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Natick’s Morse Institute Library goes fines-free, and more—we sit down with the new Director

August 26, 2021 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Natick’s Morse Institute Library has welcomed its new Director, Miki Wolfe, who comes to the top job via the Sharon Public Library, where she served as assistant director for the past 7 years. We let the Wolfe get acclimated before we descended with a request to know absolutely everything about her and her plans for the library. There’s a lot going on—the library has gone fines-free; hours are expanding after Labor Day; book lockers will soon be available 24/7; and more. Here’s what we learned from Wolfe and Community Relations Coordinator Jane Newman.

Morse Institute Library, Natick, Miki Wolfe

Natick Report: What is your background?

Miki Wolfe: I got my degree at Florida State and spent a few years working in their libraries. Then I worked in Virginia for a couple of years, then came to Massachusetts and worked as the assistant director in Sharon for 7 years. I’m from Rhode Island originally. Florida is a beautiful, beautiful state, but I just wanted to get back to New England.

NR: What are your goals for the Morse Institute Library?

Wolfe: I want to see us connecting with the community. The library already does a great job with programming, and I really want to continue to support that and expand upon it. So the more we can reach out to the community, the more we can remind folks that as a public library we’re here, we’re available, and we can help. That’s what we’re trained to do as informational professionals. To help.

NR: Are in-person visits welcome at the library? What are the rules?

Wolfe: Yes. The library is open. We are on summer hours right now, but as of after Labor Day [Tuesday, September 7th] we will be opening back to our regular hours. We will resume business as normal. The only thing that changes is that there is a town wide mask mandate for all municipal buildings, so to come into the library we do request that you wear a mask. The whole library is open, the second floor is open, the Children’s Room is open. We just got new computers and are in the process of getting them set up on the second floor. Those should be ready to go soon after Labor Day.

NR: What are you most excited about?

Wolfe: The Morse Institute Library is going fines-free as of September 1st. The [Library Board of ] Trustees just approved it on Tuesday, August 4th. We’ve not been collecting fines for a while. But the vote was to make that permanent as an issue of equity. Fines for a lot of people are a barrier, so we’re really excited to be able to offer this to everyone. As of Aug 31st, all existing fines on existing accounts—that’s fines, not lost item charges—will be blown away.

NR: What will you do if patrons don’t return their books?

Wolfe: So after a period of 30 days it’s just going to be assumed that people want to keep the book, and they’ll be charged for it. But if they return the book the replacement fee will come off their record. The only addendum is that this doesn’t apply to other libraries’ materials. So if you borrow a book here at our library through the interlibrary loan system, it will still count on that library’s rules.

NR: Do you envision other libraries doing this?

Jane Newman: They already are. Nationwide it’s been going on for the better part of a decade, and the larger cities in the United States spearheaded it—San Francisco, New York City. Then in Massachusetts there are quite a few. Amherst went fines-free about 7 years ago. Fines-free has been viewed as an equity issue. The hesitance with librarians has always been,  ‘how do we get the books back?’ But according to the libraries that have gone fines-free, that’s really not been a huge issue. The people who don’t bring books back still don’t bring books back. And it doesn’t keep others who return their book from changing their behaviors. For us it started as a conversation about 2 years ago.

We used to have a program called Food For Fines. We would have families who waited to come back to the library with their canned goods to wipe their fines out. We thought, there’s something wrong there. We don’t want to keep people from coming to the library because they have fines. That’s pretty much what started it.

Wolfe: Cambridge went fines-free a couple of years ago. BPL [Boston Public Library] did so recently. That was the big one to fall. For Natick, 8,600 families in the town were affected.  They had over $10 dollars in fines at the time, so they couldn’t use their cards to take out more materials. The public library is so important. We wanted to make sure we would continue to be available to folks regardless of fines. The “stick” of the fines doesn’t do much to change people’s behaviors. When you have a kid coming in and they can’t use their library card because there are too many fines, we as librarians want to do everything we can to make sure they can leave with a book, but you’re also limited by the policy.

Newman: There’s also the perception in children, tweens, teens that they can’t even come inside the library if they have outstanding fines and that’s not an environment we want to foster.

NR: What other initiatives are you working on?

Wolfe: We want to take the library outside the brick walls and bring it to the community, There are a lot of people who for a variety of reasons can’t make it to the library proper, but still might benefit from library services. So we’re doing a lot of outreach into the community, figuring out where we can be. Find the patron at the point of need, determine what it is, and figure out how you can best service it. We have a lot of services at the library that the public doesn’t know about or doesn’t know how to access.

NR: What’s up with the lockers nearby the drop boxes?

