MLS welcomes two new member libraries:

• Center School, Stow
• Educational Development Center, Waltham

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More than 350 members completed the MLS Strategic Planning survey.  The Strategic Planning Task Force has a great deal of data to analyze to design the best future for MLS.  We are grateful to you, our members, for taking the time to complete our surveys.  We will publish more results soon.  For now, I am  proud to present a snapshot of your responses on your satisfaction with MLS services.  The large percentage of members  who said they were satisfied and very satisfied  is testimony to the dedication and high quality of the efforts of MLS staff and to the direction set by the MLS Executive Board.

We will review member comments and work with you to strive for even higher levels of member satisfaction in the future.
 

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The MassBroadband Institute (MBI) is a state sponsored program designed to supply high-speed internet to over 120 rural communities in western and north-central Massachusetts. (Here is a link to a map of the service area covered by this project.) MLS recognized the importance of this program and, thanks to a $200,000 Gates Grant, will be working with MBI to provide equipment and training to our member libraries being affected by MBI. Attached below is a press release for use by those libraries soon to get fiber-optic connections.

Where indicated, please include content personalized to your library. Your content may look something like this:

“We’re very excited with this development,” says Carnegie Library Director Jane Doe. “With the delivery of fiber optic connectivity our patrons will be able to use things like streaming videos, our staff will finally be able to avail themselves of web-based trainings. And we are so appreciative of the groups who are making this happen.” The Carnegie Library is located at 123 Main Street in Notarealtown. For more information call 413-555-1234 or email Carnegie@cargnegie.org.

If you have questions about the MBI project, please email Diana Davis. If you would like help with your press release, please email Anna Popp.

MBI Press Release for Libraries January 2012

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John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:
“Dead End in Norvelt,” written by Jack Gantos, is the 2012 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Farrar Straus Giroux.
Two Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Inside Out & Back Again,” written by Thanhha Lai and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Breaking Stalin’s Nose,” written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“A Ball for Daisy,” illustrated and written by Chris Raschka, is the 2012 Caldecott Medal winner. The book is published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Blackout,” illustrated and written by John Rocco, and published by Disney · Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group; “Grandpa Green” illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Me . . . Jane,” illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The MLS Mock Caldecott Committee met in Worcester last week on January 18. After lively rich discussion, they made their decision.
The winner is “Me…Jane” by Patrick McDonnell, author and illustrator.
The sole honor book is “Swirl by Swirl”, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Joyce Sidman.

More awards announced here.

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Massachusetts Library System members can take hundreds of partially pre-paid live online courses from Lyrasis. Lyrasis courses are taught live online by professional instructors. Lyrasis courses normally cost between $120 and $220, but are now available to MLS members at a discount rate of 75% off the class price. This offer will last until these units are exhausted.  Members are asked to select only one course per person since supplies are limited.

Read on for registration information…

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