Catch the Beat with SEMLS SRP 2007

2007-09-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

Memories extended!

How could I have forgotten to announce this?! Kudos to the town of Sandwich & Sandwich Public for creating such a wonderful Harry Potter event. In case you hadn't read the July 24 online version of Publisher's Weekly, then you may have missed the blog article by Alison Morris (Shelftalker) featuring the success of SPL & Titcomb Bookshops' event. Here it is again.

And after all was said and done, the community event raised $15,000 for the local high school library. Now that is a great example of library community partnering. Great job Kathy, Stu and the whole SPL gang!

2007-09-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading 2007 Photos Anyone?

Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were...

Excerpted lyrics from The Way We Were (1973)

We would be remiss if we didn't at least share some photos of our Catch the Beat summer. Here are few from some of our regional members from Norwell, Carver & W. Bridgewater. I would have offered a Powerpoint but I'm getting ready for 2008. Sorry. *sigh*

2007-09-19T12:40:00.001-07:00

It's time to evaluate!

Greetings all,

The sounds of summer are far behind us and now we face cooler temperatures and falling leaves. Before all sounds leave us and if you participated in the Statewide Summer Reading Program, please fill out the 2007 Catch the Beat Evaluation at http://www.nmrls.org/surveys/srp07_eval.htm

We try to keep the evaluation as short as we can but it seems we always need to know more about something!

This year we debuted the ReadsinMa online summer reading program at readsinma.org. If you used this program at all, we are interested in your responses to the evaluation questions.

Please do complete this evaluation! We need the statistics and we need the information to continue to present and manage a Statewide Summer Reading Program for you. The deadline to do so is September 28!

Thank you! Your Youth Services Consultant will be sending out information and order forms for 2008 "Wild Reads" in early October!

MRLS Summer Reading Program Contacts

Boston Regional Library System (BRLS):
Kenneth J. Peterson, Assistant Regional Administrator
Email: kpeterson@bpl.org

Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS):
Maureen Ambrosino, Youth Services Consultant
Email: mambrosino@cmrls.org

Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library System (METROWEST): Sarah Sogigian, Trainer/ Consultant for Youth Services
Email: sarah@mmrls.org

Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS):
Susan Babb, Youth Services Consultant
Email: susan@nmrls.org

Southeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (SEMLS):
Vickie Beene-Beavers, Assistant Administrator for Youth Services
Email: vbeenebeavers@semls.org

Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS):
Janet Eckert, Youth Services Consultant
Email: jeckert@wmrls.org

2007-08-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

With the roll-out of our online registration for this past summer reading program, we have found ourselves in a bit of a dilema. We have BOXES of Catch the Beat readig logs left over. I'd hate to just throw them away if someone could use them in a craft program. Maybe someone would like to create a hanging mobile or perhaps cut out select graphics to use as accents for their bulletin boards.
But then again, you may have left-over reading logs of your own to convert into craft ideas. If so, how will you use the leftovers?

Or if you don't have any leftover logs and you are brimming with ideas to cut, paste or laminate, feel free to ask for our stash. I'll gladly send some your way. *wink* *wink*

2007-08-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Summer is nearly over and I want to extend an early congratulation to all of you who spent an entire year planning for your 6-8 week summer program. *smile* In a matter of days, kids will return back to school ready to talk about their summer of fun at their local library. Whether it was by the traditional onsite registration or through the web via your ReadsinMa.org page, kids entered the library to participate in your summer reading activities. And if we regard reading as a form of physical exercise then we have had a hand in helping parents to prepare their 'athletes' to excel in school. I'd love to hear how you helped your kids dance across the finish line before our Wednesday morning October 3rd, 2007 Catch the Beat Summer Reading Wrap-Up workshop, feel free to share your Olympic story here. (And as with every contest, the first three bloggers who post will receive a new Sterling Publishing children's book from their fall collection.)

Note: Pictures of your 'race-to-have-fun' are gladly accepted.

