Canastota Public Library
On February 19th, the library will host an informational session about hydrofracking presented by attorney David Slottje.
Cazenovia Public Library
The library continues to host the exhibit, Keeping Up Appearances, the latest collection by local artist Elizabeth Cummings Monroe, which will be on display until March 31st.
The library is partnering with Cazenovia College to present an ongoing series, the Great Minds / Great Ideas Faculty Library Lecture Series. On February 21st at 7pm, John Livermore, assistant professor of mathematics at Cazenovia College, will present “Georg Cantor: Life and Infinity” at the library.
On February 23rd, illusionist Leon Etienne will visit the library for 45 minutes of magic tricks.
The library recently thanked the community for its support in the Cazenovia Republican. The editorial is available here.
DeWitt Community Library
In light of its upcoming 50th anniversary in April, the library was the subject of a recent supportive editorial in the Eagle News.
Hamilton Public Library
From February 10th to March 23rd, the library will feature a colorful exhibit of work by Central New York artists. The exhibit was celebrated on with an open reception on February 10th, followed by the library’s annual all-ages, non-juried Community Art Show.
Manlius Public Library
The Associated Artists will celebrate its 85th anniversary with an exhibit at the library, showing off 40 years of work.
Morrisville Public Library
The New York State Paranormal Research Group visited the library on February 10th to share the results of the night they spent here in the library.
Throughout the month of February, the library is accepting donated canned goods for the Morrisville Food Pantry to pay off old fines.
On February 24th, the library will host an all night event, the Annual Library Lock-In. From 8pm until 8am, the library will have snacks, stories, music, movies, games, karaoke and more.
Oneida Public Library
The library’s budget will be up for vote on March 6th and this editorial by local patrons calls for support of the library and its budget. So does this editorial, this editorial, this editorial, and this editorial. Perhaps this spate of editorials was prompted by this editorial, “Vote no on Oneida Public Library budget.”
Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library
On February 17th, the library will host a Zumba session from 4-4:45.
Utica Public Library
The library faces dire straits as its funding from the county will cease on July 1st. A federal grant will help keep the library open through September of 2012. Read more about the library’s budget situation here.
A few weeks ago, bizarre behavior at the Utica Public Library Wednesday resulted in two women facing charges, city police said. The women climbed on top of the library stack and threatened to jump, police said, and they also broke pencils and threw them at staff. Read more about it here.
Does your public library have news to share? Tell us!
The Southeastern/Atlantic Region National Network of Medical Libraries (SEA/NNLM) is offering a free webinar titled, ‘The Changing Hospital Library Environment: New Roles for Librarians’. It will be held on February 15 at 12:00 (noon) EST.
There is no need to pre-register.
Click here to read more and attend.
Rochester Regional Library Council (RRLC) offers their program materials online for free. Recent additions include handouts and slides for CONTENTdm for Beginners (February 3rd, 2012), as well as lesson plans from Energize your Teaching (January 9th, 2012).
Click here to view the full list and access the materials.
Members of the Upstate New York and Ontario Chapter of the Medical Library Association are eligible for an award of $500 towards professional development. Applications are due by April 2nd, 2012.
Continuing education opportunities can include: registration fees for courses, programs, workshops, and conferences sponsored by UNYOC, professional organizations, regional library councils, graduate schools of library/information science or colleges and universities. Hotel and travel expenses for a continuing education opportunity also qualify for the award, so attending the 2012 conference in Cornwall, Ontario, would be a great use of this award.
Each applicant must submit an application along with a copy of their current CV or resume, a published description of the continuing education/professional development opportunity, and a personal statement (not to exceed 250 words) indicating how this opportunity will further the applicant’s own professional goals and/or how it will help the applicant to realize institutional or organizational goals.
See the full announcement here: http://www.unyoc.mlanet.org/blog/professional-development/professional-development-award/
CLRC’s Executive Director Debby Emerson joined a small group of other library leaders from Onondaga County to discuss the importance of library system with the Post Standard’s Editorial Board.
Elizabeth Dailey of Onondaga County Public Library, Judi Dzikowski of OCM BOCES School Library System, Bob Manning of OCPL, and Mike Borges of NYLA were also at this informal meeting. They discussed the need for advocacy and continuing education for librarians, as well as the significance of libraries in general.
