Happy Fiscal New Year, everyone! Trying out our shiny new mailing list for a reality/sanity check.
Our A&F division recently overhauled their procurement policies.
*
They are coding library e-content subscriptions (digital journals, ebook collections, databases, etc.) as Software as a Service rather than equivalent to print (subscriptions, teaching & learning materials, etc.).
*
As a result, they are requiring that we have eresource vendors complete Contracts for Services (which include standard Commonwealth terms & conditions), rather than just having the library complete a PO or payment form, for invoices >$1200. The Contract for Services is the mechanism by which vendors get paid. (These are similar to what a guest speaker might be asked to complete for payment; they include provisions for travel/meals/etc.)
*
And, we are being asked to complete Sole Source Justification Forms for each renewal invoice that exceeds $5000 (even if it comprises multiple products each costing less than $5000).
I've pushed back, but A&F is adamant on all three of these points. Vendors are baffled when I contact them asking them to complete these contracts, and most of them also do not seem accustomed to being asked for sole source documentation.
Am I alone? Anyone else dealing with something similar? This is supposedly all dictated by the auditors. On the one hand, that's hard to argue with, but on the other hand, this just seems...odd.
If several of us are in this together, maybe we could come up with some strategies so we don't all have to reinvent the wheel every year (like a shared folder of Sole Source Justifications).
Thanks for any info you can share!
Best,
Emily
Emily Alling (she/her)
Associate Dean for Library Services
Freel Library<https://library.mcla.edu/freel_library>
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
413.662.5322
375 Church Street
North Adams, MA 01247
New office location: Bowman 211
Good morning everyone,
The Fenway Library Organization (FLO) has been working for the past month
to take over as the host for the MCCLPHEI mailing list, LibGuide and Google
Drive repository. All 3 of these resources have now been fully migrated to
FLO. Please note the following changes:
- New mailing list - mcclphei(a)list.flo.org
- New website address <https://libraries.flo.org/mcclphei>
- FLO Libapps login URL for editors
<https://flo.libapps.com/libapps/login.php>
- New Google Drive URL
<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PsRIg16NeiG3ZTozgoywPPpBfINYktc4?us…>
I have copied over everything as-is, including mailing list subscribers,
LibGuide editors, and Google Drive permissions. We will be maintaining the
mcclphei.org domain so that those using a mcclphei.org email account can
keep using it. I've also updated the mcclphei.org URL redirect to the new
LibGuide, but it will take up to 48 hours to take effect. If anyone has
any questions or any trouble accessing anything, please let me know.
Please remove any bookmarks you might have saved to the old website or
Google Drive repository. Those will be retired and soon become outdated.
Thank you!
--
*Eliana Lima*
*Projects Coordinator Librarian*
617-989-5026
eliana(a)flo.org
My Zoom room:
https://zoom.us/j/9300044265
Dear MCCLPHEI colleagues,
Please consider applying to serve on the MLS Executive Committee.
Applications are due July 14th with terms of service beginning in January.
Matt
Matt Bejune
Executive Director of the Library
Worcester State University
Office: 508-929-8526
Email: mbejune(a)worcester.edu
Library website: www.worcester.edu/library
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Houston, Hope <HHOUSTON(a)bentley.edu>
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Subject: [EXT] 2025 Call for Nominees for the Executive Board
To: Matt Bejune <mbejune(a)worcester.edu>, Megan Brooks <
brooks_megan(a)wheatoncollege.edu>, cpalframan(a)cpsge.org <cpalframan(a)cpsge.org>,
Thomas Raffensperger <traff(a)westfield.ma.edu>, ldowning(a)cwmars.org <
ldowning(a)cwmars.org>, robert.defabrizio(a)jud.state.ma.us <
robert.defabrizio(a)jud.state.ma.us>, ccheever(a)minlib.net <ccheever(a)minlib.net>,
ndaviau(a)cwmars.org <ndaviau(a)cwmars.org>, cdominiquepierre(a)bbns.org <
cdominiquepierre(a)bbns.org>, scompton(a)baypath.edu <scompton(a)baypath.edu>,
Maureen.Amyot(a)mass.gov <Maureen.Amyot(a)mass.gov>, Sarah Jackson <
sjackson(a)bpl.org>, mblc.cherubini(a)gmail.com <mblc.cherubini(a)gmail.com>
Cc: Kate Gomes <kgomes(a)holbrook.ocln.org>, Miki Wolfe <mwolfe(a)minlib.net>,
Maria Palacio <mpalacio(a)acton-ma.gov>, Allyson Malik <amalik(a)clamsnet.org>,
Betsy Meaden <betsy(a)masslibsystem.org>, Sarah Sogigian <
sarah(a)masslibsystem.org>, Houston, Hope <HHOUSTON(a)bentley.edu>
Dear Fellow Board Members,
As you know, MLS is looking for individuals to join us on the executive
board starting in January 2026. Please pass along this invitation to
colleagues or nominate someone you know who will be willing to be part of
this wonderful library board and support the work that MLS is doing now and
in the future. Please copy and paste the message below to share with your
fellow librarians and library staff.
