Maya & Passion Flower

Boston Public Library

Maine Library Association

Report to Council & Membership

Respectfully submitted by Sonja Plummer-Morgan, President

January 22, 2010

It is my pleasure to report the activity of your Association and as president for activity during December and most of January 2010. The highlight was the ALA Midwinter Conference in Boston that I attended. In addition to learning much, I had many opportunities to network, and returned with many experiences to share. My time was spent at the conference and at the Boston Public Library.

It was a terrific surprise to see Maine librarians attend the exhibits and the presentations. Too many to name, but suffice it to say that Maine was nicely represented! I did have the privilege to work in small groups with ALA Council members working on the Strategic Planning. I loved the idea that strategic planning is a way to focus an organization and give it direction. This is, I believe, one of MLA’s greatest task ahead to wrangle a strategic plan to help us focus.

The photos that you see above were both taken at the Boston Public Library—one is an old vellum book that I found enchanting and then the self check out station that they have started offering their patrons. I spoke with staff about this machine and they said it required very little help from staff and they were pleased with it. Reserves made from home are pulled everyday and placed on a shelf for patrons to pick up.

A common themes at the ALA Midwinter Conference 2010 in Boston was advocacy, preserving our core values as librarians, innovation, and careful strategic planning to keep our libraries sustainable. There is deep concern resonating throughout the country, but I detected optimism as well fueled, I believe, by the realization that we are so very vital to communities, that we can feel professional pride and that we are valued.

Al Gore’s presentation was dynamic and a call to action to reverse or slow environmental damage. It is perhaps important to share that he was complimentary to librarians and libraries and seemed sincerely grateful for what we do and understood that the economy is increasing use.

At the exhibits, I was able to speak with the Massachusetts Library Association officers. Their top priority for 2010 is advocacy. While they are concerned about their numbers of members, they too expressed optimism and it was good to see that they took the time to create a booth. Also met and spoke with ACRL and Public Library Association representatives.

ALA presented their Budget Reduction Strategy. I’m no t sure their strategy would necessarily work for Maine libraries, but I did feel strongly that having such a strategy is something that we all need to be proactive about. Perhaps you could take some time to prepare your own or you have already started to strategize. Would love to hear what you plan to do or may do in response to the current economic state.

Advocacy was a word that frequently was spoken. Both ALA Presidential candidates mentioned its absolute importance to sustainability. Other ideas the candidates, Molly Raphael and Sara Kelly Johns, included several excellent points.

Molly emphasized diversity, core values, working effectively, raise visibility, transformative power of libraries, surge in use mandates innovative and forward thinking, and global coalitions.

Sara emphasized that her grassroot activism equipped her to connect members and resources in a new way, seeks equitable salaries, wants to change perceptions of libraries, transparency, inclusiveness, equal access, and to move fast and expertly toward a sustainable future of libraries.

Some impressive things that I saw at the exhibits…a Book Vending Machine, a Robot, and the Library of Congress Booth, self check out system, and countless persons all talking about libraries, products, and how to do things effectively and efficiently.

Some other items of interest:

· The Boston Public Library was a stunning sight. I spent time observing and using their self check out system and learned that they have 6 million books.

· Met with Alliance Library System Library Consultant in Illinois to discuss how the libraries in the state are coping with budget reductions.

· Coffee Sleeves are featured in this month’s issue of Library Journal, page 19. The Council is currently discussing another order of sleeves. Libraries all over the state have requested the sleeves and we are distributing them as quickly as we are able.

· Member-at-Large Position to be filled and appointed by the Council is soon to be announced. Two very hopeful candidates were found.

· Our Twitter account has exceeded 1,000 followers. We have groups in Facebook, Linkedin, Goodreads, and ALAConnect. This is important networking activity and keeps our association linked with fresh ideas, constituents, and connected globally.

· It’s membership drive time and the Council is considering creating a new Listserv for members only.