2007-07-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you wish to have your Harry Potter party photos & story to be considered for the next bi-monthly issue of MBLC notes, submit your entries to David Gray, Director of Communications & Public Information (David.L.Gray at state.ma.us).

Please include the following in your email by August 23, 2007:

Name of Your Library
Date of Event & Name
Caption for each photo

May I also suggest that you contact the photographed persons to ask for their permission first if you have not already done so.

2007-07-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

We have some CATCH THE BEAT 11x17 Posters!

If anyone would like any more posters, we have 20 to giveaway. Granted the summer is almost over but perhaps you can hand them out as prizes! Thanks goes out to my colleague in Shrewsbury (CMRLS) who graciously provided us with some extras. Any takers? Hurry up and claim one of them before someone else does.

2007-06-26T19:33:00.001-07:00

*NEWSFLASH* Record Breaking Registration Numbers Abound!

With summer officially starting 5 days ago, one library has been experiencing incredible numbers within the first 14 days of the start of their summer reading program. Two hundred & fifty-three kids (253) have enrolled in Seekonk's summer reading program and it's only just begun! Mary Ellen Siniak, Seekonk's Senior Librarian of Youth Services reported, "..that in my 11 years at Seekonk, we've never had that many kids register for our summer reading program in that short amount of time!"

We haven't heard the stats from any other library whose program has begun but we're looking forward to hearing similiar stories in the weeks to come. You're welcome to post your stories here if you've exceeded your branch's enrollment expectations.

2007-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

BIG E tickets are available if you want 'em!

The Eastern States Exposition "Big E" Tickets (Sept 14-30,2007)- Each year West Springfield's Eastern States Exposition awards two free passes to interested libraries to raffle to a lucky summer program participant. To order Big E tickets for your library's summer program, please submit a self-addressed library letter stamped envelope to the Cowgirls & Boys at the Western Region by Friday, June 22nd. Expect delivery of your raffle tickets by mid August.

Big E Tickets, WMRLS, PO Box 609, South Deerfield, MA 01373-0609

2007-06-07T08:48:00.001-07:00

We're going Hollywood baby!

Take a look at our local public service announcements filmed at the Duxbury Library.

If you want to share it with friends, you're welcome to via Youtube. We now have the short ad AND the longer ad readily available. Who knows, you may even want to add this to your library homepages or even in the cool link sections of your READSinMA.org site. *wink*

Many thanks goes out to the Project Catch the Beat TV committee members:
Nany Sheenan(Lucius Beebe of Wakefield), Karla Gartsu(Jacob Edwards of Southbridge), Maureen Ambrosino (CMRLS Youth Consultant), Cathy Livingstone(Oxford Free Library) and Sara Hodge-Wetherbe(Springfield Public) . A fun time was had by all in the creation and development of this ad.

2007-06-01T05:23:00.001-07:00

Our ReadsinMa.org site is up!

Which prompts one to ask a question, "If a weblink goes live, will anyone notice it's there? *smile* Today our statewide portal goes "live". What does that mean? Anyone who offered to participate in this summer's debut of the online reading program receives a little commerical boost of their traditional summer reading activities. For some librarians this is quite exciting because it will help spread the word about their program, others may be a little fearful in promoting activities with the belief that going online would decrease foot traffic. No matter what your expectations are, neither will be proven until after the summer is over. And I can't wait to see what response we will experience as the summer rolls along.

Within a few days, the MBLC will post a tool kit for those of you who would like to submit a press release to your local newspapers about the ReadsinMa site. During the second weeks of June and July, newspaper ads will run in over 150 Boston Herald affliated newspapers. The first ad will feature the Catch the Beat theme while the second will promote the ReadsinMa.org site. Also in this press kit, there will also be two downloadable tv/internet ads for you to add to your library's website if you should choose. One strictly promoting our 2007 Catch the Beat campaign while the other promotes both the 2007 theme and the ReadsinMa.org site. Can't wait for you to see that!

