SEMLS News

Now available on our Web site is the Fall CE Calendar with full workshop descriptions. The paper copy is on it's way to you.

Reposted from a message MBLC Director Rob Maier sent to the Allregions Listserv: 

Last week at a regular meeting with regional administrators I began a conversation about reductions in the state budget that are being proposed for fiscal year FY2011 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011).  The Board of Library Commissioners has been given a budget cap by the administration of a 16% reduction compared to this year.  Most other state agencies are facing a similar budget-making scenario.  This is the result of declining state revenues and the fact that the FY2010 state budget benefits substantially from the use of one-time federal stimulus funds.

Even if a 16% reduction was to be imposed equally on all library programs the impact on regional library systems would be significant.  However, given the recent erosion of funding for State Aid to Public Libraries, it is unlikely that that account would be cut further.  The reduction in regional and library of last recourse funding may be as great as 28%. 

With this information in hand I have asked the regional administrators to work with me and with regional member libraries and regional staff to prioritize regional services for FY2011 and beyond.  This planning will include options for the consolidation of regional library systems with the likelihood of 1 or 2 restructured regions going forward and changes in required services including support for regional reference centers. 

I fully recognize that changes of this magnitude are challenging.  I know that if we work together we can continue to provide the regional services that the libraries and residents of Massachusetts value and rely on every day to improve their lives.

As library teachers settle back into the school year, the SEMLS office handles many calls and e-mails to help them reconnect to the online databases. Below are some updates and reminders to help you get started for the school year:

• If your school uses cookie authentication, the password to access InfoTrac has changed. The SEMLS office sent out letters with the new password in June. If you have misplaced the letter, please send an e-mail to helpdesk@semls.org to get the password.
• SEMLS was able to continue funding for Literary Reference Center. Please visit the SEMLS Web site at www.semls.org/what/databases to see a full list of databases to which you have access.
• Libraries are able to provide direct links to individual databases within the InfoTrac and ProQuest collections. These direct links are available on the SEMLS Web site at www.semls.org/what/databases/links.html.
• If your library uses cookie authentication for the databases, please do not share passwords with students, teachers or even other library staff. These passwords should only be shared with those people responsible for setting up database access. Once a cookie is properly set on a computer, the database should no longer request a password. If your library is unable to get the cookies to stick, please contact SEMLS at helpdesk@semls.org for assistance.
• If you have any questions about setting up database access or need assistance in using or promoting the database, feel free to contact the SEMLS office at helpdesk@semls.org at any time.

SEMLS is hosting two MassCat User Group meetings on November 3.

Full circulating MassCat members are invited to participate in morning user group, scheduled for 10 a.m. Union catalog MassaCat members are invitated to participate in the afternoon user group, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Both user groups are expected to last for two hours.

Register for these user groups through the SEMLS Event Calendar.