MVLS.info

This Blog Has Moved

2011-11-29T12:34:00.003-05:00

All content from this blog has been moved to our website at www.mvls.info. If you wish to continue receiving updates from Mohawk Valley Library System, please subscribe to our new feed at http://www.mvls.info/feed/, or use our email subscription option, located on the right hand side of our website.

Workshop - Best of the Best 2011

2011-11-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011
Time: 9:30 AM - noon
Place: MVLS

Join us for our annual look at favorite titles from 2011. Come as early as 8:30 AM to select children's and teen preview books. Register for Best of the Best using this online form.

Job Posting - Director, Johnstown Public Library (search reopened)

2011-11-10T09:55:00.003-05:00

The Johnstown Public Library seeks an energetic Library Director with strong supervisory skills and the ability to oversee a dynamic community-minded operation. The position, vacated by the director retiring after 32 years, requires a candidate with strong communication skills and service ethic. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to community outreach, long-range planning experience, fiscal management, and the ability to adapt as circumstances change. Exploration of alternate governance and funding may take place in 2012.

The Civil Service examination announcement and community and library profile, including a complete job description and minimum requirements, are available at the following link: http://www.fultoncountyny.gov/departments/pdf/LibraryDirectorI-11011.pdf

Applications, resumes, and a minimum of three references should be submitted to the Fulton County Personnel Department, 1 East Montgomery Street Johnstown, NY 12095. As a municipal public library, membership in the NYS Retirement System is required.

Workshop - Reading Up : Adult Books for Young Adults

2011-11-09T15:36:00.001-05:00

Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
Time: Check in 12:30 PM, workshop 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Crandall Public Library
Presenter: Beth Gallaway
Cost: $15 per attendee

Come discuss the appeal of adult books for youth, hear and share book talks for adult books to suggest to teens, and learn about YALSA's Alex Awards, a honor given annually to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18.

Complete information and the online registration form is here. The deadline to register is November 21.

Workshop - Legal Issues for Libraries

2011-11-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Place: MidHudson Library System, 105 Market St, Poughkeepsie
Presenters: Robert Schofield and Ellen Bach, attorneys with Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP
Cost: $25 per attendee

This workshop is appropriate for library directors and trustees who are interested in an overview of legal issues for public libraries in New York State.

Topics to be covered include:
• Property Tax Cap & Libraries
• What are the Issues, What Laws Govern?
Includes: authorities and governance, powers of trustees, Public Officers Law, funding, elections and more!
• Freedom of Information Law & Open Meetings Law
• What to Do if You’ve Been Sued

Presenters Robert Schofield and Ellen Bach, attorneys with Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP, are the attrneys for many libraries in New York and were honored in 2010 by the New York Library Association with the Outstanding Advocate of Libraries Award.

Please register for this event online at http://calendar.midhudson.org

Workshop - Early Literacy Skills

2011-11-04T09:13:00.001-04:00

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Place: Guilderland Public Library
Presenters: Mary Fellows, Sue Rokos, and local author/illustrator Matt McElligott
Cost: Free for MVLS and UHLS member library staff ; $25 all others

National emphasis on early literacy and the parent’s role in preparing children for reading success is increasing. As funders and government agencies focus more resources on early literacy, public libraries need to develop staff skills and early literacy-based services to position the library as a key player.

In this workshop, you will learn about research-based practices to help young children develop the skills they need before they learn to read. Included:

An introduction to the second edition of Every Child Ready to Read® (ECRR) @ your library®, a program based on the five early literacy practices of talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing
- A preview of the ECRR workshop for parents and caregivers
- Creating early literacy and learning spaces in your library

Please register by November 10 by following this link: http://bit.ly/rpdYj3

Send check, payable to UHLS, Upper Hudson Library System, 28 Essex Street, Albany, NY 12206. For further information, contact: Mary Fellows, UHLS, 518-437-9880 x228, mary@uhls.lib.ny.us

Webinar - Teaming up with Teens at your library

2011-10-17T10:01:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

What is the absolute best avenue to getting teens involved and engaged at your school or public library? How can you encourage them to be peer reader advisors and library advocates in the community? There is no better way to go than offering opportunities for active and involved teen library participation. In this webinar, you will explore ways teens can take part in your library, such as advisory groups, volunteering, short-term projects that use teen's special skills, and partnering with adults. You’ll also get tips on planning, organizing, conducting, and evaluating teen participation.

Preregistration is required for this webinar, and can be done through this link.

Webinar - Innovative Use of Skill-based Volunteers in Public Libraries

2011-10-11T09:54:00.001-04:00

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

There is a growing number of younger members of our communities who are highly skilled with technology and the internet but view local public libraries as nice community amenities with little relevance to their world. There is also a notable increase in semi-retired, computer literate, actively engaged Baby Boomers. These two groups can be tapped to become the new volunteer base for libraries. By engaging these "new volunteers," libraries are helping to build vibrant sustainable community support for their library. This webinar identifies the critical issues and plan of action necessary to engage skilled-based library community volunteers.

Preregistration is required for this webinarand can be done through this link.

Webinar - Using Smartphones as a Marketing and Programming Tool

2011-10-04T10:17:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/using-smartphones
Cost: Free

Smartphones are quickly becoming the number one resource for American’s to access the information they need. With the proliferation of technology advances, it’s not always easy to keep up with the latest trends or understand how to master the technology to use it effectively and efficiently. This webinar will focus on the use of smartphones and its application to the library’s marketing and programming needs. This one-hour webinar will:

Present an overview of smartphone basics

Review specific marketing opportunities that you can incorporate in your work

Identify how to make your programming smart through media and technology

Demonstrate how one library blended marketing and programming through their teen center

Receive online resources that can assist you with next steps

By the end of this webinar you’ll have the basic knowledge needed to move forward in utilizing smartphones in your marketing efforts and programming that will engage your community.