In the meantime, we know that several of you will have created your very own press release statement extolling the virtues of your library's summer reading program. Care to share yours here?

2007-05-22T16:29:00.001-07:00

A FEW MORE ONLINE SUMMER READING WORKSHOPS WILL BE OFFERED SO HURRY!

If you are still interested in participating in our statewide online reading program this summer www.readsinma.org, please sign up for our upcoming workshops. We have added two more June workshops in time for you to join in with your neighbors. And if you can't make either of those dates, please contact me for one-on-one training.

2007-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

As the resident and self proclaimed newbie, I was wondering how you all went about putting together your coupon packets together.

I visualize these coupons being used as part of the sign-up, or as part of the incentives for SRP. Do you use every single one of the venues? That's a lot of coupons. Is it assumed that each kid gets one set of coupons, and that's it for the summer? Can these be requested by non-SRP patrons?

Please post comments on if you use the coupons, how you use them, and how you keep track of everything! Many thanks in advance!

2007-05-21T09:15:00.002-07:00

COUPONS! COUPONS! COUPONS!

Woo hoo! We have our statewide coupons ready for you to view and download. You can reach the site through Western Region but you gotta go through me to get the passwords. You know how we like passwords. We have one for the public and that is not password protected but for the other site, look for an email from me that has the username and password.

We are also offering free tickets again for the Massachusetts Big Exposition Sept. 14-30 State Fair event, that's Big-E to you cowboys and girls. Many of you ordered them last year as summer reading prizes and they were mailed to you via delivery. This year however, if you would like to order tickets, please prepare an self-addressed envelope to Janet Eckert. More details of how and when you can order these will be forthcoming.

2007-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

SWAP-0-RAMA

Now that our paper goods are showing up at our doors and inventory has been made, you may have heard that one of your neighbors received a surplus, others a slight deficit. In either case, if you would like to exchange a pack of this for a pack of that, feel free to wheel & deal with each other throughout the summer. We traditionally order extras just so that we can attempt to help you out in case you should run out, but as you can see it's not enough to cover everyone. I'll start first with all that I have to offer after handing out some from earlier this week:

7 packs of CERTIFICATES
6 packs of YA CARDS
25 packs of BLANK READING LOGS
18 POSTERS
19 packs of TIMED READ LOGS
34 packs of BOOKMARKS
178 packs of LINED READING LOGS
8 Paper MANUALS

As I said before, there's not a lot left. However if you tend to look at a glass half full, you'll see that our 178 packs of LINED READING LOGS can also serve as mini-posters--and we have tons of those. *SMILE* So what's the message for today boys & girls? Order a lot and order early when we start promoting the deadline each fall. You'll be a much happy camper when your orders finally arrive.

2007-05-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

YEAH...our summer reading materials, i.e. bookmarks, posters and reading logs are being dropped off daily by UPS. I've heard back from a dozen libraries so far announcing that their materials arrived. Even our box of extras goods arrived today and I have to say that they look GREAT! In my opinion it was well worth the wait. If anyone needs materials for their school visits this week, please give me a call. I'll drop them off to your branch if you need it ASAP.

2007-05-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

The summer reading materials are coming...S.L.O.W.L.Y. *sigh*

I've been hearing that some other libraries NOT in our region have at least received their incentives. I've talked with Janway and it looks like the paper products won't arrive until the end of this week or the beginning of next week. ARRGGHHH!!!! My apologies for the delay. I know that many of you are ready to do your school visits with materials in hand but maybe, just maybe you can show them our wonderful state website for online registration instead. It's not the bookmark but it's still a pretty object.

Although it's still in draft mode, it will look something like this--see.

Oooohhh pretty.

This online thingy will be ideal for your vacationing families and even those kids who can't get to the library as often as they'd like. So if you are interested in offering this instead of the paper logs or even if you would like to use both, sign up for any of the next Online Summer Reading Program Training workshops.