Warm regards,
Hope
*2025 Call for Nominees:*
The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is looking for individuals to step
into the executive board’s director-at-large roles. Whether you’re from a
public, academic, school, or special library, and regardless of your
position within the library, we encourage you to consider applying.
Directors-at-large play an advisory role, participating in meetings either
in person or remotely, and they may also take on committee leadership
roles. This initial three-year commitment, starting in January 2026, could
potentially lead to board leadership positions, such as secretary or
president.
Help us build a robust and diverse pool of nominees by either nominating
yourself or a colleague using *this form
<https://forms.office.com/r/TB9C0znhXQ>*.
Nominations must be received by * Monday, July 14, 2025*. Your contribution
is greatly appreciated!
*Please contact Hope Houston (Nominating Committee Chair) at
**hhouston(a)bentley.edu
<hhouston(a)bentley.edu>** with any questions. *
*The MLS Nominating Committee:*
Hope Houston, Bentley University (chair)
Kate Gomes, Holbrook Public Library
Miki Wolfe, Morse Institute Library, Natick
Maria Palacio, Acton Public Library
Allyson Malik, Oak Bluffs Public Library
Betsy Meaden, Massachusetts Library System
Sarah Sogigian, Massachusetts Library System
Hope Houston, Executive Director of the Library
Bentley University Library
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452
781-891-2450
<https://www.bentley.edu/library>
Dear colleagues (or perhaps Hello World to the new MCCLPHEI listserv),
Tom Raffensperger and I attended the MLS Executive Board meeting this
afternoon. The Board discussed three items that are worth sharing with
MCCLPHEI.
1. MLS has been working with MHEC to get pricing for the Statewide
databases scheduled to be cut by MBLC on 7/1. Sarah Sogigian, MLS Executive
Director, said she will have additional information to share in a couple of
weeks. It sounds like vendors have been willing to play ball with MHEC. I
shared how FLO is also working on getting pricing from the vendors. Gale
has said if a library picks up a database, and then MBLC resumes the
database, Gale will offer credits and not refunds.
2. The Board will soon solicit nominations to fill two director
positions that will open in January. The two directors scheduled to leave
the board are Tom Raffensperger, Westfield State and Hope Houston, Bentley
University. Please consider throwing your hat in the ring. MLS continues to
do exemplary work. We need to continue to show up and press for support for
academic libraries. Feel free to send me questions about what it means to
serve on the Board.
3. MLS has been engaging in strategic planning this year. At today's
meeting, we reviewed an Organizational Assessment prepared by Stephanie
Chase, a consultant from Construction Disruption. The following opportunity
for next year concerns me: "MLS should consider transitioning from a
statewide, all libraries focus to specific library types currently in the
most need, as highlighted in the “Refocus Efforts” finding. This will
require reallocation of staff capacity to invest in more direct, in person,
one-on-one support for staff at our most vulnerable libraries, and likely
require MLS and the networks to work together in new ways." I asked for
clarification about the "specific library types." Per Stephanie Chase, she
means small and rural publics, school libraries of all kinds, small
academic, and/or special libraries. I am concerned that academic libraries,
and particularly MCCLPHEI will be lost in the shuffle.
Matt
Matt Bejune
Executive Director of the Library
Worcester State University
Office: 508-929-8526
Email: mbejune(a)worcester.edu
Library website: www.worcester.edu/library
Dear MCCLPHEI members -
Our annual meeting/professional development is coming VERY soon.
There is a lot to discuss, and it is changing every day - with the MBLC database cuts and the changing federal landscape. Here is the agenda<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1db2LqjWc8kcq0Z4kPcKLe9C-DGXUHQwHh16tyCV…>
as it stands now.
We will have the business meeting in person AND by zoom on Thursday June 5 at 3pm
at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester.
Dinner will follow the meeting and the professional development is Friday June 6th.
Please RSVP to the MCCLPHEI meeting using this form:<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzzvCysPQJSNrotgmfbkt-Fmfa6PUJC4l…>
(it is helpful to have the "I am unable to attend" response - we'll miss you but we know that several of you are unable to attend.)
Hoping to see you soon in Worcester or online.
Sincerely,
Jordana
PS - These folks have already RSVPd:
Jordana Shaw
Carolyn Michaud
Jackie Kremer
Cynthia S
Matt B
Sarah H
Rob K
Larua M
Liza G
Richard F
Bill H
Tim R
Moonyoung
Spencer
Elizabeth M
Anna S
I assume Time G, Natalie and Richard are coming too.