This webinar will be of interest to library staff involved with marketing, programming and teen projects who are looking for new ways to connect with their community.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/using-smartphones on October 12 to join in.

New in the Professional Collection

2011-10-03T16:26:00.002-04:00

Without a Net : Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide
by Jessamyn West

PLA Awards

2011-09-28T09:40:00.002-04:00

This year PLA of offering nine awards/grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity, and dedication to public libraries. Nominate your colleagues or libraries for one of the nine awards before December 1, 2011.

Allie Beth Martin Award, honoring a public librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.

Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award, promoting the development of a circulating audio music/video collection in a public library.

Charlie Robinson Award, honoring a public library director who, over a period of seven years, has been a risk taker, an innovator, and/or a change agent in a public library. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.

DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant, enhancing the professional development of new public librarians by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities.

EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Library Service Award, honoring a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community.

Gordon M. Conable Award, honoring a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. Sponsored by Library Systems & Services LLC.

Highsmith Library Innovation Award, recognizing a public library’s innovative and creative service program to the community.

Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award, honoring a library worker, librarian, or library that has used technology as a tool to improve services.

Romance Writers of America Library Grant, providing a public library the opportunity to build or expand its romance fiction collection and/or host romance fiction programming.

The PLA Award Nomination Form is open until Dec. 1, 2011. An award jury appointed by the PLA President will review each nomination. Winners will be announced in February 2012. Awards will be presented at the ALA 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. For more information, contact the PLA office, (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA or by email pla@ala.org.

Schoharie in the News

2011-09-27T16:13:00.001-04:00

Schoharie, still working to rebuild after damage left behind by Hurricane Irene, has gotten some wonderful press over the last couple of days.

The Times Union did a great story on the Schoharie Library's cleanup efforts on Sunday, September 25. That article is here. Kudos to library director Cathy Caiazzo for being a fabulous representative for the library.

And on Monday, September 26, David Letterman appealed to his viewers nationwide to send support to the town. Letterman featured the Village of Schoharie on his show in November, 2002, bussing nearly half of the Village's population to the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City where The Late Show is filmed. That video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHd1BoOeN-0

Webinar - Beyond the Norm : Building a Culture of Creativity and Innovation in Libraries

2011-09-27T15:46:00.002-04:00

Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2011
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/beyond-norm
Cost: Free

In order to succeed in the 21st century, library workers and leaders will need to embrace new ways of doing business and reaching our users. Doing this requires embarking on a comprehensive, dynamic, and ongoing process of reinvention, beginning with an intentional and imaginative effort to design, develop, and implement new ways to serve and connect with our users.

In this webinar, we will examine models for innovation used within the private sector and explore their relevance to libraries. Everyone has a role in charting the future for libraries and each of us has a responsibility for helping build a culture of creativity and innovation within our libraries.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will have:

Concrete ways to foster creative ideas and innovation within their libraries

Seen real-life examples of libraries building cultures of innovation

Plans to encourage creativity and innovation in their own libraries

This webinar will be of interest to all library staff interested in building or supporting within their libraries.

Please note: Be sure to download the webinar workbook before the presentation begins!

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/beyond-norm on October 5 to join in.

PLA Conference Registration Open

2011-09-26T10:29:00.001-04:00

Housing and registration are now open for the Public Library Association’s Conference, to be held March 13-17, 2012 in Philadelphia.

Visit the PLA conference web site for information about registration, conference programming, special events, travel, and everything the conference and Philadelphia have to offer.

Grant Opportunity - Conservation/Preservation Discretionary Grants

2011-09-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

The Conservation/Preservation Discretionary online grant application for 2012-2013 is now available at: https://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants. If you do not currently have a user name and password to access the online application, please go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp/index.html.

The New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials provides $500,000 each year for preserving materials in the collections of libraries, archives, historical societies and similar agencies. The grant awards for 2012-2013 will be limited to a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $40,000.

Applications are due by 5 PM on Friday, December 2, 2011.

Questions about the program should be addressed to:

Barbara Lilley
Conservation/Preservation Program Officer
New York State Library
Room 10B41, Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 486-4864
preservation@mail.nysed.gov

Workshop - The Future of Youth Services is Here

2011-09-22T10:02:00.002-04:00

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (workshop begins at 9:30 AM)
Place: Rotterdam Branch, SCPL
Presenter: Linda Braun
Cost: Free for MVLS/UHLS member library staff; $25 per library (not per person) all others

In August 2011 the web turned 20. In those 20 years the tools and resources for librarians working with teens and tweens have changed dramatically. So too have the ways in which teens and tweens interact with libraries. In this interactive session, led by Linda W. Braun, you'll find out what is and should be happening in services to tweens and teens today and where teens and tweens and libraries are headed tomorrow.

This workshop is supported in part by Federal Library Services & Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Webinar - Great Group Reads

2011-09-22T09:42:00.000-04:00

Date: Friday, October 7, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

October is National Reading Group Month, sponsored by the Women’s National Book Association. Celebrate the month and its Great Group Reads program at this Booklist webinar. Join popular readers'-advisory expert Kaite Mediatore Stover to hear about her long experience running and blogging about library book groups as she moderates a panel that includes Great Group Reads selection committee chair Rosalind Reisner and Great Group Reads titles publishers Workman-Algonquin and Penguin. Leave the webinar with programming ideas, tips, and recommendations for your own National Reading Group Month/Great Group Reads celebrations.

