<>/Font<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Some details that you can run on the site include full names, physical addresses, and property records. That changed everything, opened our doors and brought people back to work. About 150 runners/strollers participated, local dignitaries attended (Selectman Jim MacDonald, State Rep Paul McMurtry), lots of DPL staff were there to meet and greet - including the new DPL Director Bonnie Roalsen & out-going Interim Director Chuck Flaherty. Greatly expanded library hours providing equitable access to public services for working individuals and families. Its painfully clear that neither the mayor nor the city council understand the role of a modern library and how the world is changing. To find who lives on your street, visit radaris.com and enter that street's address, city, state, or zip code. As we do that, I want to provide some context. endobj (NOTE: This post does not in any way represent the views of my employer or any professional organization I am a part of. . Public records for Bonnie Roalsen, 52 years old. 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. 3 0 obj I wish the library and those committed to its future as a vibrant place for growth and change all the best. They also note that City Council passed the library's budget in full in late June, with no salary cuts. 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. I love this city. 11/21/2022 6:07 AM. Vice President Carol Seitz chaired the two meetings of the full board, in the absence of Rabbitt. He had books on the first floor and electricity experiments on the second. Attorney General Maura Healey said that the library trustees had one of just five intentional violations she found last year. Privacy Policy; Legal Notices; Terms of Use; Children's Online Privacy Policy 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. Communicate all of the above effectively. Find contacts on the web. "The city predicts it could take two years to return to pre-pandemic levels of revenue generation. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Members of the Support Woburn Librarians group had begun asking questions about the librarys decision to hire a public relations firm in October, filing an Open Meeting Law complaint as it appeared this happened without a quorum. The trio of meetings dealt with the evaluation of Director Bonnie Roalsen, the election of officers and an Open Meeting Law complaint. 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. The issues came to a head over our annual book sale. Lowes. Finally, let me say that a library is not a static museum that never changes. Refusing that vision isnt defiant ignorance of the future its a rejection of one persons ill-advised neoliberal doctrine, which is itself defiant ignorance of what the community wants (and what lies at the core of librarianship, no matter how hard you namedrop Ben Franklin). 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. No member of the Friends Board was asked to participate in planning for the library gala that was scheduled for March of this year. Briefly, in February we reserved the Program Room at the library for one week at the end of September during which we planned to prepare for and hold the book sale. For that reason, I regretfully tender my resignation, effective at the end of business on February 19th. Defiant ignorance of the future, coupled with naked political agendas and cronyism, will never serve the library or the community well. If that is allowed to happen, you will see this library turned into a political instrument. No library should be dependent solely on the programming provided by library staff. That, in a nutshell, is my job. And can you blame the people of Woburn for wanting something else? Thank you and keep up the great work of advocating for library workers. Library Journal's Mover and Shaker 2007. Scott Peirce. Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin sent Rabbitt a letter Jan. 27 removing her from the Board after an acrimonious recent meeting where it emerged that two members had not been informed of a meeting. Bonnie Roalsen, Spatial computing, blockchain, platform design View all of Bonnie Roalsen 's Presentations. Little did anyone know that, three weeks later, Gov. Executive lead and advisor to technology start-up, media, brand agency, and non-profit organizations on business development . Bonnie Roalsen, Director Dedham Public Library Monika Wilkinson, Chair 43 Church Street Margaret Connolly, Vice Chair Dedham, MA 02026 Tracy Driscoll 781.751.9281 Sarah Santos Mary Ann Sliwa DPL TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 2, 2017, ENDICOTT LIBRARY, 6:00 PM MEETING CALLED BY Board of . These successes have come despite an ugly attempt by politicians to remove our trustees, and then grant the mayor the power to hand-pick new trustees and a new library director. 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. At a time when this country is incredibly divided, that division is being sowed here at home. Upload Home Explore Login Signup Home Explore Submit Search Upload Login Signup We've updated our privacy policy. Library staff members and supporters have rallied against proposed layoffs or furloughs, while the city has said cuts are necessary because of the pandemic, which is hitting city revenues and has required libraries to be closed. 