All posts by Brian Herzog
Chelmsford Town-Wide Cleanup 2011
Join in and help clean up our town!
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Time: Throughout the day
Where: All roads, parks and yards
It’s in your hands. The snow has melted revealing the roadside waste that has accumulated over the Winter. Please pitch in and help get the Town ready for Spring.
Visit the Town’s Clean Up Day webpage for
- a list of the areas being cleaned by volunteers
- a list of areas that still need help
- answers frequently asked questions
- a flyer/poster [pdf] to help promote the event
Bags can be picked up from the Office of Recycling and Solid Waste Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon. The Town-wide Cleanup this year is sponsored by the Chelmsford Business Association, Christopher’s Towing, and The Green Lawn Company.
For more information, contact Glenn Davison at davisong@comcast.net or 978-250-5203. You can also visit ChelmsfordRecycles.org for more information on recycling in Chelmsford.
Also, mark your calendars for the Earth Fair on May 14th at the Chelmsford Senior Center.
Join Us for Library Snapshot Day on April 13, 2011
Visit the library on Wednesday, April 13th, to help us participate in Library Snapshot Day!
Snapshot Day is a nation-wide initiative, to record one day in the life of libraries across the country.
Here in Chelmsford, in addition to counting books checked out and other statistics, we’re also going to be taking pictures – lots of pictures! We’re also encouraging patrons to bring in their own cameras, and then share your photos with us afterward.
We know the Chelmsford community really supports, uses, and values its library – please help us record and celebrate it!
For more details, visit https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/snapshot or contact
Brian Herzog, Head of Reference, bherzog@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211
Becky Herrmann, Library Director, bherrmann@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x101
New Online Resources Available on our Website
Over the last few months, the library has added a whole bunch of new online resources to our website. All of these are accessible either in the library, or outside the library with your library card and internet access.
Below is a list of the new resources, grouped by subject. To find them on our website, you can scroll through the alphabetical list, or find resources using our subject guides.
Books & Literature
- Books and Authors
Over 140,000 titles, 50,000 authors, and thousands of read-alike, award winner and librarian’s favorites lists, Books & Authors helps bring readers and literature together. - LitFinder
Covers world literature and authors throughout history, with wealth of literary works including full-text poems and poetry citations, as well as short stories, speeches, and plays.
Business
- Business and Company Resource Center
Provides access to a wide variety of global business information including competitive intelligence, career and investment opportunities, rankings, company profiles & histories and much more. - RDS Business Suite
Balanced and highly focused full-text coverage of company and industry news, management practices, and market research information, featuring leading worldwide business sources, plus tens of thousands of tables with strategic data.
Health & Science
- Health and Wellness Resource Center
Access to ~400 health/medical journals, hundreds of pamphlets, health-related videos, and articles from general interest publications. - Psychology & Mental Health (Salem Health)
Online access to Salem Press’ Psychology & Mental Health, covering notable theories, people, social issues, life stages, the physiology and anatomy of the nervous system, and diagnoses, disorders, treatments, tests, for various mental illnesses or conditions, all in a simple, easy to use A-Z format. - Science In Context
Contextual information on hundreds of today’s most significant science topics, with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, experiments, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.
News & General
- Global Issues In Context
International viewpoints on a broad spectrum of global and current events, including analysis of social, political, military, economic, environmental, health, and cultural issues. - Opposing Viewpoints In Context
Information and opinions on hundreds of today’s hottest social issues from full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites. - Student Resources In Context
Covering history, literature, science, social studies, and more, with reference material, full-text periodicals and newspapers, primary sources, creative works, video and audio clips and podcasts.
History
- American in World History
Explores the core historical events, trends, and personalities from U.S. history within the context of global history and international relations, using description, illustrations, maps, primary sources, a master timeline, and bibliographies for further research. - Milestone Documents in American History
Online access to Salem Press’ Milestone Documents of World History, which combines in-depth analysis with over 125 iconic primary source documents from ancient times to the present and from virtually every geographical region. The Salem History database also searches Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions and Encyclopedia of American Immigration. - U.S. History In Context
Contextual information on hundreds of significant people, events and topics in U.S. History, from full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites. - World History In Context
Information on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in World History, from full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.
New Study Rooms and Reference Redesign Completed
This week marked the opening of the new study rooms on the lower level of the library – but that is just the most visible element of the library’s continually-evolving approach to meeting the needs of Chelmsford patrons.
This project began with the realization of two trends:
- Our print reference collection was under-utilized
- Our single quiet study room was constantly booked
A New Approach To Reference
One of the first things patrons associate with libraries are reference books – the books that have to stay in the library. However, fewer and fewer people were actually using those books. Modern lifestyles are such that it is easier to do research at home or online, not using reference books in the library.
