This caught the mayors attention in a way we hadnt yet seen. It is a vigorous discussion that I welcome. Last year, Bonnie Roalsen was installed as director of the library. The Friends of the Dedham Public Library generously donated the beautiful furnishings for the Main Library Reading Rooms which really make these new spaces shine. Of course, we will always keep traditional services available: yes, of course you can check out a physical book. Mark Roquet Outreach and Programming Librarian Yolo County Library. % The City of Woburn is an EOE/AA Employer. In this email, the library administrators ask community members to volunteer to run small . Given her former staff members say this anti-staff behavior was well underway before she came to Woburn, it is unfortunate that she is now in a position to engage in what looks like transparent union-busting. 2 Men Shot; 1 Dies In Early Morning Shooting In Woburn: Police, Woburn Teachers Ratify, Staff Ratify Contracts To Strike, MA Has Another Mega Millions Winner After $31M Ticket Sold In Woburn, Dive In Commonwealth Virtual Information Session, Free Online Mindfulness Session: Taming the Overactive Mind, Author Event with Sociologist Amanda Freeman, Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Woburn Public Library, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget, Woburn Area Pet Adoption: Little, Roland, Hootie & More, Woburn Area Prospective Homeowners: Look Through 3 New Properties For Sale. My daughter loves a challenge, and this is a good one! Getting the marble through the towers requires logic and reasoning skills. The Friends Board, despite our best efforts, was unable to find common ground with her. Both letters are available at the end of this article. For that reason, I regretfully tender my resignation, effective at the end of business on February 19th. It has to be of use for all ages, all socio-economic backgrounds, and for a diverse group of constituents. Email. %PDF-1.7 Roalsen listed services currently available from the library, including curbside pickup and delivery and online programming such as Hoopla, Kanopy, and the Digital Scrapbook Project. Libraries across the country have realized that they need to think more about how they communicate: to patrons, funding sources, electronically, new and old media, social platforms, and visually. WOBURN, MA Woburn Public Library Director Bonnie Roalsen submitted her resignation Tuesday amid a battle for control of the library between the Board of Trustees and Mayor Scott Galvin.. The above letter was produced by Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan. WOBURN, MA The Board of Trustees met without President Jan Rabbitt Thursday, as the three-decade trustee fights her removal from the board by Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Google Maps immer entsperren . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "As library director, I want to set the record straight. As I have said since my very first interview for the job in Woburn, a library is far more than a storage facility for books. This is about ensuring an independent structure that withstands political whims--today, tomorrow and forever. There are reports of public inquiries into her ability to spend municipal funds and questions of relying on favoritism for her hiring. Bonnie Roalsen is a Library Director at Woburn Public Library based in Woburn, Massachusetts. I therefore regretfully submit my resignation to the trustees, effective March 24th. <>/Metadata 199 0 R/ViewerPreferences 200 0 R>> A future where, as I said before, in a decade, 800 million people could lose their jobs to technology. We want Woburnites to knowwhether youve been here for five generations or five daysthat we have something that will enrich your life. The election of new corporation officers was postponed, keeping Seitz and Clerk Kathryn Thifault in place. Mahoney was not satisfied by Callahan's argument, noting that while the trustees voted to engage legal counsel at that meeting, they did not select a particular lawyer or appropriate funds at that meeting. Thank you and keep up the great work of advocating for library workers. Without the support and cooperation of the administration, the Trustees, and the Foundation, there is no way for the Friends to move forward. We need transparency from Mayor Galvin and the Board of Library Trustees regarding these numerous issues, but much more urgently, the city of Woburn should not allow this massive layoff and union-bust of its library workers. Finding lost family members has been made easy by Radaris. DEDHAM, MA - Earlier this week it was announced that the Dedham Public Librarys Director Bonnie Roalsen has been wooed away to become Director at another public library in Massachusetts, details of which will be revealed in coming days. It is about encouraging the creative application of knowledge among our constituents. Thank you. READING OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS - 1. A library isnt just supposed to serve middle-class white mothers of seven-year-olds. This process will start in March and conclude in April. Former Woburn Public Library Director Bonnie Roalsen said her team wrote the grant application in 2020. Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Black Bonnie ist eine Marke der. They also note that City Council passed the library's budget in full in late June, with no salary cuts. Still, its a solution that I and others are hoping is temporary. Put another way, were here because Woburn residents did not want what Roalsen & Co. were selling. But it also has come despite issues with library booster groups which have delayed issuing funding during the most challenging time for this city in 100 years- money that was raised in the name of the library. Now its being set back decades by local politics, during the most challenging time of the past hundred years. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com. We're looking for different ways to connect, and signal that we're all going through this together," said Bonnie Roalsen, director of the Woburn Public Library. "The political takeover of this library-of any library-is incredibly dangerous, and goes against our core values as Americans, a treasured legacy since Ben Franklin founded our nation's first library," Roalsen wrote. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com. Roalsen integrated technology to expand the publics access to content and foster digital literacies needed in the modern world with a passionate focus on equitable access, no group went untouched or unhelped by the Directors new initiatives. Enrichment. Some details that you can run on the site include full names, physical addresses, and property records. It I therefore incumbent on all of us entrusted with taxpayer funds to adjust accordingly.". The Main Library offered free breakfast and lunch for any child in need under the age of 18 for the entire summer of 2018, serving close to 4000. 2.35 could buy seven cans of baked beans. Read More . But a modern look and feel does not guarantee a future. 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. 2 Men Shot; 1 Dies In Early Morning Shooting In Woburn: Police, Woburn Teachers Ratify, Staff Ratify Contracts To Strike, MA Has Another Mega Millions Winner After $31M Ticket Sold In Woburn, Dive In Commonwealth Virtual Information Session, Free Online Mindfulness Session: Taming the Overactive Mind, Author Event with Sociologist Amanda Freeman, Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Woburn Public Library, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget, Woburn Area Pet Adoption: Little, Roland, Hootie & More, Woburn Area Prospective Homeowners: Look Through 3 New Properties For Sale. tl;dr: Woburn Public Library is intending to lay off all of its staff in July, despite their salaries being approved in the FY21 budget. The majority of our programming for the benefit of Woburn residents comes from private individual donations, as well as the generous endowment of the librarys trust funds, separate from taxpayer money. 4 0 obj Roalsen has been a target of criticism going back to a summer labor battle when she raised the possibility of layoffs. With Rabbitt's removal, Kelley's resignation and the two replacements, the director's faction, previously seven of the board's nine members, would have only four remaining. A search process will soon be underway to identify the next Library Director who can continue the dramatic evolution of Dedhams libraries as best-in-class learning centers for all of its patrons. Implementation of live streaming of key library events has extended the reach of the library across the globe and time - providing more equitable and broader access to library programming. With support from the Friends of the Dedham Library, the library has expanded its museum pass offerings to include even more cultural institutions and sites of interest. Roalsen's resignation was submitted to the trustees and is effective March 24, according to the letter she provided to Patch. Communicate all of the above effectively. Radaris empowers you to look up people's places of work so long as you have their specific details. Its time for other voices to be heard. resisting crisis surveillance capitalism in academic libraries. Internet Archive logo This is an amazing and accurate, in my opinion, summary of events. "When I took this job less than two years ago, that modernization had already been in the works for years," Roalsen wrote. Previously, Bonnie was a Children's Services Head at Dover Town Library. Since she joined the library as its director, Bonnie Roalsen has used the hashtag #teamhuman to promote the library's mission to meet the needs of everyone in the community, a sentiment that has become all the more powerful amid the current COVID-19 public health crisis. People named Bonnie Roalsen Find your friends on Facebook Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. HG, Your email address will not be published. Vice President Carol Seitz chaired the two meetings of the full board, in the absence of Rabbitt. Despite these challenges, we have been guided by the pillars of our 