The Editorial Board of the Post Standard published this a few weeks later: Republic of Letters. It’s clear they were listening. The editorial mentions funding levels and legislative priorities for the new year.
Do you have ideas for advocacy activities? How can we spread the word about libraries and library systems? Tell us!
And don’t forget, March 6th is Library Advocacy Day. Please join us in Albany!
CLRC has updated our registration process for continuing education. Under “Events & Continuing Education,” click on “Upcoming Classes.” You will be directed here, where you can pick the class you want to register for, fill in a quick form, and be led directly to Paypal.
We hope that this new system will make registration easy and straightforward. Feel free to email us with any questions.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
DIVISION OF PRESERVATION AND ACCESS
The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Division of Preservation and Access has offered Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions for more than a decade. These grants help small and mid-sized cultural heritage institutions such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections. Awards of up to $6000 support preservation related collection assessments, consultations, training and workshops, and institutional and collaborative disaster and emergency planning. Preservation Assistance Grants also support education and training in best practices for sustaining digital collections, standards for digital preservation, and the care and handling of collections during digitization. Institutions may request funds for a preservation assessment of digital collections. NEH does not fund digitization or the development of digital programs in this grant category.
All applications to the NEH must be submitted through Grants.gov. See the application guidelines for details.
The 2012 guidelines for Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions are available at http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html. You will also find sample project descriptions, sample narratives, and a list of frequently asked questions. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2012.
Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant and those considering projects in digital preservation are especially encouraged to apply.
For more information, contact the staff of NEH’s Division of Preservation and Access at202-606-8570 and preservation@neh.gov
The Northeast Document Conservation Center is offering a free webinar in March to help with this grant writing process!
WRITING YOUR NEH PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANT
March 22, 2012 from 2-4 PM Eastern time
CLRC will be broadcasting this from our offices. Register here!
The Madison-Oneida BOCES Center for Instructional Support recently received the $500 Barron Award from the New York Library Association and will use the money to expand its Adaptive Toy Library.
The Adaptive Toy Library contains nontraditional toys for special needs children. The library’s toys are searchable in the online catalog. The item records include photographs of the toys and targeted skills. Teachers and other staff in the Madison-Oneida BOCES districts can borrow the toys for student use in and out of the classroom.
Read the news story here.
From NYLA Executive Director Michael J. Borges:
NYLA is encouraging all libraries to participate in this year’s SnapshotNY Week that documents a day in the life of your library.
The purpose of the initiative is to provide the public, administrators, state and local funders with both factual data and testimonials that detail the essential nature of libraries to our communities, schools and colleges.
Please visit the updated www.protectnylibraries.org website to submit your materials. The deadline for submitting the information, photos, or videos is February 29th, so that the material will be ready for Library Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 6th.
CLRC members who have already submitted materials to the campaign include:
Madison-Oneida BOCES School Library System
MBA-students of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management have spent the last semester analyzing the impact of Onondaga County Public Library on the lives of patrons and the community. They presented their research on campus on Wednesday, December 14th.
Study adviser Tridib Mazumdar, Howard R. Gendal Professor of Marketing, says of the students’s research, “Public libraries are now asked to provide services that go far beyond lending books, DVDs and travel guides. They offer job training to the unemployed, Internet services to people without the means to connect to the world, language classes to newly arrived immigrants and a safe environment for people to meet. It is undoubtedly difficult to capture and monetize the scope and depth of the services that today’s public libraries provide.
The full article from SU News can be found here.
In particular, please note the testimony from the CLRC region, including:
Mid-York Library System presented by Wanda Bruchis, Mid York Library System Director, with a special entreaty from Board Member, Richard F. Callahan.
The NY3Rs Association, Inc., including our own Executive Director, Debby Emerson
Onondaga County Public Library System, with additional featured testimony from Amy Thorna, Literacy Coordinator and Yan Bhattarai, a Bhutanese native/refugee who now works part-time at the library. Amy and Yan discussed the Meet Me @ the Library project.