Preregistration is required and can be done through this link. This webinar will be archived and e-mailed to all registrants. If you cannot attend the live presentation, you should still register for the webinar in order to be notified when the archive is available for viewing.

Webinar - Connecting Community : Why a Public Library is an Essential Component to its Survival

2011-09-21T09:36:00.003-04:00

Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Librarians of today must engage and connect more deeply with their communities. Now more than ever, both parties are dependent on one another to be able to survive in a difficult economy. We must actively connect, consult, and collaborate with members of the community in order to build and strengthen those relationships.

Preregistration is required and can be done through this link. If you are not able to make the live webcast of Connecting Community: Why a library’s public is an essential component to its survival, register now and you will get an email notification from Library Journal after the event when the webcast is archived and available for viewing at your convenience.

Webinar - The Scoop on Series Nonfiction

2011-09-21T09:31:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

An hour-long continuation of our popular series of webinars on series nonfiction for youth featuring presentations from five of the top publishers in this booming field: Lerner, Creative Company, Black Rabbit, Amicus, and Norwood House.

Preregistration is required and can be done through this link. This webinar will be archived and e-mailed to all registrants. If you cannot attend the live presentation, you should still register for the webinar in order to be notified when the archive is available for viewing.

Authors Among Us Programs Cancelled

2011-09-08T10:26:00.003-04:00

The Middleburgh Library was damaged by Hurricane Irene and is closed until further notice. The short fiction workshops scheduled to be held in Middleburgh as part of the Authors Among Us series on September 10, 17, and 24 have been cancelled.

Webinar - 10 Quick and Painless Steps to Effective Advocacy for Libraries

2011-08-25T13:03:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: Online at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/406997026
Cost: Free

You’ve probably heard that big budget and policy changes are afoot in Washington, DC – and perhaps that constituent voices are more important than ever. In fact, advocacy is the buzz word du jour – but does the word itself resonate with library supporters who are not already engaged in grassroots activities? What does “advocacy” mean, and how does it translate into action? Library trustees, members of friends groups, librarian advocates, and library supporters of all kinds can do many things to make advocacy a meaningful word. Join this webinar to learn about ten easy actions, including writing personalized letters, building coalitions in your community and even using social media outlets to help develop and deliver your message. If America’s libraries are going to survive these difficult times, we need your voice – and your action.

You must pre-register for this webinar, and space is limited. Visit http://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/4069970526 to sign up.

Webinar - Worse than Death? Public Speaking for Library Staff

2011-08-23T16:16:00.003-04:00

Date: Thursday, August 25, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Public speaking is often listed as one of the top fears people experience. Some even rate it more frightening than death! As library staff, we may be called upon to speak in a variety of contexts, such as promoting library services in the community or providing a training workshop.

Material for this webinar was drawn from interviews conducted with library leaders, membership in organizations such as Toastmasters, and experience in a variety of public speaking contexts, from teaching communication skills workshops to presenting speaker introductions. Recent research provided in this webinar will offer new techniques and insights that can help most people improve their public speaking abilities.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will be able to identify:

•A barrier to effective public speaking and at least one strategy for overcoming that barrier.
•At least five practical tips for speaking effectively in front of any audience.

This webinar will be of interest to anyone from the library community looking for ways to improve their public speaking skills.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/worse-death-practical-tips-public-speaking-library-personnel beginning at 2:30 PM on August 25th to join in.

Amsterdam Free Library to Host Library of Congress Exhibit

2011-08-19T09:53:00.002-04:00

A Library of Congress traveling exhibition - mounted in a customized 18-wheel truck - will visit the Amsterdam Free Library, 28 Church Street in Amsterdam, on Tuesday, August 23 and Wednesday, August 24. The exhibit, which will feature fascimilies of many of the Library of Congress' most popular treasures, will be open to the public from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM both days. Amsterdam in the only library in NY scheduled to host this exhibition.

More information about the exhibition is available on Amsterdam's website at http://www.amsterdamfreelibrary.org, and on the Library of Congress' website at http://www.loc.gov/gateway.

Registration Open for National Gaming Day 2011

2011-07-28T10:25:00.003-04:00

Registration is officially open for National Gaming Day to be held this year on November 12. By registering your library now you could receive 4 free board games (available while supplies last). Full details on the event are available at http://ngd.ala.org/.

Workshop - Library Funding District Options

2011-07-26T16:15:00.002-04:00

Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Place: Canajoharie Library
Presenter: Libby Post, Communication Services
Cost: Free for MVLS member library staff, trustees, and Friends ; all others, $25 per person

This workshop will detail the different types of library funding districts, how they stabilize library funding and what libraries can do to create these districts.

Visit http://www.mvls.info/ for complete information and to register.

This workshop is made possible, in part, with Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Job Opening - Director, The Community Library, Cobleskill

2011-07-21T14:01:00.002-04:00

The Community Library located in Cobleskill, New York is a medium sized library serving the Cobleskill Richmondville School District. The Library has recently been restored and serves a growing population of patrons. The library is seeking a dynamic, experienced individual for a full time director.

The successful candidate will be the primary contact for external and internal relations and inquiries regarding the library, will oversee the management and supervision of the library and its personnel, community relations, facilities and collection management. The position requires collaboration with professional and volunteer leadership as well as patrons on a daily basis.

Major responsibilities include:
* Manages library office, patron services and the library collections
* Supervises building services and administrative oversight for all personnel.
* Supports and develops library programs for the community
* Administers and manages the Library budget cooperatively with the Trustees
* Cultivates relationships and collaborates with the Board of Trustees.
* Provides timely professional guidance and information to the Trustees
* Serves as the primary contact for outside vendors and contractors
* Attends Board of Trustees meetings
* Represents the Library at appropriate professional and state organizations
* Is the “face” of the Library with Cobleskill Richmonville District.