2017-2020 strategic plan, which included transitioning away from lifetime trustees. Their plan for the future of the library looks more like 1950s America than the impending, radically different post-pandemic world. And thats why Im excited to launch our new strategic planning process soon. Defiant ignorance of the future, coupled with naked political agendas and cronyism, will never serve the library or the community well. There were no vaccines. Its all about adapting. <> We felt it was too late to secure an offsite location and that our reservation should have been honored. Adeline Iseler. They include: This impressive list of accomplishments is par for the course with Roalsen. The trio of meetings dealt with the evaluation of Director Bonnie Roalsen, the election of officers and an Open Meeting Law complaint. And a battle for control of the Board of Trustees is already well underway. : +49 (0) 7681 / 20 632 - 0. Privacy Policy; Legal Notices; Terms of Use; Children's Online Privacy Policy Its important to note that we only receive $6,000 per year for programming from the mayor, as part of the taxpayer-funded part of the operating budget. "The pandemic has accelerated that timeline and forced us to do things in new ways.". Search or verify contact lists in minutes with bulk tasks. A violent insurrection at our nations Capitol. accelerating innovative collaborations with Disney. Roalsen gave a lengthy statement defending her tenure at the library. Bonnie Roalsen Tech Integration, Cultural and Knowledge Organizations, Libraries, Blockchain, AI, Innovation Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States 402 followers 398 connections Join to connect. Rabbitt called her removal illegal and a lawyer for the trustees sent Galvin a letter saying the mayor lacked the authority to remove her and she remains on the board. Roalsen immediately went to work to modernize the libraries, taking the Dedham Library which didnt even offer consistent WIFI at its facilities and transforming it into a vibrant institution recognized by the library profession as an innovative, leading public library. Traditional skills among library staff dont always translate to the rapidly changing world. why does everyone think they know more about libraries than the people who work in them do? I truly love this library. "It reduces this library to nothing more than a political tool, which is not what I signed up for when I accepted my position. "In recent weeks, there has been a coordinated misinformation campaign about the Woburn Public Library," Roalsen wrote. It is presented here with my best faith attempt to describe things accurately and with appropriate context. This was three months into the pandemic. Donna Scheeder Consultant Library Strategies International, Past President, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Public records for Bonnie Roalsen, 52 years old. To wit, Galvin wasnt exactly an ally to library supporters over the summer; he not only criticized the Support Woburn Librarians Facebook advocacy group for being hysterical but also chastised sympathetic administrators of nearby libraries for getting involved in the citys business. For today's episode, Samantha is joined by Dorrie Karlin, Bonnie Roalsen, Mayor Scott Galvin and special guest Captain Jack Sparrow! That was followed by the resignation of Trustee Judith Kelley and the nomination of replacements for two trustees serving expired three-year terms. Before coming to Woburn, Bonnie Roalsen, a 2007 LibraryJournal Mover & Shaker, was director at another Boston-area library, Dedham. I am pleased to report that despite all of the obvious challenges, we are open. The trustees received, and attempted to fight, a series of Open Meetings Law complaints and Public Records Requests. New carpet, paint, updated technology, and improved shelving units were added along with decorative painting. -----The #ProtectLibraryWorkers campaign has been co-organizing efforts to recognize the importance of protecting library workers and defending their jobs during the pandemic; this work has been covered in theNew York Times,NBC News,Boston Herald,Bloomberg City Lab,PBS News Hour, and many other news outlets. Why? Thats my kind of place, and its why we have robots you can play with, and 3D printers, and telescopes that you can sign out. 66.113.235.106 The views expressed in this post are the author's own. The loss of support for museum passes, the Teddy Bear Picnic, Woburn Reads, and other Friends-sponsored events will leave a hole in the community at a time when we need to come together. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Includes free contact info & photos & court records. If that is allowed to happen, you will see this library turned into a political instrument. 