Library News & Upcoming Events

 

Our new library software, Evergreen, is scheduled for installation Memorial Day Weekend. Please read how this will affect your library usage.

C/W MARS staff will install the new library systems software beginning at 5pm on Friday, May 25th. Patrons will not have access to their online accounts from May 25 – 28.

The system will be up and running by Tuesday, May 29th and we will be ready to go live with the new system when we open at 3 pm.

To help facilitate an easy transition the Spear Library will be closed on Saturday, May 26th and Sunday, May 27th. We will also be closed on Monday, May 28th for Memorial Day.

New Catalog: What Patrons Need To Know
As C/W MARS prepares to move to the new Evergreen system, patrons will need to be aware of some of the differences they will see in the new catalog and things that will and will not be migrated over from their catalog record.

In the new catalog, patrons will see some new features, such as:

  • All library items in one place! All C/W MARS libraries, from both Western and Central Massachusetts, will have their items in this catalog, so patrons will not have to change catalogs to request from the other region.

  • Patron Dashboard. When logged into your library account, it will show all checkouts, holds, items to be picked up and fines in one place.

  • RSS Feeds for lists. Do you have a list of books you want to share with others? You can create a "published" list that others can see.

  • Outstanding Holds. Patrons who have outstanding holds at the time of migration will find them on the new catalog.

Patrons will also need to be prepared for some changes. These next items will not be able to be carried over to the new catalog, including:

  • ECommerce. Paying fines and library donations online will not be available when we come up on the new system. We hope to have online payments back by the end of summer 2012.

  • Current PIN. Patrons will be able to login to their new online catalog account using the last four digits of their library card barcode as a password. They will be required to create a new password when they login for the first time.

  • Reading History and Current Wish Lists. In the case of Reading History and Wish Lists, patrons have the ability to export their lists or print from a computer. There is a button to choose "Export List" at the top of their list. We recommend that patrons choose "Brief Display" for their list; this will give you the title, author, and publishing information. These can be sent to an email address as a text file or displayed on the computer for printing.

  • Patrons who wish to export their Reading History or Wish Lists should do so prior to the conversion.

Thanks to all the supporters from around the globe who have donated to the New Shutesbury Library!
 
View the going-viral video, "Where would you be without your library?" about the library here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. See updates of the fundraising at the Friends of the Library site.

Donate to the New Shutesbury Library using PayPal (with your credit card or your PayPal account) by clicking the Donate button. Or you can donate at our Fundly donation site by clicking here.

New Shutesbury Library information is at the bottom of this page.


Digital Collection: Spear Library patrons can browse and search hundreds of titles available for download. The digital collection includes audiobooks, eBooks, Disney digital books, and video. Click here to access the digital catalog.
Kindle
users can download free books through our digital collection. The Kindle videos on borrowing and returning are now posted on the C/W MARS. Click here for the direct link.

 

Mondays, 10am 

 

Weekly Story Hour

Julie Stepanek hosts story hour every Monday.

Brought to you by the Friends of the MN Spear Library.

 

2nd Wednesdays of the month
   
   7 pm, Town Hall

Knitting for Beginners Learn the basics and get ongoing guidance from local knitting expert, Laura Walton.

Sunday, May 20th,
4pm, at Town Hall

From the Puppet’s Mouth!  Local puppeteer, Anna Sobel of Talking Hands Theatre and her puppets, will perform stories form her new CD! Join us in celebration of the CD and stories everywhere! The program is free. CDs will be available for sale.

 

Thursday, May 24th, 7-9pm, Jones Library, Amherst

Uke Out! A Ukulele Jam featuring Eloise the Great Joe Blumenthal and The AEIOUkes And Special Guests: Jim & Liz Beloff Founders of Flea Market Music. Suggested donation $5 - $15. A benefit for the New Shutesbury Library.

Saturday,
   June 2nd

6:30pm, Town Hall

Monthly Movie Night - To be announced. Suggested donation $1 per person, popcorn, soda and snacks for sale. Benefit for the Friends of the Library

 Brought to you by the Friends of the MN Spear Library.