Qualifications:
 Master’s degree in Librarianship or Library Science from accredited college or university
 Must be eligible for or possess a New York State public librarian’s professional certification
 Has sufficient experience to perform the responsibilities of the position
 Acceptable review by the Schoharie County Civil Service Office
 Provide a satisfactory current background check.

For a complete job description and information about the application process, please see the Shoharie County Civil Service site at http://www.schohariecounty-ny.gov/CountyWebSite/Personnel/JobAnnouncements.jsp or contact: Schoharie County Personnel Department, P.O. Box #675, Schoharie, NY 12157, (518) 295-8374. E-mail : civilservice@co.schoharie.ny.us

Please note: Completed Application for examination must be submitted no later than August 31, 2011.

Webinar - Howdy Partners! Don’t Be a Lone Ranger : Building Community Partnerships to Augment Adult Services

2011-07-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Being the Lone Ranger might look fun on TV, but in the library it may lead to staff burnout and limited programming. Forming strong community partnerships will help you achieve more with less. Library users will experience richer services, and library staff will gain support from the community.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will:

• Know how to build community partnerships to augment Adult Services
• Understand differences between cooperative, collaborative and strategic partnerships
• Be able to identify potential partnerships in diverse communities including rural, large urban, affluent, and those with few or limited resources.

This webinar will be of interest to staff in any size public library, regardless of staffing levels.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/howdy-partners beginning at 2:30 PM on July 27 to join in.

Webinar - I Didn’t Know the Census Bureau Did That! Finding and Using Data from Lesser Known Censuses and Surveys

2011-07-19T15:58:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Did you know you can find . . .

• Where the best county is to look for a job in your field - - complete with the recent number of new hires and starting salaries?
• How many businesses are owned by women in your area?
• A thorough explanation of poverty (including poverty thresholds, the surveys that collect poverty data, and the best survey to use for each purpose)?
• How to determine the best site location for a business, blending demographic data for a community with economic data?
These and other scenarios will be explored in the step-by-step online exercises provided to participants. We will review the three main demographic programs – the 2010 Census, the American Community Survey, and the Population Estimates Programs – and then explore other Census programs like Local Employment Dynamics (LED), Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), County Business Patterns (CBP), Survey of Business Owners (SBO), Economic Census, and the Census of Governments.

This webinar will be of interest to all types of libraries, reference desk staff, and others engaged in providing customer service to people needing Census data, as well as individuals preparing and writing grants.

NOTE: This entire presentation will consist of “hands-on” exercises with Census Bureau datasets. It will make use of data from the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey as well as other Census Bureau programs to solve real-life problems. A PowerPoint handout will be provided for reference purposes only. We strongly recommend that you print the handouts in advance. (Handouts can be accessed here.)

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/i_didnt_know beginning at 2:30 PM on July 26 to join in.

Job Opening - Director, Johnstown Public Library

2011-07-18T15:52:00.003-04:00

Webinar - Killer Collections : Libraries Beyond Books

2011-07-18T15:29:00.003-04:00

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Do print books alone meet the diverse needs of your community? How can library staff manage the logistics of non-traditional library materials, like guitars and eReaders? How can partnerships help with funding and/or implementation of these new collections? Are you interesting in engaging a new segment of your community? By introducing Killer Collections, featuring non-traditional items like seeds, guitars, programming kits, and eReaders, your library can better meet the ever-changing needs of your users.

After this one-hour webinar, attendees know ways to:

•identify needs in community for non-traditional collections
•implement lending policy and loan rules for non-traditional collections
•identify potential community partners who can help make your non-traditional collection a reality

This webinar will be of interest to public and school library staff, Youth Services staff, and anyone seeking to engage their community with new and innovative collections.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/killer_collections beginning at 1:30 PM on July 21 to join in.

2011 NYLA Diversity Fair and Poster Sessions

2011-07-04T12:38:00.001-04:00

The New York Library Association is now accepting submissions for the 2011 NYLA Diversity Fair & Poster Sessions to take place at this year’s NYLA Annual Conference, November 3-4, in Saratoga Springs, NY. Complete details are located on the Diversity Fair and Poster Sessions Web Page. The deadline for submitting an application is August 1, 2011.

If interested in participating in the Poster Sessions/Diversity Fair, please fill out the application form and send via email to events@nyla.org.

Grant Opportunity - Best Buy Community Grants Program

2011-07-01T07:32:00.000-04:00

The Best Buy Community Grants Program provides support to nonprofit organizations that are located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store or distribution center. Grants averaging $4,000 to $6,000 will promote programs that provide opportunities for young teens in the areas of learning, life skills, and leadership. Special consideration will be given to programs that provide youth with access to opportunity through technology, serve a diverse population, build skills in early adolescents (primarily ages 13-17), show positive results against a demonstrated community need, and reach at-risk children in working families. The grant application process will open on July 1 and close on August 1, 2011. Visit the Best Buy website to review the program guidelines.

Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award

2011-06-30T12:26:00.002-04:00

This award, given by the Empire Friends Roundtable of NYLA, honors a volunteer member or a group of the library community whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends organizations.

The nomination form is available online at http://www.nyla.org/page/efr-awards-and-scholarships-371.html. Please list all relevant information (nominee and sponsor contact information, including mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address). Describe the individual or group’s contribution to library service in detail.

