Category: Uncategorized

Thank you to those who were able to attend the April 3 all-staff meeting. As I mentioned, the recent cuts to the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is deeply concerning and there are still a lot of unknowns.

This is a demoralizing issue. And RPL will continue to offer high quality and professional service to our community as we navigate this situation.

To that end, please read/print this memo. It’s important that we acknowledge these difficult times and also maintain a healthy work environment. The memo also includes information on how to respond to public inquiries on this issue.

As always, please feel free to speak to any member of the Leadership Team if you have more questions or concerns.

Some of you might already know about this, so apologies for being five years late to the game! If you’re annoyed with Goodreads and want to try something new and exciting, I am really enjoying StoryGraph, which came highly reviewed from other librarians. You can download your entire Goodreads library to the app so it has all your info, and then it keeps statistics for you on your genres, how fast you read, your various author preferences, etc.

They listen to feedback and are working on setting up a widget to add to email signatures and adding a social media feature to share titles that way, too.

A few helpful resources to read and share regarding wildfires, smoke, air quality, and health impacts:

Stay Current:

• AirNow.gov – U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) – Monitor current air quality in your area
  • Fire and Smoke Map
• Town of Reading Public Health Department
• Sign up for Town of Reading Community Alerts (CodeRed App) about emergencies and other important town-wide notices.

Understanding Health Impacts:

•  How Wildfire Smoke Can Affect Your Body – CDC.gov
• Climate Fact Sheet: Wildfire Smoke Events – Mass HHS
• Measuring Air Quality Index for Children and Youth and outdoor activities – WA State Dept of Health – (check AirNow.gov first to get the AQI)

Managing and minimizing risk:

• Smoke Ready Toolbox – get risk factors, tips on protecting yourself, others, pets indoors. Includes links to several resources and helpful videos – US EPA
• Create Cleaner Air at Home to Reduce Wildfire Smoke Indoors – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Understand Wildfire Risk in Your Community and How to Reduce It and Prepare – US Dept of Agriculture and US Forest Service

Patron was very complimentary for our restrooms. She liked all the items pertaining to women, phone number to call and the posting for “don’t flush” sign on paper towel holder. She rated us above a ten – and also said she would expect nothing less from this library!!

Happening today! New plantings related to our Rooted in Reading grant (FKA “Dig In”). These include an example Sensory Garden and native plants that support pollinators and birds.

Rooted in reading focuses on nature, health, and sustainability. Part of the grantmust be used to add educational garden areas for community enjoyment. The grant will also pay for over 20 programs and provide funds to purchase related books, online resources, and items for our Library of Things collection.

Each service desk has a FAQ Sheet about this part of the grant.

One of the links in this today’s Monday Morning Update was incorrect:

Please use this link for the item below

What do you want to learn?

Albert Pless, Director of Equity and Social Justice, will lead our January 2025 training session.  Please let him know what DEIAB workshop/learning you would like best. You are also welcome to call or stop by Albert’s office to share other ideas on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging in the workplace.

Hi everyone, I’d like you all to watch the following Communico tutorial, read over my directions, and practice booking meeting rooms in Reserve. Directions for adding library events to Attend are located here.

I’ve bookmarked the Communico Control Panel browser on the ground-floor desk and Borrower Services computers.  The login should be saved on both, but if not, it is the rdgcirc and the wonder.. password.  If you have your own login, feel free to use that too.

• • • Communico Control Panel (staff only) (Borrower Services: use the rdgcirc email to login)
    • Attend Events Calendar (public side)

ALSO

It’s that time of year when folks are getting organized. Employees may purchase their own work planner or desk blotter calendar and request reimbursement (not including tax) for up to $15 for work planners or $20 for desk blotter calendars within a 12-month period. Please submit receipts to Meaghan C. and notify your Division Head.

If the planner or blotter calendar is less than these amounts AND is available from Amazon, Staples, or WB Mason, RPL will purchase it for the employee on our tax-exempt accounts. Please send requests to Meaghan C. and your Division Head.

Happy planning!

I am very pleased to inform you that the RPL received an LSTA “Dig In Grant” for $20,000 from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The grant will run from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.

Shout out to the SUPER Grant Team who worked on the application and will turn these fabulous ideas into reality: Michelle Filleul, Kathryn Geoffrion Scannell, Andrea Hogan, Sara Kelso, Megan White, Desiree Zicko.

We also want to thank (and look forward to working with) community partners such as the Reading Garden Club, the Town Forest Committee, the Reading Community Garden, and the Reading Health Department for their input and letters of support for this project.

The abstract of the grant, which will include a combination of modest green improvements (inside and outside) and educational programs, is below:

“Cultivating Community: Growing and Nurturing Sustainable Spaces” aims to transform Reading Public Library into a vibrant hub for intergenerational and inclusive education on nature and sustainability. The project will build community through community involvement and partnerships with local groups to share expertise and resources and form a “Garden Ambassador” volunteer program; establish nature and sustainability programming as a long-term pillar of the educational offerings; enrich the library’s collection with accessible related resources; and add green spaces both indoors with a “Living Wall” and plantings to showcase the benefits of indoor plants and outdoors through enhancing the patio Plant Lab garden and adding sensory and native pollinator garden beds. The initiative will reach individuals and intersectional groups, including children, teens, adults, families, neurodiverse individuals, and those with disabilities. Aligned with the library’s current strategic plan, this Cultivating Community underscores our
commitment to education, equity, access, and accountability.