Library news from around the state
April 9, 2012
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East Boston and Eastham Awarded Construction Grants
The Eastham Public Library and the East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library received Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) provisional grants at the April 4, 2013 meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Provisional grant awards are roughly 50% of eligible project costs with the remaining cost incurred by the municipality. Eastham’s award totals $4,331,923 and East Boston will receive $7,255,988. Both projects had been on the MPLCP Waiting List since July, 2011.
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Voters okay new chapter for library
The lone ballot question, which read “Shall the town of reading be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate and expand the reading Public library?” was approved by voters with 2,096 Yes votes to 1,074 No votes - or 65 percent to 34 percent.
Note: this project is made possible in part, with a $5,105,114 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Grant from the MBLC.
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MBLC Welcomes Library Building Specialist
As both a librarian and an architect, Ms Stara is in a unique position to understand the challenges library directors face during the construction process as well as the design elements that make a project a success. During her tenure as Director of the Whistler (British Columbia) and of the San Juan Island (Washington) public libraries, both library systems underwent extensive public library construction projects in which Lauren took an active role. The $12 million new construction Whistler Public Library project earned gold LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Washington renovation project in Friday Harbor, involved the re-use of an existing non-library building.
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New broadband network launched in Otis, will serve central and western Mass.
As part of the network's launch, the students (in the Berkshire town of Otis) connected via Skype with a classroom of students in Colombia; which is just a fraction of what’s to come.
Note: This is part of the MBI project which brings high-speed Internet to community anchor institutions such as schools and public libraries. The MBLC and Massachusetts Library System are working with MBI to bring service to public libraries.
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West Springfield Public Library renovation, expansion plans approved by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
The project would increase the total square footage of the library from 19,000 to 34,000 square feet. It will feature a large community room for public events and meetings, double the size of the children’s area, double the number of computers available for public use and add a young adult area.
“The Town Council congratulates the library’s staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make this approval possible,” stated Kathleen A. Bourque, president of West Springfield Town Council. “This is a terrific milestone to hit for this remarkable project that will benefit our community for many decades to come.”
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Acushnet rejects library, keeps incumbent selectman
For the third time in a decade, voters on Monday refused to open their wallets and match a state grant that would have financed construction of a proposed $6.4 million library addition at the Marie S. Howard Community Center at Middle Road. The $2.9 million capital-debt exclusion request, Acushnet's proposed share of the total cost, failed on a 964-928 vote. This means no library addition will be built, and the community center will close in June.
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Connect 2Compete
Free program at Worcester Public Library is part of a national campaign to help people get online and learn new skills for online tools.
NECN news story

Salem State University and Lynn Library collaborate to empower teens
“These teens have little money, reduced access to the latest technologies and have not been engaged in the participatory, collaborative culture of American democracy,” Boots-Ebenfield said. “These same teens will now be placed on project teams with mentors, workshops, online communities, resources, and guidance to compete on the design of a new, high-tech teen center.”
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The Boston Public Library, from the Archives
Historic photos help trace the history of this national landmark
From the Boston Globe feature
WGBH feature video/story

Bond Bill to Fund Hopkinton Public Library
Representative Carolyn Dykema is a co-sponsor a bond bill of $150 million, a portion of which will help fund the renovation and expansion of Hopkinton Public Library. When approved by the House and Senate and as funds become available through the Governor’s Capital Plan, the bill will provide $150 million in funding to projects currently on the Waiting List of the Library Construction Grant program offered through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).
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Suffolk Downs Featured in ‘Boston Sports Temples’ Exhibition
Suffolk Downs is joined by Fenway Park, the original Boston Garden and Braves Field in the exhibition, which is part of Boston Public Library’s “Building Boston” initiative, a citywide celebration of Boston’s public spaces.
Featuring Boston Public Library’s outstanding collection of historic sports photography, the exhibition follows the creation and evolution of these four great public venues; their varied and changing roles, functions, and communities of users; and their powerful connections with millions of devoted fans who have filled their seats night after night, season after season. The exhibition is sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation.
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Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries is the winner of the prestigious Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award. The award is presented annually to a library organization that exhibits meritorious achievement in creating new means of funding for a public or academic library. UMass Amherst developed the Library Sustainability Fund to engage philanthropic support from faculty, students, alumni, and friends who recognize the value of the rapidly-growing field of sustainability studies....
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Swansea library cat causes controversy
It's front page news in southeastern Massachusetts. A quiet, unassuming cat is causing big problems for at least one person in Swansea.
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More than just books: Arizona libraries add public health nurses
Public libraries have long been the go-to place to borrow books, attend classes or log on to public computers. But over the last decade, they have also become shelters for people in need, including the mentally ill, battered women, latchkey kids and new immigrants.
Acknowledging that reality, libraries in Tucson, Ariz., have become the first in the nation to provide registered nurses along with their other services. Placing nurses in six branches is a nod to the widely accepted transition of public libraries into de facto community centers.
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