September-October
2003
News and Notes from the Boston Regional Library System, Boston
Public Library
BRLS Services are provided through state funds administered by the MA Board of Library Commissioners.
Save the Date!
November 4, 2003
Boston Region Annual Meeting, The Boston Athenaeum, November 4, 2003
Where: Boston Athenaeum
10 1/2 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
When: Tuesday, November 4, 2:30 pm-4:30pm
Who is Invited: All librarians and other interested staff who work at any of our Regional member libraries are not only invited, but strongly encouraged, to come! It's a great opportunity to meet with other members, talk to our staff, learn about our plan of service, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of our gracious host library, your fellow member, the Boston Athenaeum. It will be worthwhile, and we think it will be a treat, as well.
We will be seeing a slide show about the marvelous renovations at the Athenaeum, and light refreshments will be served after our business meeting. The more, the merrier--but please RSVP so we know how many people to expect!
Please RSVP:
Email us or call us at 617-859-2380 to confirm. We look forward to seeing you.
Coming and Going in the Region
Welcome to Our Newest Member
Elizabeth Seton Academy, Monsignor Ryan Memorial High School Library, Dr. John Sweeney, Librarian
Also, congratulations on your new positions to current members Barbara McLean, who recently joined Pat Howkinson at the Boston Latin School Library, and Steve Watson, who was recently hired as the librarian at English High School. We're glad you're still with us!
Susan Godlewski Named Acting Assistant Regional Administrator
Susan Glover Godlewski is no stranger to the Boston Region, but we want to welcome her to her new position. Many of you already know Susan, as she has served as Boston Public Library's Coordinator of Reference Services, and in that role she has helped to ensure that Regional members receive the supplemental reference service your patrons require. She is also our coordinator of the MassAnswers 24/7 Reference grant project.
As most of you know, our Regional Services Office has been sorely under-staffed since last spring, when Phil McNulty and Kerry Cronin accepted other positions. Fortunately, now we are able to fill one of these vacancies and we expect that this will improve our level of service.
Susan looks forward to meeting each of you and is happy to be of service in any way she can.
Fond Farewells
We are sad to say that due to massive budget cuts sustained by the Boston Public Schools, three of our school member libraries were closed. The Rogers Middle School, the Quincy Dickerman School, and the William Howard Taft Middle School all closed the doors to their libraries before school started this fall. We have always enjoyed working with Mary Amara Gerber from Rogers Middle School, who was a delightful member of both the Region and the Metro-Boston Library Network. We hope the (near) future is much brighter for Mary, Amy Shaughnessy from the Dickerman Elementary School, and Jeanette Adams from Taft Middle School. These hardworking librarians deserve the new opportunities which are sure to come their way.
Best wishes to Lorraine Kahn-Broy, who retired this year from English High School Library.
The Boston Regional Library Member Satisfaction Survey for 2003 is available online. We appreciate you taking a few moments to complete it and sharing your insights about what we do well, and what we can do better. Any staff member from a member library can complete a survey; ie there is no "one library, one response" model here, as different people in your organization may have a different experience of Regional services, or may utilize certain services but not others.
Here is the link to our survey, if you have not yet submitted yours: www.bpl.org/brls/BRLS_Member_Satisfaction.htm
Thanks for your help! We plan to report on the surveys we've received at the time of the Annual Meeting, so we hope to see you there.
You've read
the book----now apply the principles to your own career.
Emotional Intelligence with Presenter Maureen Sullivan, October 20, 2003
About Maureen: Maureen Sullivan is one of the single most popular workshop trainers with Massachusetts librarians--rave reviews from participants make us bring her back, time after time. She knows best practices for organizations, and she knows libraries. She also tailors her programs to the needs of her audience, both before and even during the course of her workshops.
About this program: Emotional intelligence is that aspect of intelligence not measured by standard IQ and academic tests, but it may be the aspect most directly related to a person's success in the real world. Ever since Daniel Goleman published his seminal book of the same name in 1995, Emotional Intelligence has gained great influence as a concept in both academia and the workplace. Leaders who possess it are most likely to convince others to follow, and individuals who nurture it in themselves are more likely to acheive their own goals while staying in harmony with others. Learn the basic precepts about emotional intelligence and idnetify your own opportunities to expand your own EI skills repertoire.
WHEN: Monday, October 20, 2003, 9:30am-1:00pm
WHERE: Boston Public Library, Mezzanine Conference Room
REGISTRATION: Is required, but is free and open to all staff of Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Call 617-859-2380, email gwong@bpl.org, or register online.
Conflict Resolution with Presenter Vicki Milledge, November 20, 2003
GRRRRR.......
Sure, we can think of some other folks who apparently need this
workshop.... But you can attend for free!
