and funding, decision-making and capital projects as well as expose attendees to different library departments. LA mentors pages in particular by exposing them to a wide variety of library tasks. Multnomah had the most controversial approach for planning for staff losses ahead. They identify "key knowledge positions" and choose 3 potential successors who are interested. They then help those staff members develop the needed skills before the job comes open. The job is not promised to any of them. Chicago also pairs senior and junior librarians to tackle a specific issue.Susan Babb of NMRLS also attended PLA and here are some of her quick picks:Refreshing the Library for Customer Service was presented by Bob Smith of the Medina, Ohio Library (Library Journal's Library of the Year). Although we (Reading Public Library) do many of the things he talked about, he had some interesting suggestions. Ask, "why are we still doing that?" (circulating art prints). Buy extra magazines and circulate them right away. Do self-hold-pick-up instead of having the circulation staff handling it. Scatter the shopping baskets around on different floors. Buy ads and use professional PR. Use lighting in displays. Highlight with track lighting. Put together pre-selected bags of books. Weed and reap. Make circulation easy - have one loan period and post it. Have Reference give the information the way people want it- fax, email, etc. In other words, plan for customer convenience! Program handout.
Selling the Book: Customer Service in the Children's Room was an entertaining and motivational program by librarians from Charleston Country and Richland County Public Libraries in South Carolina. The speakers stressed why reading will change children's lives forever: it inspires, arouses curiosity, makes kids more empathetic, stretches attention spans, cultivates taste and introduces kids to art and language that they would never experience. They spoke passionately about introducing wonderful books to kids (before they're too old for them) and stressed volume and variety. Staff should be assigned reading and no one should work a desk before they've read 100 picture books at least! A soft-sell approach was suggested as well: leaving a selected pile of books on a table for a child and mentioning that they don't have to even look at them but the librarian picked them out especially for him and kids his age have loved them. The child finds this too intriguing to pass up.
Staffing for Results: An Introduction to Assessing Staff Workload introduced the new manual to be published by PLA/ALA this coming summer. The manual will help to break down a problem into activities, tasks and series of steps. The speakers promised interesting results, especially when more than one person is supposedly doing the same thing. This analysis will find the "sacred cows"! The key here is to ask, "Who is the customer and do all of the steps (still) add value to the customer?"
Digital Reference: Virtual Users and Real Issues was presented by a very lively panel of speakers: Stacey Aldrich, acting Deputy State Librarian with the Maryland State Department of Education, Sari Feldman, Deputy Director of the Cleveland Public Library since October 1999, Executive Director of the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, Karen Hyman, and Joseph Janes, Assistant Professor at the Information School of the University of Washington and Founding Director of the Internet Public Library. The speakers essentially saw digital reference as part of a "suite of great services", a way to increase the quality and availability of their services, and part of a resource mix. To get the right mix has taken some experimentation and time. The program concluded with a challenge to the participants to think hard about how we are giving people the information they seek. Is email the appropriate method or are there are other ways such as "pushing out information through the cellphone"? Libraries need to think about customization and marketing their services. More information on this talk.Summer Reading and Corporate Sponsorship: A Statewide Success Story was presented by Angela Reynolds and Steven Engelfried, both of the Oregon Library Association, and Bryan Markovitz, of the Metropolitan Group. Five years ago, Oregon decided they needed to think big and contracted with Metropolitan Group to seek corporate sponsorship to fund their Statewide Summer Reading Program. Challenges included how large would sponsor logos be on materials (depends upon the amount given), control over the program (stayed with the libraries), and conflict of interest (resolved through surveys and presentations to libraries who had a lot of input into choice of sponsor). Before even approaching sponsors, an organization needs to have their goals and objectives in line and clearly defined. A sponsor is approached with a proposal. This proposal includes an explanation of key elements of summer reading and a definition of mission. Questions like "What is it" "Why should I care" and "Now what" should be readily and easily answered. Other messages from the speakers included that a "No" isn't permanent and to stay true to the mission. Long term issues such as recurring sponsors can be met through planning for the long-term sustainability of the program. It was a thought-provoking program, especially as we are looking at leaner times!
