News Release

Jan Resnick has been appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). The MBLC is responsible for library services across the Commonwealth including the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, federal Library Services and Technology Act grants, regional library services, and online statewide resources.

Ms Resnick thanked the Governor for the opportunity to extend her career of service to libraries and is looking forward to supporting the work of the MBLC. “As a long-time resident of western Massachusetts, I hope to represent the libraries I know well and get to know other libraries in the Commonwealth so that we can serve all our residents to the best of our ability and strengthen our advocacy for libraries,” she said.

Long-time library supporter State Senator Stan Rosenberg was pleased with the Governor’s choice. “This is great news for the Pioneer Valley, and for the entire western Massachusetts region," State Senator Stan Rosenberg said. "Jan is one of the most respected and thoughtful voices for libraries in the Commonwealth and there is no doubt that she will be a tremendous asset to the Board of Library Commissioners."

Ms. Resnick’s career in libraries spans 40 years and includes extensive work in the areas of automation of library services and resource sharing.  She served on the Executive Board of C/W MARS and was instrumental in automating library services in the central and western areas of the state.  She also served two terms on the NELINET Board of Directors.  She has been both a participant in and speaker for the Digital Commonwealth and was the Western Massachusetts Regional Library Systems’ (WMRLS) project coordinator for Digital Treasures.  She was also a contributing author of Digitization in the Real World.

Ms Resnick has also worked to ensure that small libraries of all types are able to participate in and benefit from statewide resource sharing.  She helped to develop MassCat, a regionally funded library catalog of holdings for small libraries, especially school and special libraries.  She served as a project manager and trainer for the Board’s “MLIN I” program, launched in 1995, which provided the very first computer, Internet connection, training in basic computer skills, and email for over 50 very small public libraries.  In her most recent role as Assistant Regional Administrator for WMRLS, Ms Resnick was responsible for a variety of services including Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing, Readers Advisory Service and Collection Development.

Ms Resnick holds a Masters of Library Science from Drexel Institute of Technology and continues to be an active member of numerous library and community organizations.  The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) honored Ms Resnick for her service to libraries and she was inducted to MLA Hall of Fame in 1998.