This reality calls for an updating of our approach to reference, and one way the library is responding is by making most of the traditional “library use only” books able to be checked out and taken home. These books have shorter loan periods – seven days – and cannot be renewed or requested by other libraries. This special circulation status should strike a balance between making sure the books are available in the library when people need them, and the convenience for patrons to use them at home.
As these books were redesignated as “okay to check out,” they were also interfiled with the regular circulating collection. This makes information on a subject much easier to find, because all books on a topic are in one place, instead of having to check the circulating collection and reference collection.
The Library Is The Place To Be
Despite the drop in use of the reference collection, there has been a rise in use of the library as a common study and meeting space – especially by tutors and small groups.
Our single study room is always in demand, and it became clear than one room did not meet the needs of our patrons. So, as a way to repurpose the space that had housed our reference collection, we took down those shelves and built three new study rooms. Check out our online photo gallery of room construction.
Each room is 8′ x 8′, has two chairs, a long counter top work area, a clock, power outlets, and ethernet jacks for connecting to the internet. The rooms are reservable by contacting the Reference Desk.
Making Popular Topics Easier to Access
The third goal in this project was to highlight a few of the more frequently-used subject areas, and make them easier for people to find. To solve this we added three new subject tables, and also put these in the space where the reference shelves used to be.
The subjects on these tables are:
- Encyclopedias & Statistics
- Career Resources
- Car Repair
- Genealogy
- Maps & Atlases
These are subjects that patrons are frequently asking for, and highlighting them on subject tables, with visible signs, will make them much easier to locate and use.
Most of the work has been accomplished, with library staff still finishing up some of the final touches. When you get a chance, stop by the lower level of the library to check out the changes.
Let us know what you think – we listen!
2011 Book Sale Drop-Off Dates Announced
The Friends of the Library have begun scheduling drop-off dates for book sale donations. These dates are listed below, and more information is available on the Friends’ Book Sale webpage.
Please consider helping make the 2011 Book Sale a success – the 2010 Book Sale raised over $30,000 for the Library!
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| March 26 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| April 23 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| May 21 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| June 11 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| June 25 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| July 9 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| July 13 | Wednesday | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| July 23 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| July 27 | Wednesday | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| August 3 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
| August 13 | Wednesday | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| August 17 | Wednesday | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| August 27 | Saturday | 9 a.m. – Noon |
If you are unable to make one of the scheduled drop-offs, you can use the Book Sale Donation box, located on the edge of the parking lot between the Library and the Dutton House.
Or, if you are emptying a house or an estate and would like to donate a large collection of books, please contact the Friends directly to make special arrangements.
Also Remember to Visit the 2011 Book Sale in September!:
Dates will be announced as soonas they are set. The sale will take place in the gym behind the Town Office building, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford [see a map].
2011 Winterfest Photo Contest Winners
The winning photographs from the Winterfest 2011 photo contest are currently on display on the lower level of the library. We also uploaded these photographs to the library’s flickr account for an online gallery, but seeing them in person with their ribbons is much more impressive.
The winners in each category are listed below, and are also linked to the online photographs.
Student
- 1st Place: Peter Dews
- 2nd Place: Peter Dews
- 3rd Place: Rebeccal Krupkoski
- Honorable Mention: Allison Knightly
- People’s choice: Rebeccal Krupkoski
Amateur
- 1st Place: Don Miffitt
- 2nd Place: Stephen Mayotte
- 3rd Place: Drew Medina
- Honorable Mention: Tony Swierzbin
- People’s Choice: Jamie Fox
Professional
- 1st Place: Bruce Magnuson
- 2nd Place: Lee Fortier
- 3rd Place: Lee Fortier
- Honorable Mention: Jocelyn Molleur
- People’s Choice: Jocelyn Molleur
The photo contest is a part of every Winterfest, so be sure to carry your camera with you and submit your best shots next year!
Remember To Shovel Out Your Gas Meter
The changing weather in New England has caused a lot of trouble this winter, from dangerous roads to collapsing roofs. The energy company National Grid would like to remind homeowners of another potential danger: snow-bound natural gas meters.
With all the snow this winter, many residents had no choice but to pile up snow where ever they could – including covering up the gas meter on their house. The recent melting and refreezing has caused some gas meters to become so encased in ice and snow that they’re not able to vent properly, thus causing a dangerous presence of natural gas near or inside homes. This could also happen if snow and ice falling from roofs and damages the equipment.
To prevent this situation, carefully shovel out around your gas meter. If you smell or suspect natural gas or carbon monoxide in your home, National Grid recommends that you go outside immediately and breathe deeply; if symptoms are severe, call 911 immediately.
Also, report this gas smell using National Grid emergency contact number 800-233-5325. A service technician will be dispatched within an hour of your call to investigate the smell.
