News Release
DATE: April 23, 2008
8th Annual Trustee Symposium Held
MBLC’s Brian Donoghue, Head of Public Library Advisory Unit & Government Liaison Maureen Killoran, President of the Massachusetts Library Trustee Association (MLTA)Cindy Schatz, and MLTA Vice President Richard Senier
Over 100 library trustees gathered at the 8th Annual Trustee Symposium, held on April 5, 2008. “The symposium is an event we look forward to every year,” stated MBLC’s Head of Public Library Advisory Unit & Government Liaison and event organizer Maureen Killoran. “It’s an opportunity for library trustees from across the Commonwealth to get together, network, and get better informed about library issues.”
MBLC Director Robert Maier said “Libraries are doing everything right; funding is what’s wrong.”
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner’s Director Robert C. Maier kicked off the event by tackling one of the most difficult challenges facing libraries: funding in what has shaped up to be a tough budget year. He highlighted the Board’s aggressive legislative agenda. “After eight years of reduced funding we have a big task ahead of us bringing the levels back, but we can do it,” he stated.
MBLC Commissioner and Library Trustee Frank Murphy addresses the crowd of over 100 trustees.
MBLC Commissioner Frank Murphy, who also serves as a trustee at Arlington’s Robbins Library, urged the library community, the Library Nation, to recognize their strength and influence. Murphy also discussed the high speed connectivity project in western Massachusetts,” As my grandchildren would say, ‘it’s cool.” Murphy noted that providing high speed internet in an area where dial-up is the norm was an example of libraries once again leading the way and addressing the needs of their communities.
Celeste Bruno, MBLC Communications Specialist, provided the trustees with information and tactics to work with news reporters to promote library services and library issues. Ms. Bruno also shared highlights of the MBLC’s Three Year Marketing Plan.
Nancy Rea, MBLC Deputy Director and Head of Library Development, and Hagar Shirman, Libraries for the Future Program Manager, condensed their full-day Spanish Language Outreach workshop into a highly informative session that included strategies for conducting outreach to any underserved population in a community.
MBLC Commissioner and Library Trustee Vicki Kaufman discusses library issues with Carlisle Trustee Phil Conti.
Ms. Killoran announced several upcoming MBLC events including Friends Sharing With Friends on September 13, 2008, Advocating for Your Library Budget on September 20, 2008, and the MBLC Security Summit on October 4, 2008. For more information about these events please contact Maureen Killoran at Maureen.Killoran@state.ma.us or Brian Donoghue at Brian.Donoghue@state.ma.us