In this month’s news and updates…
- Thank You for Shaping the Youth Services Learning Pathway
- Spring Workshop Calendar
- Did You Know About Over the Phone Interpretation Services?
- Congratulations to the Massachusetts School Library Association!
- Thank You for a Great Legislative Event Season!
- Voices for Libraries 2025 Retrospective from MLS Executive Director Sarah Sogigian
Thank You for Shaping the Youth Services Learning Pathway
Background
In late 2023, the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) collaborated with Dr. Audrey Barbakoff of Co/Lab Capacity to conduct a Training Needs Assessment, which included an online survey with over 600 responses and four virtual focus groups. These efforts revealed a strong member interest in structured learning pathways to support career growth at every stage.
What is a Learning Pathway?
A learning pathway is a structured set of courses designed to help library staff develop the knowledge and skills needed for success in a particular area. Aligned with Strategic Initiative 1, Goal 3 of our FY25 Action Plan, MLS is developing a Youth Services Learning Pathway.
Thank You for Your Input
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Youth Services Learning Pathway (YSLP) survey this January. With input from over 130 youth services library staff and hiring managers, we were able to identify key training needs and refine the framework for this new statewide learning opportunity.
Your feedback directly informed the development of the course competencies and learning outcomes. It also highlighted the importance of flexibility, inclusivity, and community engagement – all of which are now central to the pathway’s design.
We’re excited to share that course development is underway, and we’ll have more updates soon as we prepare to pilot the first offerings. Your expertise has been critical to this work – thank you for helping us build training that reflects the real needs of Massachusetts libraries.
Hillary Washburn, MLS Learning Experience Program Manager
Christi Farrar, MLS Consultant
Spring Workshop Calendar
We’re excited to kick off our spring learning season soon!
If you’re looking to share details about our workshops with your colleagues, download our new Spring 2025 MLS Workshop Calendar.
We encourage you to distribute it digitally or print a copy for a staff area at your library.
Visit LibCal to register for our workshops online.
Visit the Learning Services LibGuide to learn more about other learning opportunities.
Did You Know About Over the Phone Interpretation Services?
Looking to access interpretation services for your library’s patrons?
We’re pleased to offer MLS public library members the opportunity to access over the phone interpretation services at no cost!
- Interpretation services are provided by Language Line Solutions, the nation’s largest over the phone interpretation service.
- Interpretation over the phone is a great option when you need to communicate with a patron who speaks another language.
- Language Line Solutions has interpreters for 240+ languages, and they can typically connect you with a professional interpreter in a matter of seconds.
At this time, Language Line Solutions over the phone interpretation services are only available to MLS public library members.
How can my library access this service?
Follow the steps on the Language Line Solutions LibGuide!
My library already uses the service. What’s new?
A patron-facing promotional flyer is now available on the password-protected LibGuide for approved libraries!
We encourage you to display it at help desks to let your patrons know they can access free interpretation.
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.
Congratulations to the Massachusetts School Library Association!
MLS congratulates the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) on being named Chapter of the Year by the American Association of School Libraries (AASL)! We’re honored to work with you and celebrate your achievements.
Additionally, our team had a fantastic time tabling at this year’s MSLA Conference from March 2-3! Thank you to the MSLA team for hosting a wonderful event!
Thank You for a Great Legislative Event Season!
Thank you to all the library staff, support organizations, and legislators that hosted library legislative events this year! MLS was pleased to be a part of these events and we appreciate the advocacy being done on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) legislative agenda.
Voices for Libraries 2025: Retrospective from MLS Executive Director Sarah Sogigian
The Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) hosted its Voices for Libraries 2025 event in Washington D.C. from March 5-6. MLS Executive Director Sarah Sogigian was invited to join the Massachusetts delegation to visit with our state’s elected officials. Here’s her recap of the event:
We spoke with staff at Senator Markey’s and Warren’s offices as well as staff at Representatives Clark’s, Neal’s, Lynch’s, Keating’s, Pressley’s, and McGovern’s offices. We shared important information about the role of libraries and the critical need for sustained federal funding. You may know that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the federal agency that disseminates federal funds to the states for everything from staff compensation to grants to libraries.
While our legislators were overwhelmingly supportive of libraries and our talking points, they all agreed that the current administration has been keeping them on their toes with the amount and speed of significant changes and cuts.
Considering the recent executive order reducing the work of IMLS, this visit was a proactive approach to advocating for the critical support IMLS provides. The American Library Association (ALA) is hosting their legislative fly-in event in early April, which will also be attended by Massachusetts library representatives to continue the important federal advocacy work.
