In this month’s news and updates…

FY24 Annual Report is Now Available

The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) FY24 Annual Report is now available! Access our full report for updates on:

  • The statewide expansion of the Browse, Borrow, Board program
  • Member-drive initiatives like the Public Library Association Conference Scholarship and our Training Grants
  • Statewide Delivery, BiblioTemps, electronic resources, and more!

Read our report online.

New for Members: MindEdge Certificate Grant Program

MLS is pleased to announce the launch of a new MindEdge Certificate Grant program! This program allows staff at MLS member libraries to pursue online certificate programs that are offered by MindEdge Learning.

MindEdge certificate programs cover a variety of business-related topics, including change management, grant writing, management skills, online learning, digital marketing, finance, data analytics, career building, and project management. MindEdge online certificate programs and courses are currently offered by many educational institutions (such as UMass Global, Drexel University, and Louisiana State University) and associations (such as CFTEA, HRCI, AIGA, and AARP).

A full list of eligible certificate programs is available on our MindEdge Certificate Grant LibGuide.

MindEdge online certificate programs:

  • Are asynchronous, so you can work through the certificate program materials at your own pace
  • Begin any time, whenever you are ready to start
  • May include readings, videos, quizzes, simulations, and exams
  • Must be completed within a defined period of time (which is detailed in the certificate program’s description)
  • Typically require several hours of work each week

Staff at MLS member libraries who are interested in applying to take a MindEdge certificate program should review the grant program details on our MindEdge Certificate Grant LibGuide. The grant application form is available on the LibGuide page.

Please note: If you submit a grant application, and if your application is approved, MLS will work with MindEdge to enroll you in the certificate program. You should not register directly through MindEdge.

The MindEdge Certificate Grant program is part of MLS’ continuing commitment to expanding our learning offerings for all levels of library staff in all types of member libraries. It also supports Initiative 1, Goal 3 and Initiative 2, Goal 2 of the MLS Strategic Plan.

Let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing an application from you!

Last Call for MLS Member Webinar Proposals

The deadline to submit an MLS Member Webinar proposal is tomorrow: Friday, November 1!

As a reminder:

Webinar presenters will gain valuable presenting experience, as well as personalized resources and coaching, and a $250 stipend.

Anyone who works in an MLS member library is eligible to submit a webinar proposal. Search the MBLC Library Database to check if your library is an MLS member.

More details, including important dates, FAQs, information on what we’re looking for in a webinar, and the submission form are available on the MLS Member Webinars LibGuide.

This initiative supports Initiative 1, Goal 1 of the MLS Strategic Plan and responds to the training needs assessment we conducted this spring, which highlighted MLS members’ desire to learn from other members.

Please contact MLS Consultant Jane Stimpson at jane@masslibsystem.org with questions.

New England Teen Summit Registration is Now Open

Join us on Friday, November 15 for the annual New England Teen Summit, a free, virtual event open to library staff across New England, focused on empowering teen services in libraries.

This year’s summit will feature engaging sessions aimed at reimagining teen programs and engagement strategies. We are thrilled to have authors Cara Bean and Devorah Heitner as our keynote speakers to kick off the event.

Register now.

Pathways to Inclusion: DEI Survey, Request for Policies, and Request for Staff Demographics

We are excited to announce that MLS is collaborating with CultureAlly to advance our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within our library community. Through this work, CultureAlly will support the Massachusetts library community in implementing Pathways to Inclusion: Strategies for Diverse Library Workforce Development. This initiative will focus on identifying and addressing barriers faced by underrepresented groups in accessing careers in the library profession.

The key objectives of this partnership include:

  • Engaging with library professionals, aspiring library workers, and other stakeholders through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
  • Identifying best practices for inclusive recruitment and hiring within libraries.
  • Developing actionable recommendations and tools to support DEI initiatives across the Massachusetts library community.

As this project unfolds, you will be invited to participate in various activities that include opportunities to share your experiences and insights. This collaboration supports our ongoing commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive library workforce.

Project Contacts: Amanda Fauver, MLS (amanda@masslibsystem.org), Sarah Sogigian, MLS (sarah@masslibsystem.org), or  Natasha Ali, CultureAlly (natashaali@cultureally.com)

DEI Survey

We are excited to announce the launch of our DEI survey on as part of our partnership with CultureAlly. This survey is designed to help us identify opportunities for making library careers more inclusive and appealing to underrepresented communities. While this survey is voluntary, your input is crucial in shaping our DEI strategy, and we encourage full participation.

Complete our survey online.

The survey is anonymous to MLS, and responses will be analyzed by CultureAlly. If you are uncomfortable sharing certain information, you can select “Prefer not to disclose.”

Below are the steps taken to balance meaningful feedback with protecting your privacy:

  • This survey is anonymous to MLS and your teams, but individual responses are not anonymous to CultureAlly’s research team. Survey data will be stored on a secure server, exclusively accessible via Two-Factor Authentication (read more about 2FA).
  • CultureAlly does not share any identifiable data back with MLS and all reports created from this survey will be strictly anonymous and confidential.
  • The data is stored on CultureAlly servers until the end of the contract with MLS in 2025.
  • You can read more about how CultureAlly handles data by reading their privacy policy.