Utica Public Library, with testimony offered by the Library Director, Darby O’Brien. Darby discussed how urban libraries, such as her own, support all the citizens of the community throughout their library life cycle.
Prospect Free Library in Oneida County (part of the Mid York Library System) discussed budget implications on small rural libraries and the communities that they serve.
One message in particular that resonated through all the testimony is the importance of funding Library Systems so that all three types of library systems – public, school, and 3Rs (like Mid-York, OCPL, OCM BOCES, OH BOCES, MO BOCES, and CLRC) – can continue to support and enhance the services that we all recognize as a particular value to our constituents.
If you would like to add your voices to the chorus of those speaking up for libraries, please consider joining us on Advocacy Day 2012 on March 6. CLRC will be sponsoring a bus again this year, so please watch the site and your in-boxes for more information.
The Onondaga County Public Library Foundation is raising money for a “Library to Go” service. Funds raised will be used to purchase a Library to Go van, making it possible for public libraries to reach residents throughout Onondaga County at community events and locations. The van will be equipped with Internet service, books, DVDs, CDs and information reference services. It also will offer programs such as story times, book talks and basic computer instruction. The campaign goal is $250,000. To donate contact the Onondaga County Public Library at 435-1900 or director@onlib.org. – story from syracuse.com.
Joan Green of Cazenovia recently donated 2,000 of her cookbooks to Syracuse University’s Carnegie Library, where it they will join the circulating cookbook collection. The majority of Green’s cookbooks are about Chinese cuisine. Read the full story from the Post-Standard here.
Many CLRC members would benefit from an extra $1,500, and we know that many of you are innovative in your programming. Please consider applying for this grant from ALA!
ALA Information Today Library of the Future Award honors a library, library consortium, group of librarians or support organization for innovative planning for, applications of or development of patron training programs about information technology in a library setting. The award includes $1,500 and a 24k gold-framed citation, donated by Information Today, Inc.
Selection criteria will consider the benefit to clients served; benefit to the technology information community; impact on library operations; public relations value; and the impact on the perception of the library or librarian in the work setting and to the specialized and/or general public.
The deadline has been extended to December 21st.
The brief, one-page application can be found here.
New Hartford Library, a member of the MidYork Library System, recently began the process of becoming a school district library. Currently, the library is a municipal public library, and therefore receives its funding through the town of New Hartford’s budget. This budget line, like that of Oneida county’s, has been decreasing every year. As a school district library, New Hartford Library will be able to depend on its budget as a more consistent, stable source, and the funds will be drawn from a larger pool of tax-payers.
Read more about New Hartford Library’s switch, including insights from Michael Borges of NYLA and Wanda Bruchis of MidYork, here.
The Oneida Common Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, November 30th, to address the 2012 budget proposed by the mayor. In this budget, which included a 3% property tax increase, all funding to Sherrill-Kenwood library was cut. This is a $2,500 difference for the library. Funding for the Madison County Historical Society was cut in half, reduced to $7,500.
More information about what was cut and what was added can be found here.
Oneida Public Library, a member of the Mid-York Library System, is planning a new building to be located on Main Street in Oneida.
Holmes, King, Kallquist & Associates of Syracuse are designing the new building and updated the Oneida Planning Commission during its November meeting. The new building will have two main entrances, both located on Main Street, and be accessible on Elizabeth Street. The parking lot will have 67 spaces. The building itself will be one story and have approximately 18,000 square feet of room, a increase of about 10,000 square feet from the current library building.
This is the current Oneida Public Library building, located on Broad Street in Oneida.
More about the building plans described at the November meeting of the Oneida Planning Commission can be found here. More about the Oneida Public Library’s New Initiative project can be found here.
The Madison-Oneida BOCES School Library System recently received a $20,000 grant from the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Regional Program.
The grant-winning project is titled “Ignite the Common Core with Library of Congress Primary Resource Documents.” This project will engage teams of pre-service and practicing school librarians, social studies and art and music teachers in professional development related to primary sources from the Library of Congress and local resources, the Common Core Learning Standards, and inquiry based instruction.
Other goals include increasing sustainable collaboration among school librarians and classroom teachers, and fostering pre-service educator awareness of the value of collaboration with school librarian.
