Along with about 1,000 others, I attended the dedication of the brand-new Townsend Public Library, Senior Center, and Meeting Hall on Saturday, October 31. A gift of the Sterilite Corporation, the new building complex shares a campus with two schools. Truly a "third place", the library is positioned to become the heart of the community.
Literally opening doors among three important community institutions, the library is spacious and welcoming. It makes a quantum leap from the nearly 100 year old Carnegie style building it occupied a few weeks ago. Congratulations to Townsend!
11.02.2009
10.22.2009
What sevices can CMRLS provide with 28% less?
The CMRLS board has been taking a look at what services could be sustained in FY2011 with a 28% budget reduction. We regard this a hypothetical budget for a transitional year. It will be discussed at annual meeting but not voted upon.
You can preview the budget at http://www.cmrls.org/about/annualmeeting.htm and you can come hear about our transitional planning process at our annual meeting on November 10. If you haven’t registered yet, please do. We’d love to see you there.
Register to join us.
You can preview the budget at http://www.cmrls.org/about/annualmeeting.htm and you can come hear about our transitional planning process at our annual meeting on November 10. If you haven’t registered yet, please do. We’d love to see you there.
Register to join us.
10.20.2009
Planning for Change
MBLC Director Rob Maier joined the CMRLS board for an October 20 meeting to talk about upcoming Regional consolidation. In an open dialog, he indicated that he is an active participant in a planning process that will begin in November. Though he is open to recommendations that could range from one to three Regions, he acknowledged that it is highly unlikely that any workable scenario would include six organizations.
The planning begins with two meetings facilitated by Linda Braun. On November 6, the staff of all six Regions will meet to talk about services and customer values. (Please note: the CMRLS office will be closed that afternoon, though delivery will continue as usual.) On December 14, each Regions board, along with some staff of Regions and the MBLC will meet to prioritize and establish a structure for planning. Workgroups will likely be formed. It is hoped that by early spring 2010, a plan for reformulated services will emerge. An orderly transition to the new model will take place in early to mid-FY2011.
CMRLS conducted an exercise to see if we could provide vigorous member service throughout an entire transition year in FY 2011. A reduction of $456,006 (28%) is sustainable for one year and only because we have traditionally paid for some services, notably databases, in one fiscal year for the next fiscal year. You can read more about both our “official” budget and “transition” budget on our annual meeting page at http://www.cmrls.org/about/annualmeeting.htm.
The planning begins with two meetings facilitated by Linda Braun. On November 6, the staff of all six Regions will meet to talk about services and customer values. (Please note: the CMRLS office will be closed that afternoon, though delivery will continue as usual.) On December 14, each Regions board, along with some staff of Regions and the MBLC will meet to prioritize and establish a structure for planning. Workgroups will likely be formed. It is hoped that by early spring 2010, a plan for reformulated services will emerge. An orderly transition to the new model will take place in early to mid-FY2011.
CMRLS conducted an exercise to see if we could provide vigorous member service throughout an entire transition year in FY 2011. A reduction of $456,006 (28%) is sustainable for one year and only because we have traditionally paid for some services, notably databases, in one fiscal year for the next fiscal year. You can read more about both our “official” budget and “transition” budget on our annual meeting page at http://www.cmrls.org/about/annualmeeting.htm.
10.17.2009
Delivery and Library Systems: Many things become one
Yesterday at a statewide delivery meeting, we reached concensus about exploring one unified, automated delivery system. Lots of steps to go. But it's great to have stakeholders in networks, libraries, and regional library systems moving forward together.
Moving forward together for as long as it lasts. Consolidation of regional library systems may happen on about the same schedule as unified delivery. One, two, three -- collapse!
Moving forward together for as long as it lasts. Consolidation of regional library systems may happen on about the same schedule as unified delivery. One, two, three -- collapse!
9.22.2009
FY2011 Budget and Regional Library Services
This message was mailed today to Regional Library System members by MBLC Director Rob Maier:
To: Members of Regional Library Systems
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.
Rob
To: Members of Regional Library Systems
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.
Rob
9.01.2009
End of the Rainbow
If you were a child or raised a child anytime during the last 26 years, chances are you remember Reading Rainbow, a PBS show for kids about books. LeVar Burton, its host, led every episode as a reading adventure and ended each one with "But you don't have to take my word for it."
The show ends on Friday, according to NPR, due to lack of funding and a shift in educational priorities -- away from encouraging reading toward the mechanics of reading.
It's another little loss. Our new batch of kids won't know about cobblers, cameras that use film, hand-written lettters, printed newspapers, or Reading Rainbow. At least it's still sunny on Sesame Street.
The show ends on Friday, according to NPR, due to lack of funding and a shift in educational priorities -- away from encouraging reading toward the mechanics of reading.
It's another little loss. Our new batch of kids won't know about cobblers, cameras that use film, hand-written lettters, printed newspapers, or Reading Rainbow. At least it's still sunny on Sesame Street.
8.17.2009
Wikipedia Circles the Wagons
An article by Bobbie Johnson in the Guardian (8/14/09) posits that Wikipedia has maxed out its growth. Research by Ed H Chi, a scientist who works at the Palo Alto Research Center in California, showed that contributions have slowed and the complement of editors has stabilized into a small, elite group. Elite editors' edits have a 1% chance of being reverted, while the work of people who contribute less regularly is likely to be reverted 25% of the time.
According to Johnson, there's a war going on between inclusionists and deletionists, with the deletionists acting to to preserve the value of Wikipedia's content. The inclusionists, on the other hand, point out that Wikipedia is not paper and can accomodate plenty of inclusion.
What's really interesting is the maturation of a revolutionary medium and what it suggests for others. Are there diminishing resources on the Internet, too?
According to Johnson, there's a war going on between inclusionists and deletionists, with the deletionists acting to to preserve the value of Wikipedia's content. The inclusionists, on the other hand, point out that Wikipedia is not paper and can accomodate plenty of inclusion.
What's really interesting is the maturation of a revolutionary medium and what it suggests for others. Are there diminishing resources on the Internet, too?
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