Wolfe: That’s something that’s just now starting. Those are our book lockers. We’re testing out the procedures to make sure everything is fine tuned before they’re launched. If you’re familiar with Amazon lockers, it’s a similar thing. You can request to have your holds picked up at a book locker. So say you work the night shift and you can’t get here until 2 o’clock in the morning, you can have your holds in that book locker to pick up at your convenience. We’re hoping that will really make a difference in terms of access for a lot of folks.

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NR: How is the Bookmobile going?

Wolfe: Our 27-year-old Bookmobile has finally been retired from the road. We’re in the process of getting a new Bookmobile. It will probably take about 18 months. In the meantime the Trustees have authorized the use of a library van. Rose [Huling] is still out there connecting with the community. We hope to expand that outreach. Again, it’s about getting to where the people are.

NR: Anything else coming up?

Wolfe: We recently got a grant so that we can launch hot spots for the community. We’ll have 50 hot spots circulating. Patrons will check them out for a period of 2 weeks and the hot spot will give them free internet. That again speaks to the equity issue for folks who on their phones might have small data plans  A hot spot will connect people . The internet is less and less an option and is more and more a necessity to connect, particularly in an age of COVID. Some will be available at the Council on Aging, some will be available at the Natick Service Council, some will be on the Bookmobile, and the rest will be here [at the Morse Institute]. This will be a great way to get more people connected.


MORSE INSTITUTE LIBRARY HOURS:

Monday – Thursday: 9am – 7pm (Children’s Room closes at 6pm)
Friday – Saturday: 9am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed

Closed Labor Day Weekend:
Saturday, September 4 – Monday, September 6, 2021


NEW MORSE INSTITUTE HOURS START Tuesday, Sept. 7:

Monday – Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5 pm
Sunday: 1pm – 5pm


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Filed Under: Morse Institute Library



Free Little Art Gallery opens in front of Morse Institute Library in Natick

August 19, 2021 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

On the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library in Natick Center a Free Little Art Gallery has been placed to encourage passers-by to make art, take art, or leave art. Based on the popular Little Free Library concept, signage tells the curious, “Everyone is welcome to leave a piece, take a piece, or have a look around and just enjoy what’s inside.”

Little Free Art Gallery Natick

The goal of the installation is to encourage and facilitate free access to viewing and obtaining original art for all.

A few simple rules:

  • Art should be small and can include both 2D and 3D pieces.
  • Those leaving art should follow the basic rules of human kindness and respect.
  • Please don’t take the people. They are the patrons of the art gallery.

That sounds easy. Let the artsy fun begin.

Little Free Art Gallery Natick

We picked up a lovely tulip watercolor (below) by Ginger McEachern. The artist was involved in the creation of Natick’s latest public art project, peacelovenatick01760, unveiled earlier this summer in the Adams Street Art Alley.

Little Free Art Gallery, Natick

Now that we finally have a place to bring our little projects, we rushed straight home to find a contribution. We make bookmarks from discarded tomes and give them to friends and family. And as of right now, to Natick’s Free Little Art Gallery.

Free Little Art Gallery Natick

The Free Little Art Gallery is open 24/7.

Here are the Morse Institute Library hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9am – 7pm (Children’s Room closes at 6pm)
Friday – Saturday: 9am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed

Note: Library hours will expand after Labor Day.

MORE:

Common Good Food Pantry installed in Natick Center

Filed Under: Art, Books, Community, Morse Institute Library

Time to get serious about Natick Public schools summer reading, 2021

August 17, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick logo

Grades K – 4

There are no formal summer reading requirements or assignments for grades K – 4. It’s recommended that kids get in 30 minutes of reading per day, whether that’s by independent reading, someone reading to them, or including audiobooks into the mix. But don’t let that stop kids from enjoying all the good books they can get their hands on. The Morse Institute or Bacon Free Library staff members can recommend books based on kids’ ages and interests.


Kennedy and Wilson Middle Schools

Grades 5 – 7: students must select one of the following texts, and each book has prompts that students should review before reading the book.

Grade 8: students have one required text.

In addition to the required text for each grade level, all middle school students should read at least two other books.


Incoming grade 5, read one of the following:

In addition to the required text for each grade level, all incoming 5th grade students should read at least two other books.