2023 pure unhinged ideology, on woburned part 2: people dont actually want the neoliberal library, review: Resolving Liberal vs. Conservative Conflict in the Workplace webinar, 1/14/21. To be clear: I will discuss and debate the best ways to make our libraries accessible with anyone under one condition: I will not engage in discussions with people who place swastikas on my car or who engage in other acts of intimidation threatening the admin team. So what brought us to this moment, and why now? Bonnie Roalsen, Hulafrog Wellesley-Framinham, MA, & mom of two. Donna Scheeder Consultant Library Strategies International, Past President, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) This post was contributed by a community member. This drives new ideas, new services, and new funding streams. Im not trying to tell you a meteorite might hit. Thats why, many will recall, last year I raised the possibility of staff cuts. The Friends have become invisible to the library administration, Trustees and Foundation. 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. It goes against our innate desire for intellectual curiosity, exploration and experimentation. 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. Woburn has a modern librarya beautiful $31.5 million library, better than just about anything else in Massachusetts in a community this size. 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). The director has also made decisions that led to the dissolution of the Friends of the Library volunteer group. READING OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Books now arrive at library facilities shelf ready to get them more quickly into the hands of users. "In recent weeks, there has been a coordinated misinformation campaign about the Woburn Public Library," Roalsen wrote. With financial support from Dedham Library Innovation Team, the library added 5 Raspberry Pi 2 mini-computers, a Flight Lab wind tunnel, supplies to support STEM instruction for library patrons, chalk spinners, deskcycles and Starling literacy devices, as well as funding assistance for other library programs. "I am thrilled to see this funded, as it is an example of how libraries need to think differently in terms of service delivery," Roalsen said. Thank you for your many years of support for our organization. People Search. 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Trustee Seitz noted that the meeting was being recorded. I serve 40,000 people of Woburn. But not in an atmosphere of misinformation, lack of civility and threats. Carli Coco Roalsen treasured infant daughter of Bonnie and Ron Roalsen of Wellesley and beloved sister of Noele and Caleb. But they understood that a library that isnt actively engaging the community in all its corners was just another pretty bit of architecture, a historical footnote. The Dedham Library Board of Trustees has ratified the contract for a new Library Director. New offerings have been added to the library to promote and encourage scientific learning, including a beehive and a wind tunnel with increased programming and circulating objects to support it. But I also have to be clear that the role of people who work in libraries is constantly changing, my own included. "Unfortunately, many skills of library staff do not translate to the digital world of a pandemic," Roalsen said. This is a union position, Local 4928 Mass Library Staff Association. Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. I suppose thats so if the future of libraries is Sunday hours sponsored by Raytheon, storytimes put on by gig laborers, and four walls and rooms full of shelves with no staff members around to talk to you or help you with all the new shiny tech. endobj It has to be of use for all ages, all socio-economic backgrounds, and for a diverse group of constituents. However, 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. And I thank the Trustees for the opportunity to share my vision and our upcoming strategic planning process with you. There were no vaccines. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. We apologize to anyone who feels they have not gotten their dues-worth, but we can find no other solution at this point. Politics have no place in a 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. The library has been staffed by volunteers since its closure, which is deeply problematic, legally questionable, and indicates a shocking level of disrespect for city employees, some of whom are no doubt Woburn residents themselves. Jonathon Kuberry started this petition to Library Director Ms. Bonnie Roalsen and 1 other. Roalsen cited the "political takeover . We felt it was too late to secure an offsite location and that our reservation should have been honored. "In recent weeks, there has been a coordinated misinformation campaign about the Woburn Public Library," Roalsen wrote. 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. USA People Search has millions of results. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com. "As library director, I want to set the record straight. 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. Many levels and tons of fun! 1. Register for a user account. It has been months since staff were suddenly denied access to email, replaced with volunteers in the spring, and forbidden from running library programming (or doing any work from home at all). 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