Library Stuff

“A cat in Swansea that lives at the town’s public library is causing controversy. It’s front page news in southeastern Massachusetts. A quiet, unassuming cat is causing big problems for at least one person in Swansea. “It’s a continuation of the handicapped accessibility platform I started in 2007,” said Patrick Higgins, a Swansea resident. Patrick Higgins says the library needs to make big changes to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; changes like adding a ramp to the front entrance and taking down a fence in front of the gazebo in back — but removing a cat?” (via WHDH-TV)

“While libraries in Massachusetts are grappling with different demands from users and new technologies such as electronic books, state funding for the libraries is at the same level it was in 1994, Board of Library Commissioners Director Robert Maier told lawmakers Thursday. “The funding is way down,” Maier told the House and Senate Ways and Means committees gathered who held a budget hearing in the library of Everett High School.”

via Holbrook Sun

“The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners today announced that they have awarded eight communities General Construction Provisional Grants awards. Governor Patrick increased funding for the Public Library Construction Program in the administration’s FY13-FY17 Capital Plan to allow for these eight additional grants, which will assist with the cost of construction over the course of the next few years. “Public libraries are a valuable resource for cities, towns and residents across the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “These grants, and others before it, will assist municipalities with construction of top-notch, environmentally-conscious facilities that will serve residents for many years to come.”

via Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

“Local officials and residents reacted with sadness this week to news that the city plans to close three library branches on July 2 as part of a series of city budget cuts and reduced staffing. The Library Department will be closing the Pine Point branch on Boston Road, the Liberty Street branch in Liberty Heights and the East Forest Park branch on Island Pond Road. “I wish they would keep it open,” said Madelyn Rolon, of Beacon Terrace, who was at the Pine Point branch Wednesday with her two children, Brandon Lopez, 7, and Tanisha Claudio, 16. “My son likes to read books. She gets books for projects at school. It’s sad they are going to close it.”

via masslive.com

Boston Globe – “Borrowed any good videos lately from the library? If you have, you are in good company. Video lending has exploded during the past five years, rising at a far higher rate than the lending of books or audio, according to information from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Video lending statewide more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, from 6.6 million videos to 14.1 million.”

State Library of Massachusetts Blog – “At a press conference on Thursday, October 29, the Governor’s Office announced that Governor Patrick is considering closing the State Library of Massachusetts as a cost-saving measure. This closure will have a monumental impact on the cultural heritage of the Commonwealth.”

Meg Hayden (Electronic Resources Librarian, Mass. Trial Court Law Libraries) writes:

“I thought you’d like to know that the public law librarians here in Mass. have been working to put our own cases online– http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/2007/12/massachusetts-cases-online.html. We’re adding over 100 cases per day, and currently have 10,000 cases available at the site. There is no group more committed to public access than my colleagues, and providing this content just continues our commitment to providing as much service as possible to the public for no charge!”

How cool is that! Bookmarked!