In this months News and Updates:

MLS Sora eBook Collection program enrollment is open for schools
Enrollment in the MLS Sora eBook program (Commonwealth eBook Collections) is open for MLS member schools for FY 2022! Pricing is based on student enrollment and you’ll receive a price quote once you complete the brief enrollment form. You can join the program as quickly as you can get set up and don’t have to wait until the spring or even next fiscal year.

Link to the enrollment form: https://masslibsystem.libwizard.com/f/cecenroll2022.

Note: no action is required for currently participating schools at this time.

 

It’s that time again! Delivery Survey Week

MLS is collecting delivery statistics from all member libraries who receive delivery. Information on how delivery is used help us determine how to allocate funding during our planning and budgeting process. As we have done previously, we are collecting data online using Survey Monkey. This survey will be used to capture delivery statistics, including bins put into delivery, bins delivered and items put into delivery. The survey will be open until November 19th. For Delivery Survey information click here: https://guides.masslibsystem.org/mlsdelivery/deliverysurveys

If you have any questions email delivery@masslibsystem.org

 

Fall 2021 CE

We are halfway through our fall CE Schedule. We hope that you will be able to join us for some of these exciting learning opportunities. Also check our Vimeo page for recordings of past events – https://vimeo.com/masslibsystem

Registration and further information can be found on our calendar: calendar.masslibsystem.org.  Be sure to check back periodically as we are continuing to post additional learning opportunities.

If you would like to receive occasional emails with information about our upcoming trainings, please join our mailing list (be sure to check off “Training and professional development offerings”).

We also invite you to visit our resource guide for Consulting & Training Services.  Learn about our team and areas of expertise, and find direct links to our most popular services.

Recurring Workshops (taught by MLS Staff)

Project Management Salad Bar with Anna Popp

[DON’T] Do All the Things: Making Delegation Work in the Library with Kristi Chadwick

Improve Your Virtual Meetings with Michelle Eberle

Community Chats (hosted by MLS Staff)

Health Sciences & Special Libraries with Michelle Eberle

Interlibrary Loan with Laura Bogart

Youth Services with Christi Farrar

 

Small Library Forum

Registration for the 2021 Massachusetts Small Libraries Forum is now open!

Find it on the MLS Calendar.

This two-day virtual event will be held Tues, Nov 16 and Wed, Nov 17, starting at 10 AM both days. There will be live and pre-recorded sessions available, along with a scheduled networking time during lunch hours.

The 2021 Massachusetts Small Libraries Forum brings together small library staff from all over for two days of informational content for small libraries. Join us to celebrate your successes, learn what other libraries are doing, and discover services that you can use in your library, no matter the size or space.

This event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Library System and the MA Board of Library Commissioners, with funding provided by The Manton Foundation.

Tuesday, November 16:
10 AM – Opening Introductions
10:30 – 11:30 AM – ALA Libraries Transforming Communities
12  – 1 PM – Networking: BYO Lunch / Pre-recorded sessions
1 – 2 PM – Making the Most of the Space You Have
2 – 3 PM – Summer Reading in Small Libraries panel

Wednesday, November 17:
10 – 11 AM – Sisters in Crime New England Mystery Author Panel
11 AM – 12 PM – Student Loan Forgiveness for Library Staff
12 – 1 PM – Networking: BYO Lunch / Pre-recorded sessions
1 – 2 PM – Being the Boss Burnout
All sessions will be recorded and archived on the Small Libraries Forum Guide.

Welcome Heather, BiblioTemps Assistant!

Heather joins us as our new BiblioTemps Assistant. She will be working with Amanda Fauver, the Membership and BiblioTemps Manager, to help grow and improve our unique library staffing service.

Heather brings with her an understanding of public libraries from working as a Circulation Clerk for a public library in Connecticut. She has a background in Communications which provides her with marketing and digital media skills that we are excited to put to use for BiblioTemps. When not working, she loves spending time with her family, in nature, and making music.

For more information about BiblioTemps – https://www.bibliotemps.com/

Teen Summit

MLS’s annual Teen Summit took place on October 8 this year and, for the first time, was a collaboration between MLS and the state libraries of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The day-long event for library staff working with teens included a keynote with new YA author Crystal Maldonado, an informal conversation with author Brittney Morris, and a session on the digital lives of Gen Z with user researcher Sarah Weise, plus sessions from practicing YA librarians across New England. Over 500 people from 25 states registered for Teen Summit, a record showing for the 12-year-old event. Recordings of every session, plus some bonus on-demand sessions, are in a MLS Vimeo Showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8801892

MA Public Libraries Outdoors

In the summer of 2021, the Massachusetts Library System surveyed public librarians in the Commonwealth to explore outdoor library use during the pandemic and community recovery. Nearly all respondents (99%) reported that their public libraries increased use of the outdoors.  The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Let’s Move at Libraries, and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine/Region 7 reviewed a draft of the survey. The stories shared in the survey are moving and inspiring. Massachusetts public libraries transitioned many services outdoors in response to the pandemic.  We are very excited to share key findings, common themes, and success stories about how Massachusetts public libraries utilized the outdoors during the pandemic, plan to use the outdoors during community recovery, and what may help libraries more effectively utilize the outdoors.

For more information from the survey-
Massachusetts Public Libraries Outdoors! Environmental Scan
Waltham Public Library Outdoors!

 

MHEC Virtual Member Conference

Date: Thursday, November 4th
Time: 8AM – 4PM
Register – https://mhecmemberevent.vfairs.com/

This year’s meeting will once again be virtual with several different meeting sessions geared towards libraries. Check out the entire roster of session topics on the conference site or register today! Registration is free for MHEC members. If you can’t attend the live event, you can still register to secure your access to later recordings.

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