Teams will produce and share integrated lesson plans and provide turnkey training in their schools, at the Madison-Oneida BOCES for all of its component districts (and by the pre-service team members at local universities).
Primary resource information will also be shared through printed materials, webpages, a Moodle learning management system, and at presentations at professional conferences.
To see the full list of grant recipients and instructions to apply, click here.
On November 16th, 2011, METRO and ACRL/NY hosted Rebecca Guenther, former Senior Networking Specialist at the Library of Congress, for a lecture titled “Change in the Digital Age: Metadata Trends for Libraries.” A video recording of the lecture is available online here.
Guenther discussed descriptive and technical metadata standards and digital resources. She described how new methods of resource-finding have changed with the explosion of available information on the Internet.
The New York State Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) will be holding a training session/info class on BARD downloadable talking books this Saturday, Nov. 26 at the New York State Library from 11-12. It will be taught by Michael Whitney, the BARD administrator and a Senior Librarian at the TBBL.
The class will be held in the Library computer classroom on the 7th floor of the Cultural Education Center at the State Library in Albany, and registration is required because there are only 12 PCs in the classroom. The class is appropriate for any current TBBL patrons who may need help with downloading basics, but would be useful to patron family members or caregivers who want to learn how to help with downloading.
Local librarians should consider taking this class or a future BARD class, in case they get questions from their own patrons about downloadable talking books. Also, any public library registered with TBBL can obtain a digital player that can be used to demonstrate digital books to their patrons with print disabilities. The registered libraries can then sign up for a DEMO BARD account. Click here for more information.
Downloadable talking books are available from TBBL to eligible, registered patrons who have already received one of the new digital players. Patrons with print disabilities who sign up for talking book service and receive the free digital player, can then apply online for a BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) account, and have access to about 25,000 downloadable talking books, as well as about 50 magazines.
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), along with the American Library Association’s Office for Library Advocacy and the Washington Office, is asking that every single person in the country who cares about libraries contact their U.S. Senators in Washington at 202-224-3121 or at their local offices in your state about the importance of including school libraries in the reauthorization of ESEA. Please let us know when you’ve made your call by emailingaltaff@ala.org.
Background: ESEA reauthorization, currently known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), will determine federal education policy for the coming decade. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee marked-up (voted out of committee) ESEA on October 20, 2011 without including school libraries! While no date has yet been set for a Senate vote, the American Library Association believes that it may come up after January 23, 2012.
What It Means for School Libraries: Ensuring that school libraries are included in ESEA reauthorization means that federal funding for schools would also include school libraries. But, more importantly, having school libraries included in ESEA is a strong statement that school library programs are considered an important part of the learning environment. This will make it harder for local decision makers to de-professionalize or cut school library services.
Why YOU Should Care: As library supporters, it probably goes without saying that you value libraries at all levels. But if you are not directly associated with a school library, it may well be that you really haven’t thought much about them and their contribution to every school, community, and even your own library! Because of the pending vote on ESEA – which does not now include school libraries – it’s time for you to focus your library love on school libraries.
Studies have shown categorically that children who go to school without libraries and, importantly, school librarians, fare worse in academic achievement than those who have them. Professionally staffed school libraries are a very small investment to raise academic achievement. And we all know that kids who read succeed!
We all pay the price of the academic failure of our youngsters. Crime rates, unemployment, social service costs, prison stays all go up when kids don’t succeed in school. We pay dearly for that. Not only are taxes higher as a result, but human potential is lost.
When school libraries are shut down or certified librarians are eliminated, public libraries and academic libraries also pay a price. Children without access to instruction by school librarians will miss out on learning how to find, identify and use information appropriately. Public libraries, community college libraries, and even four year colleges and universities see an immediate influx of new users (school children) when area school libraries are closed down.
This means more materials and staffing are needed for public libraries (whose budgets are also being challenged across the country) and they often lack the curriculum-related materials the students need. In addition, one of the greatest effects on the public library from underfunded school libraries is the demand from school librarians themselves and classroom teachers for materials to use in the classroom.
When one type of library is threatened, all libraries are threatened.
