"Unfortunately, many skills of library staff do not translate to the digital world of a pandemic," Roalsen said. Multiple, new library websites and portals were launched to increase and facilitate communication among patrons and prevent outages. It is a vigorous discussion that I welcome. We have kept our services flowing to patrons of all ages, from infants to seniors. Greatly expanded library hours providing equitable access to public services for working individuals and families. This is an area that has been accelerated by the pandemic, making this more possible than ever before thanks to technology. The library not only updated its book collections, but also added objects that can be checked out to expand opportunities for experiential learning across a wide variety of topic areas - including a telescope, sewing machine, robots, and more. Its what Woburnites should expect of their library. 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. This is about ensuring an independent structure that withstands political whims--today, tomorrow and forever. The state of residents is Massachusetts. Dedham, Massachusetts Search Background Check Dedham Public Library Business Data 43 Church St, Dedham, MA 02026 (781) 751-9284 mtricarico@dedham-ma.gov library.dedham-ma.gov AllBiz Business Profile Search Professional Contact Details Bonnie Roalsen Coworkers at Dedham Public Library (3) In her editorial, Roalsen argued that cuts are in fact necessary and defended the library's offerings during the pandemic shutdown. 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. refused to comply with Galvins attempts to discontinue her contract, Support Woburn Librarians Facebook advocacy group, disastrous trustees meeting on January 19, we need to have a talk about censorship. Public records for Bonnie Roalsen, 52 years old. It I therefore incumbent on all of us entrusted with taxpayer funds to adjust accordingly.". Your email address will not be published. I love this library. 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. Hit the Search button to find the most populated streets in that area, including properties and residents. 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. % She was honored by the Library Journal as a 'Mover and Shaker' in 2007 as an emerging leader and changemaker in libraries for her work transforming libraries and helping them move forward, and is now a nationally recognized speaker, innovator and educator in the library science field. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Baker would lift restrictions. 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. My criteria for the people who serve on that committee will be that they have a demonstrated background in being a force for change, and that they be compassionate, civil influences on their communities. endobj For this, and for the small-mindedness of the political takeover of the Woburn Public Library, I am deeply saddened. In short, we are unable to fulfill our mission. Our library also must serve marginalized residentsnew Americans, people who dont speak English as their native language, children left behind because of the pandemics educational challenges, the elderly who live alone, and others. Members of the library's staff said they have offered to provide many services, including both virtual programming and curbside pickup, but have been told not to. Lowes. Get Bonnie Roalsen's contact information, phone numbers, home addresses, age, background check, white pages, resumes and CV, places of employment, public records, social media profiles, arrest records, publications, work history, news and related names. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com. 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. 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. Bonnie Roalsen's Phone Number and Email Last Update. That director, Bonnie Roalsen, announced her resignation today, claiming the library had been "reduce [d] to a political tool." It is true that Woburn mayor Scott Galvin has begun to seize an awful lot of power over the library in the last month, but it may have been his best option for cleaning the mess up there. "It's not just sending . 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. 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 $31M Ticket Sold In Woburn, Dive In Commonwealth Virtual Information Session, Free Online Mindfulness Session: Taming the Overactive Mind, Author Event with Sociologist Amanda Freeman, Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Woburn Public Library, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget, Woburn Area Pet Adoption: Little, Roland, Hootie & More, Woburn Area Prospective Homeowners: Look Through 3 New Properties For Sale. I look forward to pulling together a team of bright and inspiring individuals to help the library in its new strategic planning process, including these concerned and motivated patrons. It is clear Mayor Galvin and the city council either did not understand that vision or choose not to believe it. Mit dem Laden der Karte akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklrung von Google. We have people driving from an hour away on the South Shore to come use our facility and access our materials. gov ekagrbtyw@fuunf. But they understood that a library that isnt actively engaging the community in all its corners was just another pretty bit of architecture, a historical footnote. Once you see that vision for the library, you cant unsee it. It will hit. Access to the facility was also improved with the addition of an accessible walkway along the back of the facility. 