The spring READS roundtables, on the topic of continuing education, will occur at the following dates/locations:

Friday 3/30 at Rye Public Library

Friday 4/6 at Boscawen Public Library

Monday 4/9 at Weeks Library, Lancaster

How do librarians keep their skills current in the 21^st century on a limited budget? Please consider attending one of these roundtables to discuss your continuing education concerns and/or to suggest free or cost-effective ways that you continue your own professional development.

The cost to attend the roundtables is $5 for a READS member, $10 for a non-member.  For more information and a registration form, please visit http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/index.html to download the registration form and obtain additional information. Registration deadline is March 23^rd.

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 4:04 PM | Permalink | No Comments

READS membership continued to increase in 2011, with a new membership total of 203, up from 184 in 2010. Welcome to our new members!

The READS Executive Board began its year with change. Gaye Kulvete, READS president, resigned when she moved to North Carolina. VP/President-elect Pat Fickett filled the position of President, and a special election was held for a new VP/President elect. Myra Emmons of Brookline Public Library was elected to that position.

In 2011 the READS programming committee offered three spring Roundtable Discussions titled Purchasing and Weeding: How do you grow your collection?  The sessions, held in Wilton, Rye and Franklin were well attended.

The spring NHLA conference included four sessions sponsored by READS:
When to Call the Police, moderated by Lori Fisher
Read Any Good Books Lately by the Reads-To-Go Committee
Reading Woman: a Guide to Women’s Fiction presented by Nanci Milone Hill
“But I’ve Never Fixed a Carburetor! Readers’ Advisory Training for the General Practitioner” – presented by Nanci Milone Hill

These sessions were also well attended, and the evaluations gave positive feedback to all of them. Many thanks to those who planned and implemented these programs.

In reviewing its Mission Statement, the READS Executive Board has developed a plan for the implementation of “Pop Up Roundtables” to address current concerns of librarians in a timely manner. In addition to our regular Spring Roundtable programs, Pop Up Roundtables could occur any time a group of librarians wish to convene to discuss issues of immediate concern to the membership. Monitoring the NHAIS listserve, and responding to the requests of READS members will be the methods used to identify topics for discussion.

READS-T0-GO added 10 new book discussion kits in 2010. In addition, they submitted a proposal to NHLA for funds to add 3 additional kits. NHLA responded by voting to fund 10 new kits.

The Nominating Committee has had four nominations for the 2011 READS award of excellence. The winner announced at the READS Fall Business Meeting is Thelma Tracy of the Weare Public Library.

The 2011 Executive Board includes:
President: Pat Fickett, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library
Vice President/President Elect: Myra Emmons, Brookline Public Library
Secretary: Mary Cronin, Madision Library
Treasurer: Deann Hunter, Laconia Public Library
Past President: Linda Taggart, Nashua Public Library
Public Relations: Lori Fisher, Baker Free Library (Bow)
Membership: Emily Weiss, Bedford Public Library
Programming: Erin Apostolos, Meridith Public Library
READS To GO: Diane Mayr, Nesmith Library (Windham)
Conference Liason: Caitlyn Stevens, Bedford Public Library

Many thanks to the Executive Board for all their work This year. Linda Taggart is completing her three year comittment to the board as VP, President and Past President. Thank you, Linda.

Emily Weiss, the Membership Chair is stepping down, having completed her term. She will be replaced by Kersten Matera. Thank you, Emily, for your years of service.

If you would like to serve on any of the READS committees please see Erin Apostolos (programming), Lori Fisher (public relations), Diane Mayr (READS TO GO) or Kersten Matera (membership)

Respectfully submitted

Patricia Fickett
–
Pat Fickett, Director
Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library
Wilton, NH

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 4:38 PM | Permalink | No Comments

Two new kits are announced today on our blog and Facebook page!

Categories: READS-TO-GO

Posted by Diane Mayr at 3:25 PM | Permalink | No Comments

The READS Award of Excellence Committee along with the READS Executive Board is very pleased to announce that Thelma Tracy of the Weare Public Library is the winner of the 2011 Award of Excellence.

Tracy, currently the Assistant Librarian at Weare Public Library, previously worked at the Concord Public Library and the Tucker Free Library in Henniker.  An excerpt from Tracy’s nomination, which was read at the READS fall conference on October 7^th, included the following: “Thelma is the adult services go-to- person…she is a tireless advocate for the library, her performance always goes beyond what’s expected, she gets along well with staff and the public, and in spite of her awareness of the limitations imposed by the size and financial status of the library, she provides traditional and electronic service to patrons.”

For the past 7 years, the READS Award of Excellence has recognized outstanding contributions by a library staff member who has been instrumental in improving library service to adults. Nomination materials for the 2012 Award will be available in late Winter.  For more information, please http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/index.html.

