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. Sign this petition to Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin and the Board of Library Trustees and show your support. The resignations come hours before a City Council meeting with Roalsen's job at issue. Creative and performing arts experience Please submit via email a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Bonnie Roalsen, Library Director at broalsen@minlib.net. 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 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. Greatly expanded library hours providing equitable access to public services for working individuals and families. 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. 11/21/2022 6:07 AM. 4 pack of pant briefs: 4.50. Hit the Search button to find the most populated streets in that area, including properties and residents. HG, Your email address will not be published. Math kits and games have been added to support school curriculum and math literacy as well as to encourage the creative exploration of math. Galvin already moved to remove the Board's president, Jan Rabbitt, in January, although she is fighting her removal. I truly love this library. 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. Traditional skills among library staff dont always translate to the rapidly changing world. Bonnie Roalsen, Director Dedham Public Library 43 Church Street Dedham, MA 02026 781.751.9281 Margaret Connolly, Chair Sarah Santos, Study Resources Main Menu by School by Literature Title by Subject by Study Guides Textbook SolutionsExpert TutorsEarn Main Menu Earn Free Access Upload Documents Refer Your Friends Earn Money Become a Tutor 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.. The staff and their supporters, in an online petition as well as a letter-writing and signage campaign, say that there is plenty for staff to do, but they are not being allowed to. Now we look ahead to further updating this strategic plan. This is about ensuring an independent structure that withstands political whims--today, tomorrow and forever. Bonnie Roalsen is a Library Director at Woburn Public Library based in Woburn, Massachusetts. I know there are things that I can do better, and Im committed to doing that. 1 0 obj 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. For that reason, I regretfully tender my resignation, effective at the end of business on February 19th. Skip to main content Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 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. The library added a piano to the Main Library, circulating musical instruments, digital resources like ArtistWorks which give the public access to free music lessons, and a beautiful brass art hanging system to allow rotating art exhibits at the Main Library. But this saga started back in the spring, and though Roalsen and Meehan attempt to paint a very different picture in their resignation letters (available at the end of this article), we didnt arrive at this moment because of the political takeoverthat goes against our core values as Americans, or because of an expectation to only serve middle-class white mothers of seven-year-olds. Were here because even though the librarys FY21 budget was increased, Roalsen allegedly attempted to eliminate 17 of 25 jobs in the library during a pandemic and over 7,000 people said NO. Were here because Roalsen and Meehan insisted there was no work for staff members to do while the volunteer organization that was called in to help provide book pickup services figured out they were supplanting union jobs and refused to continue. Thank you for your many years of support for our organization. Karte laden. Defiant ignorance of the future, coupled with naked political agendas and cronyism, will never serve the library or the community well. The views expressed in this post are the author's own. The Friends have become invisible to the library administration, Trustees and Foundation. 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. But I also want to make clear that neither the trustees nor library administration had a seat at that negotiation table. Libraries are meant to be laboratories for all kinds of curious minds. I love this library. 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. The election of new corporation officers was postponed,. Woburn Library Leadership Resigns, Citing 'Political Takeover'. This is an area that has been accelerated by the pandemic, making this more possible than ever before thanks to technology. x]mo8^ACoz[kz${>M\3CILRef4pIn\}Q1 Still looking for the correct Gail Labuda? Assistant Director Rebecca Meehan also submitted her resignation Tuesday, effective Friday. <> Radaris isnot acredit reporting agency and does not offer consumer reports. I wish Dedham and the Library the best of success in the future.. -----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. Some are unwilling (or unable) to have a conversation about the merits in a forum that excludes personal attacks and agendas. 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) I wish the library and those committed to its future as a vibrant place for growth and change all the best. A future where, as I said before, in a decade, 800 million people could lose their jobs to technology. 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. endobj But a modern look and feel does not guarantee a future. ", Roalsen noted that due to the pandemic, "the library will not return to full, normal operation anytime soon. "The city predicts it could take two years to return to pre-pandemic levels of revenue generation. After several Trustees met with Bonnie over the issue, she suggested a Fall Harvest sale on the front lawn. In her editorial, Roalsen argued that cuts are in fact necessary and defended the library's offerings during the pandemic shutdown. Thats why, many will recall, last year I raised the possibility of staff cuts. Roalsen cited the "political takeover" of the library in her letter. The City of Woburn is an EOE/AA Employer. 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. Libraries are sources of knowledge and information, the foundation for launching explorations of the unknown, for individuals and for entire communities. 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. We are supposed to be a gathering space for everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sexual orientation or religion. "This is unhinged from reality.". The librarys entire IT infrastructure has been overhauled, resulting in increased utilization of the entire system from computers to WIFI, increasing digital content access and digital utilization of facilities by 717%. Donna Scheeder Consultant Library Strategies International, Past President, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) It will hit. We urge you to listen to your constituents and put a stop to this plan to lay off the library's staff. ", Roalsen noted that due to the pandemic, "the library will not return to full, normal operation anytime soon. accelerating innovative collaborations with Disney. The director has also made decisions that led to the dissolution of the Friends of the Library volunteer group. Bonnie Roalsen 18 Followers Performance & security by Cloudflare. Teen Killed In Motor Vehicle Crash In Dedham, Why These Best Friends Are Boston Star Students, New England Disabled Sports 2023 Winter Challenge ends March 15, Free MA Community College Outlined In Gov's Budget, Adopt From Dedham Area Shelters: See The Latest Dogs, Cats & More, Local Jobs: Check Out Who's Hiring In The Dedham Area, 3 New Properties On The Market In The Dedham Area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The proposed legislation would likely take months to come into effect it requires state approval but the council showed support the first time they discussed it, Feb. 2. special legislation to give the mayor the power to appoint and remove the library director, replacements for two trustees serving expired three-year terms, meeting where it emerged that two trustees had been excluded from a recent meeting, public campaign in support of library staff. The information here was based on conversations I had with multiple current and former staff members, members of the Support Woburn Librarians Facebook group, and articles in the Woburn Patch. RFID tagging of all library materials is underway, which enhances the user experience, allowing for quicker delivery of items, and, when paired with the librarys new enhanced self-checkout machines, offer advisory services to patrons as well. Check resumes and CV, places of employment, public records, social media profiles, arrest records, publications, work history, news and related names We found one person named Bonnie Roalsen living in the US. And can you blame the people of Woburn for wanting something else? Radaris does not possess orhave access tosecure orprivate financial information. She opened up the building to the community as a place for learning, as well as a place for having fun.. While Ms. Roalsen's technology-focused approach to library management has a glossy appeal, her apparent desire to automate library functions and seek funding from corporate sponsorships comes off as an unabashed attempt to eliminate municipal jobs, decouple the library from its community, and defy the ethics of librarianship. "It's not just sending . Things escalated quickly; its been a little less than a month since that meeting went off the rails. 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. Library Director Bonnie Roalsen stepped down in Feb. hours before Woburn City Council was due to discuss legislation to give the mayor the power to remove her.

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