In this months news and updates:

Delivery Survey

It’s that time again! Delivery Survey Week October 16-20

MLS is collecting delivery statistics from all member libraries who receive delivery. Information on how delivery is used helps us determine how to allocate funding during our planning and budgeting process. This survey will be used to capture delivery statistics, including bins put into delivery, bins delivered, and items put into delivery.

For Delivery Survey information

If you have any questions email delivery@masslibsystem.org

The 2023 Summer Impact & Feedback Survey

Closing this weekend. If you haven’t had a chance to share stories and opinions about this past summer, now is the time. You can fill out the survey form here.

Note: This survey is optional (though we would really like your thoughts!) We are not asking for your summer statistics here. Please save these for the fiscal year 2024 ARIS report. MLS does not need your statistics in order for you to participate in next year’s summer program.

Information about Summer 2024 will be coming in November. You can stay up to date on all things summer by visiting our Summer Library Program guide. The 2024 slogan is “Read, Renew, Repeat” and you can get a sneak peak by watching the promo video posted on our guide.

We will be hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, November 1 at 11am about the 2024 iREAD program.

Register for the 2024 iRead webinar  

Orientation Session for School Librarians: Learn about the Massachusetts Library System (MLS)

October 4, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Virtual)

Are you a new school librarian at an MLS member library? Are you a seasoned school librarian in need of a refresher? Would you like to know how your school can become a member of our organization? Then this session is for you. Please join us for an orientation session that is just for school libraries! We will discuss what it means to be a school member of the Massachusetts Library System, describe our flagship services and programs offered to school libraries, as well as other programs and services of interest. Bring your questions! This session is open to all librarians at MLS member schools as well as any schools that may be interested in MLS membership. This session will be recorded.

The following staff members will be participating in this session –

  • Amanda Fauver, Membership Manager
  • Tressa Santillo, Electronic Resources Manager
  • Christi Farrar, Consultant
  • Alison DeMers, Resource Sharing Librarian

Register for the School Library Orientation

Creating a Foundation for Racial Equity: Building a Basic Racial Equity Plan for the Arts and Humanities

October 13, 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Virtual)

About This Workshop:

In this comprehensive guide, Michael will walk you through the essential steps and considerations for developing a basic racial equity plan tailored specifically for the arts and humanities sector. As society becomes increasingly aware of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, cultural and artistic organizations must take proactive steps to address racial disparities within their institutions.

Please note that this online workshop will NOT be recorded.

Space is limited to 50 participants. If you register and cannot attend, please remember to cancel your registration so that someone on the waiting list may attend.

Register for Creating a Foundation for Racial Equity     

The Housing Crisis and Migrants in MA: What Librarians Should Know

Webinar description:

Across the Commonwealth, immigrant and non-immigrant families experiencing homelessness are being sheltered in hotels. These sites often have very little services and support due to severe strain on the Emergency Assistance shelter system. Cities and towns have been asked to step up and support these families, a large portion of whom are recently arrived Haitians. As trusted resources in our communities, public and school librarians may find themselves being asked to help but may not know where to start.

In this webinar, Katelyn Duncan, New Americans Librarian from Worcester Public Library, will speak about the work of the Worcester Haitian Task Force, which has been meeting for almost a year; about WPL’s hugely successful Free Immigration Legal Consultations in partnership with local non-profits and the private bar; and about steps libraries of any size can take to support new residents and overcome cultural, language and logistical barriers to assist these vulnerable families.

This webinar will:

  • Provide library staff with background to understand how families are arriving in their communities and the challenges they face.
  • Give information that can be used to dispel misconceptions and combat anti-immigrant sentiment in your communities.
  • Offer concrete examples of how libraries can support with collections, outreach, and programming recommendations.

Before the webinar, please read Katelyn’s blog interview about the Housing Crisis and Migrants in Massachusetts.

MLS Annual Meeting

November 6, 2023, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM (In Person at Devens Common Center)

MLS welcomes Newbury Award winner and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina and WBZ News’ Emmy Nominated reporter Matt Shearer to our Annual Meeting! 