Swing Dancing Through the Stacks and Other Nontraditional Library Programs for Teens was a toe-tapping and intriguing presentation. Kevin Allen Robertson King of the Kalamazoo Public Library in Michigan proposed that Young Adult librarians consider programs that reflect current trends to attract the young adults into the library. He discussed the three personas of the YA Librarian: administrator, creator, and facilitator. Sometimes they fall on one set of shoulders, often they are shared among staff. In providing a young adult program, excitement is the key. Kevin was a wealth of ideas: dance lessons, vegetarian cooking class, fencing demonstrations, decade parties, after hours turn up the music in the library (this is a real hit with kids!), summer reading carnival, produce your own TV show, DJ for an hour, and Rocky Horror karaoke blast. Good PR is key: get the word out via calendars, flyers, and posters. Go where the kids are and let them know what's happening and how they can help.
Ellen Rauch, Director at the Gleason Public Library in Carlisle, attended Is a Combined Friends and Foundation the Right Choice for Your Library? Speakers from the San Francisco and St. Paul public libraries outlined their different decision paths to form joint Friends and Foundation organizations.
In January of 1999 in San Francisco, the 30-year old organization of Friends and the 5-year old Foundation merged to become one. The impetus was the competition and confusion caused by the two separate agencies in the view of city residents. Because both agencies were quite substantial, they had to consider many issues: their software packages and stationery, their new name, accounting systems, composition of the Board and By-Laws, and how to develop a new staffing structure. The City Librarian stressed the need for a unified message for fundraising, even if the two contingents had historically different targets and purposes.
The St. Paul Friends group added a new role as a Foundation when a large bequest came to them in the 1970s. The Executive Director of the Friends of St. Paul Public Library focused on two issues that must be determined to clarify for stable and "friendly" operations: Who "owns" the money raised? Who sets targets and priorities for expenditures?
Although these two examples are from city libraries, their concerns can translate to those of us in smaller settings. Limited volunteer resources and the potential for confusion or conflict between Friends and Foundation efforts could make a joint organization worth considering.
 | News |
 | Statewide Poster Contest for Students, Grades 7 - 12: The statewide youth poster contest, Read Into It, for students in grades 7 to 12, kicked off on February 25 and ran through March 22, 2002 with entries submitted on the theme, "What your library means to you." And the NMRLS Winners are:
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Keith Michael Fiels is ALA's New Executive Director
ALA President, John W. Berry announces the appointment of Keith Michael Fiels as the American Library Association's new Executive Director effective July 1, 2002.
"Mr. Fiels brings a wealth of experience in many library settings and a combination of attributes that are well-suited to managing ALA in the first years of the 21st century", commented Mr. Berry.
Mr. Fiels has over 15 years of senior level administrative experience in the state library arena, including his current position as the Director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. He also has experience working in public and school libraries. Fiels has been a member of ALA since 1976, and is active in ALA committees and Divisions, as well as various state library association. Fiels is the recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Leadership Achievement Award and the Library Public Relations Council Award. He was named to the ALA Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) National Advocacy Honor Roll in 2000. Fiels is the current President of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA).
Mr. Fiels stated, "The prospect of serving as the Executive Director of the Association is a lifelong dream. ALA has made great progress over the last five years as an advocate for libraries, for librarians and for an informed public. I look forward to working with a tremendous board, staff and membership to build on these successes and to work toward even stronger libraries and library services in our country and around the world. What we do as librarians is so important for our communities, our democracy and our future."
William R. Gordon, Retiring Executive Director, will assist in the management transition through August 2002. Mr. Fiels will be introduced at the ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta, June 13-19, 2002.
 | 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 |
By Scott Kehoe
Ariel at the ILL Centers!
NMRLS has recently purchased the Ariel document delivery software and flatbed scanners for the two regional ILL centers at Memorial Hall, Andover and NOBLE, Danvers. Ariel will allow the regional ILL centers to join a national network of libraries with the ability to send and receive documents in an electronic format (as TIFF or Adobe Acrobat PDF files). Ariel will also enable the ILL centers to send these documents directly to a requesting member library as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file attachment. Both Memorial Hall Library and NOBLE have installed the Ariel software and have already begun to fill requests by e-mailing articles directly to member libraries. For more details, contact your regional ILL center .
