(This article reprinted from New England Libraries, Vol. 2, No. 3: April, 2006.)

Of Interest to New England Libarians

Step Up to the Plate @ your library

For registration for Step Up to the Plate @ your library; new incentives available to libraries:
www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/februray/baseballreg.htm

The baseball season has had its opening day, and registration is now open for the American Library Association's 21st century literacy program that teams up libraries and baseball.

The “Step up to the Plate @ your library" program will officially launch Friday, April 28, at the St. Louis Public Library and Busch Stadium. Librarians can visit the program Web site (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/baseball) to register for free promotional tools to help prepare for the new program. Tools include program logos in both English and Spanish and a toolkit that includes sample press materials and programming ideas.

“Step up to the Plate” is a partnership between ALA and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Campaign for America's Libraries newest Founding Partner. The initiative continues the program originally developed with Major League Baseball, which successfully concluded in 2005.

Preservation Workshops

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) in Andover, Massachusetts is pleased to present the Spring 2006 Series of One-Day Preservation Workshops:

Workshop Location:
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square, 4th floor
Andover, MA

Time:
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cost:
$140.00 per workshop. Fee does not include lunch.

Registration Information, Deadlines, Workshop Details at nedcc.org/spring/wkdesc.htm

Founded in 1973, the Northeast Document Conservation Center is the largest nonprofit, regional conservation center in the United States, specializing in preservation of paper-based materials. Its services include paper, book, and photograph conservation treatment; preservation microfilming; digitization; photograph duplication; surveys and consultation; disaster assistance; and workshops and conferences. NEDCC'S Web site: www.nedcc.org.

Association of Jewish Libraries Convention

The Association of Jewish Libraries will hold its 41st Annual Convention on June 18-21, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge, MA. The esteemed writer, educator, and social activist Grace Paley, one of the country’s literary giants whose writing resonates into the 21st Century, will deliver the keynote address.

There’s never been a better time for anyone involved in Jewish literacy and librarianship to gather with professional colleagues from across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, for enlightening panels on the latest trends in the field.

Presentations will be given by: Penina Adelman, author of JGirls Guide: The Young Jewish Woman’s Handbook; the Boston-based National Jewish Women’s Archives, a number of award-winning children’s writers, and more.

The AJL convention is the exclusive professional development and networking event for librarians and educators working with Judaica and Jewish studies from synagogue religious schools, to religious and secular libraries and in colleges and universities.

Dozens of other panels and events to choose from include:  the prestigious Sydney Taylor awards ceremony for outstanding Jewish children’s literature; Preserving Jewish music; Israeli literature in English; Oral history; Daily exhibition hall available with major trade and Judaica publishers; Freshman seminar on Judaica librarianship; Optional excursions to Newport, Rhode Island to the Touro Synagogue and a trip to the National Yiddish Book Center.

There are options for full or daily registration. Kosher meals will be provided by Catering by Andrew. Contact Ann Abrams aabrams@tisrael.org

For convention details: www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/conventions/convention2006.htm

An Analysis of the Reauthorization of PATRIOT Act

Dear Colleagues:

ALA has posted information for libraries about the impact of the PATRIOT Act reauthorization at: www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/civilliberties/theusapatriotact/usapatriotact.htm#reauth

* * * * * * * *
Carolyn Noah
Administrator, Central MA Regional Library System
-and-
Past President, Massachusetts Library Association
8 Flagg Road
Shrewsbury, MA USA 01545-4665
cnoah@cmrls.org
voice: 508 757-4110 x 305
fax: 508 757-4370
IM: carolynatcmrls@aol.com

Primary Sources on America's Westward Expansion

The U.S. National Archives and the Library of Congress have digitized a wealth of primary sources on America's Westward Expansion. View some of those holdings together with annotated maps, paintings of the western “wilderness” (commissioned by the U.S. government) and pictures of pioneers, Native Americans and the transcontinental railroad.
www.awesomestories.com/history/go_west/go_west_ch1.htm

The website (www.awesomestories.com) is free for all educators, schools and libraries. Simply request an academic membership with this sign-up form: www.awesomestories.com/group_signup.php

Carole Bos
Grand Valley State University
Dean's Advisory Board

Boston Public Library to Present "Damrell's Fire"

Boston Public Library – Central Library
700 Boylston Street
617-859-2270
www.bpl.org

BPL Presents the Screening of New Historical Documentary

DAMRELL’S FIRE

The story of one man's heroic crusade to stop American cities from burning down.

Day:  Thursday, May 4th

Time: 6:30 PM

Place: Rabb Lecture Hall

Damrell's Fire

November, 1872: a hurricane of fire rips through downtown Boston, reducing seven hundred buildings to ashes. Firefighters struggle with unruly crowds, poor water pressure, and explosions of gas and gunpowder. The conflagration threatens the people of Boston with the same fate as Chicago a year before, and no one has ever stopped a firestorm of this magnitude - no one until John Damrell.

John Damrell was the Chief of the Boston Fire Department in 1872 when the Great Fire stunned the country. His forethought and management of the blaze prevented the massive destruction and loss of life that had ravaged Chicago the previous year. But his story did not end with Boston’s firestorm. The disasters in Chicago and Boston fueled Damrell’s passionate determination to end forever the devastating urban conflagrations that threatened the very survival of cities in 19th century America. This is his story.

At the BPL screening, the director, Bruce Twickler, will introduce the film (run time: one hour) and take a behind the scenes look at “The Making of DAMRELL’S FIRE” (run time 12 min).

For more information about DAMRELL’S FIRE and Boston’s WGBH broadcast schedule, please visit: www.DamrellsFire.com

Screening is free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices available. To request a sign language interpreter or for other special needs, please call 617-859-2295 (V), 617-516-7055 (TTY) two weeks before the program.

Focus on Paraprofessionals: Creating Success at All Levels of the Library Profession – April 28, 2006

At this NELINET seminar, you’ll hear success stories from several libraries and library associations that have implemented programs and workplace practices that help promote and recognize the important work of library support staff. Join NELINET and learn how other libraries are addressing key management and personnel issues. For a full description: www.nelinet.net/travreg/CallEventLookup.asp?EventId=00000107

Learn how Valeria Fike, Paraprofessional of the Year 2006, has "inspired many of her colleagues to see the role of the paraprofessional is one of multifaceted possiblities combining service, personal growth, leadership and creativity."

Keynote Speaker: Valeria Fike,
Library Journals' Paraprofessional of the Year 2006,
and supervisor of reference support and College and Career Information Center services,
College of DuPage Library (CODL)

Topic: Developing a 'Can-do Attitude': Motivational Tips for Paraprofessionals

"There are no clear steps for moving up in our field. You have to find opportunities. In any job, a 'can-do' attitude is the key. When something needs to be done, you volunteer to do it."
 - Valeria Fike, quote from the March 1, 2006 issue of Library Journal

Addtional Speakers:

Program Costs:

NELINET Full Member: $135.00
NELINET Affiliate Member: $150.00
Non-member: $225.00

Register Online: www.nelinet.net/travreg/nelreglogin.htm

Titanic Materials Available

On the 14th of April, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank during the early morning of April 15. Help students understand what happened, with primary sources like pictures (including the iceberg involved in the collision), testimony (from survivors and rescue-crew captains), plus information on iceberg formation, maps and much more. Examine primary sources from Ireland, the UK, Canada and the US.
www.awesomestories.com/disasters/titanic/the_titanic_ch1.htm

The website www.awesomestories.com is free for all educators, schools and libraries. Simply request an academic membership with this sign-up form. www.awesomestories.com/group_signup.php