If you are visiting this web page, you have probably enjoyed a book, audiobook or video supplied to your local library by the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS). We hope that this material has been useful to you, and are glad that you are interested in learning more about us and about the Durkan Fund that supports some of our purchases.

WMRLS is a private nonprofit organization that provides support services to the libraries and residents of Western Massachusetts. Membership in WMRLS is free-of-charge and open to any library within our geographic area that meets basic requirements set by the state. Our Supplemental Materials program supplies small public libraries with large deposits of popular items such as unabridged audiobooks, large-print books, videos, and various kinds of fiction that they may not be able to afford in sufficient quantity. During your travels you may have seen our Bookmobile delivering these materials to libraries.

The Durkan Fund was named for Rena Durkan who, in 1997, named WMRLS among the beneficiaries of her will. Ms. Durkan, who lived in Amherst, was secretary to Amherst College President Stanley King and also worked at the college's Robert Frost Library until her retirement. Her knowledge of the value of the WMRLS bookmobile to small, rural libraries led her to make this bequest to WMRLS.

In Fiscal Year 2003, WMRLS sustained a 24% state budget cut. This devastating cut wiped out our materials budget. Therefore, for the first time, we are using the interest accrued in the Durkan Fund to purchase our supplemental collections. We would not be able to purchase any materials this year, if it were not for the late Rena M. Durkan.

Rena Durkan's generosity has touched library-users across Western Massachusetts. If you, too, would like to support WMRLS services, please contact John Ramsay, WMRLS Regional Administrator, at 800/282-7755 x113 or jramsay@wmrls.org, for more information.

WMRLS Services and Programs