Please send the completed nomination form and three copies of relevant supporting materials, press releases, etc. to Betsy Sywetz, PO Box 957, Richfield Springs, NY 13439 (These materials will not be returned). The deadline to submit nominations is July 25, 2011.

For more information, call (315) 858-4321 or e-mail bsywetz@yahoo.com.

MVLS Summer Hours

2011-06-27T10:09:00.003-04:00

Beginning this week, MVLS will be open from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 AM -1 PM on Friday. Please note the change from last year. Normal hours resume on Tuesday, September 6.

Webinar - Preventing Staff Burnout

2011-06-16T15:14:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you concerned about your staff’s ability to handle more and more work without relief? Are you worried that your staff are becoming more critical, less flexible, and unhappier? Work is stressful, and getting more so every day. Library managers and staff need to be aware of the difference between stress and burnout, which is actually unhealthy and dangerous. There are ways to prevent burnout, including making changes in the work environment as well as self care. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of burnout and what to do about it.

This webinar will be of interest to anyone who wants to keep themselves and their staff from burning out.

Webinars are free of charge and preregistration is not required. Visit http://infopeople.org/training/preventing-staff-burnout on June 22 to join in.

Webinar - The Census, American Community Survey, part 1

2011-06-15T15:08:00.005-04:00

Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

In response to a need for updated demographic data available more frequently than every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau launched the American Community Survey (ASC) nationwide in 2005. While the Decennial Census counts the nation’s population, the ASC describes who we are and how we live.

Community-level data covering topics from ancestry to veteran status, health insurance to school enrollment are now updated annually. Learn how to retrieve these data in this interactive webinar, which will feature a demonstration of the Internet data access tool, American FactFinder. Participants will “learn by doing” and create ACS data tables and profiles. Learn how to help your users help themselves to this rich dataset by discovering its scope and ease of use.

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to all types of libraries, reference desk staff, and others engaged in providing customer service to people needing Census data, as well as individuals preparing and writing grants.

Please Note: The Census: American Community Survey, Part 2, will be presented on Tuesday, July 26 at 3:00 PM.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is not required. Simply visit http://infopeople.org/training/American_Community_Survey on June 21 to join in.

NYLA PLS Awards

2011-06-08T12:59:00.002-04:00

The Public Library Section (PLS) of the New York Library Association (NYLA) is now accepting nominee applications for three award categories:

L. Marion Moshier/Asa Wynkoop Award for Distinguished Librarianship
This award honors a library director who has given outstanding service to a community of 7,500 population or less. (A professional degree is not a requirement). Nominees are judged on personal and professional growth, quality of library services provided, and initiative taken to reach underserved parts of the community. It is given by the PLS bi-annually. Nominations may be made by a library board member or by a library staff member. Each nomination must be accompanied by three (3) letters of support from the community. The award is a $1,000 check, a plaque for the library, and inclusion on a plaque to be placed in the NYLA offices. Attendance at the NYLA Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs in November 2011 is a requirement of acceptance. Complete details of the award can be found here.

Outstanding Public Library Building/Renovation Awards
Two building awards are given. One will be given to a project in a community serving of 20,000 population or less; the other to a community serving more than 20,000 population. Nominees are judged on innovative design and use of space for serving library users, accessibility, consideration given for health, safety and environmental issues, ease of maintenance, adaptability to changing needs, energy efficiencies, evidence of engaging the community in the process, and the cost benefit of the project. The renovation must have been completed between January 1st and December 31st 2010. Previous library winners are ineligible. Each award is a $1,000 check, and a plaque for each library. Attendance at the NYLA Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs in November 2011 is a requirement of acceptance. Complete details of the award can be found here.

Annual Conference Scholarship Award
Two awards are given to encourage public librarians now in the field or students in accredited library schools to participate in PLS or NYLA activities. An individual need not be a current member of PLS or NYLA to apply. Each award is for a maximum of $1,000 which includes full annual conference registration, travel to the conference and return, another conference-related expenses, as well as membership in NYLA and PLS if the selectee(s) is not already a member. The selectee(s) are expected to attend the annual conference including the awards ceremony. Additionally, the selectee(s) will be asked to help with staffing the PLS booth at the conference. Applications for the Annual Conference Scholarship Award are in the form of a letter from the applicant. Complete details of the award can be found here.

The deadline for all award nominations/applications is Thursday, June 30th, 2011. Send all application/nomination materials to James Keller, 310 Nanny Hagen Road, Thornwood, New York 10594. You may also send materials electronically to jamesakeller@hotmail.com. Please indicate the name of the award in your communications.

Webcast - Libraries are Essential : Building an Ongoing Connection

2011-06-08T12:53:00.003-04:00

Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online at www.libraryjournal.com/essentialconnection
Cost: Free

We all know that in these tough economic times, libraries have a great value proposition for their communities. The challenge comes in making sure the library’s story is told in a meaningful way. One of the best ways to do this is though strong connections to the community and its organizations. Join NoveList and Library Journal to hear just how libraries are building these ongoing connections and how they have benefited from those relationships.

Preregistration is required ; sign up at this link. Register even if you cannot attend the event on June 14, and you will be able to access an archived version.

Webinar - Copyright Law Update 2011: Ebooks, Google Books, Patron Requests and New International Developments

2011-06-01T14:55:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, June 09, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Copyright issues are more important to libraries now than ever before. After this one-hour webinar, attends will have:

•a basic understanding of the copyright and licensing issues that impact libraries’ use of ebooks
•an update on copyright developments of interest to public, school, and academic libraries
•an understandable glimpse at the international front, where copyright negotiations of keen interest to libraries are moving at an unusually accelerated pace
Please note: Attendees should have some familiarity with basic copyright practices.

