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News about Staff and Libraries in the Region

Patty DiTullio is the Assistant / Acting Director at Amesbury Public Library. Pam Schwotzer is the new Reference Librarian.

Pictured is Mary Beth Verry, Chairperson of the Board, and Tom Standring

Tom Standring, Trustee of the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers, retired after 23 years of service. For more than half that time, he was the Chairman of the Board. The Library had a party for him in May to celebrate his many accomplishments during his tenure on the Board. Director Doug Rendell describes Tom as always being an advocate for the Library staff and for the preservation of the library building. Tom was an important part of the team that worked diligently to restore the exterior of the building, which now stands as it did when it opened in 1892.

On August 7th and 14th, the Lynn Public Library hosted its second annual Library Idol. We had 22 contestants in 2 age groups- Group I (ages 7-11) and Group II (ages 12-16). Each group performed 2 songs. We had three judges, Rep. Steven Walsh, and two Mayoral aides. The "judges" gave encouraging comments after the performance. The audience then voted for their favorite performance. This program was a two week program where we hired a karaoke service and children picked their songs. This was a great program to go along with the Summer Reading theme- Catch the Beat. The top 3 winners in each group received a gift basket and all of the contestants received a certificate and a FM portable radio.

Because of the success of Library Idol last year and again this year, we have decided to hold this program every summer as an annual event.

Pat Kelly, Information Services librarian at the Lynnfield Public Library, was recently appointed Head of the Information Services department. In addition, in May, Pat received an AFT Massachusetts Distinguished Service Award. Nominated by the president of the Mass. Library Staff Association, Pat won the award based on her colleagues' glowing testimonials on her behalf. A fitting award for a hard-working librarian!

The Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen waves a fond farewell to Reference Librarian, Sara Potapenko, who has moved to Seattle, Washington. We are pleased to welcome Tatjana Saccio to our staff. Tatjana joined us as a full-time Reference Librarian, beginning September 4th. Tatjana previously worked in the Reference and Young Adult Departments at the Saugus Public Library. We are thrilled to have her.

The Nevins Memorial Library has received an LSTA grant for its Methuen Reads 2008 program. For its inaugural launch, the community will be reading Digging to America, by Ann Tyler.

Kirsten Underwood of the Nevins Memorial Library has been named to the MLA Conference Committee.

Elizabeth Dickinson and Nancy Aberman of Reading Public Library are among the newest alumni of the second annual Lifelong Access Libraries Institute held July 29 - August 3, 2007, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. See Elizabeth and Nancy (front and center) and news of the Institute at: http://data.webjunction.org/ea/documents/17773.html.