{"id":890,"date":"2020-07-07T10:36:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T14:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/?p=890"},"modified":"2020-07-07T10:36:43","modified_gmt":"2020-07-07T14:36:43","slug":"mblc-service-update-7-1-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mblc.state.ma.us\/mblc_blog\/2020\/07\/07\/mblc-service-update-7-1-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"MBLC Service Update 7-1-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As we work together to get through the current reality, the MBLC will provide regular updates on MBLC services and other statewide issues.\u00a0 Please let us know if there\u2019s info you\u2019d like us to cover\u2014we\u2019ll include it if we are able. Stay well.<\/p>\n

MBLC FY21 Budget\/State Budget to Libraries
\n<\/u><\/strong>Massachusetts begins fiscal 2021 today with a $5.25 billion interim budget. With the FY21 budget not in place, the MBLC (like all state agencies) has been given a one-twelfth budget, which basically means that the agency\u2019s fiscal 2020 budget is divided by 12, so that the agency is operating on a month-to-month budget.<\/p>\n

Governor Baker’s $44.6 billion fiscal 2021 budget<\/a> is in its sixth month under review in the House Ways and Means Committee. Before deciding on how to proceed, Baker and legislative leaders are waiting to see how tax collections perform in the wake of the decision to push the annual tax-filing deadline forward from April 15 to July 15. They are also waiting to see when and whether Congress will pass another major stimulus bill providing additional support to individuals, businesses, and state and local governments struggling due to the pandemic’s impacts.<\/p>\n

MBLC Monthly Board Meetings<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Contact: Rachel Masse<\/a>
\nThe regular monthly business meeting of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 9, 2020 by Zoom Teleconference Meeting. https:\/\/mblc.libcal.com\/event\/6201495<\/a><\/p>\n

Re-opening Phase 3
\n<\/u><\/strong>Contact: <\/strong>Rob Favini<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Maura Deedy<\/a>
\n<\/u><\/strong>We have heard from libraries and patrons about when libraries will be allowed to resume in-library services. We have reached out to Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito’s office with our recommendations for allowing libraries to reopen their spaces to the public.\u00a0These recommendations included occupancy guidelines for library browsing and computer use. We typically don\u2019t find out ahead of the release of recommendations so we will be monitoring media and other outlets this week and hope they will be included soon.<\/p>\n

State Aid-<\/u><\/strong> Reopening survey <\/strong>
\nContact: <\/strong>Liz Babbitt<\/a>
\n<\/strong>In light of the Governor’s phased re-opening plan, please update the COVID19 reopening survey\u00a0via the\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>new LibWizard form<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0This\u00a0will be\u00a0shared with the library community in a Google spreadsheet titled “COVID19: Re-opening Public Libraries Survey”.
\nWe understand that COVID19 will continue to be a serious threat to public health and that your plans may change as the situation evolves so\u00a0we<\/strong>\u00a0will\u00a0NOT\u00a0be creating a version of this survey for the public<\/strong>\u00a0UNTIL libraries have started opening<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Libraries and Contact Tracing
\n<\/u><\/strong>Librarians have been concerned with some of the sector specific guidelines that required keeping a log of visitors for contact tracing, such as office spaces<\/a>. Directors and library staff have reached out to Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for clarification. MBLC staff communicated these concerns to the Department of Public Health (DPH) and communicated with Privacy Officers about concerns that visitor logs would be a violation of MGL Chapter 78 Section 7<\/a> which states \u201cthe part of the records of a public library which reveals the identity and intellectual pursuits of a person using such library shall not be a public record\u201d.
\nMore from this blog<\/a> by Maura Deedy<\/a><\/p>\n

Handling Patron’s Legal Questions During the Pandemic<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Social Law Libraries and the MBLC
\nContact:<\/strong> Paul Kissman<\/a> Kate Butler<\/a><\/p>\n