Statewide Net Lender - Due by September 3, 2002!
Mark your calendar! Statewide Net Lender reporting forms for July 2001 - June 2002 must be returned to the Library Development Unit at the MBLC and postmarked or faxed by September 3, 2002. If you need a copy of the net lender forms and instructions, please contact Scott Kehoe, NMRLS.
 | NMRLS Regional Reference and Research Centers |
| Regional Reference Centers | ||
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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:
Cliches: over 1500 Phrases Explored and Explained
Facts on File Dictionary of Cliches
We added two books on clichés to our reference collection this month. Both list the meaning and derivation of the cliche. There is some overlap between the two books.
Guide to English Language Programs, a Peterson's publication, lists intensive ESL programs. The descriptions of the programs include entrance requirements, costs, and deadlines.
World Atlas of Coral Reefs provides general information from an ecological and geological perspective as well as descriptions of individual coral reefs. The beautiful pictures, maps and charts enhance the information presented in this atlas.
Interesting Web Sites:
Corporate Information Use this site to find information on companies world wide. You can search for a particular company or find information about an entire industry.
Science Project Help on the Web Memorial Hall has compiled a list of web sites that take students through the entire process of developing a science fair project from the selection of a topic to the final presentation.
Portals to the World This Library of Congress site lists information for over fifty countries. The topics include, the culture, environment, politics, religion, and a general history of each country. In addition, the major search engine for the country is listed.
Stumper for April:
I am looking for the words to a Hebrew children's song about a train. It talks about the wheels going round and round.
Answer: Hinei Rakevet
Source
Stumper for May:
The Christian calendar is measured from the birth of Christ. Is the Jewish calendar measured from a particular event also? If so, what is it?
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.)
Law Day Links:
May 1 is the official date for Law Day USA, but the ceremonies and celebrations by schools, business organizations, bar associations and libraries often turn the event into Law Week(s)!
Here are some links to materials pertaining to Law Day 2002, and this year's Law Day Theme: "Celebrate Your Freedom: Assuring Equal Justice for All".
- Law Day History
- How a Bill Becomes a Law:
For Massachusetts procedures, look at:- How a bill becomes a law (University of Massachusetts Web site) or How a bill becomes a law (Government of Massachusetts Web site)
- For Federal law, see How a bill becomes a law (United Constitution Online) or How laws are made
- National Exchange Club Website, includes information on Exchange Club Freedom Shrines
- Classroom Resources Dealing With September 11th:
From the American Bar Association Division for Public Education come the following resources to help classroom educators teach their students about the complicated issues of national security, international terrorism, and civil liberties:
- American Library Association Online Books and Resources
- Constitutional Rights Foundation: America Responds to Terrorism. For online lessons and resources for classroom use.
- ABA Division for Public Education
Conversation starters, discussion questions and resources to enhance community and classroom conversations. - National Security Archive Online Readers on Terrorism, Intelligence and the Next War
Lawrence Law Library Continues to Offer Extended Hours:
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 |
By Esmé Green
Reference On Call (ROC) is excited to announce that we have begun hosting 24/7 Reference. We have already had a lot of interesting questions and interactions with patrons from coast to coast. Sponsored by the California State Library, 24/7 Reference is a customized set of software tools that lets your library patrons ask questions and get answers, in real time, on the Internet, from your live reference staff. This program promises to be a great homework tool for students, and a help to anyone looking for an answer during off-hours. Including the Boston Public Library and the Memorial Hall in Andover, ROC is the third institution in the state to provide this interactive and fun new service. Please look for the link on the ROC website.
School Media Specialists: You will be receiving an exciting promotional package from Reference On Call. This kit will include teen-friendly flyers with tear off bookmarks, and other promotional materials. If, for some reason, you do not receive one or want one and you are not a media specialist, please send me a message and I will get one out to you directly.