2007-04-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Quick tip for not having to enter the online password for every freakin' clip art. ARGH!

This works for Mozilla Fox users:

To quickly retrieve clipart images for your brochures and fliers, try this method:

Once you find the Catch the Beat program for our state, select the JPEG version of the download.

Click on Download the JPEG clip art.

You'll then be asked the password. Enter it and then look at the left side of your screen for the EXTRACT ALL FILES section. (This is located under the Folder Tasks section of Windows 2000& higher).

Once you click on this EXTRACT ALL FILES, another window will be displayed prompting you to click NEXT.

Click NEXT for another screen. (Here I would highly recommend that you create a file folder where you can easily find the clip art).

So the next step would be to select BROWSE.

Then select MAKE NEW FOLDER. (I've named my file SRP 2007 Clip and saved this on my desktop to make life easier).

Click OK. (You may have to enter the password one more time for the extracting to begin. But once you do you should see the files downloading).

Voila! Your clipart files should all be in a folder on your computers. YEAH! No more entering the password.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Internet Explorer Users
Try this set of instructions offered by Janet Eckert of Western Region:

1. For most users, select “Download JPEG Clipart”

2. A small dialog box will open, click on “Open”

3. Next a WinZip dialog box will open. Select “Use Evaluation Version”

4. This will open a box that lists all of the “Catch the Beat at Your Library” clip art.

5. When you select a clip art file, you will be prompted for the confidential password.
6. When you enter “OK” the clipart that you selected will open and you are ready to go!

If you are still having trouble, please give me a call! I'll gladly walk you through.

2007-04-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just wondering....How did the Barnes & Noble Bookfair go last week? I've heard back from two people who volunteered but what about my others?

Barnes & Noble store managers are still tallying the figures. We should have results of our statewide effort in days. Again, thanks to all who tackled their patrons to the floor and force-fed a voucher into their clinched hands. *smile* We appreciate all of our guerilla librarian warriors!

2007-04-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

NEWS...NEWS...NEWS and more NEWS!

The summer reading materials are in the mail and are being shipped directly to you! All of your summer reading materials, the bookmarks, posters and reading logs are all on their merry way. You should be receiving them within days. Woo hoo! Thanks to Waste Management's contribution we have been able to afford individual branch shipping costs. Yeah! And speaking of sponsorship, we'll release a press release thanking them for their cooperation and participation in our 2007 state program within a few days. But in the meantime, you can add the wording of this credit line to all of your fliers & brochures:

Catch the Beat at Your Library is sponsored by your local library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, and Waste Management.

or you can use this graphic instead if space is a premium on your printed materials:& Waste Management

And for those of you who will be participating in the online reading program this summer(and beyond), you'll see a credit line such as this below already embedded on your branch's online summer reading web link:

ReadsInMa is sponsored by your local library, the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Either way, we are giving credit where credit is due!

2007-04-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Late program idea news from our Catch the Beat Roundtable of April 17th.

Lots of information...so little time! Where do we begin?

Let's start with some of the craft ideas that were shared by librarians as far South as Eastham up to Norfolk:

Using Accu-cut images as design options, Somerset hopes to inspire kids (and parents) to create Native American Lakota Shields using cardboard & construction paper.
Each week, Eastham will build song and craft ideas around selected song titles. So when, In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle the Lion Sleeps Tonight song is featured, kids will build Lion Masks and dance.
Stoughton will offer...geeze I forgot. It's been a while. Would anyone else care to elaborate more on their summer program ideas?

