MA Library System's Nonprofit Temp Service Meets Target

Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 10/02/2007

BiblioTemps, a library temporary staffing service created and managed by the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS), Shrewsbury, now runs in the black some three years after its inception. "It’s the first year we were able to put money back into the organization," CMRLS administrator Carolyn Noah said. CMRLS launched the service in 2004 to create an income stream to augment its state funding. CMRLS, with 250 members, offers database, delivery, and development services to academic, public, school and special libraries.

At any given time, BiblioTemps has 20 people in the field, said Noah, in four types of placements. Professional librarians are the most commonly requested, especially reference librarians, interim directors, and youth services personnel. The service also places paraprofessionals, new librarians, and general staffers, the least requested. CMRLS works with the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, and Simmons College, Boston, to recruit new library school graduates. CMRLS offers a price break to encourage clients to hire recent grads and charges no fees to clients who make any placement a permanent hire.