All posts by Brian Herzog
Changes to Reference Collection and New Study Rooms
The library will be undergoing a small renovation project starting this week.
One of our most frequent requests from patrons is for additional small study room space – for people to either study quietly on their own, meet with a tutor, or to have a small meeting. The library currently has one room available for this purpose, but in order to respond to this growing need of our patrons, we’ll be building three new small study rooms with internet accessibility on the library’s lower level.
Building More Study Rooms
Working with the Director of Public Facilities for the town, Gary Persichetti, and utilizing a combination of town employees and paid contractors, we will be able to accomplish the project (renovation and furnishings) at a very modest cost. The Board of Library Trustees have approved this project, funding it with a combination of endowment and state aid money. In difficult financial times, it is particularly gratifying that the library is able to meet user needs without requesting additional municipal funding.
Changes To The Reference Collection
To make space for the new study rooms, we’ll be modernizing our approach to our reference collection. There is a growing trend in public libraries to interfile reference titles with the regular circulating collection. We will integrate a large portion of our heavily-used reference materials into the regular library stacks and de-accession titles that are now available via the Internet and in our on-line databases.
With this change, many reference titles will now be available for circulation for one week! This also addresses a growing need of patrons to use library materials in their own homes, instead of in the library. The shorter loan period (one week instead of three weeks) will also mean the material will still spend time on the library shelves, and thus be available when people need it.
Subject Collection Tables and Additional Seating
We will still have a small collection of non-circulating reference books, such as encyclopedias, which will be housed on index tables where some of the reference shelves currently are. We’ll also use these index tables to highlight certain subject areas, such as genealogy, career resources, and auto repair, that are sometimes hard to find in the regular circulating collection. Also, these additional tables will increase the seating space for wireless access, a service need that has greatly increased in the last year. We’ll be moving things around for the next few months to accommodate both the renovation and the new locations of items.
We hope you will pardon the transition, and that you will enjoy the new study space and access to the collection when this project is completed. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to talk to the reference staff, library trustees or to Becky Herrmann, Library Director, at bherrmann@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x101.
Changes to Tax Forms at the Library
This year’s tax season will be different from past years, due to cost-cutting measures at the IRS and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. These changes are:
- The IRS is NOT sending paper forms or instructions to peoples’ homes. You can request the IRS send forms to your house by calling 800-829-3676 after January 1st.
- The state tax booklets this year will only include one copy of the forms – they will NOT include any instructions. The booklets WILL be send to peoples’ homes
The library will have reference copies of forms and instructions for patrons to photocopy. Also, all of these forms and instructions will be available online. You can visit the websites below for reference or to print your own copies:
The library will still have a (limited) supply, and we’ll do our best to fill everyone’s tax form needs.
We do plan on offering the AARP Tax-Aide Volunteer again this year, and will begin taking appointments in mid- to late-January. Please contact the Reference Desk with question, and we, try to help you find the resource you need – but remember, library staff is not qualified to offer tax advice.
2011 Chelmsford One Book: The Hunger Games
All the ballots have been counted, and with 67% of the vote, the winner of the election for the 2011 Chelmsford One Book is:
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.
It was an overwhelming victory: Namesake won 17% and City of Thieves earned 16% of the vote.
The One Book Committee is now developing a line-up of programs for this winter and spring related to the book. As always, we welcome your suggestions. Please email your ideas to kcryanhic@mvlc.org or to pmoore@mvlc.org or call 978-256-5521, ext 109.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov 2nd, 2010
The 2010 mid-term elections are Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010. Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Polling Locations:
| Precincts 1 & 9 | – Town Office Building Gym, 50 Billerica Road |
| Precincts 2 & 3 | – Harrington School Gym, 120 Richardson Road |
| Precincts 4 & 6 | – Westlands School Cafeteria, 170 Dalton Road |
| Precincts 5 | – Byam School Cafeteria, 25 Maple Road |
| Precincts 7 & 8 | – Mccarthy School Gym, 250 North Road |
Sample Ballots:
- Precincts 1 & 9 [pdf]
- Precincts 2, 6, & 8 [pdf]
- Precincts 3, 5, & 7 [pdf]
- Precincts 4 [pdf]
- Special Town Ballot for Selectman [pdf]
Election Information:
- Town of Chelmsford Voter Information page, with polling locations [pdf] and the precinct list by street [pdf].