READS past president Linda Taggart (left), supervisor of reference services at the Nashua Public Library, presents Weare Assistant Librarian Thelma Tracy with the 2011 READS Award of Excellence.

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 11:47 AM | Permalink | No Comments

This year we have a terrific group of nominees for the READS Award of Excellence. The award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual who has been instrumental in improving library service to adults.

The nominees are:

• Amy Bain, Library Assistant— Interlibrary Loan Coordinator, Baker Free Library
• Kirsten Corbett, Reference Librarian, Lane Memorial Library
• Lee Gilmore, Library Assistant II—Interlibrary Loan Librarian, Merrimack Public Library
• Thelma Tracy, Assistant Librarian, Weare Public Library

Thank you to all who took the time to submit a nomination. We look forward to announcing the winner at the annual READS fall conference, Friday, October 7 at the Grappone Center in Concord.

It’s not too early to start thinking about nominations for next year. Nominating someone takes just a few minutes, but it’s a great way to recognize your colleagues’ hard work and successes. Anyone can submit a nomination—you don’t have to be a director or supervisor to support an amazing coworker. See the READS website for selection criteria or contact a READS board member for more information. See you in Concord!

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 12:12 PM | Permalink | No Comments

This year’s READS fall conference, Collections on the Edge: Rethinking Reference, Non-Fiction, and Local History, will be held on Friday, October 7^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH.  Speakers include Brian Herzog, creator of SwissArmyLibrarian.net and Head of Reference at the Chelmsford (MA) Public Library; a panel of NH librarians on re-thinking Dewey; and Donna Gilbreth, Supervisor of Reference and Information Services at the NH State Library.

Registration deadline is Friday September 16^th, with fees at $30 per READS member and $35 per non-READS member.  This fee does include a hot buffet lunch.

To download the full conference brochure and registration form, visit the READS website upcoming programs page.

Please consider attending this exciting and relevant conference!  For more information, please contact any READS board member (listing at http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/execboard.html).

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 12:38 PM | Permalink | No Comments

Are you interested in helping READS continue to provide great professional development opportunities for library staff serving adults?

The READS executive board is looking for candidates to run for our upcoming vacancy for Vice President/President Elect. This position is a three-year commitment–one year as Vice President, one year as President, and a year as Past President. The board meets six times per year. The new Vice President’s term will start after the READS Fall Conference.

The position of Secretary is also open for nominations. This is a two-year position.
If you are interested in running or would like to nominate another READS member as a candidate, please contact Linda Taggart, Nominating Committee chair, at linda.taggart@nashualibrary.org. Nominations will be accepted until August 1; elections will be held starting August 8.

Position descriptions are available in the READS handbook, online at http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/handbook.html.

It’s a great way to participate in your NH library community, so please consider joining us!

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 10:06 AM | Permalink | No Comments

We set up a RTG Facebook account last Friday afternoon and we already have 69 people who “like” us!

Our address is http://www.facebook.com/ReadsToGo

Please use this page if you have a RTG sitting on your shelf, if you need a RTG kit in a hurry, if you’ve read a recently published, really discussable book that you would like the committee to consider for a kit, if you have a question about RTG.

We also have a QR code for our blog, http://www.reads-to-go.org if you like to read blogs on your smart phone.

–Diane

Categories: READS-TO-GO

Posted by Diane Mayr at 2:38 PM | Permalink | 2 Comments

The Reference and Adult Services Section (READS) of the New Hampshire Library Association has an unexpected vacancy on their Executive Board.  As a result, READS will hold a special electronic election in April to choose a new Vice President/President-Elect for the 2011 calendar year.  For more information on the duties of the Vice President, please visit http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/handbook.html to see a copy of the READS Handbook, which contains all Board job descriptions.  To submit your name for consideration, or if you know someone who would be interested in running for the position, please contact Linda Taggart, Past President, at linda.taggart@nashualibrary.org.  Submission of nominations will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday March 30^th.

Categories: READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 3:36 PM | Permalink | No Comments

The Reference and Adult Services Section (READS) of the New Hampshire Library Association is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Award of Excellence.  The Award of Excellence is presented to a New Hampshire library staff member who provides direct or indirect service to library users in the reference or adult services area.  The award recipient is recognized at the READS Annual Fall Conference.  Nominations will be accepted through June 1, 2011.  A list of criteria and the nomination application are available on the READS web site at http://www.nhlibrarians.org/reads/.  For additional information, please contact Linda Taggart, Past President of READS, at linda.taggart@nashualibrary.org.

Please consider nominating a colleague or staff person from your organization – this is a terrific way to recognize, state-wide, our often unsung heroes who provide excellent reference and adult services.  Plus it makes your library look good – and who can’t use that in these days of tight budgets!

Categories: NHLA,READS

Posted by Lori Fisher at 1:52 PM | Permalink | No Comments