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Social Law Library will host a legal reference update webinar on July 7th<\/sup> at 3pm. Register<\/a>
\nJust as COVID-19 has change the way that libraries deliver services, it has also affected the Massachusetts Court System and the legal support network for Massachusetts residents.\u00a0 This webinar will bring you up to date on how to help your patrons find answers to their legal questions when walk-in service to the trial court law libraries and court service centers may be limited.
\nThough the webinar is primarily aimed at public libraries, all types of libraries are welcome<\/strong>. Register<\/a><\/p>\n

Preservation and Disaster Recovery<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact: Evan Knight<\/a><\/p>\n

REGISTRATION OPEN<\/a> \u2013 MBLC\/MLS Virtual special collections symposium for smaller libraries
\nJuly 23, 9am-12pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local public memory collections provide important, unique, and sustainable opportunities to interpret a community\u2019s contemporary experiences as they change over time. Yet there are many challenges in building, preserving, and sharing these collections, especially among smaller libraries. Renowned experts in the book trade, academic libraries, and library special collections will convene for a morning symposium of sharing and dialogue about these topics, tailored specifically for library workers, librarians, archivists, and collections volunteers with various levels of experience<\/em>, and from collections of all sizes<\/em>. Co-hosted by the Massachusetts Library System. Register<\/a><\/p>\n

Construction-The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP)<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/strong>Contact:<\/strong>\u00a0 Lauren Stara<\/a>
\nAndrea Bunker<\/a><\/p>\n

The Senate will take up the Construction Bond Bill<\/strong> (now S 2790) this Thursday, July 2. Library Caucus co-chair Senator Eric Lesser has filed amendment #43 on the IT Bond bill to increase library construction funding to $150 million. At $150 million, the construction bond will fund the remaining seventeen libraries on the waitlist and allow the MBLC to begin preparing for the next planning and design and construction grant rounds. Currently, there are 40 plus libraries interested in applying for construction funding in the next round.<\/p>\n

History of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program<\/strong>
\nThis episode of Building Literacy: Public Library Construction delves into the history of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, which has been in existence since 1987. Founding Library Building Specialist, Patience Jackson, and former Library Building Specialist, Rosemary Waltos, join MBLC Construction Specialists Lauren Stara and Andrea Bunker to discuss both the impetus and evolution of our unique and robust program.
\nListen to podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

Promotion\/Summer Library Program<\/u><\/strong>
\n<\/u>Contact:<\/strong> Celeste Bruno<\/a>
\nMatthew Perry<\/a>
\n<\/u>Rachel Masse<\/a><\/p>\n

Summer
\nSocial media graphics for summer<\/a>
\nSummer fairy tale coloring masks<\/a>\u2014easy print<\/strong><\/p>\n

Database promo
\nWellness<\/a>
\nDIY<\/a>
\nDogs<\/a>
\nKids Science<\/a>
\nHealthy Aging<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n


\nSACL Openings (<\/u>State Advisory Council on Libraries)
\nContact:<\/strong> Rob Favini<\/a>
\n<\/u><\/strong>The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is currently accepting applications to serve on the State Advisory Council on Libraries (SACL). SACL is an advisory group appointed by the Board to involve libraries and library users throughout the Commonwealth in MBLC decisions regarding implementation of LSTA direct grants. As part of this responsibility, SACL members annually review and evaluate grant applications and make funding recommendations to the Board of Library Commissioners. In addition SACL members are sometimes called on to provide feedback on policy and program initiatives beyond LSTA grants.
\nSACL members serve three year terms and meet twice a year at the MBLC offices, located near Boston\u2019s North Station. Note: for the duration of the current COVID-19 response all SACL meetings are held by video conference.
\nSACL consists of 16 members with representation from public, academic, school, special, and institution libraries, as well as libraries serving the blind\/visually impaired and physically disabled. In addition, five members of the council represent users of all types of libraries.
\nWe are currently accepting applications to fill the following SACL vacancies:<\/p>\n