2016 - 20193 years. resisting crisis surveillance capitalism in academic libraries. They could have just settled for their names on a plaque on the wall. Director Bonnie Roalsen has a developed a reputation for making decisions that have harmed her staff, including the alleged unexpected removal or alteration of the circulation (front) desks at both Dedham and Woburn Public Library. x]mo8^ACoz[kz${>M\3CILRef4pIn\}Q1 Meehan calls this defiant ignorance of the future, coupled with naked political agendas and cronyism. Roalsen says its a modern building without modern ideas [thats] just four walls and rooms full of shelves. Both appear to rely on an undercurrent of technochauvinism, invoking the spectre of automation and the challenges and opportunities of post-pandemic America as justification for their attempts to disempower (and dismiss) their staff. Build highly targeted prospect lists. Its time for other voices to be heard. See 9 social pages including Facebook and Twitter, Hours, Phone, Fax, Email, Website and more for this business. The election of new corporation officers was postponed, keeping Seitz and Clerk Kathryn Thifault in place. The economy was in a tailspin. These successes have come despite our own library network improperly inserting itself in a labor dispute, in the mayors own words, the minuteman library network does not have any right to dictate bargaining or budgetary priorities to the City of Woburn, and the harassment of our Library Director is intolerable and must stop immediately. The mayor also pointed out in that letter to the Minuteman Network that Seeking to intrude on the collective bargaining prerogatives of the City of Woburn and the work of my office, which manages those negotiations, is outrageous and unethical.. He attended our meeting to ask us to stop the hate and to take a break for a little while. Trustees instituted a fine free policy, recognizing that fines created a barrier to services. 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. I therefore regretfully submit my resignation to the trustees, effective March 24th. "The goal of any hardworking collection is to delight people to such a degree that at. Businesses were shut. The library was closed. Bonnie Roalsen is a Library Director at Woburn Public Library based in Woburn, Massachusetts. But I also want to make clear that neither the trustees nor library administration had a seat at that negotiation table. Dedham Public Library Dedham, Massachusetts postal code 02026. In the middle of a pandemic. This drives new ideas, new services, and new funding streams. Just visit radaris.com and key in the name of the lost family member in the search bar. The election of new corporation officers was postponed,. It is presented here with my best faith attempt to describe things accurately and with appropriate context. (NOTE: This post does not in any way represent the views of my employer or any professional organization I am a part of. There are reports of public inquiries into her ability to spend municipal funds and questions of relying on . The trio of meetings dealt with the evaluation of Director Bonnie Roalsen, the election of officers and an Open Meeting Law complaint. Attorney General Maura Healey said that the library trustees had one of just five intentional violations she found last year. That changed everything, opened our doors and brought people back to work. It was the first time we'd heard of One City, One Library (OCOL), a real gem of a program from the Worcester Public Library. And can you blame the people of Woburn for wanting something else? Vice President Carol Seitz chaired the two meetings of the full board, in the absence of Rabbitt. Review on Cybo. Galvin has proposed special legislation to give the mayor the power to appoint and remove the library director, an authority currently held by the trustees. Trustee William Callahan said that the trustees had discussed hiring an attorney at their Sept. 15 meeting. The litany of accomplishments and innovations that have transformed Dedhams libraries have wowed the entire community. Marilyn Peirce. Woburn has a modern librarya beautiful $31.5 million library, better than just about anything else in Massachusetts in a community this size. Sen de bir konuda kampanya balatmak ister misin? 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.. We also have amassed nearly 8,000 signatures on apetitionadvocating for library workers' safety and continued employment. Without bold new ideas melding with the best of the old, without new ways to explore knowledge, new ways to provide more equitable access, new ways to capture and share the diverse voices and histories of the city, new ways of developing the library as a platform to truly serve all of the city, a public library is merely a static warehouse for books. 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. Libraries were ALWAYS meant to be places of knowledge, curiosity, pushing boundaries, and sometimes some really crazy experiments. Americas first library was created by Ben Franklin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Getting the marble through the towers requires logic and reasoning skills. 