About Vicki: Vicki presented our popular MBTI Profiles program last December, so many of you will remember her. Vicki Milledge is the Program Manager for the Emerging Leaders Program. Vicki joined the CCL in August, 2001 from the Management Faculty at UMass, Boston. Prior to obtaining her doctorate in Organizational Behavior and Industrial Relations at the University of California, Berkeley in 1995, Vicki held human resources managerial positions at Coopers and Lybrand, Public Accounts and Apple Computer. In over seven years at Apple, amongst other accomplishments, she developed an 'in-house' executive search team, and worked directly for Steve Jobs as the human resources manager for the Macintosh Group. She is credited with personally recruiting and hiring over half of the original development group. She has extensive experience in both academic settings and private consulting in training and coaching over 500 managers from both non-profit and for-profit organizations in leadership and team skills, goal setting at all levels of the organization, organizational analysis for problem solving, issue selling and managerial career development.
About this program: Many librarians we know in the Boston Region, and beyond, have asked for more information about--and help with--Conflict Resolution on the job. Unlike the Sox and the Yanks, most staff in libraries are more afffected by conflict that occurs within their own institution or work team than the conflicts that could arise with outside parties. When people have different ideas and experiences, different approaches are inevitable, and when people are highly invested in the outcome and quality of their work, conflict is inevitable. Destructive feelings and behavior, however, are not inevitable. Conflicts can be dealt with in a healthy way, and even be used as a springboard to improve our work.
WHEN: Thursday, November 20, 2003, 9:00am-1:00pm
WHERE: Boston Public Library, Conference Room 5 on the lower Concourse level
REGISTRATION: is required but is free of charge and open to the first 25 registrants from any of the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems. Call 617-859-2380, email gwong@bpl.org, or register online.
New Program Added to Fall CE Schedule--Consumer Health Basics, December 5, 2003
This workshop features the reference interview for consumer health with a focus on health information on the Internet. Issues of the how to evaluate online sources for credibility, where to find consumer health information in other languages, and at an easy-to-read level, will be addressed. MEDLINEPlus as well as other National Library of Medicine web resources will be explored. The presenter is Michelle Eberle, Consumer Health Information Coordinator for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.
Check our Website for Full Listings:
To Check the Full Listing and Descriptions of BRLS CE Workshops and BPL Technical Training classes, please visit our web site at : www.bpl.org/brls/ce/ce.html
Delivery Surveys are on their way next week!
We will be conducting our fall Regional Delivery Survey this October. All 29 libraries who currently receive daily or weekly courier delivery service from the Region are required to complete this survey and return it to the Regional Services Office as a condition of continued service. You will be receiving a simple tally form, and we ask that you simply mark the number of items (books, envelopes, etc) that you send out for the driver to pick up each day for a week.
Libraries who aren't on our route: We'll be sending you a different simple tally form, asking you to record over two weeks the number of items you send out via the US mail. We do want a total number, but what we are particularly looking for is the number of items you're mailing to other Regional libraries, other Massachusetts Regional libraries, and especially those library locations that are already served by delivery routes. (Out of state recipients, or non-library recipients, etc of your mail, would not influence us to add your library to our courier route. However, items you send to other libraries on delivery, or here in the Region, could make a compelling case for you to be added when it is fiscally possible to do so.)
Surveys will be due back to Connie Dudgeon at the Regional Services Office by November 14, 2003.
Directory Online, Frequently Updated
As always, we encourage you to check our online Massachusetts Delivery Routing Directory frequently to find out who is on a route, which Region they belong to, and how to address your delivery labels to them.
Many thanks to the youth librarians of the Boston Region who participated in the Statewide Summer Reading Program and who completed the order form for 2004, and a special thanks to those of you who also completed the Evaluation Form, which was optional, but which truly helps us plan and serve you better for 2004 and beyond.
The numbers are in-----our Regional libraries had 6,999 participants in the Summer Reading Program this summer. Last year, we had 4,793 participants, so we are very proud of the 46% increase you acheived in one year.
Here is how participation breaks out by age groups:
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Making the Case for Your Library in these Tough Economic Times
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners presents a program on Saturday, Oct. 18th, 2003 at the Weston Public Library from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The workshop is called "Tools, Strategy & Communication: Making Your Case for the Library in These Tough Economic Times". MBLC Commissioner John Arnold will help us look at ways to think about and assess the economic value of our libraries. Dianne Carty, Head of State Aid & Data Coordination at the MBLC will show us how library statistics and state aid regulations can help defend your library budget in a tough economic climate. A panel of library trustees and directors will share stories of real life budget situations in their communities.