2007-04-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

If you are collecting an arsenal of music-themed children's books for your storytime, perhaps this website can be of help? At Musickit.com the site provides an alphabetical listing of children's books that incorporates lyrics of popular music as text. You may have many of these pre 2000 copyrighted titles in your collection but just in case you don't, a March 14 Massyac email offered by Dallas librarian Rebecca Williams posts a small compilation of music-themed picture books, many printed within the last five years:

Asch, Frank - Barnyard Lullaby
Base, Graeme - Jungle Drums
Cox, Judy - My Family Plays Music
Emberley, Barbara - Drummer Hoff (Caldecott)
Falconer, Ian - Olivia forms a band
Harper, Wilhelmina - The Gunniwolf
Horowitz, David - Soon, Baboon, Soon
Hurd, Thacher - Mama Don't Allow
Johnson, Angela - Violet's Music
Krosoczka, Jarret J. - Punk Farm
Kuskin, Karla - The Philharmonic Gets Dressed Karla Kuskin.
Lionni, Leo - Geraldine the Music Mouse
Lithgow, John - The Remarkable Farkle McBride
London, Jonathan - Froggy Plays in the Band
McMullen, Kate - Rock-a-baby band
McPhail, David - Mole Music
Miko, Imai - Sebastian's Trumpet
Mills, Claudia - Gus and Grandpa and the piano lesson
Ziefert, Harriet - Animal Music

Adler, Naomi - Play Me a Story: Nine tales about musical instruments
Anholt, Catherine and Laurence - Chimp and Zee's Noisy Book
Bartlett, T.C. - Tuba Lessons
Blake, Quentin - All Join In
Brett, Jan - Berlioz the Bear
Cowan, Catherine - My Friend the Piano
Fowler, Susi - Fog
Garriel, Barbara - I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Shannon, George - Lizard's Song
Gray, Libba Moore - When Uncle Took the Fiddle
Harrison, David - The Animals' Song
Kraus, Robert - Mort the Sport
Kraus, Robert - Musical Max
Mahy, Margaret - Boom, Baby, Boom, Boom
Mandy - Hattie's House
Munsch, Robert - Mortimer
Pinkney, Brian - Max Found two Sticks
Raschka, Chris - Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
Sage, James - The Little Band
Seeger, Pete - Abiyoyo
Sharratt, Nick - Animal Orchestra
Waddell, Martin - The Happy Hedgehog Band
Webb, Steve - Tanka, Tanka, Skunk
Wells, Rosemary - Practice Makes Perfect
Wiggles - Hot Potato, Hot Potato (board book)
Williams, Vera - Something Special for Me
Wilson, Budge - A Fiddle for Angus

Cleveland Lee's Beale Street Band by Art Flowers
Nurseryland King Cole's Castle by Colin Maclean
The First Music by Dylan Pritchett
Hands, Fingers.....Dr. Seuss
Orchestranimals by Vlasta Van Kampen
The Will Hillenbrand version of "Fiddle-I-Fee" features animals playing
different instruments, with appropriate sound effects.

If you have a picture book favorite that you would like to share, feel free to post here.

2007-04-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

13...14..15...16....We are seventeen days away from the big event. And while there are several mark-your-calendar moments in this month alone, National Library Week, Spring Break, Earth Day we here at Summer Reading Program Central are concerned with one at the moment--T he Catch the Beat for Your Library at Barnes & Noble event. Now is the time to really promote our statewide bookfair! While you continue to have access to the vouchers online, you should be receiving a hard copy of the press release, voucher and flier via the courier. If you have already started passing out these handsome-looking vouchers, kudos to you! For those of you who haven't, you still have time. All information and promotional material can be found at www.cmrls.org/bn.

We want to let the public know how excited we are by joining with B&N for this annual event so go ahead and advertise the Catch the Beat for Your Library at Barnes & Noble April event! We urge you to share this information on your webpages and any other vehicle that you may use to let your library-loving patrons know of this partnership to promote literacy. And while this is a statewide affair, let your patrons know that through the "wishlist" list there is even an opportunity for your library to directly benefit from this fundraiser/bookfair. Tell them that if they would like to help you build their favorite library's collection and help support summer reading, that vouchers will be made available at cash registers in every Massachusetts and select RI, CT and NH Barnes & Noble retail stores.

