Webinar - Helping Job Seekers in the Library

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/313/index.html
Cost: Free

Your library has been helping the unemployed and underemployed (aka job seekers) in your community for a long time. However, the declining economy over the past year has dramatically increased the demands on library staff, services, and resources. Would you like to learn about some successful programs in other libraries? Do you wonder if there are some new ideas you could try for getting patrons started? Would you like to know the resources other libraries recommend to job seekers? Are you interested in partnerships but feel unsure who to talk to?

This webinar will help you by introducing three successful programs, giving you a fresh look at getting started in helping job seekers, providing information about some "best resources", and exploring agencies and organizations you may consider partnering with.

To attend this webinar, just visit the link above on November 10 starting at 2:30 PM. There is no need to preregister for this webinar.

Webinar - Emergency Preparedness Basics for Libraries

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (note: registration lists time in Central time, so says 2-3 PM)
Place: Online http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/workshops/emergencybasicslibraries/index.html
Cost: Free

Join Dr. Julie Todaro, Dean of Austin Community College Libraries as she gives library staff a short list of essentials associated with emergency management for the library. Julie will share tips from her book, Emergency Preparedness for Libraries, published by Government Institutes in August 2008. Julie's book offers libraries a tool for examining various emergency and disaster scenarios. It is unique in its emphasis on how library management may prepare for and respond to foreseen and unforeseen circumstances. Register for this free webinar by clicking on the link above.

Contact Your State Legislators

As you may know, the Governor has proposed mid-year budget cuts to close a $3 billion budget deficit. The proposal includes a 10% across the board cut to all state aid programs like Library Aid, which will result in a $3.3 million reduction in funding for library services. School Aid will be cut by 4.5%.

The proposed $3.3 million reduction in Library Aid is on top of the $8 million cut imposed back in April and the $3 million cut sustained last year. If the proposed cuts are approved, it will reduce Library Aid to $88 million or 1998 level of funding. With library usage continuing to increase and people of all ages depending on libraries to improve their literacy, computer and internet skills and the unemployed using libraries to search for new careers and employment, now is not the time for further cuts for library services.

Please contact your state legislators to ask them to reject the Governor’s proposed cuts. Libraries have already done their fair share towards reducing the state’s budget shortfalls, other alternatives need to be used before asking the library community to take further cuts. These proposed cuts impact all types of libraries and library systems, public, college, schools, etc.

Go to www.nyla.org or www.mvls.info and click on Library Advocate icon to send fax/email to your state legislators.

DK's Open Me Up Sweepstakes

From the creators of the award-winning Pick Me Up and Do Not Open comes Open Me Up—a full-throttle tour of the human body! From now through December 1, enter to win a set of DK's top fall titles. Fill out the quick form here for your chance to win!

Grant Opportunity - Romance Writers of America

The Romance Writers of America Library Grant is designed to provide a public library the opportunity to build or expand its romance fiction collection and/or host romance fiction programming. The grant consists of $4,500 to be used toward the purchase of romance fiction, author honorariums and travel expenses, and other applicable program expenses.

Visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaawards/romancewritersgrant/index.cfm for complete information and to link to a grant application form. Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2009.

Workshop - Basics of Archives

Date: Friday, November 13
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Place: Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls
Presenter: Susan D'Entremont, Regional Archivist
Cost: $22, includes lunch

This workshop is an introductory course aimed at people who work with historical records but are not trained archivists. It is especially helpful to staff and volunteers at small institutions. Complete program description and registration form is available at http://cdlc.org/pdfs/BasicsArchivesWorkshopRegistration.pdf. The registration deadline is November 5.

Workshop - Energy Smart Students Workshop for Librarians

Dates and Locations:
Friday, October 23, Saratoga Springs Public Library
or
Friday, December 4, William K. Sanford Town Library, Colonie

Time: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Are you interested in teaching children and families to be energy smart? Increase your energy IQ in this interactive, hands-on program! Explore energy basics – energy forms and sources, energy efficiency, and renewable energy – and learn techniques for integrating energy into educational programs for students in Grades K-6.

These FREE workshops are open to school and public librarians and offer the following:
- FREE curriculum aligned to the New York State Learning Standards
- FREE posters, student worksheets, and annotated bibliography materials
- Professional development credit
- Refreshments
- Substitute stipends for school librarians

Additionally, once you’ve attended a workshop, you gain access to additional resources & opportunities:
- FREE Energy Smarts newsletter
- Applications for $500 education grants
- Teacher and student competitions
- On-line resources and access to information on what is new and exciting in the world of energy!

For more information, contact 1-877-NY-SMART option 6 or info@nyess.org. To register, please visit http://www.getenergysmart.org/EnergyEducation/WorkshopDetails.aspx?type=Course&co=15

Open Meetings Law

On May 12, 2009, Governor David Paterson signed Chapter 26 of the Laws of 2009 (A3169/S2754) An Act to Amend the Public Officers Law in Relation to Requiring Posting of Notice of Meetings on the Internet. The Committee on Open Government of the New York State Department of State has indicated that this new statute applies to all entities that are subject to Open Meetings Law. This includes all types of libraries.