Everyone is invited to attend, however, registration is required. You may register by email to maureen.killoran@state.ma.us
NELA Conference, Worcester Centrum, October 26-28
Attention all Massachusetts Librarians:
Just a reminder that the New England Library Association's conference will be at the Centrum in Worcester, MA on October 26 -28. This is your opportunity to visit the largest library related exhibit hall right here is Massachusetts. Preconference registrations must be mailed by October 17! Walk in registrations are also welcome, but you might miss out on some of the great keynoters.
Keynoters for the conference will be Dan Brown, The DaVinci Code; and Robert Pinsky Poems to Read. US Senator Jack Reed will be honored for his work on behalf of libraries, US representative Bernie Saunders will talk about the PATRIOT Act legislation, MT Anderson Feed, and R.A. Salvatore The Thousand Orcs will be on hand for the President's Pick book discussion. Sunday night Worcester and MLA's own Chris Kardokas will be presented with NELA's prestigious Emmerson Greenaway Award in recognition of her contributions to library service throughout New England. Check the program to see the variety of programs for Public , Youth Services , Academic, Technical Services, and Support Staff library workers. For a full listing of the conference program see www.nelib.org. Hope to see you there.
Cheryl Bryan,
Assistant Administrator for Consulting and Continuing
Education
Southeastern Massachusetts Library System (SEMLS)
Our Feature Article: Dudley Literacy Center of the Boston Public Library
A
friendly oasis of learning and support in the heart of Dudley Square
The Dudley Literacy Center is open to all who want to enhance their skills. Meet the staff and learn about the classes offered, the collections available, and the services available by referral and appointment. The need for expanded literacy services could not be more acute, and the Boston Region is proud to have several members leading the way in providing this lifeline in an information-driven society. Read the article.
Chances are, even if your library does not directly serve the general public or the adult literacy client population, you may have been asked for referrals. So if you don't have time to read our feature now, please bookmark it for future reference.
Connie Dudgeon
Boston Regional Library System
Intellectual Freedom in the News
First, I would like to reprint a posting on the Massyac listserv written by Corinne Fisher (and in reprinting it, I second her opinion):
"If you keep up with PUBYAC, I'm sure you've noticed what a wonderful job Janet Eckert (WMRLS) has been doing in defending intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights! Thank you, Janet for standing up for children's rights. Those people sure needed to hear what you had the courage to say. Great job."
--Corinne Fisher, Reading (MA) Public Library
Janet Eckert is the Regional Youth Consultant for the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, a delightful colleague and hardworking advocate for kids. She forwarded an article to our office about the privacy rights of children using the library, which she noted she found at Boston.com from the Boston Globe.
"Should young readers have library privacy rights? Today's Boston Globe features a thoughtful editorial on the this topic."
The following appeared on Boston.com:
Headline: A young reader's
right
Date: 10/10/2003
"PARENTS NATURALLY want to put blindfolds over
their children's eyes until they are old enough to process what they see. But a
bill moving through the Massachusetts Legislature that would allow parents to
review a list of books and other material their children borrow from the
library is not the answer."
If you would like to read the article in its entirety, our subscription to Newsbank makes it easy.
Thanks to Janet for her great work, thanks to the Globe for the good reporting on a sensitive topic, and thanks to Newsbank for making it so readily available to us via their searchable index of full text content. We're happy that Regional membership provides this to your patrons and staff free of charge.
Connie Dudgeon, Boston Regional Library System
For more information about this position, please call Karin Chao, BPL Literacy Coordinator, at 617-445-3708.
(To learn more about the Dudley Literacy Center, read our Feature Article in this issue of BRiefly.)
ADULT'S LIBRARIAN II, (P2), LITERACY SPECIALIST DUDLEY LITERACY CENTER
Basic Function: Under supervision and within the framework of the library's policies and practices, to asume responsibility for the effective execution of programs and services in support of ESOL/ABE and Family Literacy within the Library's broader program of services to a diverse population characteristic to an urban setting, performing work which required substantial application of professional knowledge and experience.
Reports to: Ranking staff member Supervises: As assigned, professional and non-professional staff and community volunteers.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university and a master's degree in library science from an accredited library school. Two years of professional library experience including substantial experience in working with individuals or groups engaged in literacy education and in working collaboratively with community based organizations. Extensive knowledge of book and non-print materials and specialized resources related to the literacy field; extensive knowledge of general bibliographic tools and of specialized resources related to literacy; demonstrated knowledge of outreach techniques and demonstrated interest in library work related to literacy; demonstrated interest in community library work and willingness to develop strong, interactive community relationships.
To Apply:
To be considered for current or future openings,
please send letter of application, resume and references to: Director of Human
Resources, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. FAX.
(617) 266-4673. Or apply in person at the Human Resources Office. 3rd floor.
City of Boston residency is a requisite. Boston Public Library is an Equal
Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Cultural Diversity.
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