Library: Export Your Reading List BEFORE May 25

Member libraries of CW/MARS (including the Worcester Public Library) are migrating to a new catalog software (Evergreen) on Memorial Day weekend.  This will impact library patrons in quite a few ways.

With the migration to Evergreen, your existing library history will no longer be accessible.  If you want to keep a record of what you’ve checked out, you’ll need to export your library history before May 25.

Here’s how:

When you’ve logged into your library account, select the My Reading History button on the right side of the page:

You’ll be brought to your reading history.  Click on the Export List option (third from the left):

When you are brought to the Export List page, click on theSelect Alllink before the list of items:

Then enter your email address and press the Submit button:

This process could take a while — be patient!

(I estimate it took 3 minutes to export my rather large list and receive the email.)

Please share these instructions with anyone you know who uses the library!

Head Librarian’s Report – April 2012

I’ve posted the Worcester Public Library Head Librarian’s Report for April — thanks to Jim (as always).

 

Barre Library and building ownership

There was an article in the Telegram today about a financial crisis in the Woods Memorial Library in Barre.

The library building is owned by a private organization, the Barre Library Association, which does not have the money to maintain the building beyond the end of June.

I asked the MBLC how many libraries were in a similar situation (that is, a town library in a building not owned by the municipality).

They pointed me to this site, where it is noted that “on the 2004 survey [of MA libraries], 54 libraries indicated that the main independent library facility in their city or town was owned by a corporation or association, nine indicated that the facilities were owned by an entity other than a corporation or association, or the municipality.”

Besides Barre, some of the area towns that have their main library facility owned by a corporation or organization are Gardner, Ayer, Ware, Warren, Hopkinton, Whitinsville/Northbridge, Petersham, and Natick (Bacon and Morse).

Obviously, the situation in Barre is quite dire.  If the library association doesn’t come up with money to pay for the building maintenance and upkeep (not including much-needed repairs), the library would be closed and residents of the town would not have borrowing privileges at other Massachusetts libraries.

And the economic downturn means that the elected officials have told the library to fend for themselves:

Selectmen suggested the library trustees and association do whatever possible to minimize reliance on taxpayers beyond the annual budget.

We will leave without comment the notions that “taxpayers” are somehow considered separate from “you folks who read books” and that repairs to the library’s Children’s Room should only be the responsibility of bibliophiles.

Bookmobile Name Unveiled – May 1

Via the Holy Cross website:

You are cordially invited to see and take a tour of

Worcester’s new mobile library!

(Plus, Worcester 6th-grade winners of the naming contest will be announced and awarded prizes!)

Tuesday, May 1
4:30-6:00 p.m.

College of the Holy Cross
Memorial Plaza
(located behind O’Kane Hall)

Reception immediately following the program, hosted by the Worcester Public Library Foundation

*Please enter Gate 7 and park in the Hogan Center lot. Follow signs down campus to Memorial Plaza

Head Librarian’s Report – March 2012

Worcester Public Library Head Librarian’s Report for March 2012

(Let me know if you’d prefer these in the body of a post rather than a link to a Google Doc!)

Surveys, bookmobiles and closing songs

The Worcester Public Library is holding its annual survey this week.  Please take a few minutes and fill it out.  If you are not a resident of Worcester but use the WPL, you should fill it out too!

(Remember, “Nicole’s blog” is an acceptable answer for the question about where you find out about library events.)

…

Today is Frances Perkins’ birthday.

…

NPR recently had a story on a Vermont town whose bookmobile has broken down.  Like Massachusetts, Vermont’s bookmobile population is in the single digits.

Stories like that (and posts like this) make me happy that Worcester’s getting bookmobile service back.

(Above picture from the Crossett Library at Bennington College’s photostream, which a booklover could easily get lost in!  More old bookmobile porn here, here and here.)

…

Finally, we came across this video of a librarian at Brattleboro’s Brooks Memorial Library singing a closing song.

We have it on good authority that the Worcester Public Library’s been doing this for quite a few months, but we need video evidence…because some of us are never at the library to the bitter end and have never witnessed this firsthand!

 

Head Librarian’s Reports

Worcester Public Library Head Librarian’s Reports for:

December 2011

January 2012

February 2012

Also, Minutes from the January 10, 2012 meeting

Thanks, Jim!

Happy Birthday, FPBL!

Ninety-nine years ago yesterday, Andrew Carnegie laid the cornerstones of three Worcester Public Library branches: Quinsigamond, South Worcester, and Greendale.

Of these, only Greendale remains a library branch, and has been renamed in honor of Frances Perkins.

Give and Take in the news

I’ve been a bit remiss in noting publicity for the Give and Take bookcase at Union Station.

Worcester Mag mentioned us in the WooTown Index a couple weeks back.  (Unfortunately, no link that I know of!)

The Give and Take was featured on the front of the local section of Monday’s Telegram.  In the course of the interview, I met a frequent patron of the bookcase (and the library) and she let me know that children have been especially appreciative of the presence of books.  I feel like the Book Fairy.

The Give and Take was also mentioned quite favorably in a T&G editorial today.

The Friends are actively looking into expanding to other locations.  Keep your suggestions and donations coming!  (And thank you for your support!)

Your Bookmobile Questions Answered

Will it be wheelchair accessible?

Yes.

How many stops will there be a day?

It could be up to five, but this will be something that they’ll figure out and adjust as necessary.

Will there be WiFi?

Yes.

There was also a question about IT training; it seems most of the support from staff on the bookmobile would be to assist with library functions.  Does anyone have specific desires they’d like to see in what’s offered at the bookmobile?

…

As I mentioned in a comment, I’ve heard that Holy Cross’s plans for student participation are not finalized, so I’ll hold on pursuing answers to those questions.

I will also try to get more information out about which schools might be served by the bookmobile.  There had been a program to make sure all third graders get a public library card; we want to see how this program could be integrated with bookmobile services.  More to come on all of that.

Feel free to send along more questions or ask for clarification.