Leatherstocking Conference
October 2022
Thanks to a professional development grant from CLRC, I was able to attend the Leatherstocking Conference, hosted by OHM School Library System (OHM BOCES).
There were several benefits of the Leatherstocking Conference. Even though the conference focused on school librarians, public librarians were invited to attend, and I was able to bring back many ideas back to the public library.
Eric Gansworth was the keynote speaker. He is an author and visual artist, born and raised in the Tuscarora Nation. Eric believes that it’s good to have books where characters are in conflict and mentioned that our youth want to read books about their immediate concerns. As a public librarian, this is an important concept because we need to provide books and materials about sensitive topics! Some people may believe that books about sensitive topics don’t belong in a public/school library, but for various reasons, our youth need access to these materials.
I also attended three sessions during the conference:
- Wrapped Around Reading: Best books of 2022 ~ This session focused on books published in 2022 for Kindergarten through 12th grade
- Social Media, the Internet & Our Students ~ This session focused on how to teach media literacy as well as some tips, tricks & curriculum resources.
- Accessing and using the NYS Digital Heritage Collections, and Traveling Immigration Collection ~ This session was about accessing and using the NYS Digital Heritage Collections and the Traveling Immigration Collection.
During the Best Books of 2022 session, I realized that librarians should not be judging others on what they read. We should be encouraging, not censoring, what others read! For example, graphic novels, comic books, and manga are becoming popular. Some people feel that these are not real books, so they encourage others to read books with more print and less art and pictures. A librarian also mentioned that in the United States, it’s okay to read about violence, but not love, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
During Social Media, the Internet, and Our Students session with Michelle Babbie, I learned that some teenagers believe they know everything about online use. Michelle said that by the end of the year, students realize they don’t know everything about online use and are glad that they took the class! Some students wish that there wasn’t the pressure to look like they had such a perfect and amazing life!
When I attended the NYS Digital Heritage Collections session, I didn’t know that there was a program called “Consider The Source New York,” where educators are connected to primary sources and activities that help teach history. There are patrons at Dunham Public Library who have used the New York Heritage Collections and Newspapers. Consider the Source New York will come in handy for teachers who need additional resources!
One final highlight of this conference was being able to network with other librarians. I once worked as a school library media specialist, so it is nice to connect with my former colleagues and to learn about the work they are doing at their schools! It is wonderful to be able to exchange ideas! We even had time to visit several library-related vendors! I met Anna Dobkowski from CLRC, and she was willing to take my picture at her booth!
If you would like to learn more about my experience at the Leatherstocking Conference, please contact me at cpaniccia@midyork.org or at (315) 736-9734 ext. 214!
Christina Paniccia
Librarian, Dunham Public Library
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