What You Can Do: It is imperative that every library supporter in the country call or email both of their Senators now! Let them know that ESEA must include a specific authorization for an effective school library program. Senators can do this by telling both Senator Tom Harkin and Senator Mike Enzi that they support including an effective school library program in ESEA.
In addition, we ask that you spread the word. Ask your spouse, your friends, and your acquaintances to act now. Facebook, twitter, and email about this. Let’s start a school library movement! Your voice counts – please use it on behalf of professionally staffed school libraries.
ESEA Talking Points
Ø Since 1965, more than 60 education and library studies have produced clear evidence that school library media programs staffed by qualified school librarians have a positive impact on student academic achievement.
Ø Spending for school library programs is the single most important variable related to better student achievement.
Ø At the elementary level, four out of five schools (over 80%) with full-time librarians had more students who earned proficient or above proficient test scores on the CAT5 tests for reading, language arts, and mathematics. In schools with no librarian at all, only about half had more high-achievement students.
Ø At the secondary level, nine out of ten schools (over 90%) with full-time librarians had more students who earned proficient or above proficient test scores on the CAT5 tests for reading, language arts, and mathematics. In schools with no librarian at all, only about half had more high-achievement students.
Ø Based on analysis from its first year of funding, 95% of local education agencies that received funding from the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program have reported increases in their reading scores. In its second year of funding, grantees reported access during non-school hours increased in just one year from 30% in 2005 to 72% in 2006.
Ø This is the information age. Our leaders are starting to understand it’s not enough for kids to know how to read – they must also be information literate.
Ø Family literacy activities are supported by 42% of public school libraries strengthening the entire network of support for student learning and achievement.
Ø Students visit school libraries almost 1.5 billion times during the school year – about one and a half times the number of visits to state and national parks.
Ø Funding for school libraries comprises a very small portion of a school library’s budget but studies show that the return on this investment in terms of student achievement is high.
(By Michael Borgess, Executive Director of NYLA. Re-posted from NYLINE.)
At the 5th Annual Library Assistant’s Day in Syracuse on October 25th, 2011, Nora Hardy, Assistant Director of the South Central Regional Library Council (SCRLC), gave a presentation entitled “E-books & E-readers & Libraries, Oh My!”
In addition to introducing e-books and their rapid growth in libraries, Ms. Hardy provides a great bibliography for further reading.
This presentation is available as a pdf to download here. More of Ms. Hardy’s presentations are available from the SCRLC site.
the Assembly also wants to learn about the impact of state budget cuts on *library SYSTEM funding.*
CLRC funding has been cut 22% in the last 2 years. For example, we’ve
had to cut our RBDB program significantly. That money used to be
available to support regional access to databases, and to provide grants
to libraries in the region to help them complete digitization, metadata
and retrocon projects. We would like that funding restored!
written testimony.
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY – Bob Reilly, Member of Assembly, Chair
SUBJECT: Funding Public Libraries in New York State
PURPOSE: To examine the impact of the 2011-12 State Budget on public libraries across New York State.
ALBANY
Tuesday
November 29, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Hamilton Hearing Room B
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York
In the 2011-12 State budget, the Executive proposed an $8.4 million reduction in Aid to Public Libraries. Despite the challenging fiscal times, the Legislature was able to restore $3 million in library funding. The final approved budget for 2011-12 provided $79 million in state aid for libraries and library systems, including a continuation of $8 million in formula supplemental grants for library systems. In addition, language was included in the budget to ensure that the funding for libraries and library systems are impacted proportionately, assuring that all programs will continue to receive funding. Finally, the budget provided $14 million in capital funding to continue the Public Library Construction Grant Program for the sixth consecutive year.
This hearing will seek testimony on the impact the 2011-12 State budget has had on public libraries across New York State. In addition, the Committee is seeking testimony to ascertain the future needs of our public libraries and library systems.
The National Endowment for the Arts is now accepting applications for the 2012 Big Read grants. Seventy-five organizations will receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to participate in the Big Read from September 2012 through June 2013.
The Big Read supports organizations across the country in developing community-wide reading programs that include innovative, diverse activities such as author readings, book discussions, art exhibits, lectures, film series, music or dance events, theatrical performances, panel discussions, and other events and activities related to their chosen book or poet which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences and lapsed or reluctant readers.
