All posts by Brian Herzog
The Library Is Open on Sundays Again!
![I [heart] Sundays](https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/iheartsundays.png "I [heart] Sundays")
At the town meeting in April, town meeting representatives voted to approve the library budget – which included restoration of Sunday hours at the main library from October to May.
Sunday hours begin this weekend, October 14, 2012, and continue until the weekend prior to Memorial Day weekend, May 19, 2013. Sunday hours will be 1:00 – 5:00 PM.
The library hasn’t been open on Sundays since 2007, due to tightened budgets. We’re happy to have this funding restored, so the library is able to serve patrons at a time that is convenient for many people.
If you’re out and about on Sunday, stop in!
Volunteer as an Election Day Deputy Warden
The Town Clerk of Chelmsford, Onorina Maloney, is recruiting residents to preserve the democratic process by helping out on election day.
We have an amazing and hectic Presidential election next month. We are in need of passionate, energetic individuals to work the whole day as Deputy Wardens. The hours would be from 6 am until possibly 10 pm (or later). We are also in need of energetic poll workers to work either the full or half day.
Yes, it is a long day; however, it is one of the most exhilarating experiences to be part of the ultimate democratic celebration.
I will have training on October 23, just for Wardens and Precincts Clerks and on October 25 for the Poll workers.
Please let me know if you are interested, and if any of your co-workers, or volunteers are interested. My goals is to have any individual fully trained and be able to commit to this election and to future elections.
Thank you very much.
Gratefully,
Onorina Z. Maloney, CMMC
Town Clerk
Volunteers can download and fill out the Election Worker Profile Sheet [pdf] and turn it into the Town Clerk’s office:
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm
Town of Chelmsford
50 Billerica Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978.250.5205
Fax: 978.250.5208
omaloney@townofchelmsford.us
http://www.townofchelmsford.us/Town-Clerk.cfm
Thank you to everyone who performs this civic duty! For more election information, please visit the Town’s Voter Information webpage.
New Library Catalog Design Launches Oct 1st, 2012
The entire MVLC catalog will be getting a new look starting Monday, October 1st. Chelmsford has been testing it for the last few weeks, so you may have already seen it, and maybe even suggested ways to make it better.
The new catalog will be an improvement over the previous catalog. One very noticeable thing should be an improvement in the speed of the catalog, and also fewer “empty pages” (when all you see is a blank page and have to reload it).
Many new features will be introduced, including:
- A cleaner, easier-to-navigate interface
- The ability to view item details (call number, availability status, etc) on the search results screen by clicking on the “Show More Details” button
- The ability to configure which e-mail notifications you wish to receive from your library
- Text messaging will be available for holds notification, and to quickly send a call number to your phone (instead of writing it on scrap paper)
- You can set a preferred “Pickup Location” for requested materials for your patron account
- You can choose to record your check out and holds history in your patron account
- Enhanced functionality to bookbags (no called My Lists)
- You can choose to stay logged into the catalog when logging in from home, instead of getting kicked out after a little while
- More information on using these new features is also available
We’ve had a lot of great feedback so far from patrons who’ve tested the new catalog, so we’re excited to launch the new design and features. If you notice any glitches after Monday, or have any questions whatsoever, please contact the Reference Desk.
The Library Catalog Is Getting A New Look!
The library catalog for the Merrimack Valley is in the process of getting both a new look and some new features. Chelmsford is one of the libraries that will be testing out the new catalog – and we’d like to hear what you think.
Some of the new features are:
- Cleaner look & faster loading
- Better search options
- Keep track of items you’ve checked out
- More bookbags options (now called My Lists)
- Stay logged in at home
Read about how to use some of the new features in this version of the catalog.
We’ll be testing the new version of the catalog until September, when it will go live for all the area libraries. In the meantime, our old catalog is still available.
Love it or hate it, please submit your feedback through the “Patron Catalog Survey” link in the top right corner of the new catalog! Or, talk to any library staff person – and ask us questions, too!
North Chelmsford Town Hall Open House
The newly renovated North Chelmsford Town Hall, home of the Chelmsford Community Center, is almost ready for the public!
Open House:
Tuesday, August 14, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Come share in the excitement as the renovations and available rental space are unveiled to the public! Guests will include the after school program, Springboard.
The North Town Hall is located at 31 Princeton St., North Chelmsford. There will also be a Grand Opening on September 14, from 6:00pm-9:00pm – visit http://chelmsfordcommunitycenter.org for more information.
