2,378 newsletters hit the Post Office today, thanks to some fast folding and tying by FriendsCorps volunteer Vicki Hadar. The newsletter is worth hanging on to: not only does it give you a quick guide to Library contacts, it showcases many of the events the Friends are planning--including the upcoming House Tour on Sunday, November 8th.
You'll notice that we are experimenting with a new format; send your comments to our new e-mail address: friends.of.dover.library@gmail.com, or post them at the end of this entry.
As always, many thanks to our printers at Allegra of Brockton and the Dover PO. Both make the newsletter process far easier than it could be.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Advocacy update from the Massachusetts Library Association
This just in, from our friends at Project Alert:
October 22, 2009
Don’t Close the Books on Libraries!
Massachusetts library supporters will gather at the MA State House at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 to rally for libraries. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), the rally “Don’t Close the Books on Libraries” has been planned in reaction to the devastating cuts to the Commonwealth’s library budgets. MA libraries are struggling to survive an onslaught of budget cuts in municipal and statewide funding at the same time that demand for library services has escalated sharply statewide.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) budget cap for FY2011 is a 16% reduction in total funding from this year (FY2010). This comes at a time when people are relying on library resources more than ever in order to mitigate the negative effects of a depressed economy.
MA library use, rising steadily for over a decade, has skyrocketed with the worsening economic recession. Many citizens rely on libraries for access to technology, especially now when so many people have lost jobs and cannot pay for computer and Internet resources.
Unemployed citizens rely on library resources for help in obtaining jobs.
Public libraries are funded at a statewide average of just 1.2% of municipal expenditures, yet they return much greater value to their communities, providing invaluable educational, cultural and literacy resources to all.
Resource sharing of the collections of MA libraries is at an all time high. Public library borrowing in Massachusetts hit an all time high for the 9th consecutive year in 2008, with more than 57 million items transported across the state through regional delivery services.
Our libraries provide access to high quality academic databases that promote the literacy and scholarship essential to students and an informed citizenry.
The vast majority of MA libraries belong to networks that facilitate resource sharing and manage the libraries’ online catalogs. Telecommunications funding support is currently insufficient to maintain adequate bandwidth levels due to the record amounts of MA citizens using the Commonwealth’s online library catalogs.
Increased network costs not funded at the state level will be passed along to member libraries at a time when they can least afford any increases. Member libraries do not have the budget resources to cope with rising annual membership assessments due to cuts in their budgets at the local level.
With thanks to Krista McLeod & Jackie Rafferty, Co-Chairs MLA Legislative Committee
It looks like advocacy is going to be more important than ever this year. Stay tuned, go show your support on the 4th if you can, and consider joining Project Alert at projectalert@masslib.org.
October 22, 2009
Don’t Close the Books on Libraries!
Massachusetts library supporters will gather at the MA State House at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 to rally for libraries. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA), the rally “Don’t Close the Books on Libraries” has been planned in reaction to the devastating cuts to the Commonwealth’s library budgets. MA libraries are struggling to survive an onslaught of budget cuts in municipal and statewide funding at the same time that demand for library services has escalated sharply statewide.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) budget cap for FY2011 is a 16% reduction in total funding from this year (FY2010). This comes at a time when people are relying on library resources more than ever in order to mitigate the negative effects of a depressed economy.
MA library use, rising steadily for over a decade, has skyrocketed with the worsening economic recession. Many citizens rely on libraries for access to technology, especially now when so many people have lost jobs and cannot pay for computer and Internet resources.
Unemployed citizens rely on library resources for help in obtaining jobs.
Public libraries are funded at a statewide average of just 1.2% of municipal expenditures, yet they return much greater value to their communities, providing invaluable educational, cultural and literacy resources to all.
Resource sharing of the collections of MA libraries is at an all time high. Public library borrowing in Massachusetts hit an all time high for the 9th consecutive year in 2008, with more than 57 million items transported across the state through regional delivery services.
Our libraries provide access to high quality academic databases that promote the literacy and scholarship essential to students and an informed citizenry.
The vast majority of MA libraries belong to networks that facilitate resource sharing and manage the libraries’ online catalogs. Telecommunications funding support is currently insufficient to maintain adequate bandwidth levels due to the record amounts of MA citizens using the Commonwealth’s online library catalogs.
Increased network costs not funded at the state level will be passed along to member libraries at a time when they can least afford any increases. Member libraries do not have the budget resources to cope with rising annual membership assessments due to cuts in their budgets at the local level.
With thanks to Krista McLeod & Jackie Rafferty, Co-Chairs MLA Legislative Committee
It looks like advocacy is going to be more important than ever this year. Stay tuned, go show your support on the 4th if you can, and consider joining Project Alert at projectalert@masslib.org.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Kate True, Nov. Artist of the Month
PORTRAIT IN DEDICATION: ARTIST KATE TRUE BRINGS HER WORKS TO THE DOVER LIBRARY
The Friends of the Dover Library is pleased to announce that Kate True of Roxbury is the November Artist of the Month at the Dover Town Library. True, who works in oils on canvas and linen, will showcase her portraits and other paintings of children for the entire month.
"My current work is an attempt to distill an emotional experience into its barest representation, including only the most meaningful details,” said True. “I’m interested in the way bodies and gestures can telegraph meaning so eloquently.”