Organizations selected to participate receive a grant, access to online training resources and opportunities, and educational and promotional materials designed to support widespread community involvement.
Applicant organizations for The Big Read must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; a division of state, local, or tribal government; or a tax-exempt public library. Eligible applicants include such organizations as literary centers, libraries, museums, colleges and universities, art centers, historical societies, arts councils, tribal governments, humanities councils, literary festivals, and arts organizations.
Grants must be matched at least 1 to 1 with nonfederal funds. Grant funds may be used for such expenses as book purchases, speaker fees and travel, salaries, advertising, and venue rental. Please see the Program Budget Instructions below for more information.
For the full grant application, click here.
The Brodsky Series for the Advancement of Library Conservation was pleased to present Lois Olcott Price, Senior Conservator of Library Collections and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Winterthur Museum of the University of Delaware as its speaker on Friday, October 28nd at 4 p.m. Price presented a lecture titled “Line, Shade & Shadow: Fabrication and Preservation of Architectural Drawings.”
Price emphasized the identification and understanding in materials and processes used to create architectural drawings in the 18th to 20th centuries. From there, she discussed the appropriate housing and treatment options for such collections.
Click here to read the full story and find links to the recorded lecture and a transcript of the lecture. Lecture slides and workshop handouts are also available to download.
Those unable to attend this year’s NYLA conference in Saratoga Springs can now view some of the handouts and other materials through the New York State Library website.
These materials include “Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision and Plan for Library Service in New York State; Preliminary Recommendations of the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to the New York State Board of Regents.” There is also information about the 2012 Summer Reading in NY program, materials from the Talking Book and Braille Library, and resources for school media specialists.
The site links to several fact sheets about funding opportunities, like Library Services and Technology Act grants, Public Library Construction grants, and State Education Department grants.
Click here to see the full list.
The Upstate New York and Ontario Chapter of the Medical Library Association’s 2011 Conference was held from October 12th to the 14th in Poughkeepsie, New York. The theme was Explorations on the Hudson: Technology, Trends, and Health Care Reform.
Presentations from the conference have been posted on the UNYOC/MLA website and include the following:
Outfitting future physical therapists for their voyage into professional practice
by Karen Lamson, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Michelle Zafron, University at Buffalo Health Sciences Library
McMaster University’s Health Sciences Library: a case study of partnerships in information literacy
by Elizabeth Yates, McMaster University Health Sciences Library
Clic-on-Health Extending the Reach: Health Information Resources for Unaffiliated Health Professionals
by Barbara Ciambor, Rochester Regional Library Council
Case Studies in Virtual Gate Counts: Putting Analytics into Action
by Dean Hendrix, University at Buffalo Health Sciences Library
Keeping Healthy with an iPhone: An Introduction to Consumer Health Apps
by Linda Hasman, University at Buffalo Health Sciences Library
Web Solutions for 10 Tech Dilemmas
by Jovy-Anne Rosario, New York Medical College Health Sciences Library
Rise Google+ Rise
by Gabe Rios, UAB Lister Hill Library
Advances in Integration of Electronic Clinical Knowledge and Guidance in the Clinician Workflow
by Patricia L. Hale, MD, PhD
NN/LM MAR Update
by Renae Barger, MAR Executive Director
Knowledge…The Answer to our Healthcare Challenges
by Danny Aronzon, MD
| Fayetteville Free Library is fundraising for their Fab Lab for their soon-to-be renovated East Wing, seen to the right. They have already received first round approval for a New York State Library Construction Grant of $250,000 for this renovation. | |
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The Fab Lab will feature a MakerBot Thing-o-Matic 3D printer, made available to the library through a generous donation from Express Computer Services. On October 20th, the project won an Innovation Award of $10,000 from the Contact Summit.