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. It I therefore incumbent on all of us entrusted with taxpayer funds to adjust accordingly.". Sharen Ballard, (d.2022) Paul Battersby Helen Blair Bonnie Roalsen, Hulafrog Wellesley-Framinham, MA, & mom of two. endobj "We're all in this together," Roalsen said. The following statement was provided by Library Director Bonnie Roalsen: Thank you. The views expressed here are the author's own. They also note that City Council passed the library's budget in full in late June, with no salary cuts. Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan also submitted her resignation Tuesday, effective Friday. "It reduces this library to nothing more than a political tool, which is not what I signed up for when I accepted my position. Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Previously, Bonnie was a Children's Services Head at Dover Town Library. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. b***@oburnpubliclibrary.org. CALL TO ORDER Trustee Seitz called to order the monthly meeting at 8:02 pm. 79183 Waldkirch. 0 patients voted for the doctor, average rating 0.00 out of 5. Bonnie Roalsen Tech Integration, Cultural and Knowledge Organizations, Libraries, Blockchain, AI, Innovation Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States 402 followers 398 connections Join to connect. Bonnie Roalsen, Director Margaret Connolly, Chair Dedham Public Library Sarah Santos, Vice Chair 43 Church Street Tracy Driscoll Dedham, MA 02026 Mary Ann Sliwa 781.751.9281 Monika Wilkinson DPL TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES MARCH 7, 2019, ENDICOTT LIBRARY, 6:00 PM MEETING CALLED BY Board of . Many levels and tons of fun! 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. Galvin already moved to remove the Board's president, Jan Rabbitt, in January, although she is fighting her removal. This letter is in response to the email sent by the Woburn Public Library on September 4, 2020 which introduced the new community-run program called "Zoom Pods". I know there are things that I can do better, and Im committed to doing that. Bonnie Roalsen Follow Spatial computing, blockchain, platform design Advertisement Recommended BDW16 London - Jonny Voon, Innovate UK - Smart Cities and the Buzz Word Bingo Big Data Week 83 views 18 slides QR Codes - fad or fab - at Alt Becta Successful Deployment Workshop andyramsden 1.5k views 16 slides The Endicott branch library has also been renovated, removing the old shelving which blocked the windows and beautiful views out over the Endicott Estate grounds. Finally, let me say that a library is not a static museum that never changes. %PDF-1.7 But a modern building without modern ideas is just four walls and rooms full of shelves. READING OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS - There were no vaccines. Sign this petition to Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin and the Board of Library Trustees and show your support. ", "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. And I thank the Trustees for the opportunity to share my vision and our upcoming strategic planning process with you. 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. Thank you and keep up the great work of advocating for library workers. Members of the library's staff said they have offered to provide many services, including both virtual programming and curbside pickup, but have been told not to. We asked for clarification on several logistical points and invited her to our August meeting to discuss our concerns. After several Trustees met with Bonnie over the issue, she suggested a Fall Harvest sale on the front lawn. So what brought us to this moment, and why now? StickStoff GmbH. But heres what else the library of the future should have: And yet, in the dialogue surrounding how to make the Woburn library meet the challenges both of the pandemic and the world that is rapidly changing around us, admin staff have received threatening and harassing messages. 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. 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. 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. Radaris does not possess orhave access tosecure orprivate financial information. No member of the administration attended either event. This caught the mayors attention in a way we hadnt yet seen. This library came so very close to being put on the map. 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). 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. "The city predicts it could take two years to return to pre-pandemic levels of revenue generation. They wanted the qualified staff their trusted neighbors and community members to be able to do the jobs they were hired for. There is a small amount of editorializing because this is a personal blog. Director Bonnie Roalsen has a developed a reputation for making decisions that have harmed her staff, including the alleged unexpected removal or alteration of the circulation (front) desks at both Dedham and Woburn Public Library. The Friends have become invisible to the library administration, Trustees and Foundation. A library must help its users constantly see around the corner to whats coming, to provide opportunities, to surprise them, to prepare them.