· See our new website for pictures, news, and Association benefits including the conference information...http://www.mainelibraries.org

Maine Library News & Pics

Maine Library in Waldoboro, Maine

Curious George Visits a Maine Library on New Year's Eve

For more pictures and news about Maine Libraries, please see

http://www.mainelibraries.org

Maine Library Association

Report to MLA Council & Membership

November/December 2009

Respectfully submitted by Sonja Plummer-Morgan, President

Once again it is my pleasure to report activity on behalf of the Maine Library Association during the month of November and part of December as your president. It is my hope that this finds you and your families well during this holiday season and your libraries bustling with season’s greetings! Visiting libraries and developing our coffee sleeve project are two primary activities that I’ll mention and then other points are bulleted. The burgeoning website is another that is still underdevelopment, but we expect to unveil it soon.

It was good to visit libraries over the past several weeks. At every traveling opportunity, a few libraries are visited. Some include Rockport Public Library, Camden Public Library, Searsport, Winterport, Pittsfield, and a few others that were closed, but I could at least peer at and appreciate their existence even in the smallest of Maine towns.

It feels important to see, visit, and speak with library staff to understand our profession more deeply and to build upon the good work before us within the Association so that the future of MLA is prefaced upon the people that we serve…our members and our constituents. When I or our officers visit your library, we take photos and promote your library on myriad online social networks. We are proud of Maine libraries and the people who comprise them.

Our new MLA coffee sleeves are promoting Maine Libraries in a new way. Associations from around the Country, within our State, and on various social networks are finding the project intriguing and worthy of consideration for their own Associations. Starbucks of Maine is distributing the sleeves, libraries can request sleeves, and I’ve personally delivered boxes to Bangor Public Library, Camden Public Library, Rockport Public Library, and Waldoboro Public Library. The sleeves promote our new logo, website, and Maine libraries in general.

Our new website will remain www.mainelibraries.org. However, it has an entirely new look. Ben Greeley, web developer from Colby, was chosen to design and build. We’ve worked many hours discussing the Association and I really appreciated Ben’s insights that our Association is about people; the people we serve, the people we work with, and the people who comprise our membership. People are the philosophic foundation for our website. As such, the design incorporates our information on the present site, with our 2.0 social networks, photos offered by our membership, and is both easily navigated and logically arranged to save members’ time. We have guest bloggers lined up, a photo gallery, are updating information, creating new membership invitations, and I believe that this new site will be pleasing to look at and inviting. Now onto the bullet points and additional activities:

• We continue work on a Strategic Plan. Our Strategic Planning Committee reports that the diversity of the types of libraries that we serve creates an enormous barrier to a Plan that represents the entire Association, but offered some solutions to that.
• President and Immediate Past President, Molly attended the Juice 2.0 Conference in Camden and was honored to be part of a panel that talked about economic development and the future of libraries.
• President will attend Midwinter to represent our Association and will provide membership with a full report of things learned.
• The MLA to Z Newsletter is hot off the press and will be available soon.
• The Nominations Committee is working filling the new Member-at-Large position added at the Annual Meeting. This position is appointed by the Council and they serve until June when we’ll elect a two year position.
• Conference plans continue with a theme, date, place, and some very exciting ideas on keynotes! It’s going to be a terrific conference. Our new website will have information very soon.
• Thank you to everyone who has sent pics for our Flickr account and potentially our new Website.
• The next MLA Council meeting will be held at the Maine State Library on December 18^th at 1:00pm. Anastasia Weigle will discuss the long term plans for the MLA archives (it needs a permanent home).
• On Saturday, December 19^th, the President of MLA, our VP/Pres Elect Andi Jackson-Darling, and the President of the Maine Association of School Librarians will meet with incoming LIS students in the New England Cohort for the University of South Carolina. Very pleased to welcome these scholars and meet them.
• Membership and new members is the focus for December and January. Please help us by renewing your membership and encouraging your staff, friends, and colleagues to be part of our Association!
• Our newest online social networks are Flickr and LibraryThing. To view our photostream, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mainelibraryassoc/ for our LibraryThing Group, please go to http://www.librarything.com/groups/mainelibraryassociat
• We are also in LinkedIn, Goodreads, Cafepress, Twitter, Facebook, and in ALA Connect. Trouble finding us? Just email me and we’ll connect virtually.

Sincerely,

Sonja Plummer-Morgan, President

Maine Library Association

www.mainelibraries.org

pimelibrarian@gmail.com

http://www.twitter.com/MaineLibAssoc

Curious George & Miss PI

Baxter the Maine Library Mascot and Lukas

Baxter the Maine Library Mascot and Lukas, originally uploaded by sonjamorgwain.