This project makes Fayetteville Free Library the first public library in America to offer free, open access to 3D printing technology. |
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As part of the Council’s ongoing advocacy efforts, the CLRC Legislative Committee organizes a “LegislativeBreakfast” which allows any and all interested parties to come and engage their local Assembly Member or State Senator on issues relating to libraries, the role libraries play in local communities, and any other comments, questions, or concerns that you may have for them about libraries or information agencies. |
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This meeting is a chance for you to speak out on behalf of libraries, as well as a venue for your local supporters to voice their support for you. Please join us for this year’s Legislative Breakfasts—always an entertaining and informational start to an early December morning.
This event is provided free of charge, but registration is requested so we may provide you with a nametag and plan our refreshments appropriately. Click here to register. Friday, December 2: 8:30am to 10am at the Frank J. Basloe Library, Herkimer, New York Friday, December 9: 8:30am to 10am at Onondaga Free Library, Syracuse, New York
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| Letter from Executive Director Debby Emerson |
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As our first CLRC Legislative Breakfast of 2011 rapidly approaches (on Friday, December 2 at the Frank J. Basloe Library in Herkimer, NY), we thought we would take a moment to let everyone know what to expect this year as we’ve changed the format a bit.
First, as usual, we will begin the morning with a social hour, where guests and legislators are invited to partake in morning refreshments and chat informally. At 9am, I will make some brief opening remarks and introduce the legislators; this is where the event will differ from what we’ve previously done. In the past, our legislative guests have sat at a “head table” where they delivered their remarks and answered questions from the audience. This year, we plan to seat the legislators (or their representatives) around the room. They will make their opening remarks and then each will meet and answer questions one-on-one and/or in small groups. Question time will be limited so that everyone who wants a chance to speak may have it. We believe that this change will facilitate discussion and make the legislators more accessible to the gathered constituency. In addition, each legislator will have a host who’s charge will be to keep the discussion moving and take notes on the questions being asked. These hosts will be made up of members both from CLRC’s legislative committee as well as from volunteers from the iSchool at Syracuse University. CLRC will also be showing multiple videos in small formats, rather than a large screening of a single video. This year, we will place the winning videos from our Advocacy Video Contest around the room to be shown on continuous loop. At the Syracuse Breakfast, on Friday December 9 at Onondaga Free Library in Syracuse, we will present awards to the winners who attend that breakfast. If you haven’t yet signed up for an event, there is still time! Click here to sign up for either the Herkimer breakfast on December 2 or the Syracuse breakfast on December 9. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. |
Onondaga County Public Library is one of just eight public libraries, library branches and public library systems awarded a grant from New York State Library Family Literacy Library Services.
All eight grants total $234,745 for 2011-2012. OCPL has been awarded $33,963 for A.B.C.: Access Books and Computers @ Your Library. The program will provide parents and caregivers of children ages 3-5 with access to age-appropriate software to build skills in reading, art, music, math, geography and more. Self-contained, child-friendly computers, Early Literacy Stations (ELS), will provide an alternative to recreational computer use and support for school readiness. 24 themed story hours will be offered and will incorporate demonstration of the ELS.
To read more about the NYS Family Literacy Library Services Program, click here.
The New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC has released its 2011 Voter’s Guide: The Library Advocate’s Guide to the Voting Records of the New York State Legislature.
“The 2011 Voter’s Guide reflects our annual effort to grade legislators on their documented voting records concerning library funding and legislative issues,” stated John Hammond, spokesman for the New Yorkers for Better Libraries.
“We are very pleased that there was a significant improvement in the voting records of legislators compared to last year. This improvement can be attributed to legislators’ increased appreciation for the important role libraries are playing during this tough economy in helping the unemployed search and apply for jobs, improving literacy and reading skills among all age levels and providing access to unbiased and uncensored information critical to the functioning of our democracy,” continued Mr. Hammond.
“There was a marked improvement especially in the voting records of Assembly Democrats, thanks in part to the efforts of Assembly Library Committee Chair Bob Reilly and Assemblyperson Amy Paulin working with Assembly staff to reach a satisfactory compromise on many of our issues. However, we were disappointed that the Assembly did not join the state Senate in proposing a restoration in Library Aid,” stated Mr. Hammond.
“Once again, the Senate really shined and came through for the library community by passing five of the New York Library Association’s 2011 Legislative Priorities, three of which were signed into law by the Governor.In addition, the Senate proposed a $4 million restoration in Library Aid, of which $3 million was included in the adopted 2011-12 State Budget,’ said Mr. Hammond.
