BECKET ATHENAEUM: February 2009

SERVICES

BOOKS

The Becket Athenaeum has a permanent collection of nearly 17,000 fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children. In addition to these books the Western Massachusetts Bookmobile brings materials from their extensive collection every eleven weeks. At this time around 300 books are exchanged providing a variety of fiction and non-fiction for all ages that otherwise the library could not afford to purchase. Books may be checked out for two weeks.

VIDEOS AND AUDIOS

The Athenaeum now owns over 1200 video and DVD’s and has increased purchase of books on tape as well, bringing that total to about 300 items for patrons’ home use. In addition to this when the regional Bookmobile comes the library exchanges around 200 videos and audios from their extensive collection.

INTER-LIBRARY LOAN

A fine feature of the Massachusetts Library System is the Inter Library Loan service. Staff can order patron requests for items the library does not own according to title, author or subject through CWMARS and Western Massachusetts Regional Library System. These items usually take a week or two to arrive through the weekly van delivery from WMRLS and come from numerous libraries throughout the country. Patrons can borrow them for two weeks.

NEW MATERIALS
The staff purchases new books, DVD’s, and audio books every four weeks keeping in mind patron interest and collection needs. The library receives many donations of new books from generous patrons that add to the permanent collection. In 2006 the Athenaeum was awarded memorial funds from various patrons for specific items. There were also two large memorial grants from The Beatty Family and the Elizabeth Wilson Family for children’s books, that helped the library update and enrich a much out dated part of the library’s children’s section.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Invitation!

BECKET-WASHINGTON

ECONOMIC SUMMIT

JOIN US!

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 7:00 P.M.

While we are all hopeful that the recently passed economic stimulus package will be successful in revitalizing the national economy, perhaps there is more we as a community can do than wait and see. We have some exciting ideas to share, and we have faith that a community as resourceful, creative, and capable as ours can accomplish great things together.

What can we do in the immediate to help one another through this difficult time? What resources are already in place that can be built upon? (For example, the food bank, or the senior tax abatement program.) What new ways can we come together as neighbors to weather this crisis? How can town institutions--like the library--be most helpful?

What steps can we take toward long-term stability for our local economy, so that we are not hit so hard when the national economy declines? How can we envision a future for Becket-Washington that honors and makes use of the abundant skills and talents within our community, while also making our prevalent trades (for example contracting, artistry, tourism-related services) less vulnerable?

We encourage all residents to join us at the Becket Athenaeum for a discussion of ideas, from the smallest gestures to the most ambitious proposals.

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS SERVED

Friday, February 6, 2009