This webinar will be of interest to library staff who confront copyright issues with ebooks and their licensing, making digital copies for interlibrary loan and e-reserves, and international trends, including those involving services to the blind and visually impaired.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Visit http://infopeople.org/copyright_law_update beginning at 2:30 PM on June 09 to join in.

Workshop - Future Ready : What is the New Normal and What are Customer Expectations?

2011-05-14T12:52:00.000-04:00

Date: Friday. June 3, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Place: Courtyard by Marriott, 11 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs
Presenter: Stephen Abram
Cost: $85 for NYLA members, $120 for nonmembers

OK, the future is here. What is the new normal and what are customer expectations? These expectations are not driven by what libraries want to provide or tradition. They are driven by the new ecology of the web and big players like Facebook, Bing, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon, Google and more. Is your library ready? Are you offering both 'hot' and ‘cool’ information delivery? Are you paying as much attention to the experience of the library as you do to the transactions? At this Institute, you will understand the top social, demographic and technology trends for libraries, and be better prepared to plan your library's response to changes in our sector. Are you future ready?

Complete information can be found here.

Webinar - Cross Training for a Flexible Staff

2011-05-11T12:58:00.001-04:00

Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Are you wondering how to provide great customer service while caught in a hiring freeze? And how will you handle upcoming staff retirements and medical leaves? Cross-training sounds like a great solution—but how will you decide which jobs to pick—and where will you find the time to do it? Library managers and staff have to be flexible in order to provide the services customers want with the staff resources available. Cross-training staff provides flexibility, along with opportunities for staff to learn and grow. There’s more than one way to cross-train effectively.

This webinar will be of interest to anyone who wants to be part of a flexible and knowledgeable library staff, including those who manage and train staff.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Visit http://infopeople.org/training/cross-training to join in beginning at 2:30 PM on May 17.

Webinar - Coping with Information Overload

2011-05-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Presenter: Sarah Houghton-Jan
Cost: Free

Are you tethered to a ringing telephone? Feel the need to acknowledge every email? Are your social networks mismanaging you? We all know what information overload is but so few of us know how to manage it so it doesn't manage us. Join this webinar to learn quick and easy principles for dealing with information overload, including organization skills, how to filter your input, time management, and stress management.

Discover ways to manage your email, RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, IM, SMS, telephone, and more. Come away with a plan for tackling your own virtual or physical pile of overload.

Learn practical approaches for managing the different information media in your life. Make that virtual pile of work disappear faster than you can say, "I love libraries."

This webinar will be of interest to all library staff looking for ways to organize the vast amounts of information they receive from various sources.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Visit http://infopeople.org/training/information-overload beginning at 2:30 PM on May 18 to join in.

Workshop - Frankenbooks : Understanding the eBook Opportunity

2011-05-10T12:45:00.003-04:00

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Courtyard by Marriott, 11 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs
Presenter: Stephen Abram
Cost: $85 for NYLA members, $120 for nonmembers

Do e-books change everything or are they just the same as print? Not by a long shot. What are the opportunities and what enhancements might we expect? Is this the final straw for libraries or the biggest opportunity since the web? You will learn the answers to these questions, reframe your knowledge of the e-book opportunity for libraries, and learn about major competitor trends in library collections for strategic planning.

Complete information can be found here.

Webinar - Winning Grants

2011-04-28T01:36:00.002-04:00

Date Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Place: Online

Cost: Free

Wondering how to get started writing grants for your library? Grants can support the changing needs in your community while your library budget is flat or shrinking. This grant webinar will be easy to understand, motivating, fun, and full of valuable tips. Learn how to quickly locate grant opportunities, find out what funders are looking for in a successful grant proposal, and discover real library grant success techniques from librarians just like you. Practical advice, easy grants for beginners, partnership ideas, and valuable resource lists will be shared. You’ll be excited, motivated, and ready to win grants for your library! Presented by Stephanie Gerding, nationally known library consultant, trainer, and author on grants, training, and technology topics. Use the link above to register. *You will be sent a registration confirmation email and a reminder email the day prior to the event.

Workshop - Readers' Advisory

2011-04-25T09:27:00.002-04:00

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Place: Schenectady County Public Library, Central Library
Cost: Free for MVLS member library staff; $25 all others
Presenter: Neal Wyatt

Are you finding that you have a never-ending to-read pile? Would you like to save time when working with readers’ advisory? Would you like to learn how to keep track of titles so you can better serve your patrons?

Join us as Neal Wyatt, nationally recognized readers’ advisory consultant and Library Journal columnist, offers practical tips to keep up with readers, improve answers to patron requests, and whittle down that to-read pile.

Only a few spots remain in this workshop. Visit http://www.mvls.info/news/Wyattregistration.htm to register.

This workshop is supported in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Grant Opportunity - Build-a-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation

2011-04-18T15:21:00.000-04:00

The Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada that enhance the quality of life for children, families, and pets. The Foundation’s grant categories include children's health and wellness, domestic pets, and literacy and education. Individual project grants as well as organization program grants are provided. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations located near Build-A-Bear Workshop stores. For 2011, the Foundation will accept grant requests from March until October. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the funding guidelines for each of the grant categories and submit an online application.

Grant Opportunity - BJ's Charitable Foundation

2011-04-17T15:14:00.000-04:00

Established with the goal of creating a positive, long-lasting impact on the communities BJ’s serves, the mission of BJ’s Charitable Foundation is to enhance and enrich community programs that primarily benefit children and families. 501(c)3 organizations are eligible to apply. The foundation reviews grant applications on a quarterly basis. Visit www.bjs.com/charity for complete information.

