Noteworthy

Grants for the Maine Libraries Conference
Don't think that the Maine Libraries Conference is beyond your budget limitations!
The MLA Scholarship and Loan Committee provides 4 grants for Maine librarians to attend the Conference. The Committee is especially interested in helping librarians who have never before attended a Maine Libraries Conference because of budget limitations: come once, and you'll get so much out of it, you'll want to work it into next year's budget!
For more information about the Conference grants, go to: http://mainelibraries.org/GRANTG_1.htm

Scholarship Auction at the Maine Libraries Conference
The auction helps to provide MLA and MASL scholarships and loans for library science education, so any contribution to the auction is a contribution to the future of Maine libraries.
Houseplants, books, tickets for a local cultural event, boat trips, knitting and crocheting. Christmas gifts that aren't to your taste, your "trash" that might be treasured by someone else, give it a new life at the Auction!
Anyone who won't be able to deliver auction items on the first day of the Conference can contact Debbie Lozito at the Edythe Dyer Library to make alternate arrangements for delivery.

Looking for creative people with new ideas to help promote the Maine Library Association
The MLA is seeking any person to serve on the Public Relations Committee. The mission of the Public Relations Committee of the Maine Library Association shall be to publicize and support Maine Library Association activities.
The goals are:

• To publicize and support statewide legislative efforts on behalf of all types of libraries.
• To support efforts of the membership committee of the Maine Library Association.
• To cooperate with the Regional Library System's publicity efforts.
• To support other MLA committees and sections with their public relations effort.

Exploring Other Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction for Children and Young Adults
Friday March 22, 2002 at the Manchester ( New Hampshire) City Library
The New England Round Table of Children's Librarians, children's section of New England Library Association, presents this day-long conference to all interested in sci-fi and fantasy for youth.
Presenters include Franny Billingsley, one of the most exciting new writers of fantasy for children; Jackie C. Horne, teacher at the Center for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College; and William Sleator, pre-eminent author of thirty years of science fiction for children and young adults.
Information and the registration form may be found on the NELA webpage: http://www.nelib.org/nertcl/index.html

Reading Round-Up of Children's and Young Adult Literature - The Joy of Reading
Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at the Augusta Civic Center
Betsy Hearne, author, reviewer, and professor, will be the keynote speaker. In addition, we will be having many other fun workshops, including: Cream of the Crop -- outstanding new children's and young adult books recommended by Maine children's librarians, Maine Connections: Sampler of Author/ Illustrator Visits, Books for Young Adults, Maine Books, Programming for Infants and Young Children, and the Lupine Award will be announced!
Fliers will be coming out towards the end of February, and the deadline for registration is March 29. The cost for this one-day extravaganza (which includes lunch, snacks, and lots of handouts) will be $40 if you register before March 15. The cost after March 15 is $50. We will not be accepting purchase orders or cash. Plan to send a personal check with your registration if school/library check may be delayed.
Starting at the end of February, you can also check the Southern Maine Library District site at http://www.state.me.us/msl/smld/index.htm for the flier.

The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Resource
The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to teach the lessons that can be learned from the Holocaust, about what can happen when basic human rights are destroyed. Through education, the Center works to reduce prejudice and to create an environment of tolerance, acceptance, and well-being among all people. The Center's Education Outreach Coordinator, Jacqueline Littlefield, works with Maine educators and librarians. She conducts workshops and seminars statewide. She is available at a minimal cost (mileage) for professional development workshops to help teachers, K-12, develop Holocaust and/or human rights classroom units and curricula, and to share Holocaust and/or human rights resources with schools and libraries. Schools/ libraries wishing to schedule a workshop for professional development or who have questions should contact her at (207) 993-2620 or email jml@gwi.net.

The Southworth Planetarium
presents many astronomy programs at various locations including The Sun-Scope, Night Sky Exploration, and Astronomy for all Ages. These free programs are designed to bring astronomy to the public.
They believe that libraries are great venues for the presentation of these programs. If your library is interested in hosting one of these programs, please contact Edward Gleason, Manager, Southworth Planetarium egleason@usm.maine.edu

Maine in Print
is available through the Maine State Library website - under Services To - click on Maine Libraries and Librarians - Maine in Print is located under the Information Resources heading. They are PDF files which can be viewed with Acrobat Reader. http://www.state.me.us/msl/mip.htm

Downloading MARC Records for Cataloging
Most of the large web catalogs in Maine allow MARC download. The details vary slightly. Go to this URL to find out how to download from Maine Info Net, the largest database of all: http://www.state.me.us/msl/download_marc.htm

Books for Reading Groups
The Monroe Community Library has had a very successful reading group last year and now has multiple copies of books to loan to other libraries in Maine. Here is their list:

• Kitchen Boy ---Phippen---- 15 copies
• The Dark Well--Shaw----13 copies
• Straight Man--Russo--14 copies
• Border Line---Boyle--15 copies
• Strong for Potatoes--Thayer--15 copies
• My Only Story--Wood--10 copies
• The Beans of Egypt Maine--Chute--10 copies
• Pink Chimneys--Hamlin--10 copies
• Beaming Sonny Home--Pelletier--5 copies
• Empire Falls---Russo--3 copies