And speaking of partnerships, I want to thank any and all of the librarians who expressed an interest to offer a craft and/or storytime at their local Barnes & Noble stores during April 20-21st. Your participation is sure to make this event a success! If you would still like to volunteer for that day or any other day beyond April, you're welcome to call any of the listed Southeastern Region store managers below:

Lorie Sullivant--Hyannis Store 508.862.6310
Eric Oh--Braintree Store 781.380.0665
Jessica Foley--Hingham Store 781.749.3319
Beth Savage--North Dartmouth 508.997.0701
Anne Marie Kennedy--Walpole 508.668.1303

2007-03-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Coming soon widescale summer reading program developments that will forever change our lives! Was that dramatic enough? Okay...now that I have your undivided attention. *smile* Be the first person in your organization to hear about the latest summer reading news during our Summer Reading Roundtable on April 10th. We will meet here at our offices from 1-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served of course but if you like bring your lunch. Our goals for that day will of course be the same as always--to share and swap program ideas. I'm so excited to share the great news with you all! To register, click here.

Hey, is anyone offering to hold a double dutch contest? If you are, count me in! I've recently learned that a team of Stoughton & Boston teens placed in the National Double Dutch League that was held in NY this past December. Wouldn't that be a neat program offering as a contest for boys & girls? Oh how I love this years theme!

2007-02-23T12:25:00.000-08:00

WE CAUGHT THE BEAT THIS SUMMER IN FEBRUARY!

As usual, a fun time was had by all with guest musician storyteller Christopher Kavi Carbone as he offered tips, ideas and encouraging words to help us release our inner artist.

Workshop participants had this to say of yesterday's program:

"Chris was great and introduced me to a lot of music that I did not know and really got me thinking I can do music at the library."

"He gave actual songs & movements we could actually use in a program".

"I was looking for more songs for the toddlers and I found many here."

"I'm going to use some of the shaker songs & fingerplay songs and some of the ideas with the tot time."

2007-02-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

Woo hooo! The Barnes & Noble April 20-21st Bookfair vouchers are available! Can we say print and pass out profusely? The purpose of the fundraiser is to:

Increase public awareness of MA libraries
Provide funds for MA library initiatives and projects
Assist in the promotion of MA Regional Library Systems 2007 Statewide Catch the Beat at Your Library Summer Reading Program
Give your library patrons an opportunity to purchase books for your library via your Wish List list
Provide an opportunity for your library to win a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card.

In order to make this fundraiser a success, be sure to spread the word. Submit a press release to your local papers and talk with your neighborhood schools. If you would like your library patrons to donate new books to your collections, you can do so during the bookfair. Just create your wish list and contact the manager of your nearby Barnes & Noble store by March 15th. Hurry you don't want to miss this great event!

2007-02-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

Whistle while you work this summer by incorporating more music (& fun) into your program with tips offered by musician/storyteller Christopher Kavi Carbone in our Catch the Beat this Summer in February workshop this Thursday. If you haven't registered, do so now!

2007-01-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

Are you on this list?