- Voter Information Guide, from the Elections Division
- Project Vote Smart – Information for voters on political leaders, their positions on issues, and campaign finance
- FactCheck.org – Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania monitors the factual accuracy of statements made by and advertisements on behalf of major U.S. polictical figures
- Brookings Institution – Elections – Extensive research and commentary on the overall outlook of U.S. public policy and international politics
For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office.
More Ereaders Support for Overdrive Ebooks
Chelmsford patrons can use the library’s subscription to Overdrive to download and read ebooks – and the service just got better.
Overdrive recently announced that their ebooks will now work on both the Borders Kobo eReader and the Pandigital Novel.
Kobo eReader |
Pandigital Novel |
If you’ve been thinking about buying an ereader for yourself, Overdrive lists all of the devices they support – which means you’ll have access to all of the ebooks available through the Chelmsford Library. We also have a list of other places you can download ebooks.
And remember, Overdrive has downloadable audiobooks too!
2010 Flu Shots in Chelmsford
Flu season is here again. The Town of Chelmsford is providing flu shots free for town residents through a Seasonal Flu and Pneumonia Vaccine Clinic.
Chelmsford Senior Center, 75 Groton Road (map)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (for Chelmsford residents ages 65+ and those under 65 with a chronic illness)
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (for all Chelmsford residents older than 6 months)
Residents age 65+ please bring ALL of your HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS with you. Donations are accepted from those under age 65 to cover the cost of the vaccine and supplies.
The clinic is administered by the Chelmsford Board of Health, and will be providing protection against three viruses:
- A/H1N1 (pandemic) influenza
- A/H3N2 influenza
- Influenza B
If you have any questions you may call Sue Rosa, RN at the Chelmsford Board of Health at (978) 250-5243, and you can also print flu shot flyer [pdf].
Other Area Flu Shots
Another list of area flu shots is available on the Massachusetts Public Flu Clinic Finder website:
General Information
A lot of resources exist to answer questions and provide tips on how to stay healthy this flu season. Here are some of the most useful:
- http://www.flu.gov – official Federal resource
- http://www.mass.gov/flu – official State resource
- More resources from Chelmsford Public Schools
Basic Tips to Stay Healthy
And as always, remember to practice these three simple tips this season:
- Cover your cough
- Wash your hands
- Stay home if you’re sick
Chelmsford Library Book Sale 2010
The annual Chelmsford Friends of the Library Book Sale is this week!
2010 Book Sale Dates and Times
| Friday, Sept. 24th | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Sept. 25th | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 26th | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
The sale will take place in the gym behind the Town Office building, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford [see a map].
Run by the Chelmsford Friends of the Library, the book sale is a significant source of funding for library programming, museum passes and many extras for Chelmsford patrons – the 2009 Book Sale brought in $27,000!
For more information, visit https://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/friends/booksale.html or contact the Reference Desk at askus@mvlc.org or 978-256-5521 x211.
Election Primaries, September 14, 2010
The primary elections for the November 2010 mid-term elections are Tuesday, September 14, 2010.
Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sample Primary Ballots:
The Town of Chelmsford’s voter information webpage has the list of polling locations [pdf] and the precinct list by street [pdf]. For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office.
Library Parking Lot Gets New Speed Bump
The Chelmsford Library is a busy place, and lots of people means lots of cars.
To help ensure the safety of all our patrons (young and old), and make our parking lot safer, a new speed bump has been installed near the entrance to the Library’s parking lot.
Whenever you’re in our parking lot, please remember to drive slowly, look both ways when stepping out from between parked cars, and step carefully on ramps, the stairs, and over curbs and bumps.
New England Aquarium Pass Available
During the summer months, there are no museum passes for the New England Aquarium. However, starting right after Labor Day, Chelmsford Residents (and members of the Friends of the Library) will once again be able to reserve our pass to visit the Aquarium.
This pass admits 4 people for the reduced admission of $8.00 per person, but does not provide discounts on parking, the IMAX Theater, cafe’ or gift shop, and cannot be applied toward Whale Watch tickets.
Summer might be ending, but there’s still lots to go out and do. Visit our website to reserve the Aquarium pass, as well as any of our other museum passes.