“Long time library champion, Senator Hugh Farley, receives this year’s 2011 Ex Libris Award for his leadership role in the restoration of Library Aid, for sponsoring two of the bills signed into law, and for receiving the highest score (160 A+) on the Voter’s Guide.
A copy of the 2011 Voter’s Guide can be found here and at the New York Library Association’s website here
The 2011 Voter’s Guide is being distributed to legislators, the media and the library community throughout New York.
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by Barbara Nichols Randall
Director
Guilderland Public Library
Onondaga County has scheduled civil service exams for Librarian II and Librarian IV. There are two vacancies for Librarian II in Northern Onondaga Public Library.
Librarian II requires two years of post-masters experience. Librarian IV requires six years of post-masters experience. For either position, the minimum qualifications include possession of a graduate library degree from a library school located within New York State which is registered by the State Education Department or from a library school program which is accredited by the American Library Association.
The deadline for both exam applications is November 11th, 2011. The price for each of the exams is $15.
Click here for more information about the Librarian II exam.
Click here for more information about the Librarian IV exam.
Newspaper coverage available through the NOVELNY initiative will be upgraded on October 25th with the replacement of InfoTrac Custom Newspapers with Gale Newsstand. Newsstand includes all of the content from Custom Newspapers and more. The move to Newsstand should address concerns on timely updating of content noted in the Custom Newspapers product. The National Newspaper Index and New York State Newspapers access will remain unchanged.
The title list for InfoTrac Newsstand may be found at: http://www.gale.cengage.com/title_lists/. Find the fact sheet for Newsstand at: http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/facts/ITCN.pdf.
Libraries registered for NOVELNY and maintaining a separate link to Custom Newspapers will have to delete that link and create a link to Newsstand (see URL below). The existing link to Custom Newspapers will remain active until Monday, November 28, 2011.
The link to Custom Newspapers will need to be changed to Newsstand at the URL below, substituting your library’s Location ID for the text “xx_xxxx”.
If you have any questions about the change please contact Gale at access.gale.com/noveltech/ (to submit questions online) or gale.technicalsupport@cengage.com or 1-800-877-4253 (press 4).
NOVELNY is a pilot project for the Statewide Internet Library provided by the New York State Library. It connects New Yorkers in every community to state-of-the-art information without regard to economic, geographic, or physical barriers. The NOVELNY pilot opened a new era in library service, thanks to support from the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) program and the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Questions about, or problems with, the NOVELny Databases program? Contact us at
The Middle Atlantic Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) has just announced new funding opportunities for full and affiliate members. These Express Awards have a quick turnover; the deadline to apply is November 18th. Read more about the grants here.
Exhibit Awards (up to $2,000) are intended for exhibiting at events held before April 30th, 2012, to promote the National Library of Medicine and NN/LM.
Professional Development Awards (up to $2,500) are available for individuals to use towards professional seminars, meetings or conferences, continuing education, or the fees incurred to host a symposium or trainer at the home institution.
The New Roles for Information Professionals Express Award (up to $10,000) is intended to fund projects to advocate the role of health information professionals.
The Outreach to Health Professionals Express Award (up to $10,000) is intended to fund projects that increase awareness and/or promote the access to health information and/or library services.
The Outreach to Consumers Express Award (up to $10,000) is intended to promote health information and services to consumers.
The Technology Improvement Express Award (up to $10,000) is intended to enhance the capacity of an organization to offer electronic health information services by supporting the purchase, installation, and/or upgrading of hardware and software.
Colgate University’s Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology’s LASR (Library Automated Storage and Retrieval System) has been featured in the September 15th, 2011 issue of Library Journal. The article, entitled “Robot Visions,” can be seen here.
Case library has been extensively renovated in the last decade and this storage solution was chosen over the standard options of off-site storage or compact shelving. Not only was the LASR less expensive than those other options, it is incredibly fast.
More than 340,000 relatively low-use items are held in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. Case Library has been able to use the space made available by the LASR to offer much more seating for students, besides also housing the University’s Information Technology Service’s department.