Downstairs Storage

Dina very diligently cleared out the storage closet on the Ground Floor. As of right now, the following departments have their sections clearly labeled:

  • FRPL
  • Food Pantry
  • Local History
  • Borrower Services/Display
  • Teen
  • Children’s
  • OESJ

If you are adding to the Storage Closet (there’s still space!), please clearly label your section and do not block bookshelves that have someone else’s supplies on them.

As a gentle reminder, the Storage Closet is a place to store usable items; if something is broken or needs to be thrown out, there should be a timeline or plan in place before storing it downstairs. Teen and Children’s use the room regularly to grab things, so keeping it clear of trash and large items is helpful for all of us.

Adult Book Club Books

Adult Book Clubs will return in September. Studio 64 is an RPL book group, and Fact or Fiction is patron-facilitated but we help them with getting books and promotion.

At Andrea’s direction, these will be displayed for patrons on the pedestals in front of the Borrower Services desk, next to other reader advisory items and Friends Speaker Series titles.

Please point patrons to this area, or send them to Reference if they have questions.

Thank you!

Library of Things Cabinets

The Library of Things collection have all been moved to the main floor. Whohooo! The majority of the collection has been added to the cabinets/shelving and the larger, more valuable items are still being stored behind Borrower Services. The updated location list hangs on the LoT tall cabinet door behind the desk.

Here are the directions for the public to borrow items from the LoT collection.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Newspaper Box by Printers

With the arrival of the new Library of Things storage, a few of us noticed that the newspaper and magazine bins for patrons were blocking easy access for people who use wheels to move around the library. We have moved one of the boxes in between the shelves for holds and turned the other one around so it doesn’t stick out so much. Please do not move the one between the shelves back!

Aspen vs. Evergreen

You’ve probably heard about our new public catalog interface, Aspen, which is in “soft launch” right now, and will go live in September.  In a nutshell, it is a software layer that sits on top of our Evergreen database.  Staff searching and other functions in Evergreen are not affected, it’s strictly on the public-facing (OPAC) side.

The benefits to the patrons are:

  1. better and more flexible searching
  2. the ability to search and checkout Libby and Hoopla items without leaving the catalog
  3. it’s much prettier!

Put it through its paces and let me know what you find–feel free to try and break it so we can report back to NOBLE! The list-making function is not enabled yet, but otherwise it should be fully operational.

RPL Catalog

What to do with your great program photos

If you take photos at your programs that can be used in future social media, newsletter, or for other promotion – you can upload them to a dedicated folder on our shared staff drive! The trail is: Reading Public Library Staff>Photos & Graphics for PR…

Folders are set up by year and month. When you upload your photos please label them with the program name. You can create a folder within the month to drop them in as well – that helps keep things organized. For example, in June’s folder Lucy set up a folder for Summer Sizzler photos (thank you!). It doesn’t matter if it’s a big program like Sizzlers, feel free to use this spot for just a few photos as well.

You’ll also see a folder called Staff & Museum Photos – if you’re out and about enjoying a museum pass and you’d like to share the experience – add the photos there (please label them). These can be used that’s for Librarians in the Wild posts or in the newsletter.

Any questions, suggestions? Let me know.

 

Communication Working Group: RPL Style Guide

A new RPL Style Guide is now available – linked under the Instructions tab>Communications. If you create print materials to promote our events, services, and operations please take some time to become familiar with it.

The Guide is a tool to help make our external (and internal) communication clear, concise, and accessible. You’ll find tips on

  • logo use: RPL and external organizations
  • accessbility: font, reading level, color contrast
  • tone
  • current social media post sizes/formats

Plus a handy A to Z list of recommended RPL-specific terms.

Thanks very much to staff on the Communications Working Group who worked on this: Keri, Kath, Meghan M., Rebecca, and Michelle. We’ll review the guide twice a year to keep it up-to-date and welcome suggestions for additions and questions.

Happy Communicating!

Tracking Outreach Events

Please complete the attached form for any outreach events that you have organized or participated in. These events can be big or small. It will be available on the staff intranet under forms.

For instance, Friends and Family Day, taking the Book Bike to Memorial Park, Arts Fest, the Reading Garden Club Sale, or even smaller events, such as visiting schools or the lemonade stands at Peter Sanborn, etc.

Database Info and Important Changes (long, but please read)

Our patrons access three types of database resources through our website and via library computers.

  1. Reading Public Library subscriptions: RPL pays for these separately using our municipal operating budget (Reading taxpayer dollars). These are intended for use by the Reading community. Most of these resources require you to log in with your Reading library card or create an account using your Reading library card. They check your eligibility by the zip code or library card prefix (21995). Some allow anyone to use the library computers to access the resources (in-library use only).
  2. NOBLE content: NOBLE gets “bulk” pricing for consortium members. A portion of our annual NOBLE membership fee pays for these, and cardholders from any NOBLE library have access to them.
  3. State-wide databases: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts receives federal funds (over $2M) to provide resources to all residents. Federal library funding goes to all states via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has been shut down and may be entirely defunded. Please read more about how these funding cuts impact statewide datbases.

RPL Changes

Each year, we review the use and cost of database services that RPL pays for. This year, we are discontinuing Financial Fit and Home Improvement Sources, which will not be available after July 1, 2025.  As a reminder, we add new resources as well!  This year, we are excited to subscribe to Craft & Hobby.  If you love this new resource – or any of our existing subscriptions – be sure to talk it up! Low usage is the primary reason we cancel subscriptions.

State Database Changes (MBLC/IMLS)

Starting July 1, MBLC is eliminating a number of statewide databases due to federal funding cuts. The team at MBLC carefully reviewed usage and cost to determine which resources to cut. They also ensured that the remaining database served all ages and was as inclusive as possible. This is a very tight and delicate balancing act. RPL is reviewing this list to see what we can add to our subscriptions to compensate for the loss of these databases.

Here is a list of CANCELED resources.

  • Boston Globe Article Archive
  • Britannica Moderna
  • Gale Academic OneFile Select
  • Gale General OneFile
  • Gale Health and Wellness
  • Gale in Context: Biography
  • Gale in Context: Elementary
  • Gale in Context: Environmental Studies
  • Gale in Context: Global Issues
  • Gale in Context: Middle School Gale in Context: Science
  • Gale in Context: US History
  • Gale in Context: World History
  • Gale Interactive Science Gale LegalForms
  • Gale Literature Resource Center
  • HeritageQuest Online
  • Peterson’s Career Prep
  • Peterson’s Test Prep Science Database (ProQuest)
  • Transparent Language Online