Saturday,
   June 2nd 

7pm, The Harp,
163 Sunderland Road,  Amherst

Trivia 2.0! Back by popular demand!

Wicked hard questions, excellent company, awesome prizes and tons of fun! Teams of four to five in friendly competition! Come with a fully formed team or join a team at the event. $5 per entry fee per contestant! Free buffet dinner for each contestant following the contest. Cash Bar.

 Brought to you by the Friends of the MN Spear Library.

Monday,
   June 4th

7:30pm, Town Hall

Poetry Reading featuring three local poets Janet MacFadyen, Ed Rahyer, and Mark Hart.

 "This program is supported in part by a grant from the Shutesbury Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency."

Saturday,
   June 9th 

Lake Wyola,
Shutesbury Town Beach, Randall Road,
Three session, 12:30, 2:00, and 3:30

 

Canoe and Kayak Adventure Day on Lake Wyola!

Canoe and kayak instruction, all equipment will be supplied. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water, sun screen, and a sense of adventure. This program will be facilitated by Adventure In/Adventure Out Pre-registration will be required, 259-1213

 "This program is supported in part by a grant from the Shutesbury Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency."

Friday,
   June 22nd 

6 pm, in the field behind Town Hall, Rain location – Town Hall

Summer Reading Kick-off party!
A Star Wars Symposium! Young Jedi can sign up for a summer of reading, contests and fun!  Brought to you by the Friends of the MN Spear Library.

Tuesday,
   June 26th 

7 pm,  Town Hall

Global Warming and Political Intimidation A presentation by Raymond S. Bradley
A presentation by Raymond S. Bradley.

Anytime!

Museum Passes
The library has several family passes to area museums available for borrowing. Can be borrowed for 1 week, fines are $1/day if overdue. Visit museums for free!

Smith College Museum of Art : family pass
USS Constitution Museum: family pass
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center:
  Admits all members of 1 household
MA State Parks Pass: Use at Lake Wyola!
Mystic Aquarium: Two discount passes

Brought to you by the Friends of the MN Spear Library.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events!

 

Read about the video going viral here:
Daily Hampshire Gazette article, 3/10, on video 
Republican, 3/9, on Fundraising Video
New Yorker mention of video on Book Bench,
Boston.com mention on Creative Type Blog
Boing Boing mention for video


New Shutesbury Library Challenge Gift
On January 11, 2012, a $150,000 matching (1:1) gift has been offered to the Friends of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library by an anonymous donor. The pledge was offered as a way to help the Friends fund raise and defray the $1,000,000 cost to Shutesbury voters.

If the $3.5 million Library Project, as approved and awarded by the MBLC in July 2011, goes forward, the donor is committed to supporting the project up to the $150,000 (1:1) level. If the Library Project does not go forward, the entire pledge would be declared void.

Donation and Pledge Information
Donations and pledges for the new Shutesbury Library are for the new library as proposed in the Town of Shutesbury, Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program Grant Application, January 2011.

If the project does not move forward, donors will not be obligated to honor their pledges and donations will be returned at the donors request or at their instruction, to have the funds transferred to the Friends general fund or to be left in the New Shutesbury Library fund for future use for a new library.

New Shutesbury Library Fundraising totals as of 4/26/2012:

Total donations and pledges received to date: $233,232.93

Included in the total above is  $60,291.82  of donations and pledges received toward the $150,000 challenge gift.

View tax impact of the new Shutesbury Library r class="style34" />        Without fundraising here         With fundraising here
Click here to see the precise tax impact on your home valuation. You will need your home valuation available here.

Click here to read the newsletter distributed on December 15th by the Friends
Click here to download the 2009 Library Building Program (1.1MB)
Click here
to download the 2011 MBLC Grant Application (19MB)
This document does not contain the architectural drawings, which are available at the library.
Click here to see LFNAC's 4 years of meeting minutes.


This website is supported by the Friends of the M. N. Spear Memorial Library