24 Hours in Nowhere, Dusti Bowling
Summary: Welcome to Nowhere, Arizona, the least livable town in the United States. For Gus, a bright 13-year-old with dreams of getting out and going to college, life there is made even worse by Bo Taylor, Nowhere’s biggest, baddest bully. When Bo tries to force Gus to eat a dangerously spiny cactus, Rossi Scott, one of the best racers in Nowhere, comes to his rescue—but in return she has to give Bo her prized dirt bike. Determined to buy it back, Gus agrees to go searching for gold in Dead Frenchman Mine, joined by his old friend Jessie, Rossi, and even Bo’s sidekick, Matthew. As they race against the clock hunting for treasure, narrowly surviving everything from cave-ins to mountain lions, they bond over shared stories of how hard life in Nowhere is—and they realize this adventure just may be their way out.

The Barren Grounds, David Robertson
Summary: Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home—until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything—including them.

Take Back the Block, Chrystal D. Giles
Summary: Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That—and hanging out with his crew (his best friends since little-kid days) and playing video games—is what he wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to.

But when a real estate developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks, the neighborhood Wes has lived his whole life, everything changes. The grownups are supposed to have all the answers, but all they’re doing is arguing. Even Wes’s best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn’t about to give up the only home he’s ever known. Wes has always been good at puzzles, and he knows there has to be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it . . . before it’s too late?

Exploring community, gentrification, justice, and friendship, Take Back the Block introduces an irresistible 6th grader and asks what it means to belong–to a place and a movement–and to fight for what you believe in.


Incoming grade 6, read one of the following:

In addition to the required text, all incoming 6th grade students should read at least two other books.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Bacon Free Library, Books, Education, Entertainment, Morse Institute Library

Bacon Free Library & Morse Institute updates

June 16, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Bacon Free Library is open to the public for browsing with no reservations required. The South Natick location’s popular curbside pickup service will continue to be offered during the library’s open hours.

Bacon Free Library, Natick

Bacon Free Library hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30am—5:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am—7pm
Saturday: 10am—noon for curbside pickups only

The Natick Historical Society office and museum, located in the basement of the Bacon Free Library, remain closed.


Morse Institute updates

Morse Express is open for in-person browsing. In-person visits are limited to 1 hour or less, 1 person per family. Only the Main Floor is open to the public. Public restrooms are available and cleaned daily. Additional information here.

Morse Institute Library, Natick

Morse Institute in-person library hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9am-7pm
Friday, Saturday: 9am-4pm
Sunday: Closed

Contactless hold pick-ups are available by appointment only.

Contactless home delivery:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Bacon Free Library, Morse Institute Library

Natick Morse Institute Library’s Pride Month display offers ‘A Seat at the Table’

June 10, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

There’s now a double rainbow in front of Natick’s Morse Institute Library. In addition to the vertical P-E-A-C-E banners, now a display of peace sign-adorned seat coverings invite the public to “Take a Seat at the Table” in recognition of June being Pride Month.

peace chairs

The Morse Institute Library Stitchers, responsible for this latest public art display, also invite you to grab your current knitting or crochet work and join others for a day of public stitching on Saturday, June 12, from 10am-noon. Bring your own chair though.

The Peace Chairs display is inspired by the Edward M. Kennedy A Seat at the Table project, which in turn was inspired by  Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s famous words (“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”) and life story.

The Stitchers, a core group of around 35,  primarily make items for charity, says Karen Perkins, a library staff member who is part of the group.

“In January I saw that the Edward M. Kennedy Institute was promoting its Seat at the Table project virtually for individuals or groups to make their own chairs.  It took the group a while to formulate a plan, but once we did we busily found funding from the libraries, a private donation of all the yarn, and then went to work knitting and crocheting,” she says.

Sixteen people, two people per chair, participated in the project.  They are Deb Lang, Svetlana Borshcheva, Karen Perkins, Joan Watts, Nancy Donahue, Erin Bassett, Esther Wheeler, Anne O’Keefe, Fran Weisse, Donna Freedman, Amiya Scaria, Sherry Ruff, Linda Webster, Shirley Hui, Jill Miller and Mary Fenelon.

The installation will probably remain throughout the summer.

Perkins describes the Stitchers as being a diverse group open to anyone who stitches.  The group meets once a month on the first Saturday from 11 am – 1 pm with the exceptions of July (no meeting), August (last Saturday of the month), and September (no meeting).  Check the library’s calendar for meeting dates.  People can also contact Perkins at 508-647-6520 or kperkins@minlib.net

peace chairs

#Natick Morse Institute Library's Pride Month display offers 'A Seat at the Table' https://t.co/dyAFTAYzp1 @morseinstitute @EMKInstitute #PrideMonth2021 pic.twitter.com/n31IYSxo2K

— Natick Report (@NatickReport) June 10, 2021

peace chairs


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Filed Under: Embracing diversity, Morse Institute Library

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