In this month’s news and updates…
- Accepting Applications for Library Consultant Manager
- Farewell and Best Wishes to Oscar Lanza-Galindo
- For the Love of Libraries: A Special BiblioTemps Promotion for February!
- Save the Date for the Library Summit on Social Cohesion
- Library Journal Grant Program
- Summer Library Program 2025 – Level Up at Your Library!
- Touchpoints in Libraries
- Last Call for Northeast Summit Registration
- Strategic Plan Process Update
- Celebrating a Shared Sora Milestone
- Over the Phone Interpretation 2024 Stats
Accepting Applications for Library Consultant Manager
Join our team!
The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is hiring for a Library Consultant Manager. Learn more about the position below!
Position:
The Library Consultant Manager is responsible for managing a team of Library Consultants, who provide a variety of programs and services to MLS members across the Commonwealth. Work will include team alignment and development, supervision, coaching, performance and change management, and implementing MLS’ vision for consulting services to MLS members. This position will also be responsible for offering or coordinating some management related consulting and training programs and services for MLS members.
Works with MLS staff, members, and representatives of collaborating organizations.
Supervision: Works with a high degree of independence under the direction of the Learning Services Director. This position will provide direct supervision to a team of Library Consultants.
How to Apply:
Send a cover letter, resume, and three references to: employment@masslibsystem.org
Please add: Library Consultant Manager to the subject line.
Applications are due by Sunday, February 9, 2025.
Please view the full job description on our blog. A PDF version of the job description is also available.
Farewell and Best Wishes to Oscar Lanza-Galindo
Oscar Lanza-Galindo will depart from his role as a consultant with MLS on January 31, 2025. We thank Oscar for his quality service to our members since he joined in 2023. During his time at MLS, Oscar facilitated several Community Chats, workshops, strategic planning sessions, and trainings for MLS member library staff. Among other topic areas, his work focused on leadership development and strategic planning.
Some of Oscar’s accomplishments included co-producing an accessibility and inclusion video project, coordinating HR workshops with the Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE), and exploring and building an infrastructure for a library staff leadership development program.
We will miss Oscar and wish him the best of luck as he begins a new role as Dean of Library Services at Holyoke Community College.
For the Love of Libraries: A Special BiblioTemps Promotion for February!
We are excited to introduce our For the Love of Libraries promotion. This discount on our BiblioTemps service makes our service accessible to Massachusetts libraries at a reduced cost.
What’s the Promotion?
For a limited time, we’re offering a 10% rate reduction on our temporary staffing services! This special discount will be reflected in a reduced Bill Rate.
How Does It Work?
- The promotion applies to all clients who submit a Request for Placement Form in the month of February 2025.
- The placement’s start date can occur at any time in the calendar year 2025 — so whether you need someone now or are planning ahead, you can take advantage of this offer.
- The rate reduction will be applied for 90 calendar days starting from the placement’s first day, giving your library a significant cost-saving advantage.
- If the placement extends beyond the 90-day period, the bill rate will revert to the standard rate after 90 days.
- A signed Client Agreement must be on file with BiblioTemps before we can accept a Request for Placement Form.
Why Participate?
Whether you’re looking to fill a temporary vacancy or onboard project-based help, this discount ensures you get the skilled professionals you need at a more affordable rate.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take advantage of the For the Love of Libraries promotion! Submit your Request for Placement Form during February and lock in your savings for 2025.
Questions?
Reach out to us today by emailing bibliotemps@masslibsystem.org to learn more about the promotion or to get started with your request. Let’s celebrate our shared love for libraries by helping you build the team you need!
Save the Date for the Summit on Social Cohesion
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and Simmons University School of Library and Information Science, we are excited to announce the Library Summit on Social Cohesion!
This in-person event will provide a nourishing day for library staff to build social cohesion within our profession and to support our important role fostering social cohesion in our communities.
The theme of our event is: Together We Thrive: Libraries as Catalysts for Social Cohesion.
We look forward to sharing more details soon! For now, please save the date of April 11, 2025.
Library Journal Grant Program
Over the past couple years, MLS has launched several training grant programs:
Language learning grant program
Library Juice Academy grant program
MindEdge certificate grant program
We are excited to add another training grant program to these offerings: the Library Journal Grant program.
This new opportunity allows staff at MLS member libraries to pursue online courses offered by Library Journal.
Library Journal offers online professional development courses that are designed to provide you with practical skills that you can use at work. Courses cover a variety of library-relevant topics (such as collections, communication, customer service, management, youth services), and range from a half-day to multiple weeks in length.
Library Journal’s online courses typically include:
- Live or recorded sessions led by leaders in their field
- Facilitated discussions during live sessions
- Optional breakout groups during live sessions to practice with your peers
- Project-based weekly assignments (for multi-week courses) to connect your learning to your work life
- Access to a series of past live session archives to explore at your own pace
- Six-month access to an online classroom where course materials are stored
Staff at MLS member libraries who are interested in applying to take a Library Journal online course should review the grant program details on our Library Journal Grant LibGuide. The grant application is available on the LibGuide page.
Please note: If you submit a grant application, and if your application is approved, MLS will work with Library Journal to enroll you in the online course. You should not register directly through Library Journal.
The Library Journal 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!
Summer Library Program 2025 – Level Up at Your Library!
Libraries across Massachusetts are getting excited about the summer 2025 iREAD theme, Level Up at Your Library! This year’s theme has a game focus with artwork and program ideas for all age levels.
