In this Month’s News and Updates…
- Delivery Open House at the Worcester Sort Facility
- Introducing CommonShelf: Join Us at our Info Sessions to Learn More
- Member Annual Meeting Spotlight: CultureAlly
- Digital Accessibility Webinar Series
- Join Us for In-Person Workshops this Fall
- Member Webinars Fall Schedule
- MHEC Webinar: Titlewave for Public Libraries
Delivery Open House at the Worcester Sort Facility
Curious how Statewide Delivery works? Join MLS and Optima Shipping on Thursday, October 22 for an open house at the sort facility in Worcester!
This is an opportunity for library staff to come and see how Optima handles library materials destined for Delivery to and from libraries in central and western Massachusetts.
We have chosen the 1 – 4 p.m. time period because trucks and vans will be returning from picking up materials, which will be unloaded and sorted to their destinations. We expect this will give you a good picture of the daily workflow and the sort site environment.
Select a time slot below and register through the MLS Learning Hub. If you don’t already have a Learning Hub account, create your free account.
- Register for the 1 – 2 p.m. time slot
- Register for the 2 – 3 p.m. time slot
- Register for the 3 – 4 p.m. time slot
Introducing CommonShelf: Join Us at Our Info Sessions to Learn More
There’s a new e-content collection coming soon!
The Boston Public Library (BPL), the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) are excited to announce CommonShelf.
CommonShelf is a new collection of e-content available to your patrons, with support from BPL, MBLC, and MLS.
Starting this fall, Massachusetts residents will have more access to eBooks and eAudiobooks through the shared CommonShelf digital collection in the Palace app.
Patrons will be able to access CommonShelf in two ways:
- Participating libraries can access CommonShelf alongside their library’s own digital collection in Palace.
- Massachusetts residents without access through a participating library can access the CommonShelf collection by registering with an email address while located in Massachusetts.
Join us at one of our info sessions on Wednesday, October 7 to learn more about this new program, the benefits available to your patrons, and how to promote it in your community:
Member Annual Meeting Spotlight: CultureAlly
We’re looking forward to the 2026 MLS Member Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Leominster!
Visit the Learning Hub to register if you haven’t already done so.
Last month, we shared details about our keynote speaker, Dr. Michaela Kerrissey.
Today, we’d like to spotlight our two facilitators from CultureAlly. During our meeting, they’ll lead breakout discussions about cultural competence and inclusive hiring.
Diana Montero (she/her/ella) is a seasoned DEI professional with over 10 years of experience in DEI. She has served as a senior consultant for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon and is currently an EEO and DEI consultant at the Government Publishing Office. Diana has a passion for advocacy and policy development and brings incredible perspective through her lived experience as an Afro-Cuban/Dominican woman. A captivating training facilitator, Diana holds an MBA in human resources management and is working towards a doctorate in public policy and administration.
Makeda Crane (she/her/hers) is an attorney with over 10 years of experience in legal advocacy, public service, and civil rights work. She has helped people navigate workplace discrimination issues, supported fair treatment in schools, and worked with public agencies on complex legal and communication matters. Makeda holds a law degree from the University of the District of Columbia and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Digital Accessibility Webinar Series
We’re excited to offer a new digital accessibility webinar series for our members!
We’re hosting 10 webinars with accessibility experts from Deque on accessibility topics relevant to your library. You’ll also have two opportunities to join a Community Chat, bring your own work, ask questions, and get hands-on help applying what you’ve learned.
Before we finalize all the webinar topics, we want your input. Complete a quick survey to share what you most want to learn about digital accessibility: Accessibility Series: Topic Interest Survey. Your responses will help us shape the series around your interests.
After completing the survey, join us on October 6 from 1 – 3 p.m. for our Introduction to Digital Accessibility. Here, we’ll introduce basic accessibility concepts ahead of the webinar series.
Register for Introduction to Digital Accessibility on the Learning Hub.
We’ll share the full series lineup after reviewing results from the survey. For now, register for our first three webinars:
Please contact Learning Experience Program Manager Hillary Washburn (hillary@masslibsystem.org) with any questions.
