Chicken Soup for the Soul Sweepstakes

For fifteen years, Chicken Soup for the Soul, a world leader in life improvement, has been helping real people share real stories, bringing hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. To help celebrate our 15th ANNIVERSARY, we’re awarding 4 libraries with an assortment of exciting prizes. Enter online here by February 23.

Implementing Chapter 414 (Inch by Inch) 2nd Edition Released

The MidHudson Library System has created a second edition of the classic Chapter 414 handbook: Inch by Inch, Row by Row: Implementing Chapter 414 of New York State’s 1995 laws, the "local votes law" for public libraries: http://midhudson.org/trustee/414mhls.pdf

Chapter 414 of the laws of 1995 in New York State allows libraries – in particular - municipal and association libraries the opportunity to put their budget up for a public vote.

New for the 2nd Edition:
- Expanded Q&A section
- Timeline & Suggested Activities tied to the MHLS Getting to Yes Project's Public Library Vote Toolbox [http://midhudson.org/vote/default.htm]
- Municipal Communications
- Petition Tips
- Sample FAQ list for the public
- Challenges to the Law & Outcomes

This second edition of Inch by Inch, Row by Row is an expansion of a document created by the Southern Adirondack Library System.

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Grant Opportunity - MVLS Community Connections Grants

MVLS is happy to offer 2009 Community Connections Grants to our member libraries. The purpose of the grant is to develop or enhance library services for people in the categories mentioned below in Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, and Schoharie Counties. It also serves to initiate or strengthen cooperation between member libraries and community agencies.

Libraries may request up to $1000. This competitive grant may be used to provide equipment, materials, or programs for people comprising the following categories:
- older adults;
- people with visual, mental, or physical disabilities;
- geographically isolated people;
- educationally disadvantaged people;
- people who are unemployed and in need of job placement;
- those confined to an institution;
- members of ethnic or minority groups in need of special services.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 24. Please contact Lois Gordon with questions.

2009 MVLS Award Nomination Sought

The Mohawk Valley Library System Board of Trustees is currently accepting nominations for the 2009 Trustees Award and the 2009 Library Recognition Award. Both are presented at the MVLS annual dinner in May and include a cash award.

Established in 1975, the Trustees Award honors individual contributions of time and effort promoting libraries and furthering the work of a library or the system. Eligible nominees are trustees of member libraries or the system or other volunteers who have given outstanding services in developing library services in the region. Paid staff is not eligible. Nominations for the Trustees Award are accepted from trustees, system or library staff. The Award includes a framed certificate and citation, and $200 presented to the recipient's affiliated library or system to be used for the purchase of library materials.

The Library Recognition Award honors a member library for its achievements in one or more of the following categories:

- A new or continuing program demonstrating: “Excellence in Service.”

- “Sustained Outreach and / or Programming” efforts to reach an underserved and/or new customer population.

- “Innovative Services, Methods or Approaches” to improve library services in their service area.

Nominations may be made by trustees, library or system staff, or Friends of the Library members. The Award includes a framed certificate and citation and $500 to be used for library materials, programming, or to seed new services or programs.

Nominations for both awards are due on March 27, 2009. Nomination forms are available on the MVLS website and should be forwarded to the MVLS Awards Committee c/o Mohawk Valley Library System, 858 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady, NY 12306.

Workshop - Regional Reads

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Place: Margaret Reaney Memorial Library, Saint Johnsville
Presenter: Beverly Choltco-Devlin, Mid-York Library System

Since 2004, the Mid-York Library System has organized two successful regional reads. Beverly Choltco-Devlin will discuss the process involved in planning and implementing these two successful events, including the variety of activities that can be related to book themes; the practical issues of planning and funding these events; collaboration with community partners, and most importantly, the numerous opportunities for participation on a variety of levels by
libraries of all sizes within the system.

Please register for this workshop with Lois or Kathy by February 3.

Workshop - Google's Cool Research & Collaboration Tools

Date: Friday, March 6, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Place: Guilderland Public Library
Presenter: Carol LaRow
Cost: $85 for NYLA members, $120 for non-members

In this NYLA Institute, discover Google’s free online tools for research & learning presented by a “Google Certified Teacher.” This workshop will teach participants how to customize an iGoogle start page, customize news, search news archives by timeline, receive various alerts, create & share online booklists, locate books in libraries by zip code, collaborate online with colleagues or students, participate in real-time editing with Google Docs, and use gadgets to discover global information. Participants will also learn tools that will enhance the library, personal productivity or curriculum.

Google Maps, Picasa, Notebook, Scholar, Reader, contextual navigation, translator, Google Earth and Google Sky will also be discussed. By the end of the program participants will be empowered to bring specific technology integration ideas back to their libraries.

The registration deadline is February 20. Full program information and online registration is available here.

Velma Moore Award

The Velma Moore Award was established by NYSALB to honor the memory of Velma Moore, wife of former New York State Lt. Governor Frank C. Moore. Velma was one of the charter members of the Library Trustees Foundation of New York, which later became NYSALB.

The award carries a cash prize of $750 for the library of the recipient's choice along with recognition at the Trustee Institute and a certificate of recognition. The award is granted to an individual or group of individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the development of library services in New York State. Nominees may include trustees, a community member, staff, or any group of library supporters. Please note the following are NOT eligible: current NYSALB directors and previous NYSALB directors cannot be considered until one year after leaving service on the NYSALB board.

This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the efforts of someone committed to bettering library services. Nominations may be submitted by mail or email. Please mail nominations to Rita Reissig, 360 Castle Street, Geneva, NY 14456. Nominations via e-mail should be sent to rreissig@gmail.com. The DEADLINE for nominations is February 15, 2009. The letter of nomination should include: name, address and phone number of the nominee, their library affiliation, and a statement of not more than 250 works on the reason for nomination. Questions on the award may be directed to Rita Reissig at rreissig@gmail.com or by telephone 315-781-1849.

StoryTubes 2009 Video Contest

StoryTubes is here! From New York to California, kids in grades K to 12 are talking up their favorite books. You can too!

Along with a parent or guardian, make a 2-minute video about a favorite book; upload the video to YouTube; and visit the StoryTubes website and send in the link to their uploaded YouTube video using the online Contest Entry Form. Beginning in March, videos becomes part of a national contest, with voting taking place each week! Prizes are awarded to kids and their sponsoring libraries or schools. Get all the rules and more info at the StoryTubes website.

Workshop - Best of the Best 2008

Date: Rescheduled to Thursday, January 15, 2009
Time: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM (Director's Council to follow)
Place: MVLS Service Center

Join Carol and Sue for their annual look at the best books of 2008. Come early and stay late to select children's preview titles! Please RSVP by January 12 to Kathy Insero.

Director's Council to follow workshop. Lunch may be ordered.

Grant Opportunity - IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

Based on the enthusiastic response from information professionals throughout the country, the Institute of Museum and Library Services will offer a third and final round of competition to distribute an additional 1,000 copies of the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf is intended to provide small and medium-sized libraries and museums with essential resources needed to improve the condition of their collections. The Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.

Applications must be submitted online between January 5 and March 9, 2009. Complete information and application forms can be found here.

15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest

Do kids in your library have great stories to tell? Why not share them? Kids in grades K through 3 are invited to submit an original story (50 - 200 words for entries in grades K-1; 100-350 words for entries in grades 2-3), accompanied by at least 5 original illustrations, to the 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Authors and Illustrators Contest. Winners for each grade level will be selected on a national level, and everyone who enters will receive a certificate of achievement.

Entries will be accepted from January 2 through March 16, 2009. For complete contest details and an entry form, visit the WMHT website.