Sponsored by the North Chelmsford Village Association.
The NCVA is a 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are fully deductible
Submit Your Photo for the Town Website and Annual Report
This year, the Town of Chelmsford is asking residents to submit photos they’ve taken to be used on the Town’s website, and also for the cover of the Annual Report.
To submit a photo, use the photo upload form created by the Town, and your photo will be submitted to the Town Manager’s office.
If you have any questions on the details of photo criteria or the selection process, please contact Tricia Dzuris, Assistant to the Town Manager, at TDzuris@townofchelmsford.us or 978-250-5201.
2012 Chelmsford Farmers Market Open for Business
The Chelmsford Farmers Market open last week on the Chelmsford Town Common. It runs every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., through October 18th.
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 and http://www.facebook.com/chelmsfordfarmersmarket, or find other area farmers markets.
New Reading Suggestion Program: Friday Fiction
Everyone is looking for a great book to read this summer – and the library is here to help!
We’ve transformed our popular “Now… It’s Your Turn” program into the “Friday Fiction” reading suggestions group. With an emphasis on popular summer reads and new fiction, this program offers great tips, fun conversation, and great recommendations.
The first gathering is:
Friday, July 13, 2012 at 11 a.m.
Fireplace room in the Adams Building
Feel free to bring suggestions of your own, or just be ready to learn about great titles to read this summer.
Chelmsford’s 2012 Fourth of July Activities
Chelmsford is a great place to celebrate Independence Day. The schedule of events for the holiday is listed below, along with a few holiday closings. Additional information is available at ChelmsfordParade.com, and be sure to check the local weather before you go out for the day. Have a great 4th of July!
Closings:
- Library: Closing at 5:30 on July 3rd; closed all day July 4th
- Town Offices: Closed all day July 4th
- Streets: See the Chelmsford Independent for detailed road closings
Activities:
|
Tuesday, July 3rd |
||
| Time | Event; Sponsor | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 4:30 PM | Ribbon Cutting; Chelmsford Center for the Arts | 1A North Road |
| 5-10 PM | Art Festival; Chelmsford Art Society | Center for the Arts |
| 5-11 PM | Country Fair; Chelmsford Lions Club | Center Common |
| 5:30 PM | Dance Group; Dance Unlimited | Center Common |
| 6-8 PM | Kiddies Train Ride; Chelmsford Rotary Club | Rear of Center Fire Station |
| 6:30 PM | Twirling Group; Chelmsford Suburbanette’s | Center Common |
| 7-9 PM | Band Concert; Chelmsford Community Band | Center Common |
| 9-11 PM | Jazz Concert | Center Common |
|
Wednesday, July 4th |
||
| 7-10 AM | Coffee Shop; First Parish Universalist Church | |
| 8-3 PM | Country Fair; Chelmsford Lions Club | Center Common |
| 8:30 AM | Flag Raising; Police & Fire Honor Guards | Center Common Flag Pole |
| 9:30-1 PM | Art Festival; Chelmsford Art Society | Center for the Arts |
| 9:30 AM | Annual John Carson 2 Mile Road Race | |
| 10 AM | 45th Annual Fourth of July Parade | |
| 12 PM | Raffle Drawing; Chelmsford Parade Committee | Center Common |
|
No Fireworks Display |
||
|
Thursday, July 5th |
||
| 8:00 PM | “The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters” film | Chelmsford Center for the Arts |
| In 1981, filmmaker and Chelmsford resident Fred Barzyk produced this film with Jean Shepherd (who also wrote the popular movie, “A Christmas Story”). Here’s some little known trivia: the film’s music was performed by the 1981 Chelmsford High School Band! | ||
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!
Go to a Spinners Game with Discount Library Passes
The Lowell Spinners is offering a discount pass program for tickets for their 2012 season!
The pass works like this:
- Find a game day on the Spinners’ schedule you’d like to attend
- Go to our Museum Pass page and reserve the pass for the same day as your game
Each pass is good for up to six tickets, and each ticket will cost $3 (this is at least a 50% discount!) - On the day of the game, or the day before, pick up the pass at the library’s main circulation desk
- Take the pass to the game to purchase your tickets
NOTE:the pass does not guarantee admission – the discount will only apply if there are tickets availablethe Spinners let us know that there will always be tickets available!
Be sure to check the Spinners’ schedule – and remember, this pass only works if there still tickets available the day of the game.
We’d like to thank the Lowell Spinners for providing this discount pass program to local libraries!