The Central NY Library Resources Council (CLRC) is happy to announce the winners of its first Library of the Year and Library Staff All-Star of the Year contest.
The CLRC Academic Library of the Year is the Upstate Medical University Health Sciences Library in Syracuse. Our panel of judges noted that this library goes “above and beyond” in what they offer. The library’s services extend far beyond the walls of the physical building. There is extensive outreach and collaboration with the community. The library has been an advocate for broader campus-wide issues such as racial intolerance and LGBTQ issues. The library serves not only clinical staff and students, but the community at large.
The CLRC Public Library of the Year is the Cazenovia Public Library in Cazenovia, Madison County. The library is recognized as “the heart of the community” and “an exceptional community resource”. The library has a children’s story room at the local food/clothing pantry, staffed by two literacy coordinators and promoting literacy among families who might not be as comfortable coming to the library. Page the cat is well-known and loved by all the library’s users.
The CLRC School Library of the Year is the Chittenango High School Library, Chittenango, NY. The library is a welcoming environment where students are accepted, encouraged, and provided with the resources they need to become outstanding students and citizens. Weekly Game Days and Game Night draw students who come to play all sorts of board, video and card games. The Writer’s Chair contest takes entries from the student body, and a local judge reviews them and makes awards.
In all cases, nominations emphasized that it is really the staff who make their libraries great. This brings us to the CLRC Library Staff All-Star of the Year awards:
The CLRC Academic Library Staff All-Star for 2016 is Olivia Tsistinas. Olivia is the Clinical Outreach Librarian at the Upstate Medical University Health Sciences Library where she is “an essential part of Upstate nursing”. She frequently ventures outside the library to bring resources and knowledge to nurses at the hospital, and has made it a goal to reach them where they are. She has adjusted her schedule so she can reach all nurses, on all units, on all shifts.
The CLRC Public Library Staff All-Star of the Year is Betsy Kennedy. Betsy is the Director of the Cazenovia Public Library, a post she has held for the past 30 years. She is described as “a wonderful ambassador for our library, our Town and our whole county”. Our panel of judges noted that Betsy is truly a team player, always pitching in answering phones and serving library patrons whenever the staff needs help. She has seen her dreams of a library museum come to fruition and her enthusiasm is contagious.
The CLRC School Library Staff All-Star of the Year is Julie Olmstead. Julie is the Library Aide at the Memorial Park Elementary School Library in the Waterville Central School District. The school librarian who nominated Julie says she makes coming to the library a joy for the students. She works tirelessly to improve the library facility and has meaningful interactions with each and every school library user.
Congratulations to all of our award winners! The awards will be officially presented at CLRC’s Annual Meeting on October 4, 2016.
Our panel of judges was looking for excellence in the following criteria when selecting the Library of the Year:
- Always prepared to answer questions, be helpful and provide research assistance
- Offers a wide variety of programs & services that appeal to all members of the community
- Library and its staff are active in the community
- Responds to the needs of the community
- Hours and location are convenient for users
- Ease of use (finding what you need)
- Staff has up-to-date skills
- Physical and online spaces are welcoming
- Operates with sustainable practices
The Library Staff All-Stars were selected because they exhibit the following:
- Community Engagement
- Professional Excellence
- Ability to Answer Questions
- Work as a Team Player
- Willingness to Take Leadership Roles
- Sets Example for Colleagues & Community
- Goes Above & Beyond in All Ways
- Reflects the Values of Their Community
The judges were impressed with the outreach efforts of the libraries, and with the dedication and creativity of the library staff. Judges included Barbara Kay Stripling, President-Elect of the New York Library Association (NYLA) and Senior Associate Dean and Associate Professor at Syracuse University’s iSchool; Geoff Kirkpatrick, Past President of NYLA and Director of the Bethlehem Public Library; and Sally Collins, Livonia Public Library Board of Trustees and Friends of the Livonia Library, and a staff member at the Rochester Regional Library Council.