For more information on natural gas, additional information and safety tips, and read a recent Westford Eagle article.
9 Ways to Discover Your Family History at the Chelmsford Public Library
There’s help, information and vast resources available for those who wish to climb the branches of their family trees at the Chelmsford Public Library.
By Paula McCarron, Chelmsford Patch (reprinted with permission)
Are you curious about your family history? Or have you hit a “brick wall” in your research?
Compiled with the help of Brian Herzog, Chelmsford’s Reference Librarian, these nine tips will help you climb the branches of your family tree.
1. Hit the stacks to find books such as The Sleuth Book for Genealogists by Emily A. Croom or Genealogy Online for Dummies by Matthew and April Helm. They’ll help you better understand ways to trace your family history.
2. Visit the Local History Room. Pore over records of the births, marriages and deaths for many towns in Massachusetts up through 1849, Chelmsford High yearbooks, maps and more.
3. Try your luck. Type a surname into the library catalog database to see if someone has published a history about your family.
4. Tap into databases such as Ancestry, Heritage Quest and ProQuest. Go to the library homepage and click on “Reference“. Click onto “Databases” to choose “genealogy” from the drop down menu. Tip: Access is also possible from your home computer with a library card.
5. Borrow a CD of folksongs, a DVD travelogue or a cookbook featuring ethnic recipes to explore your family heritage.
6. Tap into the library site to access the Chelmsford Papers Obituary Search database. To view or to obtain a copy of your findings, use the library microfiche equipment or ask a librarian for help.
7. View vintage photos and find local history sources at Chelmsford History (chelmsfordhistory.org), a site hosted by the library.
8. Watch for the new arrival of “study tables” at the library. Each study table will feature a bookstore style display of books on particular topics. One table will be dedicated to the subject of genealogy.
9. Ask a librarian for help. Chelmsford librarians will be happy to help by identifying resources, providing help in using library equipment and offering research assistance.
Need help when the library is closed? Don’t despair. Help is available 24 hours a day by visiting the library’s site. You can click on the “Ask a Librarian” box to be connected to a librarian via chat software.
As you dig into the hobby of genealogy, you’ll come to appreciate the vast amount of information and resources available at the library – and best of all, they’re all free.
Winterfest Social 2011: The Games Begin on Feb. 4th!
Chelmsford’s Winterfest 2011 is Feb 4th, 5th, & 6th!
Visit chelmsfordlibrary.org/winterfest/ for a list of all the events around town, but be sure not to miss the Winterfest Social at the library on Friday night.
This annual WinterFest Social is also the kick-off for One Book Chelmsford community reading campaign. This year area restaurants and bakeries will provide delicious sweet and savory finger foods. Harrington’s Wines & Liquors will offer dessert wines for tastings. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase and coffee, tea and soft drinks will be served. $10 per person donation. Please purchase your tickets in advance at the Library.
Climbing the Family Tree
If you’re wondering about how to research your family tree, the Chelmsford Genealogy Group is ready to help.
By Paula McCarron, Chelmsford Patch (reprinted with permission)
Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmitt Smith and Lisa Kudrow found their ancestors courtesy of the NBC show “Who Do You Think You Are,” which focuses on how genealogy can reveal fascinating details of one’s family history. But here in Chelmsford, you don’t need to be a celebrity to get help in climbing your family tree – and best of all, the help is free.
Judy Sylvia, Coordinator of the Chelmsford Genealogy Group (CGG) started her search after hearing her father-in-law speak about his search for ancestors. Since then, Sylvia works on her own tree but she’s also helping others to make their own discoveries through her volunteer work with Chelmsford Genealogy Group.
CGG meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Chelmsford Public Library. All meetings are free and open to all – residents and non-residents, alike.
“If you’re just getting started, it’s a great because someone in the group has probably already done what you’re looking to do. People are willing to share what they know. And we often have guest speakers with thanks to the Friends of the Library who donate the money for speakers’ fees,” says Sylvia.
E-mail announcements are sent three to six times a month to keep everyone informed of the meetings as well as other local events. Sylvia also forwards requests from people who are searching for a Chelmsford ancestor.
The “hottest” development, a surname database was initiated by club member, Norm Rourke and is under construction by Reference Librarian, Brian Herzog. The database will provide an opportunity to search or share information about a particular ancestor or surname in the very near future through the Chelmsford Public Library website.
Now twelve years into her search, Sylvia recently discovered a 1700’s ship captain within her family tree.
“That’s the thing. You start with four grandparents, then eight great grandparents and it just keeps going. You keep finding so much that it’s never really ever done,” she said.
For more information, check out the Chelmsford Public Library’s Web site.
This article originally appeared on the
Chelmsford Patch on January 18th, 2011.