Volunteer Maine!
There's a new place for everyone to meet, find out what is happening, and "shop" for volunteer-related information! Volunteer Maine! is part of a partnership led by the Maine Association of Nonprofits, Maine Philanthropy Center, and Maine Commission for Community Service. Together the partners aim to strengthen Maine's communities by strengthening citizen involvement in local affairs. Its goal is to establish a consistent statewide system that links citizens with volunteer opportunities and volunteer programs with resources and each other. http://www.state.me.us/communityservice/volunteermaine/

Maine Library Programs & News

Mantor Library - University of Maine, Farmington
The PRISM Committee Launches "One Book, One Campus" - Everyone on the University of Maine at Farmington's campus reading the same book at the same time... Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. An opportunity to read together, learn together, and come together as one campus. Throughout the spring semester, there will be displays, speakers, films, discussion groups, and other activities relating to the novel. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the "One Book, One Campus" Web site at: http://www.umf.maine.edu/~library/OBOC/home.html Even though the program is "...One Campus," community members are welcome to participate!

MCI (Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield) Reads as One
The schoolwide recreational reading program aims to bring students, staff, and faculty together around a shared reading experience as they all read Tim O'Brien's acclaimed short story collection about soldiers in Vietnam, The Things They Carried. The Pittsfield public are invited to join in the activities.
MCI Reads as One will run from February 1st through April 12th. Activities will include informal discussion sessions and a panel discussion of writers, teachers, Vietnam veterans and others. A giant thermometer on front campus will measure the number of readers; the advisory group hopes that at least 300 members of the MCI community will read the book. A special wall will be erected for comments and names of readers. Special bookmarks, hall passes with excerpts from the book, displays and t-shirts will further encourage readers.

Bridgton Public Library
The library has unveiled its all-new website, http://www.bridgton.lib.me.us The library's previous website was destroyed by a computer virus last September. Assistant Librarian and Webmaster Melissa Norton designed and created the new site, with an emphasis on clean, consistent design and a wide variety of informative, educational and fun Internet links in all subject areas.

The Newport Public Library
The library recently received a grant of $600 from the Rose and Samuel Rudman Library Trust. The library bought adult non-fiction audio books - a great complement to their meager non-fiction audio book library. The Merrill Merchants Bank serves as trustee for the Trust, money is made available to public libraries in Maine communities with populations less than 10,000 located in the counties of Aroostook, Hancock,Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington.

Pittsfield Public Library
Speaker Up!, a six week program for 7th and 8th graders was recently held at the library. It is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank. The youth had a great time while improving their skills of persausive speaking. I recommend this to any library in a town served by Bangor Savings Bank.

Charles M. Bailey Public Library, Winthrop
* Expert rug braider Nancy Young has donated a hand-braided rug to be purchased through silent auction, to benefit the Library. The rug, which is made in the shape of a heart, is red and green; it is called "Here's My Heart" by its maker. It will be on display at the main desk until the winning bid is acknowledged on Valentine's Day.
* Guitarist, singer and songwriter Glenn Torrico will entertain in the children's room Wednesday, February 20th at 2 pm.

William Fogg Library, Eliot, Maine - Kent Children's Room
The library has received a $25,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, and a grant from the Libra Foundation for $10,000. Mary Class, Children's Librarian and author of the grants, is thrilled and delighted because this means that that Kent Room will be able to meet minimum Maine Library Association standards for the volume of its collection, and will be able to purchase new audio and video items for the first time in years. The William Fogg Library has had a banner year in 2001, in which both the Children's Collection and the Adult Collection were fully automated, staff increased, and programs expanded.

Wells Public Library
Walt Williams and Mrs. Moose (a.k.a. Julie) will be doing a show on Feb. 21st at 2:00. The show includes music, dance, skits and lots of fun.