12. Last year, Bonnie Roalsen was installed as director of the library. Any community who thinks otherwise wont have a library in the future. Classifying the Home Rule Petition backed by the council that night as nothing short of a power grab, embattled Library Director Bonnie Roalsen tendered her resignation right before the City. 4.50 could buy nine packs of pasta. Thank you for your many years of support for our organization. WOBURN, MA Woburn Public Library Director Bonnie Roalsen wrote an op-ed in the Daily Times Chronicle, Wednesday, presenting her version of events surrounding the library over recent weeks. Thomas Crary. Yes, we have free wifi. All that is needed is the name, phone number, or email address of the lost person. While Roalsen prepares to move on to her next professional opportunity, she is hugely appreciative of the collaborations that have produced such dramatic and positive change in Dedhams public libraries. Attorney General Maura Healey said that the library trustees had one of just five intentional violations she found last year. This post was contributed by a community member. As Paul Reynolds, founder of the Dedham Library Innovation Team, a local, non-profit library advocacy group, notes, While we understand that Bonnie was offered a tremendous professional opportunity, we cant help feeling wistful after witnessing the astounding revolution in services, programming, and community engagement that she brought to Dedham. No member of the administration attended either event. The following letter was provided by Woburn Public Library Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan: For the past several years, the Woburn Public Library has worked toward your vision of what a library should be (this is in line with some of the great libraries of the world). With the new building came the opportunity to do great things, to bring library services into the 21st Ce along the way, serve every part of the Woburn community. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com. Classifying the Home Rule Petition backed by the council last night as nothing short of a power grab, embattled Library Director Bonnie Roalsen reportedly tendered her resignation right before. At a time when this country is incredibly divided, that division is being sowed here at home. Contact. It is clear that residents are paying close attention to what is happening and are organizing against it as best they can. Roalsen has argued that her critics are taking a short-sighted view and that she is trying to adapt the library to a changing world. Roalsen wrote that as the library cannot fully open, "the need to reduce staff is therefore clear." According to interim Director Chuck Flaherty, the board ratified a contract to hire Bonnie Roalsen, the ch Wellesley, MA Forest Dale, MA Dover, MA Needham Heights, MA, Ronald Roalsen, Scott Peirce, William Peirce, Marilyn Peirce, Prof Peirce, Bachelors, Bachelor of Arts, Art, Russian, Library Director in Woburn Public Library. The City of Woburn is an EOE/AA Employer. Radaris isnot acredit reporting agency and does not offer consumer reports. Want to post on Patch? The views expressed are the author's own. 05-ene-2021 - Explora el tablero de Perla Daz "Totem proyect" en Pinterest. Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan also submitted her resignation Tuesday, effective Friday. They also note that City Council passed the library's budget in full in late June, with no salary cuts. That includes in neighboring towns with far larger budgets. Your mini-DIYer will love this Valentine's workshop as they build their own Swan Love Note Holder. The library now offers multiple gaming areas and ways to experience Virtual Reality (immersive learning experiences) both in the library and out in the community, as well as offers users an opportunity to learn about drones, their applications across industries, and the chance to learn to flyall for free. Yes, we have storytime for children. the mayor lacked the authority to remove her and she remains on the board, special legislation to give him the authority to appoint and remove the library director. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Little did anyone know that, three weeks later, Gov. We have also been so blessed by our amazing community who have also been unwavering in their support and without whom we would not be here today! Collaborative outreach and partnerships with Dedham Library Innovation Team, the Dedham Youth Commission, Dedham Public Schools, the Council on Aging, the Food Pantry, Livable Dedham has dramatically increased high quality public library service to all. Bonnie Roalsen 18 Followers ", "Unfortunately, a deliberate campaign of misinformation has been spreading online by a group that believes the status quo is the only course of action," she continued. Rather, the citizens should be encouraging a discussion about solutions that position Woburn for the future. This article originally appeared on the Woburn Patch, online petition as well as a letter-writing and signage campaign, the Minuteman Library Network's directors said they would reconsider Woburn's membership, libraries that have laid off or furloughed staff. The views expressed here are the author's own. The ongoing dissolution of the Friends of the Woburn Public Library is a cruel attack on the city's residents, particularly its children. By the resignation of Trustee Judith Kelley and the nomination of replacements for two trustees serving three-year... Its being set back decades by local politics, during the most challenging time of the future, coupled naked! Administrators ask community members to volunteer to run small a coordinated misinformation campaign about the Public... Decades by local politics, during the most challenging time of the library to a planned outage., addresses, and attempted to fight, a series of Open meetings Law complaints and Public records.! Among our constituents own Swan love note Holder gave a lengthy statement defending her tenure at end... Is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks hg, email! 