Abington Public Library
Ames Free Library, Easton
Attleboro Public Library
Avon Public Library
Boyden Library
Brewster Ladies Library
Bridgewater Public Library
Brockton Public Library
Brooks Free Library
Canton Public Library
Carver Public Library
Centerville Public
Chilmark Public Library
Conley Elementary School
Cotuit Library
Dennis Public Library
Dighton Public Library
Duxbury Free Library
Duxbury Free Library
Duxbury Free Library
East Bridgewater Public Library
Eastham Public Library
Edgartown Public Library
Eldredge Public Library
Elizabeth Taber Library
Falmouth Public Library
Fiske Public Library
Hanson Public Library
Hingham Public Library
Holbrook Public Library
Holmes Public Library
Hyannis Public Library
James White Memorial Library
John Curtis Free Library
Jonathan Bourne Public Library
Joseph H. Plumb Library
Kingston Public Library
Lakeville Public Library
Mansfield Public Library
Marstons Mills Public Library
Mashpee Public Library
Mattacheese Middle School
Mattapoisett Free Public Library
Middleborough Public Library
Nantucket Atheneum
New Bedford Free Public
Norfolk Public Library
Norton Public Library
Norwell Public Library
Oak Bluffs Public Library
Paul Pratt Memorial Library
Pembroke Public Library
Plainville Public
Plymouth Public Library
Plymouth River Elementary School
Plympton Public Library
Raynham Public
Richards Memorial Library
Rockland Memorial Library
Russell Memorial Library
Sandwich Free Public Library
Scituate Town Library
Snow Library
Somerset Public Library
Southworth Library
Stoughton Public Library
Sturgis Library
Taunton Public Library
Thayer Public Library
Thomas Crane Public Library
Truro Public Library
Turner Free Library
Ventress Memorial Library
Vineyard Haven Public Library
Wareham Free Library
Wellfleet Public Library
West Bridgewater Public Library
West Falmouth Library
West Tisbury Free Public Library
Weymouth Public Libraries
Whitman Public Library
Yarmouth Town Libraries (3 libraries)

You should be if you've ordered your summer reading supplies! While that deadline has passed, don't miss the February 9th deadline to order your Janway incentives!

2006-12-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

SUMMER 2007 MANUAL, CLIP ART, AND INCENTIVE ITEMS ARE NOW ONLINE!

February 9th is the deadline to order 2007 Catch the Beat at Your Library summer reading program incentive items from JanWay Company (t-shirts, bookbags, CD cases, denim shirts, groan sticks, and more). Complete information on this opportunity is available on the JanWay site.

Featured on this year’s JanWay's Catch the Beat at Your Library website are both the program manual and clip art. The Massachusetts Regional Library Systems (MRLS) have leased the usage of these materials for one year, December 1, 2006 through November 30, 2007.

The online manual and clip art is intended for single library use only during the 2007 MRLS Statewide Summer Reading Program and may not be loaned. *On Thursday, December 21, MRLS Summer Reading Program Consultants will issue the password to access the online program materials to all participating libraries.

Please remember that the password to access the online manual and clip art is CONFIDENTIAL and for sole use of regional library system members that have registered to participate in our 2007 MRLS Catch the Beat at Your Library Summer Reading Program.

*Note: Please contact Vickie Beene-Beavers or Cathy Cahoon by email or phone 508.923.3531 to receive your password.

2006-11-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

And a good time was had by all at our Sixth Annual Performer's Showcase! We even have pictures to prove it.

Note: We've removed all outrageous photos that would allow one to blackmail, bribe or send to family and friends for them to tease us as Cornell Coley teaches us an West African dance move. In fact, the persons involved in compromising body positions or facial expressions hired body doubles and stuntpersons.

But we'll leave you with a second photo of one of the performers at least. Rebecca of the husband and wife duo, Yo-Yo people--in rare Hula-Hoop form!

2006-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's never too early to start planning your accu-cut die cutting. We've always carried a music related die, the 2x3 inch Treble Clef, but we've added several new dies to this years catalog. They include:

Drum w/Stick 3x3 inch
Guitar 5X2 inch
Music Note 5x3 inch
Double eighth note 3x3 inch
Piano 4x4 inch
Tuba 5x2 inch
Trombone 6x2 inch
Trumpet 1.5x5 inch
Tuba 5x3 inch
Violin/Cello with Bow 10x3 inch

In a few months, the new dies will be made available for delivery. However, if you would like to begin before the rush, you are welcome to use any of these during the week right here in our office. A few of your colleagues have begun using the dies as they travel to participate in some of our CE workshops. You're welcome to do the same.

See, there's another great benefit in attending a SEMLS workshop--MULTI-TASKING.

