From the State Librarian
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National Library Legislative Day
While in Washington, State Librarians were invited to meet with staff of the President's domestic policy advisers. We had to fill out paperwork and be cleared to enter the Eisenhower Executive Office Building which is considered part of the White House. Going through security there was an experience! Our meeting lasted over two hours. State librarians explained current initiatives, and the President's staff pointed out four specific areas for libraries' support: health, career/jobs/skills training (attendees hope for not just STEM but STEAM thereby adding Arts), immigration and early literacy. I was very proud that many Maine libraries are working in at least one if not all of these areas.
ALA President Maureen Sullivan graciously, but firmly asked for the administration to be more vocal about support for libraries.
Maine Policy Review
The Winter/Spring 2013 Issue is a special one with the subtitle "Libraries and Information". It includes articles from national leaders but also from Mainers whom you know: James Jackson Sanborn, Joyce Rumery, Steve Podgajny, Cynthia Jennings, Steve Norman, Steve Bromage, Jan Coates, Matthew Revitt, David Nutty, Tom Abbott, Janet McKenney, Melora Norman, Valerie Osborne, Stephanie Zurinski, Mamie Anthoine Ney, MSL's three district consultants, the State Librarian, an active group of health sciences librarians, and Tom Allen. This issue has been mailed to every public library and contains great advocacy information. The ALA Washington office mentioned the Maine Policy Review in a district dispatch and can be found at the UMaine Maine Policy Review online.
Friends of the Maine State Library
The FOMSL will begin its sponsorship of programming at MSL this month. Martha White, E.B. White's granddaughter, will be speaking on Friday, June 21 about her new book which compiles her grandfather's essays on dogs. I often list E.B. White as my favorite author and am insanely in love with my 95 pound mutt so this is a "must attend" for me. FOMLS members are welcome to come at 5:30 p.m. for hors d'oeuvres with the author. The public is welcome at 6:00 for Ms. White's program.
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Meet the Commissioner: Dick Thompson
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Dick brings a variety of experiences to the Library community, having served state government for 34 years, including over twelve years as the State's Director of Procurement and as Maine State Government's Chief Information Officer from 2003 to 2010, responsible for the consolidation and operation of Executive Branch information technology. He currently serves as the CIO of the University of Maine System.
In March, 2010, Government Technology Magazine selected Dick as one of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers in the U.S. for his accomplishments in delivering technology and government services to the citizens of Maine. He was also awarded the National Association of Chief Information Officers meritorious service award in 2009, and in 1999 the Public Administrator of the Year award by the Maine ASPA and the Gulio Mazzone Distinguished Service award in Public Procurement by the National Association of Procurement Officials.
Read more about Dick Thompson
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Maine Library Leadership Institute Inaugural Cohort
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Stephanie Zurinski, Central Maine Library District Consultant
The Maine State Library and the Maine Library Association are happy to announce the participants in the first Maine Library Leadership Institute. Participants in this first class are Samantha Cote, Jackson Memorial Library, Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Kate Pickup McMullin, Southwest Harbor Public Library, Ann Filley, Rockport Public Library, Sonya Durney, Portland Public Library, Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, Beth Kane, Norway Public Library, and Holly Williams, Pittsfield Public Library.
The Maine Leadership Institute is a year-long program to prepare library leaders to bring effective and innovative services to Maine citizens to meet the challenges of today and the future. The program is funded in part by a generous grant from the Maine Community Foundation.
The kickoff event for the institute is the week-long New England Library Association's "New England Library Leadership Symposium" in July, led by Maureen Sullivan, the current president of the American Library Association. Each month the cohort will meet to learn about and discuss solutions to challenges facing the library profession. The participants will also be responsible for designing and completing a project that will address Maine library needs. The year will culminate with a presentation of the projects at a state-wide meeting of librarians.
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Newsline returns to Maine!
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Chris Boynton, Outreach/Special Services Coordinator
Blind and visually challenged Maine citizens now have access to their favorite publications such as the
New York Times or the Washington Post whenever and wherever they want! Newspapers, magazines, TV listings, job listings and emergency weather alerts are available 24 hours a day from the National Federation for the Blind's Newsline service.