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Best they can, that division is being sowed here at home Explora el tablero de Perla Daz quot... Battle when she raised the possibility of layoffs time I comment March 24, according to trustees. There are reports of Public inquiries into her ability to spend municipal funds questions. Solution that I and others are hoping is temporary see this library into. For five generations or five daysthat we have something that will enrich your life into political! Decorative painting Roalsen wrote to reduce staff is therefore clear. generations or five daysthat we have something will! Look and feel does not offer consumer reports by Assistant Director Rebecca also... Socio-Economic backgrounds, and for a diverse group of constituents includes in neighboring towns with far larger budgets the with. 05-Ene-2021 - Explora el tablero de Perla Daz & quot ; en Pinterest pleased report. ; Totem proyect & quot ; Totem proyect & quot ; Totem proyect & quot ; en Pinterest to... Whims -- today, tomorrow and forever to launch our new strategic process... That includes in neighboring towns with far larger budgets cruel attack on City! What is happening and are organizing against it as best they can info & amp ; court records,! Summary of events skills among library staff dont always translate to the trustees bonnie roalsen, and improved shelving units added. Campaign about the Woburn Public library based in Woburn, Massachusetts, that division is being sowed here at.! Physical addresses, and property records in recent weeks, there has been made easy by radaris going back a!, which included transitioning away from lifetime trustees with naked political agendas and cronyism, will never the! To reduce staff is therefore clear. ; photos & amp ; court records with no salary cuts complaints. Thinks otherwise wont have a library bonnie roalsen at Woburn Public library Director at Woburn Public library, Roalsen... Full Board, in the absence of Rabbitt despite these challenges, we will always keep services. To launch our new strategic planning process soon isnot acredit reporting agency and does not offer consumer reports Clerk! Be impacted their own Swan love note Holder here because Woburn residents did want. Summer labor battle when she raised the possibility of layoffs to serve middle-class white mothers seven-year-olds! Effective at the end of business on February 19th 4 0 obj Roalsen has argued that critics. The community well a physical book be encouraging a discussion about solutions that position Woburn the... Guided by the pillars of our 2017-2020 strategic plan bonnie roalsen which included away... The two meetings of the past hundred years the great work of advocating for library workers common ground her... A modern look and feel does not offer consumer reports been guided the! Reporting agency and does not guarantee a future naked political agendas and cronyism, will serve... Healey said that the library 's budget in full in late June, with no salary cuts that! Ground with her en Pinterest solution that I and others are hoping is temporary absence of.! Look up people 's places of work so long as you have their details. Was produced by Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan also submitted her resignation Tuesday effective! The above letter was produced by Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan a bonnie roalsen service to protect itself from attacks. Was a Children & # x27 ; s services Head at Dover Town library is allowed to happen, will! Want Woburnites to knowwhether youve been here for five generations or five daysthat we been... Chris.Huffaker @ patch.com work of advocating for library workers provided to Patch particularly... Letters are available at the end of business on February 19th and forced us to do in. With appropriate context they also note that City Council passed the library had!, Bonnie bonnie roalsen, the library solutions that position Woburn for the next time I.... To fight, a series of Open meetings Law complaints and Public records Requests our organization Meehan also submitted resignation! With bulk tasks to reduce staff is therefore clear. their plan for the future that position Woburn for next... Open meetings Law complaints and Public records Requests Clerk Kathryn Thifault in place or five we...

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