...that in just one day Massachusetts residents:

make 93,000 visits to their libraries,

check out 159,456 items,

and spend over 2,343 hours accessing online library resources?


And that State funding is at a level that dates back to the 1990's?

We learned these amazing facts, and more, at the Annual Legislative Breakfast held earlier this month at the Robbins Library in Arlington. Representatives from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Massachusetts Library System, and the Minuteman Library Network were present to share information with members of our State Legislature, library administrators, and members of local Friends groups.

Greg Pronevitz, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Library System, noted that one challenge for libraries today is that patrons want more online content including access to encyclopedias and journals. Susan McAlister, Executive Director of the Minuteman Library Network, which had a server upgrade in January, said that libraries are both adopting and adapting new technologies. Starting in March, borrowers can opt to receive library notices via text message. The AirPAC interface search method can bring the library catalogue to users via cell phones. Encore, a Google-like interface, can search broadly, then refine the search to find both books and journals. It is available in Spanish, Chinese, and Russian as well as English.

Robert Maier, Director of the Board of Library Commissioners presented the Board's FY2012 Legislative Agenda, explaining the current levels of funding and the importance of supporting the requested 2013 levels. You can get the details at the MBLC web site.

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends and help to support our Cambridge libraries click here.