Webinar - Working with Your Workforce Center

2011-04-14T15:05:00.004-04:00

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Place: Online

Cost: Free

Workforce Centers operate with myriad local, state and federal funding streams to support the unemployed, but not every job seeker qualifies. Learn how this impacts your library patrons and what libraries can do to make better connections for our customers. Representatives from Anoka County, Minnesota will describe how the Job Training Center and the Anoka County Library forged an innovative collaboration to make sure every door is the right door for job seekers. Registration is required for this webinar. Use the link above to sign up.

New in the Professional Collection

2011-04-13T13:10:00.002-04:00

Bond Basics for Library Districts and Other Municipal Libraries in New York State by Douglas Goodfriend and Thomas Myers

Webinar - Teen Literature Update 2011

2011-04-04T10:15:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Are you wondering:

•What the latest thing in YA literature is?
•Who are the emerging authors, and the ones falling out of favor?
•What are the best resources for evaluating books for YAs?
•If graphic novels are just comic books in disguise?
•If reading online is really reading?

The world of young adult literature is an inherently dynamic one and one that, in the last decade, has become among the most active in publishing. Each new publishing season brings a plethora of new titles, new forms, and new formats, many of which require new methods of evaluation. Keeping up with all of these changes and the new titles flooding the market can be a full-time job. This webinar will help students identify new trends and the best new titles and resources for collection development.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will be familiar with current:

•Trends informing the dynamic field of young adult literature
•YA Fiction - both novels of realism and genre fiction - that are "first selections" for YA collections
•Non-fiction for both recreational and classroom use
•Graphic novels and comics
•Useful resources for collection development

This webinar will be of interest to both public and school library staff with young adult collection development responsibilities.

Webinars are free of charge and registration is ONLY done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply click here beginning at 2:30 on the day of the event and join in. Webinars are archived for viewing after the original broadcast on the infopeople.org website.

Grant Opportunity - Banned Books Week Event Grants

2011-03-31T09:07:00.001-04:00

Applications are now open for the 2011 Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation. Four grants in the amount of $2,500 and $1,000 grants will be given to organizations in support of “Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week (Sept. 24 – Oct. 1, 2011). Applications for the grants will be accepted through May 13, 2011, and the announcements will be made the week of Aug. 1, 2011. Banned Books Week 2011 will be held Sept. 24-Oct.1, 2011.

Workshop - Throw the Bums Out : A Weeding Workshop for Packrats, Wouldchucks, and the Rest of Us

2011-03-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Place: Upper Hudson Library System
Presenters: Jo-Ann Benedetti and Mary Fellows, UHLS
Cost: $10 for non-UHLS library staff

Weeding is hard. It's time-consuming, intellectually challenging, physically taxing, and sometimes dirty. That's enough to put weeding last on many librarian's To Do list.

Come learn to:
* Overcome your reluctance to weed
* Establish practices for keeping up with weeding
* Make informed decisions about each item in your collection
* Judiciously dispose of weeded items

Contact Mary Fellows (518-437-9880 x228 or mary@uhls.lib.ny.us) to register.

Grant Opportunity - LEAP Grants

2011-03-18T15:35:00.002-04:00

Better World Books has announced the availability of $75,000 in funding for LEAP Grants (Literacy and Education in Action Program.) The initial grant pitch requires only a short 2-page project overview. The deadline is short on this (initial pitch is due March 25) but it's an easy process to start off. The application and complete grant information is here.

Grant Opportunity - Conservation Preservation Discretionary Grant Program

2011-03-17T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Conservation Preservation Discretionary online grant application for 2011-12 is now available at https://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants. If you do not currently have a user name and password to access the online application please go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp/index.html.

The New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials provides $500,000 each year for preserving materials in the collections of libraries, archives, historical societies and similar agencies. The grant awards for 2011-2012 will be limited to a minimum of $2,500 and a maximum of $40,000.

Questions about the program should be addressed to:

Barbara Lilley
Conservation/Preservation Program Officer
New York State Library
Room 10B41, Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 486-4864
preservation@mail.nysed.gov

Workshop - Security for Historical Collections

2011-03-17T15:18:00.000-04:00

Date: Monday, April 11, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Place: Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls

“To Preserve and Protect” is a collaborative training initiative sponsored by the New York State Archives, the New York State Historical Records Advisory Board and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. It is comprised of free workshops in each region of New York State. Security expert Mimi Bowling has developed interactive curriculum on archival security, preparing participants to take immediate action to strengthen their local security programs. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

Topics include risk awareness; insider theft; facility design and security technology; security of information systems; working with vendors and contractors; research room management and design; developing institutional security policies; procedures and post-theft response; additional topics as requested by participants.

To register, please email Bturner@mail.nysed.gov or call 518-473-0130. Early registration is encouraged and appreciated; only 25 seats available. To learn more, please visit http://www.nyshrab.org/about/about_projects_security.shtml.

Grant Opportunity - Libri Foundation

2011-03-17T10:27:00.002-04:00

The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries in the United States through its Books for Children program. The Foundation awards grants twice a year.

Eligible libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget (usually less than $40,000) and serve a population under 10,000. The guidelines and application can be found here: http://www.librifoundation.org/apps.html.

The Foundation will match any amount of money raised by your local sponsors from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, your library could receive up to $1,050 worth of new children's books (about 70 books). Local sponsors have five months (or longer, if necessary) after their library has been selected as a participant in the Books for Children program to raise the matching funds. Deadline: April 15th.

Webinar - Social Media, Libraries and the Law

2011-03-16T16:06:00.003-04:00

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2011
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Social Media services are some of the latest tools libraries use to communicate with their users.

