“What I Learned Today ….”

Please remember to report professional development activities using our “Staff Development Reporting Form.”  This information is important!  Even if you note sessions down in a monthly report, or discuss with your supervisor or colleagues, we still need you to submit the info using this form.

Not sure if you entered something? No problem, it’s OK if you submit something twice; we can fix that! Please see Amy, Michelle, Jamie, or Olivia if you have questions about what, when, where, and how to report PD.

Let Grow Details

The Let Grow campaign begins Monday. Since I won’t be in, I set up the raffle boxes, slips, and a prize box at the display table next to Borrower Services. Information about Let Grow, with a QR code to the website, is on the prize box table.
BorSer staff just need to give each participant a prize. The slips are with the raffle boxes. If prizes run out, another box is in my office.  There are already 57 participants signed up!

Summer Reminders

Our Summer Reading Program, Reading Is Revolutionary, begins on Monday, June 22. Folks can sign up at the R&R Desk, the Teen Desk, or the Children’s Desk. This program is for kids in grades 1-5, teens in grades 6-12, and adults.

Borrower Services is a part of the town-wide initiative called Let Grow, which encourages kids of all ages to do independent tasks. Kids will check in at their desk for this program, so as not to confuse Summer Reading with this program.

Also a confusing phrase, Summer Reading is what the kids called their required reading lists. In Reading, only the middle schools and AP English classes have required reading.

We see a lot more unattended children in the building during the summer. As a reminder, kids under the age of 10 must be accompanied by someone 14 years or older at all times (even on the same floor of the library) per our Responsibilities Regarding Minors policy.

Summer is a busy time for us. Things can feel chaotic and loud, but that’s entirely normal due to the number of patrons in the building. If you need to take a break, please talk with your supervisor/team! We give our best service when we are not overwhelmed, so remember to take a minute for yourself if it gets to be too much.

MLAA 2026 Scholarship information

The Massachusetts Library Aid Association (MLAA) Committee on Aid to Small Public Libraries is pleased to announce its Scholarship Program for Fall 2026. MLAA’s goal is to support staff development in small public libraries.
  • Applications available: Monday, June 15, 2026
  • Applications due: Friday, August 14, 2026, at 5 pm. No applications are accepted after this date.
To be eligible for the MLAA Scholarship Program, applicants must currently work (for a minimum of one year) in a Massachusetts Public Library in a community of 35,000 population or less, and their annual salary may not exceed $45,000.
Problems sending the application or Questions?
Contact: MLAA Liaison, Barbara Friedman bibliogal@gmail.com

Computer Use Tracking (again)

It’s that time again! Please track computer usage for all areas of the library.  There is a paper form at each desk, or you can use the Google Form: https://forms.gle/g2ZC9mAKVMvexZCu8

Instructions (June 15-June 28)

Reporting times are 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM (these are rough times; adjust as needed based on workflow). (It’s OK if working with a patron means you don’t check until 3:23 PM!). Desk and area assignments are below:

Thank you, thank you for doing this. We collect the information twice per year and report the average computer use in the statistical report we submit to the state (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners).

hoopla Checkout Limits Changing

Due to increased costs, users will be limited to six (6) hoopla items per month. We understand that this reduction in monthly checkouts may be disappointing for some users. Thank you for listening to each patron and their concerns. Here are some facts you can refer to if you receive questions:

  • We agree that this is disappointing: Like everything else right now, we are seeing cost increases in physical materials and digital licensing.  This is a way to continue offering Hoopla, a popular service.
  • We are being fiscally responsible: We look very carefully at usage statistics for all our content, and work to balance the best “bang for our buck,” while also continuing to offer a broad diversity of content.
  • We have a broad diversity of content: Have you tried Biblio+, Overdrive, Kanopy? Plus we have specialized digital content for kids.
  • We love to hear thoughts from you: What do you use most in hoopla? Audiobooks, eBooks, comics, TV? What would you like to see more of for digital content?

Please remember to document feedback in Gimlet.

Known Hoopla issue

Friday, June 12, we discovered that Hoopla is experiencing an issue with its server connectivity. This is causing users to receive an error message about access. Some people are fairly alarmed and unhappy about this. We have reported it. Hoopla is working on a fix and a temporary workaround. Please apologize for the inconvenience and refer people to Research & Reader Services with questions. We will provide more information and offer other alternatives for accessible digital downloadable content in the meantime.

Desk Shadowing — It’s Fun!

If you want to spend an hour on a public desk that you’ve never sat on, now’s your chance! Borrower Services and Public Services are hosting desk shadowing hours in the month of July. All staff are welcome to sign up. For BS and PS workers, it is mandatory.

You can use this link to choose a date for whichever desk you choose. Please discuss this with your scheduling supervisor before signing up if it interferes with your schedule.

This form will close on June 30, so please sign up before then.

Pay It Forward Tutors

We have two teen tutoring groups as we end the school year that are earning service hours. One is through Meghan M. and they know to come to the Ref desk to sign in for their hours. They only do these sessions on Saturday afternoons, and it is almost over.

The second one is through Michelle, and it’s called Pay It Forward. They know to come to the GF desk to check in. There is a labeled binder at the desk they use to sign in and out. Please hand them the binder to do so. They come in during school days.

If you have any questions, please see Michelle or Meghan.