Strategic Planning Blog Series
We have a new Blog series on Strategic Planning written by MLS Consultant Michelle Eberle. Posts currently available include –
Why Strategic Planning is Important During Turbulent Times
No doubt, it has been a very overwhelming year of change for libraries and we are in a time of community recovery. The MBLC and MLS have been asked by some library directors about whether this is an appropriate year for libraries to go forward with strategic planning. Our response is “Yes, definitely!” Here’s why…
Strategic Planning: Gathering Community Input
Gathering input and feedback from your community is one of the most important steps of strategic planning. Community assessment should guide development of your strategic priorities and goals. Also, it’s essential to help craft your mission and/or vision statement. Listening and responding to the needs of our communities’ builds library support and better relationships with community partners.
Michelle’s next post about Identifying Priorities, Initiatives, and Goals will be added to our website Thursday July 1st. Check here for the latest blog posts – https://masslibsystem.org/blog/category/advisory/engagement/
Future posts will cover topics like –
- Developing Your Mission and/or Vision Statement
- Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Strategic Plan
You can find additional resources about Strategic Planning on our LibGuide.
The Massachusetts Library System provides consultation for strategic planning. Check out our strategic planning policy to learn more. If you would like a consult, please reach out to Kristi Chadwick or Michelle Eberle.
If you need support with the MBLC approval process, please reach out to Rob Favini . We are here to help you be successful with strategic planning.
BiblioTemps Presents: The Career Series for Library Workers
This webinar series has concluded but you can still view the recordings from all seven webinars.
You can find the webinar collection here- https://vimeo.com/showcase/8437915
Two of our session are password protected at the request of the presenter. You can find them with these links using the Password- Bibliotemps
- BiblioTemps Presents: Job Search Part https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/552582499
- BiblioTemps Presents: Job Search Part https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/553523841
This webinar series was made possible through CARES Act funding to the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Blue Marble Library Blog
Hosting Repair Events in Libraries
By Gabrielle Griffis
A repair event is a free all-ages community activity in which people try to fix their broken items with the help of a skilled volunteer. Sometimes called Repair Cafés or Fixit Clinics, the first Repair Café was coordinated in 2009, by Martine Postma in an Amsterdam movie theater. Since then, there have been over 2,000 repair events worldwide. In addition to libraries, repair events are held in many contexts: schools, churches, community centers. These gatherings are a prominent part of the right-to-repair movement, which emerged as a response to tech and automotive companies making it more difficult, and often illegal, for consumers to fix their own things. Whether it’s a busted toaster, a finicky lamp, or a torn pair of jeans, repair events divert items from the landfill, teach valuable lifelong fixing skills, foster a culture of stewardship, and bring neighbors together.
About –
The Blue Marble Library Blog features ideas for change-making programs, resources, and services to support sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social equity by thinking globally and acting locally. This blog will also discuss climate change as a social justice issue.
Would you like to connect with other librarians interested in environmentalism and sustainability? Join the Blue Marble-Discussion List — a communications forum for Massachusetts Library System members. The name for this listserv is inspired by the first image of the Earth taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft on route to the moon, which generated great awe and reverence for our planet.
Do you have a story that you would like to share with Massachusetts Library System members in this blog? If yes, please contact Michelle Eberle.
Thank you for your interest in joining the conversation and actions around extreme weather preparedness and environmentalism in our communities.
Staff Profiles
Each month we will be highlighting two MLS staff members and sharing a little bit about them. This month we would like to introduce you to…
Amanda Fauver
My day varies depending on which part of my job I’m focusing on in that particular moment. I currently have two roles here at MLS- Membership Manager and BiblioTemps Manager. Every day is a mix of both positions. For membership I might be working on our monthly newsletter, answering questions about how to become a member of MLS, or talking to members about the benefits of membership. For BiblioTemps I may be talking to libraries about the hiring process for temporary staff, posting jobs, performing interviews and checking references.
Terry McQuown
I lead the seven-person Consulting & Training Services team. Our goal is to help members accomplish their organizational objectives through our consulting and training services. We offer learning events throughout the year, including dedicated Spring and Fall training seasons. We also provide a variety of consulting services (e.g., collection analysis, strategic planning) to libraries. Currently, I’m really excited about two training series that we’re offering: one on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the other on Leadership Development.
Library Journal Movers and Shakers
Congratulations to Callan Bignoli, Library Director, Olin College of Engineering and Stacy Collins, Research and Instruction Librarian, Simmons University Library, Boston on their recent citations by Library Journal. Both were named Change Agents to LJ’s annual Movers and Shakers list, which is an annual spotlight “a group of individuals who are moving the library field forward as a profession.” Visit Library Journal to read more about the Movers and Shakers citations and to read about this year’s honorees.
