Since launching with our new Evergreen catalog in May, the single biggest request from patrons has been this:

How do I see what number I am on the wait list for an item I have on request?

Previously, patrons had to contact the library and have staff look this up. But now this feature has been added to the My Account screen, so patrons can log in and see this information themselves.

To view this, use your barcode and PIN combination to log into your My Account. Next, click the "Items on Hold" tab, which will list everything you have on hold. And now, as seen in the image below, the "Status" column will tell you the number you are on the wait list, how long the wait list is total, and also the number of "potential items" that can fill this hold:

There are a couple things to note with this listing:

• The "potential items" means the number of copies of that item (at all MVLC libraries) that are available to fill the hold (this automatically ignores copies that are lost, missing, library-use only, or any other item that can't fill the hold)
• Your number is your position in the whole holds queue, regardless of where other people in line are going to pick up their item. Your wait might actually be shorter than expected, because the only people who are really "ahead" of you in line are the people who are also picking up their item at the same library as you.

  So, if you're #42 on a list of 156, but only 3 other patrons want to pick up the item in the same library as you, then you're really only #4. And Evergreen will fill all holds at one library before moving on to the next, so if the item ends up at your pickup location, you'll get it before the other 155 people on the list

Filling holds can be complicated, so if you have any questions about what your Status column means, or the particulars of how the catalog works, please see a library staff person.

Also, this new feature marks another feature made possible by consortium developers. One main reason this catalog was chosen was that we can add to it - if you have any other suggestions, please contact Brian Herzog, Head of Reference, at bherzog@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail behind the Chelmsford Mall, at Manahan Street in Chelmsford, will be closed at times during a two week period beginning August 1.

Demolition of the Town-owned building located on Katrina Road, adjacent to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 1.

For safety considerations, including dust from the debris, the section of the rail trail adjacent to the building will be closed during portions of the demolition work. The closures will impact trail users wishing to use the section of trail between Manahan Street and Glen Avenue during the work week. This section is in the portion of the trail north of Chelmsford Center and south of the Route 3 terminus. The trail is expected to be open on weekends.

This is the section of trail that will be closed:

View Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Temporary Closure in a larger map

The building demolition process is expected to be completed within 7-14 days depending upon weather and site conditions.

For more information, contact:

Cynthia McLain
PO Box 202
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-726-0864
cmclain@townofchelmsford.us

Back in May, Chelmsford Telemedia added a new feature to their website - online streaming versions of many of the programs you can see on the local cable station.

These can be accessed by visiting http://chelmsfordtv.org/streaming.php in your web browser. On the right, videos are grouped into categories:

• Selectmen Meetings
• School Committee Meetings
• Planning Board Meetings
• Government-Miscellaneous
• Chelmsford Public Schools
• Public Access Programming
• Chelmsford Public Library

To view a video, click one of the categories and then scroll down the list of available videos and click on the one you'd like to see. There is also a search box at the top of the viewer to find videos by keyword.

In addition to recording various the governmental functions of the Town of Chelmsford, most of the programs held at the Library will be available here online (these are naturally our favorites). So if you missed a program at the library, a Selectmen meeting, one of the many Public Access shows, or just about anything else that happened in Chelmsford, you can watch (or rewatch!) it at your leisure here - for free, any time day or night. DVDs of each program at also available for $10 - contact Chelmsford Telemedia for details.

A Jelly is starting up at the Chelmsford Library!

What's a Jelly?!
A Jelly is a casual yet organized assembly of people who choose to work in a social atmosphere - with other interesting and creative people to talk to, collaborate with, and bounce ideas off.

The very first Chelmsford Jelly meets on Friday, July 15, 2011, from 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Chelmsford Library's meeting room. After that, it will meet on the third Fridays of each month, so plan your work-week accordingly.

Jellies are open to anyone interested in coworking/collaboration/being around other people while working. Bring your laptop or notebooks, art supplies or whatever you might need to get your work done, along with an open mind and a friendly disposition.

For more information on the Chelmsford Jelly, visit the library's website or the Chelmsford Jelly meetup page.

For more information on Jellies in general, read about the first Jelly at http://workatjelly.com, or in an article from Wired magazine.

The Chelmsford Farmers' Market is set to open another summer providing fresh and local produce and products to the Chelmsford area.

The Market will again be located on the Chelmsford Town Common every Thursday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, from July 8 to October 6th, 2011.

Anyone interested in having their own tent at the Market, volunteering, or providing entertainment, please email chelmsfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com. You can also read more about the Market at http://chelmsfordfarmersmarket.blogspot.com, or at the Chelmsford Independent.