SEMLS News

On this sunny and bright Sunday, June 22,  the Trustees, Staff and Friends of the Wareham Free Libray celebratred the career of Mary Jane Pillsbury.   Mary Jane is retiring from Wareham after a 35 year career, which ranged from page to Library Director.   The Library was overflowing with residents and colleagues of Mary Jane.   The afternoon was highlighted by the dedication of the Library Courtyard in honor of Mary Jane.   Mary Jane has had an illustrious career.  Under her leadership, the library serves as a literacy, learning and community center for Wareham.   We join with all our colleagues in congratulating Mary Jane on her many successes.

The June SEMLS Sightings Newsletter is now available.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent evaluation of science databases. After reviewing the feedback and discussion the options with the SEMLS Executive Board last week, SEMLS has decided to wait until the fall to select a new database. The top three choices were  Science Reference Center from Ebsco, Science Online from Facts on File, and eLibrary Science. We didn’t feel we had enough feedback to make a  choice among those three titles.

SEMLS still intends to subscribe to a science database. However, we would like to wait until school is back in session in the Fall before we take a second look at these three titles and try to get member input into the process.

The paper copy of the CE Calendar – Summer 2008 is on it's way to you. Full workshop descriptions are now available.

Remember to fill out your 2008 SEMLS Continuing Education Survey. It only takes a few minutes. The survey will be available until June 14, 2008.

Just a reminder that we have set up several trials to science and health databases. Please help us select a new database by testing these databases, using our evaluation packet as a guide, and providing us feedback in our online survey. Survey results are due by May 31, 2008.

In case any of you missed the live show or the subsequent YouTube videos, we wanted to let you know about the spectacular performances put on by the Plymouth Public Library and the Sandwich Public Library for MLAs first-ever book cart drill team competition at last week's conference.

The Plymouth Rockettes came in second place and also won an award for the "Wow" factor. Sandwich's team, the "Austin"tations, came in third place and won the award for Best Costumes.

You can see both teams in the below YouTube videos.

The 2008 SEMLS Continuing Education Survey has now been posted.  We greatly appreciate your comments and insights as we being planning workshops for FY 2009.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey.  The survey deadline is Saturday, June 14.  We will keep you posted as to the results.  Thank you!

Applications are now being accepted for the New Director's Essentials Boot Camp to be held on May 20, at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, MA. The boot camp is intended for Directors of all types of libraries from across the Commonwealth who have less than two years experience in their present position. It will be a full day of discussion, inspirational speakers, information and resources that will be useful for directors in doing their jobs.

The application deadline is May 9th so act now. Limited housing is available for those who travel farthest to the boot camp so they can arrive early and ready to participate with full enthusiasm. An online application is available at  http://www.cmrls.org/forms/director_essentials.htm.

This is part of a two-year federally funded LSTA grant awarded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to provide this training and a website for Massachusetts Directors in all library types.

SEMLS has funds to subscribe to a new regional database this year. We have set up several trials to science and health databases under consideration. Please help us select a new database by testing these databases, using our evaluation packet as a guide, and providing us feedback in our online survey. Survey results are due by May 31, 2008.