Winslow Public Library
* Philip C. Groce, of Union, Maine, author of Personality and the Soul: Sixteen Women Show Us the Connection, will talk about his book and his work at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2002. Dr. Groce, an author, student of esoteric studies and medical practitioner for 28 years in Union, studied what glued his own community together. In "Personality and the Soul: Sixteen Women Show Us the Connection," Groce interviewed sixteen women from this village who vary greatly in personality, age and religious inclination and who each demonstrate one particular quality such as courage, patience, dedication or kindness. In the interviews, he brings out where each quality comes from and how it develops. "Personality and the Soul: Sixteen Women Show Us the Connection" will be available for sale at this time. Dr. Groce will autopgraph copies of his book.
* The Library's February Book Sale will be held Wednesday, February 13 through Saturday, February 16, 2002 during regular library hours. Books and magazines of all sorts for both children and adults will be sold.
* Patron Appreciation Day will be held on Thursday, February 14, 2002. A "fine-free day," patrons may return overdue books without having to pay fines. Refreshments will be served.
* Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is the topic of a book discussion offered for February. In conjunction with the Winslow Public Library, the discussion is hosted by Brown Memorial Library, Lawrence Library and the Oakland Public Library. This month's discussion will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 6:30 p.m. at the Winslow Public Library with Director Judy Larson as the facilitator. Copies of the book are available at $3.25. The 1931 version of the movie "Frankenstein" is also available for viewing in conjunction with this discussion.
* "Harry Potter Vacation Week" for elementary students Tuesday through Friday, February 19 - 22, 2002. Exciting activities will be held each day from 2 - 3 p.m. Students will travel the likes of "Ollivander's Fine Wand Shop" and "Madam Malkin's" to create magic wands, robes and wizard hats on Tuesday. They will attend classes at Hogwarts' School to make slime and magic gook on Wednesday. Magician Wes Booth will perform "Reading is Magic" for students and families alike on Thursday, and the library will host a game of Quidditch for all brave sports on Friday. Each day includes a visit to the "Leaky Cauldron" for refreshemnts and board games such as Harry Potter Bingo and Harry Potter Hangman.
* Rolling Books - During the months of January, February and March, the Library is sponsoring Rolling Books, a book delivery service available to Winslow nursery school teachers and daycare providers. A teacher or provider may call the library to request one book per child to be delivered. For example, if there are eight children enrolled at a daycare, eight books may be requested by that daycare provider. Efforts are made to deliver the books the same day or the next day and are available to teachers and providers for a one-month period. Delivery is made by Winslow High School student volunteers.

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
* Artist of the Month - Quilter, Bobbie Barbour
* Armchair Traveler Visits Madagascar with Cyndy and Skip Erickson - Sun. Feb.10. 2:00 PM -Slide show. Artifacts. Discussion.
* Bohemian Coffee House Sat. Feb. 168:00 African Drumming with Circle of Rhythm and open 'mic' for singers, songwriters, poets, performers. PM. Free. Potluck Desserts. Reservations a must!
* Theatre in the Living Room with Dominic Garvey. American Theatre from the 1930's to present. Video and Discussion class. Fri. Feb 1 through March 29. 6:00-8:00 PM. No charge. Registration a must! * Books, Music & Tea Death Comes to the Archbishopby Willa Cather. A literary discussion for Seniors at the Memorial Library. Diverse opinion welcome. Thursday Feb, 14, at 1:30 PM.
* Something's Fishy at Between the Stacks! Learn about the Gulf of Maine with Jon Lewis of the DMR. Fri.Feb.22, 6:00-8:00. Reservations a must!

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Calendar of Events - Education/Training/Workshops

CONTINUING EDUCATION WEBSITES

Association of College and Research Libraries - New England Chapter
Calendar Of Conferences & Continuing Education
http://www.acrlnec.org/calendar.html

Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College
http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/courses/index.html

Library Association Conferences
http://www.ala.org/events

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Continuing Education
http://www.mlin.lib.ma.us/noflash.html

Massachusetts Health Sciences Library Network (MAHSLIN)
http://nnlmner.uchc.edu/mahslin/calendar.html

Nelinet, Inc. Library Conferences and Meetings
http://www.nelinet.net/conf.htm

New England and Environs Preservation Calendar
http://www.mlin.lib.ma.us/mblc/ldev/preservation_calendar.shtml

New England Library Association (NELA)
http://www.nelib.org/

Southern Connecticut State University, Library Science and Information Technology
http://www.southernct.edu/grad/programs/ILS/

University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/conedu1.htm

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Job Opportunities

Listings of jobs in Maine from the Maine State Library http://www.state.me.us/msl/jobjar.htm

Job Finding Aids from the New England Library Association http://www.nelib.org/jobaids.html

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Resources of the Month

Do you have some print resources or web sites that you've found especially usefulness or unique? Something you found to do an excellent job answering some questions or books that were really good. Send in a few of your favorites. Thanks!

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Library Electronic Mailing Lists

The Maine State Library manages 3 listserves. Subscriptions are free.
MELIBS-L hosts discussion of issues, events, activities and questions related to library service in Maine.  Note, however, that broadcast Iinterlibrary Loan requests are prohibited on MELIBS-L. They should go to MEFIND-L instead.
MEINFO-L is a "read-only" medium for distribution of Maine State Library announcements.
MEFIND-L was created in response to requests from libraries wishing a medium for broadcast ILL requesting.
For general tips, "Netiquette" and specific listserv commands including how to search the MELIBS archives look at the MELIBS-L and MEFIND-L Listserves website http://www.state.me.us/msl/mgmelibs.htm

ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org.
ALAWON archives at: http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. Visit their Web site at http://www.alawash.org.

Library-Oriented Lists & Electronic Serials is a compilation of electronic discussion lists, distribution lists and serials that are of interest to library professionals and staff. Visit the website at http://www.wrlc.org/liblists/. Enough lists to subscribe to and do nothing but read e-mail all day long!

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