True said that she is interested in maintaining the sensual, graceful or forceful line of a drawing while also developing a lushly painted surface, creating space and volume. She draws on her experience as a filmmaker to instill a dramatic sense of narrative in her work, creating mysterious worlds and depicting harmonious surfaces that belie a tension beneath.
While she has completed more than 50 commissioned portraits in the past ten years, in her most recent paintings, True has begun to explore the landscape as well as the figure.
“I think about the way the environment affects and informs the emotional experience of the subject and the viewer,” added True. “In the paintings without a figure, a human presence is felt nonetheless, as a scene experienced through the distorting lens of memory.”
Her paintings have been featured in galleries in Massachusetts, New York, Florida and Illinois, as well as in many private collections nationally and internationally. True has won numerous awards, including a Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant for her “Little Women” exhibit and many academic honors.
A native of Charlotte, Vermont, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Art from Wesleyan University. True also holds an MFA from New York University, where she is a graduate of the Film and Television Program. She continued her studies in painting and printmaking at MassArt and the Museum School
The Artist of the Month program is sponsored by the Friends of the Dover Library. Each month, a different local artist’s work is displayed in the library. Pieces are available for sale and 10 percent of all sales go to the library.
Next Meeting - Nov. 2
Friends to Meet Nov 2
The Friends of the Dover Library will hold its next meeting on Monday, November 2, at 9 a.m. in the library's Community Room. All are welcome and are encouraged to attend. Topics to discuss include the Nov. 8 Holiday House Tour, the launch of FriendsCorps (a volunteer list of people we can call upon - email the Friends if you are interested in joining) and a recap of the Oktoberfest beer tasting. For more information or to get involved, email the executive committee at Friends.of.Dover.Library@gmail.com.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Reminder - Oktoberfest on 10/22
$20 = Beer + Sausages + Pretzels = Fun + $ for library!
Just a reminder that on Thursday, Oktoberfest comes to Dover ... we'll sample brews and get info from Tammy Lamenzo of Higgins, snack on sausages from Dover Market, munch on pretzels and mingle to music - all to benefit the Dover Town Library.
We are trying to get a count, so if you are planning to come (or think you might), please email us at Friends.of.Dover.Library@gmail.com. It is $20 at the door, and if you join the Friends/renew that night at the Family level or above, you'll get a discount on your ticket.
Oktoberfest
Thursday
Oct 22
7-9 pm
Dover Library
Hope you can join us!
Please pass on to anyone you think might be interested. It is open to anyone of legal drinking age.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
FriendsCorps
Have you heard about our new volunteer opportunity? We are creating a "FriendsCorps" - people we can all upon to pinch hit, or volunteer for one-of-a-kind events. It is not a commitment to help at a specific event - just a commitment to agree to be contacted when we need volunteers for events such as the Holiday House Tour, the Spelling Bee, book sales and other events. It would just be a few hours and having additional help on hand is often crucial to an event’s success. I hope that you will join the "FriendsCorp" - and that you will be available to help at an upcoming event! And if you have more time, we'd love to have you join us at our monthly meetings - the first Monday of the month.
Please let us know if you'd like to be put on our email list for:
FriendsCorps
Meeting Announcements
Meeting Minutes
Please send an e-mail to Friends.Of.Dover.Library@gmail.com with the heading “Subscribe”. Simply list the e-mail lists you wish to join. Should you wish to unsubscribe at any point, you may do so by sending an e-mail with “unsubscribe” in the header.
Join today!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Library support rally at the State House: November 4th
The following was sent to me by Krista McLeod and Jackie Rafferty, Co-Chairs of the MLA Legislative Committee:
RALLY FOR LIBRARIES!!!
Please join library colleagues and supporters for MLA’s rally for libraries! “Don’t Close the Books on Libraries” will take place on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:00 a.m. on the steps of the State House in the “well area”. Massachusetts Center for the Book’s annual MA Book Awards will be held inside the State House from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., so plan to attend this exciting event following our rally so that we can celebrate and support Massachusetts libraries and authors!
We will have 250 signs printed with our slogan, and so need a minimum of 250 people to carry them. We need every MA public library to send at least one staff members, trustee or friend, so that a big message can be sent regarding the devastating impact of funding cuts to the Commonwealth’s libraries. Now more than ever we must let our legislators know that cuts to libraries will negatively impact the many citizens who rely on their libraries for Internet and technology resources, books and research materials, and for help in finding jobs.
Your participation is vitally important to the future of MA libraries!
RALLY FOR LIBRARIES!!!
Please join library colleagues and supporters for MLA’s rally for libraries! “Don’t Close the Books on Libraries” will take place on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:00 a.m. on the steps of the State House in the “well area”. Massachusetts Center for the Book’s annual MA Book Awards will be held inside the State House from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., so plan to attend this exciting event following our rally so that we can celebrate and support Massachusetts libraries and authors!
We will have 250 signs printed with our slogan, and so need a minimum of 250 people to carry them. We need every MA public library to send at least one staff members, trustee or friend, so that a big message can be sent regarding the devastating impact of funding cuts to the Commonwealth’s libraries. Now more than ever we must let our legislators know that cuts to libraries will negatively impact the many citizens who rely on their libraries for Internet and technology resources, books and research materials, and for help in finding jobs.
Your participation is vitally important to the future of MA libraries!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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