Request for Policies

As part of the Pathways to Inclusion initiative, we are collecting policies and procedures from MLS member libraries to support our ongoing DEI audit. To ensure a comprehensive assessment, we are gathering policies and procedures related to recruitment, hiring, and workplace inclusivity.

If available, please share any relevant policies or guidelines your library has in place through our online form.

For example, these could include:

  • Defined Mission, Vision, Values
  • Communications Policy
  • Discrimination & Harassment Policy
  • Respect Policy
  • Accommodations Policy
  • Security Policy
  • Anti-Violence Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • DEI Policy
  • Reconciliation Policy
  • Anti-Racism Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Membership Admission Criteria
  • Complaint/Grievance Procedures
  • Outreach and Engagement Policies
  • In-Person Events Policy
  • Inclusive Language Guide

This information is crucial in helping us identify best practices, barriers, and areas for improvement, which will allow us to develop tailored DEI strategies that meet the unique needs of our library community. The policies you provide will be reviewed as part of this project and used to inform the creation of resources and future training opportunities for Massachusetts libraries.

If possible, please provide these documents by Monday, December 30 to ensure they are included in our audit.

Request for Staff Demographics

As part of the Pathways to Inclusion initiative, we are collecting hiring and recruitment data from MLS member libraries to support our ongoing DEI audit. We are requesting information about your library staff to help us better understand current workforce demographics and trends.

You can submit this information through our online form.

Specifically, we are looking for any data you may hold in the following areas:

  • Demographic information (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender) of current employees
  • Information on where individuals sit within the organization, including their job titles and departments
  • Hiring and recruitment data (number of applicants, offers extended, hires made)

This information is essential for helping us identify trends and gaps in hiring and workforce diversity. It will enable us to tailor our DEI strategies to ensure that careers in libraries are more accessible to individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds.

The purpose of this request is not to collect any personal or identifying data and personal identifying information (name, dates of birth, etc.) should be removed before submitting to us.

If possible, please provide this information by December 30 to ensure it is included in our audit.

Commonwealth eBook Collections RFP Update

This summer, MLS launched a request for proposal (RFP) for the next vendor contract(s) for the Commonwealth eBook Collections.

The current vendor contract expires in July 2025, and we anticipate a seamless transition to our next multi-year contract.

A task force composed of CEC member libraries has been created and will be meeting to discuss the vendor proposals this fall.

We will share news and updates during the RFP process. We look forward to completing this process in the coming months to ensure the continued success of this program.

Visit the Commonwealth eBook Collections LibGuide for more information about the program.

Conference Scholarships Upcoming Application Period

The application period for conference scholarships is open from December 1 – 15. This period is for conferences held between March and August.

In the lead-up to our application period, we encourage staff at all levels, in all types of libraries to research upcoming conferences relevant to their work or career goals.

You can learn more by visiting Conference Scholarships LibGuide.

Contract Updates from MHEC

A message from our friends at MHEC:

Ingram – Ingram sends out terms sheets on an annual basis to all customers, including MHEC members that are using the MHEC contract. The terms should mirror the contract terms. It has been brought to MHEC’s attention the sheets that went out have a one-year term date on them and that has caused some confusion about the term of the MHEC contract.

The current L51 contract is in place until September 30, 2028. MHEC has a meeting with Ingram’s contracting department to discuss the sheets and update the language and dates to ensure MHEC members know they are getting the MHEC contracted terms for the appropriate time period. 

Amazon – MHEC recently re-opened the F15 contract for office supplies. One of the successful bidders was Amazon Business. MHEC now offers a 30B compliant Amazon contract with benefits that are tremendous for libraries.

Aside from the over 4,000 discounted items that offer members savings of 25% or more off existing Amazon Business Pricing, Amazon has waived Business Prime Medium fees that can save libraries $1,299 annually with no qualifications. To utilize the contract, contact your current Amazon representative or email Frank Doering at doefrank@amazon.com.

Overdrive & Cloud Library OCLC – MHEC is in the process of re-opening the L51 contract for Books and Media to provide more coverage of the digital media category. MHEC has confirmed with Overdrive that they will bid on the contract. MHEC is also working with OCLC, who acquired Cloud Library from Bibliotheca, to submit a bid as well.

MHEC Contacts:

Malik Ali, Member Services Specialist
mali@mhec.net
413-230-3202

Ryan Kidder, Member Services Director PMP
rkidder@mhec.net
(413) 992-2576

Rika Monzillo, Director Supplier Services MCPPO
rmonzillo@mhec.net
(413) 992-2506

Thank You for Attending the MLS Member Annual Meeting!

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 MLS Member Annual Meeting this week! We had a great turnout and enjoyed engaging with staff from MLS member libraries.

Please look forward to more photos from our event soon!

MLS Staff Members.

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