Join us on November 6 at the Devens Commons Center for a day of connections, learning, and interactions with colleagues and speakers.  Morning coffee, pastries, and lunch will be served. 

The agenda will include our annual business meeting and vote, updates from the MA Library System. MA Board of Library Commissioners, and MA Library Association’s Legislative Committee. 

More information, including our Business Meeting Packet, will be shared in the coming weeks. 

For More Information on Annual Meeting

Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation


November 8, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm (Virtual)

Registration is now open for the Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities. Librarians from state agencies and organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont have been working together on developing resources to help libraries facing the effects of climate change. This kick-off summit is the first joint partnership of all Northeast State Libraries in support of adaptive resilience solutions for libraries facing the effects of climate change to their buildings and communities. The focus will be on facilities adaptation and include practical takeaways, concrete steps, and suggestions for improvement. Each session will be inclusive of libraries at all budget levels. Routine repairs, incremental upgrades, and manageable changes will be covered, as together libraries plan for improvements for the future of climate adaptation.

Registration for the Summit on Climate Adaptation

MLS Fall 2023 Training Schedule

MLS Consultant Led Workshops (online and in-person)

This season MLS consultants will be offering online and in-person learning opportunities at our Marlborough and Northampton offices:

  • Smarter Not Harder: Planning Programs & Services, with Anna Popp
    • October 25 (Wednesday), 9:30 am – 12 pm (online)
    • November 7 (Tuesday), 1 – 3:30 pm (MLS Northampton office)
    • November 29 (Wednesday), 1 – 3:30 pm (online)
    • December 5 (Tuesday), 1 – 3:30 pm (MLS Marlborough office)
  • Understanding Teen Behavior, with Christi Farrar
    • October 23 (Monday), 1 – 3 pm (MLS Marlborough office)
    • December 1 (Friday), 10 am – 12 pm (online)
    • December 7 (Thursday), 1 – 3 pm (online)
  • The Promoted Peer: From Coworker to Supervisor, with Kristi Chadwick
    • October 19 (Thursday), 10 am – 12 pm (online)
    • November 1 (Wednesday), 2 – 4 pm (MLS Northampton office)
    • November 14 (Tuesday), 1 – 3 pm (online)
    • December 13 (Wednesday), 10 am – 12 pm (MLS Marlborough office)
  • Simply Strategic Planning for Libraries, with Michelle Eberle
    • October 27 (Friday), 10 am – 12 pm (MLS Marlborough office)
    • October 31 (Tuesday), 10 am – 12 pm (MLS Northampton office)
    • November 30 (Thursday), 10 am – 12 pm (online)
    • December 6 (Wednesday), 2 – 4 pm (online)

MLS Led Community Chats (online)

Connect with and learn from your colleagues across the Commonwealth at our virtual community chats.  MLS staff offer chats on a variety of topics:

  • ILL Q&A
    • October 3 (Tuesday), 1 – 2 pm
  • Leadership
    • Information coming soon!
  • Reference
    • October 23 (Monday), 2 – 3 pm
    • November 21 (Tuesday), 1 – 2 pm
    • December, TBD
  • Teaching in Libraries
    • October 10 (Tuesday), 3 – 4 pm
    • November 14 (Tuesday), 3 – 5 pm
    • December 12 (Tuesday), 3 – 4 pm
  • Youth Services
    • October 12 (Thursday), 2 – 3 pm
    • November 14 (Tuesday), 11 am – 12 pm
    • December 13 (Wednesday), 2 – 3 pm

Youth Services (online)

DEI Workshops (online)

Statewide Databases (online)

Library Webinar Vendors (online)

We continue to work with two nationally known vendors of library webinars: PCI Webinars and LibraryWorks.  MLS members can attend their webinars for free by registering through MLS’s events calendar.  To see which webinars we are offering from these vendors, click on the links below:

Training Grant Opportunities

Looking for something else?  MLS now offers training grants to help you find the training you want on the schedule you need.  We are currently offering the following trainings grants:

Additional information about our trainings can be found on the MLS events calendar.  Be sure to check back periodically as we are continuing to post additional learning opportunities.  You can also view recordings of past webinars on our Vimeo page. 

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

 

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