Lukas and the Maine Library Association Baxter the Cat Mascot

Rural Library Sign

Rural Library Sign, originally uploaded by sonjamorgwain.

Lukas is 6 months old

Lukas is 6 months old. He's tall enough to get himself into all sorts of trouble--snatching bread off the countertops, stealing glasses off night stands, and lift his front paws onto the bed and wake a sleeping person but cares enough about my approval so that he is set to rights quickly and with a stern tone of voice.

He is not as gregarious as his Berner sister, Maya. She loves everyone and will quickly bound toward them whereas Luke prefers to observe from behind one of his trusted family members until he is sure.

Hiking, Ducks & Deer Flies

Lukas and I went on a trek this morning to the park just a few yards from our home. Luke was a handful, but I missed his walk yesterday and he was so frantic to get there, all self control left him. He settled some when he saw the park and realized that he wasn't dreaming afterall.

Two new experiences for Lukas--a flock of ducks. He stared, looked back at me, jumped to my side, stared again, tried to talk to them, and the firmly planted himself next to the bank and lay riveted to their swimming. At one point, I could have sworn this little guy laughed. It was good to see him take such delight in a scene. The ducks made some noises back at him, but seemed quite unworried.

Unsettling was the next occurance--a swarm of black deer flies dove at Luke. There were several and as they became increasingly persistant, Luke started to panic. A 40 lb Berner puppy on a leash in panic mode was the outcome. There was little that I could do to help him. There were so many (and he yelped several times) so I think that he was bitten as many times as he yelped. Managed to get him headed in the direction of home and we started running together. Not sure it helped, but it's what he wanted to do. I decided to trust him. Home at last.

Tired!

My Berner Boy

Lukas

Lukas and Summer Fun

Lukas exudes joy and is constantly seeking a new game, contact with his humans, or offers to wrestle with Maya or Liam.  He loves the outdoors, especially near water or tall grass.  I'm impressed with how rapidly he learns and how eager he is to explore new things.  His shyness has given way to a gentle caution and willingness to make friends with anyone who offers.  Trying a kid pool for him this weekend since the temps are rising. 

Lukas is almost 14 Weeks Old

Oi and hello!  Lukas tried to help me garden today.  He snatched two tiny passiflora plants and tried hard to sneak off (mom was watching).  

Sudden Shyness

 My gregarious little bulldozer accompanied Alyssa and I to the park today and then with us to the local dairy bar (he got gourmet treats for doggies).  People encountering him naturally wanted to see him up close.  Just a few days ago, Luke would have met them halfway.  That is to say, as they would approach, he'd cheerfully go greet.  Not today.  He hid behind me and cautiously poked his muzzle around my leg juuuuuust enough to see.  I picked him up (this is getting to be quite the armful) and he buried his muzzle in my neck.  

When the crowd subsided, he resumed his playful stance with Alyssa.  

Alyssa Getting "Wuv" from Maya

When you are adopted, sometimes tough conversations arise about who you are, how you got to where you reside, and who in the world loves you.  During one of those conversations, Alyssa slid off the chair, wrapped her arms around Maya and said, "I'm gettin' some wuv now." The dogs in our lives are sometimes the greatest therapists, the best listeners, and the outstanding loves of our lives.  

Apples, frenetic & teething

Lukas has spent the morning on a mission--sinking teeth into everything.  His gums are slightly swollen and red.  This very cold apple worked beautifully to calm him. Slightly frenetic, teething baby licked, and sunk teeth in and licked some more in a very calm peaceful way. Apples are okay for dogs, apple seeds are not, so I'm watching him carefully. 

 

Rainy Day

Pouring rain--the first Lukas has seen since he's been with us.  The thunder captured his attention and he looked skyward, looked at me, looked skyward again and his face seemed to say, "Did you hear that?  That.  Right there.  Aren't you going to do something about that? LOL. He actually enjoyed the rain.  Sauntered in only after becoming completely drenched.  

Splashing in Stream

See this smile?  It's genuine.  It is.  Lukas, Maya, and Liam got to splash in the stream tonight.  They wrestled and growled, frolicked and snapped at the stream, and howled happily!  They were covered in water, mud, and smiles.  Took extra yummy treats to coax them toward the path.