If you haven’t already downloaded the iREAD Resource Guide and artwork and retrieved your library’s iREAD voucher code, it’s not too late! Information about all things summer and iREAD can be found on our two MLS Summer LibGuides:
- General summer information
- iREAD Resource Guide & Voucher Codes (password: MAsummer2025)
If you have any questions about summer reading, don’t hesitate to email Christi Farrar at christif@masslibsystem.org.
Touchpoints in Libraries
Open to all library staff, this course supports family engagement in library settings. Created by the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, this course introduces participants to a strengths-based framework and explores how it can enhance the work they already do with families. This includes an overview of infant to pre-K development and discussion of the typical ups and downs of each developmental stage.
Register for Touchpoints in Libraries on LibCal! For now, learn more below:
Training Details
Participants will be part of a cohort of library staff that engage with one another in live and interactive learning guided by trained facilitators. This training will comprise:
- One full-day in-person training at the MLS Marlborough office on Tuesday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This training day is mandatory for all participants.
- Three (3) two-hour virtual sessions with independent practice assignments and an online discussion board. These sessions will be on Tuesday afternoons: March 25, April 1, and April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants must attend two out of these three sessions.
- Six (6) one-hour monthly virtual reflective practice sessions after training completion that reinforce the strategies and tools learned during the live modules. These sessions will be on the fourth Tuesday of the month: May 27, June 23, July 22, August 26, September 23, and October 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. Participants must attend four out of these six sessions.
Participants should expect to spend approximately 24 hours participating in sessions, discussion boards, and completing assignments over the course of this training.
Learning Objectives
- Identify competencies of baby to pre-k developmental stages and explain how disorganization may present itself at each stage.
- Implement a strengths-based approach when working with children, families, library staff, and other community partners.
- Use the Touchpoints Approach to intentionally engage families and to strengthen relationships.
- Engage in ongoing reflection before, during, and after interactions with families and other library staff.
Last Call for Northeast Summit Registration
Last call to register for Library GreenScapes: Cultivating Climate Resilience, Community, and Learning Outdoors!
Professional landscape architect Lisa Giersbach from Massachusetts-based G2 Collaborative will discuss planning, implementing, and maintaining a landscape that meets sustainability, resilience, and education goals from the landscape architect’s perspective.
Our panel of library directors, Margaret Woodruff of the Charlotte Public Library (VT), Jill DiPaolo of the Lewes Public Library (DE), and Kate Gomes of the Holbrook Public Library (MA) will discuss successes in fundraising for and creating spaces for community enrichment and enhanced resilience.
This webinar takes place on February 4 from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
This event is part of the Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities, a collaboration of the State Libraries from Maine to Maryland. This webinar was planned by the Delaware Division of Libraries, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Massachusetts Library System.
Strategic Plan Process Update
As you may be aware, MLS is conducting a new strategic plan process. We kicked off the planning with a series of town hall meetings with our consultant Stephanie Chase of Constructive Disruption last fall. Next steps will include current plan assessment and additional member engagement opportunities.
A task force to assist us in this work, as well as provide crucial member representative voices, has been created. Thank you to our task force members for volunteering their time and energy to this important work:
Member Library Representation:
Deena Caswell, Bushnell-Sage Public Library, Sheffield
Rebecca Tierney, Waltham High School, Waltham
Ella Stocker, Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Amherst
Nancy Hughes, MCI Norfolk, Norfolk
Nanci Hill, Hopkinton Public Library, Hopkinton
Will Adamczyk, Milton Public Library, Milton
MLS Executive Board Representation:
Hope Houston, Bentley University, Waltham, Board Past President and Committee Co-Chair
Christina Dominique-Pierre, Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge
Maureen Amyot, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) liaison to the MLS Board
Sarah Jackson, Boston Public Library/Library for the Commonwealth liaison to the MLS Board
MLS Staff Representation:
Sarah Sogigian, Executive Director, Committee Co-Chair
Brad Schmidt, Executive Assistant, Strategic Plan project coordinator
Jane Stimpson, Consultant
Amanda Malikowski, Delivery Coordinator
Celebrating a Shared Sora Milestone
The MLS OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection has soared to new heights! Our collection now ranks #2 in the world for annual circulations!
Along with this new milestone, the collection remains #1 in New England and #2 in the United States.
Thank you to our dedicated MLS staff, the OverDrive team, and our participating school libraries for your continued support of this program. Your contributions help boost literacy and good reading habits for young readers in Massachusetts.
To learn more about the program, visit our Commonwealth eBook Collections LibGuide.
Over the Phone Interpretation 2024 Stats
Since July 2024, MLS has offered an over the phone interpretation service to MLS public library members through Language Line Solutions.
This program connects patrons with timely interpretation either at the library or remotely at no cost to the library or the patron.
Check out some stats from 2024 below!
Total Usage and Top Languages
Public libraries using this service made 72 calls.
The most requested language was Haitian Creole with 33 uses. The breakdown of other languages was:
- Spanish – 22 uses
- Portuguese – 6 uses
- Russian – 4 uses
- Mandarin – 2 uses
- Arabic – 2 uses
- Italian – 1 use
- Hindi – 1 use
- French – 1 use
Call Information
The combined call time was 8 hours and 37 minutes. The average call time was 7 minutes and 10 seconds.
The longest call placed was a 50-minute Haitian Creole call.
Learn More
We encourage all MLS public library members to sign up to access this over the phone interpretation service. Visit the Language Line Solutions LibGuide to learn how to sign up!
This over the phone interpretation service is a pilot project and supports Initiative 1, Goal 3 and Initiative 3, Goal 1 of the MLS Strategic Plan.