If you haven't already done so, please consider creating a link from your homepage to ROC. 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 Esmé Green or 781-944-0840.
 | Youth Services Column |
Boston Globe Article: "Libraries courting youth"
An article in the Boston Globe (4/14/2002) highlights the Young Adult library scene in the Northeast. Subtitled "Music, teen literature, and the Web are helping to lure young adults", reporter Coco McCabe, Globe Correspondent, touched base with Young Adult programs in Newburyport, Amesbury, Swampscott, Peabody, and Haverhill. Kudos to Donna Childs, Margie Shepard, Vicky Coffin, Kelly Rae Brown, and Beth Gallaway for speaking strongly and well about young adults and libraries! At the end of the article a young man is quoted as saying: "It seems like a welcoming place … They like you here." Out of the mouths of babes! For the full story
A Star*Spangled Summer at Your Library
The Western Massachusetts Regional Library System hosted its annual "Summer Reading Program Make & Take Workshop" at the American Legion Post in Hatfield. Gifted librarians from 9 western Massachusetts libraries generously shared tips and techniques on promoting and programming for our upcoming statewide reading program. In the coming days, several of the speakers have generously volunteered to submit information to highlight on the statewide summer reading program website.
Kay Lyon's (Children's Librarian, Greenfield Public Library) summer program skit -"There's No Place Like Books!" is now posted. Kay and her colleague, Jessica Darcy, presented this delightful skit to an audience of 50 librarians and demonstrated how to use this presentation format to promote the upcoming summer program to school children. In the coming weeks, watch for frequent updates to the Web site. Be sure to send us your ideas and comments.
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!
Participants Chosen for YSLead Massachusetts, A Youth Services Leadership Institute for Librarians
Fifty-three librarians have been chosen from a pool of outstanding applicants from across the state to participate in the upcoming YSLead Massachusetts Institute. The institute will be held from August 8-10, 2002 at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.
YSLead Massachusetts, sponsored by the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, is a youth services leadership institute, which will bring its participants together for three days of collaborative training in leadership and mentoring. The state's youth services consultants jointly developed the project. It is a response to the compelling need for youth services staff to be leaders, mentors and recruitment experts if Massachusetts is to remedy the critical shortage of qualified staff serving young people. YSLead Massachusetts is federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and, in part, by the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Also attending the Institute will be 18 mentors, a group of experienced librarians from around the state who have been invited to assume a leadership role in programs and activities at the three-day institute.
Participants from the Northeast Region are:
Lorraine Barry, Reading Public Library
Kate Belczyk, Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Jennifer Brown, Carl A. Pescosolido Library, Governor Dummer Academy, Byfield
Marion DePierro, Diston and Vining Elementary Schools, Billerica
Geraldine Fegan, Amesbury Elementary School
Elizabeth Gallaway, Haverhill Public Library
Donna Maturi, Peabody Institute Library, Danvers
Kathleen Moran-Wallace, Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen
Mary Puleo, Parlin Memorial, Everett.Mentors will be:
Beth Kerrigan, Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Valerie Diggs, Chelmsford Public Schools.
Upcoming NMRLS Youth Services Programs:
Youth Services Book Review meetings, NRMLS Headquarters, Danvers :
All meetings begin at 10:00 and end at 12:00.
Wednesday, June 12Library Media Specialist Discussion: Partnerships with Your Public Library
5/14/02 -- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM -- Amesbury Middle School Library, Amesbury
Join your colleagues from Amesbury as they discuss the ways they have collaborated and cooperated with their public library counterparts.. From reading programs to homework assignments, find out how the Amesbury librarians have worked together to provide the best possible library services to the Amesbury youth.
Following the presentation, there will be plenty of time for your questions and experiences to share in the discussion.
Facilitated by NMRLS YS Consultant Susan Babb. Open to both School and Public Librarians!
 | What’s New with Staff and Libraries in the Region? |
MLA Presidents, a NMRLS TriumvirateAs Jim Sutton, Director of the Memorial Hall Library in Andover, winds down his term as MLA President on July 1, 2002, Krista McLeod, Director of the Nevins Memorial Library in Methuen, gears up for the challenge. Waiting on the side as Vice President / President Elect is Barbara Flaherty, Director of the Billerica Public Library, who will assume the office a year from now. Congratulations to all!