Join Us for In-Person Workshops this Fall
Registration is still open for our in-person workshops this fall!
You can now earn IACET CEUs by successfully completing these workshops. You’ll receive a certificate documenting your completion and the CEUs awarded by MLS, an IACET-accredited provider.
Visit the Learning Hub to register for any workshop and view our full lineup below:
Stronger Customer Service, Stronger Library
With Martha Meacham
Monday, October 19, MLS Northampton Office
Wednesday, December 9, MLS Marlborough Office
Leading Musical Storytimes: Tools and Techniques
With Jessica Cheung
Tuesday, October 6, MLS Marlborough Office
Wednesday, October 7, MLS Northampton Office
Speak Up: Public Speaking and Presentation Skills for Library Workers
With Jane Stimpson
Wednesday, October 14, MLS Northampton Office
Thursday, November 19, MLS Marlborough Office
Manager Essentials: Managing Decisions and Staff Communication
With Andrew Sanderbeck
Wednesday, October 28, MLS Marlborough Office
Thursday, October 29, MLS Northampton Office
Discover, Listen, Plan: Needs Assessment for Library Strategic Plans
With Michelle Eberle
Friday, November 6, MLS Marlborough Office
Friday, November 20, MLS Northampton Office
Strengthen Your Library Through Effective Policies
With Katherine Adelberg
Tuesday, November 17, MLS Marlborough Office
Thursday, December 3, MLS Northampton Office
Weeding Basics: Curating Collections for Community Benefit
With Christi Farrar
Monday, November 16, MLS Northampton Office
Wednesday, December 2, MLS Marlborough Office
Please contact Learning Experience Program Manager Hillary Washburn (hillary@masslibsystem.org) with any questions.
Member Webinars Fall Schedule
Registration is still open for the fall 2026 MLS Member Webinar series!
MLS member library staff will share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics in a series of four webinars taking place October 8, October 21, November 12, and December 1.
Visit the Learning Hub to register for a webinar and check out the lineup below, along with some blog posts about our presenters:
Starting a Library Pollinator Garden: Plants, Programming, and Partnerships
October 8, 2026 from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Dorrie Karlin and Laura Mills
Fowler Branch, Concord Free Public Library
Check out Dorrie and Laura’s blog post!
Building Belonging: Inclusive Library Programs for Neurodiverse Adults
October 21, 2026 from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Darshana Merchant
Morrill Memorial Library, Norwood
Check out Darshana’s blog post!
Your Library Needs a Substack
November 12, 2026 from 2 – 3 p.m.
Jeremiah Rood
Greenfield Public Library
Blog post coming soon!
Growing Your Seed Library
December 1, 2026 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Tom Jorgenson
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Blog post coming soon!
For full webinar descriptions, check out the MLS Member Webinars LibGuide or the Learning Hub, where registration is open for all webinars.
MLS Member Webinars will be recorded and posted to the MLS Vimeo channel.
Contact MLS Consultant Jane Stimpson (jane@masslibsystem.org) with any questions.
MHEC Webinar: Titlewave for Public Libraries
A message from our friends at MHEC:
Join a free training hosted by Follett Content about Titlewave for Public Libraries on Tuesday, October 6 at 10 a.m.
If collection development is eating more of your week than you’d like, series calendars, batch orders, MARC records, and street dates all pulling you in different directions, you’re not alone.
Titlewave was built to put all of that in one place, so ordering and cataloging stop competing with everything else on your plate.
In this session, you’ll:
- Identify the Titlewave tools built specifically for public library workflows
- Build faster order lists using advanced and batch search
- See how to analyze lists, pull brief MARC records, and set grid presets
- Get a walkthrough of street date affidavits and VAS profiles
- Walk away with a free Titlewave account, no pressure to order on the spot
Whether you’re just exploring collection development tools or ready to switch platforms, this one’s for you.
Register for Titlewave for Public Libraries: Your MHEC Follow-Up.
