In this month’s news and updates:

Save the Date for the Member Annual Meeting

The MLS globe icon with text above reading: "Member Annual Meeting"

The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is excited to announce that we are hosting our Member Annual Meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Devens Common Center!

Please note that due to scheduling considerations, our team decided to hold our meeting one week earlier than usual.

We invite all staff at MLS member libraries to join us this fall! We look forward to sharing more details, including registration information, in the coming months. Until then, please save the date and contact MLS Event & Project Manager Sarah Donnelly (sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org) with any questions. Visit our LibCal page for more details.

Farewell and Best Wishes to Kristi Chadwick

Kristi Chadwick photo.Kristi Chadwick will depart as a consultant for MLS on May 10, 2024. We are thankful for Kristi’s dedication to Massachusetts libraries during her 10 years at MLS. Through her work, Kristi upgraded the Basic Library Techniques (BLTs) courses into their new online format, expanding access to more library workers. She worked alongside the 2015 Trustee Handbook Committee on the first revision of the Massachusetts Public Library Trustee Handbook in several years, which also involved drafting the initial version of the Trusty Trustee Handbook.

Kristi’s many accomplishments include collaborating on Project SET, co-coordinating the Small Library Forums with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), and creating the Small Libraries Community Chats as a community-building opportunity for workers at small libraries.

We will miss Kristi and wish her the best of luck as she takes on her new role as director of the Ballston Community Public Library (NY) at the end of May.

Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) HR Hotline

As a reminder, all MLS member public libraries have access to EANE’s HR hotline, which provides callers with answers to critical HR questions. This service is available at no cost to the library.

For more information, check out our LibGuide page. Please feel free to share this information with your public library colleagues.

Commonwealth eBook Collections (Shared Sora) – FY25 Renewal Form

It’s renewal time for the OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection! Members can renew by completing our online form for their school/district.

Forms are due by May 10.

Blue Marble Librarians Updates

Idea Shares

Background of a forest with text reading: "Blue Marble Librarians Idea Share Sessions. May 1, August 7, November 6. bit.ly/BlueMarbleIdeas."As a reminder, members are invited to join the Blue Marble Librarians for three virtual meetings this year to share ideas, discover innovative environmental practices, and learn about a grant opportunity.

Save the dates for upcoming Blue Marble Library Idea Shares:

  • May 1 from 3 – 4 p.m.
  • August 7 from 3 – 4 p.m.
  • November 6 from 3 – 4 p.m.

Register for any session on LibCal.

Publishing Update

In exciting news, Corey Farrenkopf, a member of the Blue Marble Librarians leadership team, published his debut novel “Living in Cemeteries” on April 19 through JournalStone Publishing. Learn more on the book’s JournalStone page.

Massachusetts Library Association Conference Details

MLS staff will present at the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Conference on May 6 and 7. Visit the MLA 2024 website for the full schedule. Learn more about our presentations below:

  • Generative AI and Bad Actors: How Libraries Can Address AI-Created Disinformation
    • Hosted by Jane Stimpson on Monday, May 6 from 8:15-9 a.m.
  • Touchpoints in Libraries
    • Hosted by Christi Farrar and Lyndsay Forbes (MBLC) on Monday, May 6 from 3:30-4:15 p.m.
  • Browse Borrow Board Across MA!
    • Hosted by Sarah Sogigian, Melissa Andrews (BPL), and Jaclyn Youngblood (MassDOT) on Tuesday, May 7 from 10:05-10:50 a.m.
  • The Impact of Anti LGBTQ+ Challenges to Youth Collections, Services, and Staff
    • Hosted by Christi Farrar on Tuesday, May 7 from 4:20-5:05 p.m.

Our team will also exhibit at the vendor hall during both days of the conference. We hope to see you there!

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