Twenty Memorial Hall Library (Andover) staffers guiltlessly abandoned their spring diets for a lunch of fat and fellowship at the Second Annual MHL French Fry-a-Thon. The festivities were planned by clam aficionado John Baron, fry maven Joe Mangano, money launderer Nancy Bartlett, and a host of other enablers who best remain nameless. The oil must have lubricated John's fertile imagination, inspiring him to write "Censor for Hire: the Case of the Malt-Teased Falcon: a Library Noir" for Slime Magazine, a new feature on our staff intranet. Well worth a click....
JoAnne Dearin, Head of Children's Services at the Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, reports: "While the landscapers were digging up the area for the children's garden, they found a glass jar which was broken and had book reviews/pictures from 1984 that a group of kids did here when Maureen Harden was Children's Librarian. I have them now mounted on poster board and hung in the windows for all to see."
Parlin Library Chess Tournament Celebrates City Livability Award The Parlin Memorial Library, Everett, recently held its 7th Annual Chess Tournament. What began as a volunteer effort to provide a positive activity during the Spring school vacation has grown from a single event to an ongoing program. Mike Sullivan, former Children's Supervisor at the Parlin, initiated chess lessons after school and Open Chess Night. Mike is now Director of the Greenland Public Library in New Hampshire but returns to Everett weekly to work with the group of young chess enthusiasts. Although chess lessons and open chess night have been consolidated the program continues to attract twelve to twenty participants every Wednesday evening.
The Tournament required a team of people including Young Adult Librarian Stacy DeBole, Children's Supervisor Mary Puleo, the Friends of the Everett Libraries and volunteer Bob Puleo. Mayor Ragucci presented trophies and certificates to the participants.
The Chess Program is a positive after-school activity that encourages participation by a segment of the community that is hard to reach. That alone, would be reason enough to support it. It has been our experience that chess develops values that the community seeks to reinforce and is compatible with the goals of the Library. It exercises the mind, requires discipline, patience and develops skills from fine motor skills to problem solving. Finally, it provides healthy competition to challenge young people. In a city with an increasingly diverse population striving to make a better life, the ancient game of Chess is making a difference.
Recently, the U.S. Conference of Mayor honored Parlin Library's Chess Program with one of its City Livability Awards. Mayor Ragucci and the Library are particularly pleased that this award comes from an organization that does not often recognize the contributions of libraries to city life.
Beth Gallaway, Young Adult Librarian at the Haverhill Public Library reports that the Library is hosting a virtual author visit with children's and young adult author Mary Beth Lundgren on Tuesday, May 7, 2002. Lundgren's latest novel Love, Sara is written mostly in instant messages emails, and essays. People may go to the Library to watch the historic event on the big screen in the auditorium, or log in from home or other libraries. To participate, email Beth Gallaway. You need to have an AOL Instant Messenger screen name to particpate. Please visit the Teen Cyber Center for instructions and more information.
Beth will be speaking at the Massachusetts Library Association Conference May 2nd: "Talk to Teens: What is Working for Them in Their Library." She is bringing teens from Haverhill to be on a straight from the horse's mouth type panel.
The Littleton Country Gardeners, our local garden club, in cooperation with the Reuben Hoar Library staged "Books in Bloom" the week of April 23rd. The event was modeled after "Art in Bloom" at the MFA. The library staff selected 15 books that we thought could be interpreted in floral arrangements and provided the garden club with the annotated list. Club members divided themselves into teams, each of which included at least one person proficient in floral design, to read the book selected and to produce the arrangements. The "gardeners", as opposed to the "arrangers" on the team helped with the conception, collected props, and watered the arrangements once they were in place in the library. Arrangers did the arrangement and took care of replacing any blossoms, which faded during the week. The children's books were the most popular, probably because their length and illustrations gave the team a head start. The garden club took care of the publicity, which included notices to their colleagues in other towns. We had 5-10 visitors a day who came just to see the 13 arrangements on our library's three floors. Two newspapers sent reporters and photographers without being asked. People who came early in the day returned to bring friends and family members. We've always had a good relationship with the garden club, but this has created really warm feelings. If you would like more details about how "Books in Bloom" was organized or helpful hints derived from experience, contact Marnie Oakes.