Take control of how you receive news and information everyday by subscribing to NFB-Newsline� free service and have instantaneous access to over 360 newspapers and magazines as they are published hot off the press.
Get instantaneous access to your local newspaper such as the Portland Press Herald right from your iPhone, iPad and iPod-Touch.
To learn more, or to register, please visit www.nfbnewsline.org or call 1-866-504-7300.
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SMLD Consultant Bids Farewell
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Mamie Ney, Southern Maine Library Disrict Consultant
I would like thank everyone for making my time as the Southern Maine Library District Consultant such a pleasure. I enjoyed being a part of the Maine State Library team - working with and reaching out to so many professionals who are committed to SMLD and Maine libraries.
I welcome greatly the opportunity to move on as the director of the Auburn Public Library. Not only is it a wonderful library, but it is also where I spent a lot of time growing up in the Lewiston/Auburn area. I am very happy to know that I will be able to maintain contact with so many of you. I wish all of you the best as we work to keep Maine libraries vibrant assets for our communities. Best, Mamie.
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Maine State Library Lending Service
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Peggy O'Kane, Coordinator of Public Services
One of the many ways the State Library supports libraries throughout Maine is by making available non-fiction titles both individually and in sets.
Individual titles are available via interlibrary loan. Sets of titles, whether a single reference set or a group of titles on a related topic, are available through direct requests to the MSL Reference staff.
Print, audio and video formats may all be borrowed using this procedure.
To use this service, contact the reference desk. We will help you select books and ship them to you. We will also help you set up a reliable method to track checkouts to your patrons.
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New Tech Blog to Promote Digital Literacy
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Jared Leadbetter, Erate/Technology Coordinator
As part of our ongoing initiative to promote digital literacy and training for our librarians and volunteers, the Maine State Library has begun a technology blog, moderated by Jared Leadbetter, Technology Consultant.
Each week will bring a new topic about libraries and technology, discussing some applications in the library community or spotlighting innovators that are engaging their staff and communities with technology. Each topic is also an invitation for you to join in the conversation, offering your own observations and directing the dialogue to something unique to our state.
Visit the blog - please join us!
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The 2013 Maine Readers' Choice Award
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Valerie Osborne, Northeastern Maine Library District Consultant
Maine finally has its own adult fiction award! For this to be a success we need to have Maine libraries and booksellers support this effort by encouraging their patrons to read and vote. We offer options to help you promote the books, make suggestions for the 2014 award list, and a sample press release to promote the award in your local paper.
There is even a booklet that can be used to start an adult summer reading challenge. Adults enjoy this just as much as your younger patrons. Completed booklets can go into a drawing for a prize at the end of the summer.
Check out these promotional online resources.
Please submit a book you think should be considered for the 2014 Maine Readers' Choice Award, covering literary fiction published in 2013. Recommendations will be taken until December 31, 2013. Current recommendations so far...
Please visit the official website to read about the books, see who sits on the 2013 committee, hear author interviews, and find book discussion questions. Voting will take place online from September 1st through the 15th. The winner will be announced at the Bangor Book Festival in October.
www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org
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Sincerely,
The Staff of the Maine State Library
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Upcoming Fall Events
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Genre Study with Joyce Saricks
Kick Start Your Library Programs for Infants, Toddlers and Preschool Children:
SMLD; CMLD; NMLD
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Congratulations! |
Congratulations to Janet McKenney who was chosen as one of only 40 librarians selected from a highly competitive national pool to participate in Leading to the Future, a new four-day immersive leadership development program for future library leaders offered in August by the American Library Association (ALA).
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Upcoming Webinars
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Tue. June 18:
Wed. June 19:
Tue. July 9:
Wed. July 17:
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What's Everybody Reading these Days
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What Came from the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt Kate Pickup-McMullin Southwest Harbor Public Library
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight Maggie Frazier, Bangor Public Library
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson Diane Kirkman, Camden Public Library and
The View from Penthouse B Elinor Lipman
Amy Levine, Rockland Public Library
The Fifth Wave by Richard Yancey John Clark, Hartland Public Library
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra Renee DesRoberts, McArthur Public Library
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
Nina Sachs, Walker Memorial Library
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Photos!
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And did you miss the Reading Roundup photos?
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