2006-10-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've mapped out the most direct route to Friedman Middle School on the day of the Performer's Showcase. You can of course use Mapquest but I'd highly recommend our directions. Last year's performers thanked me profusely for such helpful landmarks on their journey to the school. If any of you are familiar with the routes and would like to offer your sure-fire directions, feel free to offer them! In the meantime, this will have to suffice....

Directions to
Benjamin Friedman Middle School
55 Norton Avenue
Taunton, MA. 02780
(Ph): 508.821.1614

From I-495 North or South
Take I-495 to Bay Street exit (exit 9) toward Industrial Park Road. Turn onto Bay St./Taunton (Rt. 138) road. Turn right (North) at light onto Industrial Park Road. Industrial Park Road becomes Myles Standish Blvd. Continue through Park for approximately 2.5 miles. As you continue (North) on Myles Standish Blvd. it turns into Crane Avenue S. Eventually you’ll cross a set of railroad tracks and a yellow (merge) road sign. Less than 100 yards on your left, you should see a small white ENTER HERE sign. Turn left at this Norton & Harvey Street turn.

Continue through the residential neighborhood for approximately 3 miles. The road will begin its set of double-yellow lines as you draw closer to the school. Turn right at the tennis courts where a large stone-encased marker reads “Oakland Education & Community Complex”. The Friedman Middle School parking lot is on the right. However, if you bear right away from the school sign and proceed (parallel/North) to the left of the school where the larger parking lot lies, this would be the ideal place to park--near the school library door entrance.

2006-09-29T07:32:00.001-07:00

Spring Into Fall This November!

Here's the schedule for our November 2nd Annual Performer's Showcase! RSVP to Cheryl Letendre by 10/27th!

Tony Toledo 9:00
Alex the Jester 9:30
Jeff Nathan 10:00
Providence Dancing Cop 10:30
Timothy Van Egmond 11:00
Pozey the Clown 11:30

12 o'clock Break out your bag lunch or visit the nearby fast food eateries...

Lisa Manning & Friends 12:30
Yorrick's Puppets 1:00
Conroy Warren 1:30
Seamus Pender 2:00
Cornell Coley 2:30
Yo-Yo People 3:00
Jose Costa 3:30

Come join us as we celebrate the Catch the Beat at Your Library for Summer Reading 2007!

2006-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Wondering who will be at our Annual Performer's Showcase this year? I'll disclose a few of those confirmed if you promise to tell.

Here's a small sampling of our invited guests:
Alexander, King of the Jesters
Pozey the Clown
Seamus Pender of the Music Makers
Yo-Yo People
Jeff Nathan
Tony Toledo
Yorick's Productions
Timothy Van Egmond
The Providence Dancing Cop
Lisa & Friends

Be sure to register by October 27th to reserve your seat for this exciting affair!

2006-09-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard the 2007 Summer Reading Program theme for our children AND teen campaign is Catch the Beat at Your Library. Quite different from all the other program themes throughout the years, wouldn't you say? Already many of you have expressed excitement for this years theme and are probably already bookmarking pages as you thumb through your personal stash of craft and program idea books and websites on making this 2007 a uniquely engaging experience. It will most certainly be interactive! The idea of jumping around dancing to music (even more) during storyhour and other teen programs is already music to my ears. But I must warn you, you may have to create a special signs on doors and walls of your buildings to alert your older "young-at heart" patrons that read, "Laugh loudly...children (& librarians) are erraticaly singing & dancing this hour."

In preparation for the summer 2007 reading program year, we are asking that you complete your SEMLS sponsored reading log, online manual, clip art, YA card and bookmarks orders by next month Friday, October 13th 2006. Once ordered, these items will be sent via delivery in April 2007. The period for which you will have an opportunity to purchase branch specific incentives online through the Janway site will begin in November. You will receive a password and the web address once the materials are ready for you to order. Once this is made available incentive ordering will continue through January 2007.

In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendar for our upcoming Thursday, November 2nd Performer's Showcase that will be held at the Benjamin Friedman Middle School from 9-4 p.m. Registration and performer appearances will be made available soon!