Heather Stockwell, Head of Children's Services at the Peabody Institute Library, Peabody, reports: The Peabody Institute Library Players cordially invite NMRLS members and their patrons to attend our Spring 2002 musical, Once on this Island, Jr., featuring 68 children, ages 7-16, from Peabody and its surrounding communities!
Based upon the novel, My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, Once on this Island, Jr. is a fun, upbeat musical set in the French Antilles! It is approximately one hour and 15 minutes in length, and promises fun for the whole family!
The show dates and times are as follows:All performances will be held at the Higgins Middle School Auditorium, King Street Extension, Peabody, MA 01960. Admission is free and open to the public.
- Thursday, May 9th - 7:00 pm.
- Friday, May 10th - 7:00 pm.
- Saturday, May 11th - 3:00 pm. and 6:00 pm.
- Sunday, May 12th - 2:00 pm.
This program is supported, in part, by funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, as administered by the Peabody Cultural, a local agency.
Gerri Guyote, Adult Services Librarian at the Peabody Institute Library, Peabody, sends an update on Upcoming Speakers at the Library.
May 8 - Leslie Courtemanche, Local Author, Photographer and Conservationist. Topic: "Spring Pond: Heritage and Habitat Lost"
May 14 - Dr. Mitchell Rein, Director of Women's Services, North Shore Medical Center and Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology Salem Hospital and Union Hospital. Topic: "Infant Mortality"
Kimberly Lynn, Director of the Reading Public Library reports the Library had it's first annual Library Open House on March 23rd. 1,300 people came out to enjoy programs and events including a children's theatre performance, celebrity read aloud, scavenger hunt, "Stump Ben Nichols" (our 94-year-old Reading historian), baseball card program, architectural and informational tours, free library card replacement, Book Sale Room shopping bag sale, and more! Almost 1,700 items were borrowed that day! A lot of credit goes to our fearless staff, the Friends of the Library for underwriting the cost, and most especially, circulation staffer Patty O'Donnell for coming up with the idea in the first place!
Camilla Glynn has decided to take advantage of the Massachusetts Early Retirement Incentive and is retiring on June 14, 2002. Camilla, Senior Librarian, Public Services has served at Salem State College for 23 years and prior to that she was at Boston State College for over 9 1/2 years. She plans to spend the summer at their house in Maine and looks forward to lots of international travel with her husband, Jerry.
Nanci Milone Hill, Assistant Director of the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield will be writing analysis for the "How Do You Manage" column in Library Journal. Her first analysis appears in the April 1st, 2002 issue. She has also been accepted as a professional reviewer for Library Journal. Ms. Hill will be reviewing fiction for LJ. Nanci also recently received notification that a perspective she wrote on Mother/Daughter Book groups will be published in the July/August issue of Public Libraries.
In March, Nanci Milone Hill and Leane Ellis presented a workshop for NMRLS member libraries entitled "The Nuts & Bolts of Book Groups" at the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield. Participants received a booklet that the two had put together offering basic start up information on starting a book group, web resources, a list of multiple copies owned in NOBLE and suggested titles for children's, young adult and adult book groups. That booklet is now available online with live links into the online catalog. You can find the list by going to the NMRLS handouts section, or directly from the Beebe Library website.
- Col. John Robinson Elementary School, Westford
- Nabnasett Elementary School, Westford
Newsletter Deadline for June
Please send your articles to Susan Babb by May 23, 2002.Share information about your staff and your library with the NMRLS community! Book reviews, articles, letters, success stories are all welcome!
 | Job Postings |
- Technology Coordinator/Head of Tech. Services, Peabody Institute Library, Peabody
- Head of Circulation Department - McQuade Library, Merrimack College, North Andover
- Library Media Specialist, Reading Memorial High School, Reading (Fall 2002)
- Library Media Specialist, Joshua Eaton Elementary School, Reading (Fall 2002)
- Cataloger, Part-time, North Of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE), Danvers
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".