The legislation amended Article 7 of the Public Officers Law related to Open Meetings, by adding a new subdivision 5 to Section 104 which is about public notice. Subdivision 5 requires that in addition to one or more public sites previously designated, that notice of the time and place of any upcoming meeting of the library board must be posted conspicuously at least 72 hours in advance on the library's website.

- The text of Article 7, Public Officers Law, Section 104 (5) can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/openmeetlaw.html
- The text of Chapter 26 of the Laws of 2009 (A3169/S2754) can be found at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A03169

Workshop - Storytime Skills

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Place: Schenectady County Public Library, Central Library
Presenters: Debbie Sternklar and author Suzanne Bloom
Cost: Free to MVLS and UHLS member library staff and volunteers; $35 all others

Come to our second annual round-up of tried and true storytime techniques! Develop new storytime techniques, hone your existing skills, or gather fresh ways to use your expertise.

Upper Hudson Library System and Mohawk Valley Library System bring the best outside and inside presenters together to demonstrate, and teach key storytime skills. A special focus this year is flannel board stories, presented by local maven Debbie Sternklar. You’ll leave the workshop with a flannel board and a story to tell with it!

As an extra treat from 12:00 – 1:00, we have Suzanne Bloom, author/illustrator of Geisel honor book A Splendid Friend Indeed. Suzanne will share information about her creative process and the ins and outs of making books. There will be books available for signing after her presentation. Find out more about Suzanne here: http://www.suzannebloom.com/.

Please register for the workshop! It is free to MVLS and UHLS member library staff and volunteers. The cost for all others is $35. If you’re part of MVLS or UHLS, register by emailing Sue Rokos at srokos@mvls.info. If you are not part of either system, email Sue to reserve your spot and then mail a check for $35 made out to MVLS to: Sue Rokos, MVLS, 858 Duanesburg Rd, Schenectady, NY 12306-1095.

National Friends of Libraries Week

National Friends of Libraries Week begins today and runs through October 24. If your library has a Friends group, be sure to thank them for all they do for your library.

Webcast - Doing More With less: Training Up in Tough Economic Times

Date: Tuesday October 20, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online

Cost: Free

Gate counts keep going up, but staff levels are not. Patrons’ technological needs are increasing as many have lost their jobs and access to computers at the same time. Older patrons with little computer experience are finding that many insurance and financial forms need to be completed online. Is your staff ready to serve?

Library employee training budgets aren’t exactly getting fatter either, often forcing staff to just learn on the job or stagnate. And what about new hires? Are they expected to have already learned about your library’s technology as part of their education?

A group of training experts will discuss how ‘training up’ library staff can help stretch and boost the level of technological customer service your library can offer to patrons, and to the library itself. The webcast will also cover Web 2.0 tools and applications that make training sessions, documents and support readily accessible and available on-demand, 24/7. From academe, we’ll hear how one library school program is preparing its students for high touch high tech careers in our public, school, special and academic libraries.

Register today at www.libraryjournal.com/polaristrainingup. Register even if you can't view the webcast on October 20th; your registration will allow you to access the archived webcast for 1 year.

Workshop - Recruiting and Managing Your Volunteers Effectively

Date: Monday, November 2, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Place: East Greenbush Community Library
Cost: $85 for NYLA members, $125 for nonmembers
Presenter: Peggy Wadsworth, Training Coordinator, Chester County Library System

Engaging volunteers in libraries is a credible way of enhancing the delivery of library services. Volunteers in libraries present new challenges. Essential to meeting these challenges are planning, commitment, supervision and training.

Trustees, management and staff must recognize the value of volunteers and develop systems and processes that allow these benefits to flourish.

This workshop will provide tools and information libraries can use to
- Develop policy
- Design volunteers position guides
- Structure interviewing and placement processes
- Develop training and orientation processes for volunteers
- Provide sound supervisory strategies
- Develop ongoing recognition of volunteers

Preregistration is required. Space is limited. Registration is completed when your payment arrives at NYLA. You will be contacted by NYLA only if the workshop is filled. This will be a hands-on workshop. Registration closes 14 days prior to the workshop. Registraion and complete information at http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=141.

Grant Opportunity - Family Book Discussion Groups

Together—Book Talk for Kids and Parents is the New York Council for the Humanities’ exciting reading and discussion program for families. Parents and their 9-to-11 year old children come together at their local library to discuss important humanities themes through shared reading. This program is available to all New York state public libraries and has been successfully implemented at a wide range of sites throughout the state.

The six 90-minute Together sessions are co-facilitated by a librarian (often the children’s librarian) and a local humanities scholar. Each session promotes lively intergeneration discussion focused on themes of American identity related to picture books and novels. The Council provides copies of the books and a stipend to cover all costs of the Together program.

Applications to host a Together series for Spring 2010 are due November 1, 2009 and are available at www.nyhumanities.org under the Discussion tab. The website guides you through the application process with forms, common questions, and follow-up documents. Please note that funds may not be available to fulfill all requests.