•Does your library have Facebook, Twitter and Flickr accounts?
•Do you understand their terms-of-service, and know what may be negotiable?
•Do you create content for your library's social media sites?
•Do children use your social media sites?
•Does your library have a social media policy?

In this one-hour webinar, you will:

•learn some copyright pointers, including two important steps you can take to protect your library from secondary liability if users post copyright-protected content in the comments sections.
•understand what you may delete, and what you shouldn't delete without a lawyer's advice.
•look at privacy issues of special concern with children.
•see a sample policy that you can use as a starting point.

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to Public Service staff, Library Administrators, all staff contributing to social media, and individuals responsible for creating library policies.

Webianrs are free of charge and registration is ONLY done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required. Simply click here beginning at 2:30 PM to join in. Webinars are archived for viewing on the infopeople.org website.

Grant Opportunity - Target Store Grants

2011-03-07T19:39:00.001-05:00

The Target Store Grants program awards funds to schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations to support programs such as after-school reading events and weekend book clubs. Together we're fostering a love of reading and encouraging children, preschool through third grade, to read together with their families. Grant applications are accepted between March 1 and April 30, 2011, for programs taking place between September 1, 2011 and August 1, 2012. Grants are $2,000. Applications must be submitted online.

Library Signage

2011-03-02T15:38:00.006-05:00

There's a great article in the February 1, 2011 issue of Library Journal that addresses a common problem in our libraries - the lack of neat, effective, consistent signage. If your library has 17 random signs scotch taped to your front door, if you have pictures of cell phones/burgers/sodas with red x's through them pasted on your walls, you should check out this article along with a few others (links below.)

Signs of Good Design by Aaron Schmidt (LJ, 02/01/2011)

Signage : Better None than Bad by Leah White (American Libraries, 07/12/2010)

Library Signs, Good and Bad (Swiss Army Librarian blog, 04/24/2008)

Good Example of Effective Signage (Swiss Army Librarian blog, 01/11/2011)

Flickr Group for library signage

Webinar - Teens, Tweens and Social Networking

2011-02-15T15:37:00.001-05:00

Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/441/index.html
Cost: Free

We often have assumptions about how teens and tweens use the Internet. But:

• Are those assumptions true?
• Should your library have a MySpace or a Facebook account? Both?
• How about Twitter?
• What about cellphones?

Learn the answers to these questions and many more, as well as discovering how your library can effectively engage with young people in social media.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will be able to:

• identify the main social networking sites being used by young people
• name at least one obstacle to reaching this age group via social media
• identify at least 3 tasks for which young people use their cell phones

This webinar will be of interest to public libraries, teen and youth services staff.

Preregistration is not necessary for this webinar, simply visit the link above beginning at 2:30 PM on Febryary 23 to join in. If you can't attend the day of the event, the archived version is available at the same link the following business day.

Webinar - ADA Update

2011-02-14T16:14:00.001-05:00

The ADA Update webinar has been rescheduled to this Wednesday, Febryary 16, at 3:00 PM. Here is the original posting about this webinar, preregistration is not required.

Advocacy Day

2011-02-14T15:45:00.003-05:00

The following is a revised schedule of appointments for Advocacy Day on March 1.

9:30 AM - Assemblyman Marc Butler - Room 318 LOB (GLV, JOH, NOR)
10:00 AM - Assemblyman Jim Tedisco - Room 404 LOB (SCP)
10:30 PM - Assemblyman George Amedore - Room 718 LOB (AMS, CAN, FON, FTH, FTP, SCP, STJ)
11:00 AM - Assemblyman Peter Lopez - Room 429 LOB (COB, MID, SHO, SHS)
11:30 AM - NYLA Rally - Meeting Room 6
12:30 PM - Senator Hugh Farley - Room 706 LOB (AMS, CAN, FON, FTH, FTP, GLV, JOH, NOR, SCP, STJ)
1:00 PM - Senator James Seward - Room 403 Capitol (COB, MID, SHO, SHS)

With the Governor's proposed 10% cut to library aid in the 2011-2012 budget, it is critical that we have a big turn-out on Advocacy Day. MVLS will provide carpooling to Albany that day. If you are interested in carpooling, please let Kathy Insero know as soon as possible; the van will leave MVLS at 7:40 AM on March 1.

Advocacy Day

2011-02-08T17:04:00.004-05:00

MVLS has confirmed appointments for Advocacy Day on March 1 with several of our legislators. Scheduled appointments as of 02/07 are:

9:30 AM - Assemblyman Marc Butler (GLV, JOH, NOR)
11:00 AM - Assemblyman Peter Lopez (COB, MID, SHO, SHS)
12:30 PM - Assemblyman George Amedore (AMS, CAN, FON, FTH, FTP, SCP, STJ)
1:00 PM - Senator James Seward (COB, MID, SHO, SHS)

We have yet to finalize appointment times with Senator Hugh Farley (AMS, CAN, FON, FTH, FTP, GLV, JOH, NOR, SCP, STJ) and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (SCP). More information will be forthcoming. With the Governor's proposed 10% cut to library aid in the 2011-2012 budget, it is critical that we have a big turn-out on Advocacy Day.

Snapshot NY

2011-02-08T15:04:00.002-05:00

MVLS strongly urges your library to participate in this year's Snapshot NY week, documenting a day in the life of your library. This is a wonderful tool in showing the use and value of libraries in their communities. NYLA would like to increase the number of participating libraries this year. 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.

MVLS libraries are asked to keep their statistics on Tuesday, February 15. (If this day does not work for your library, please choose another day that week and still participate.) Once again, if you need help inputting your statistics onto the website, MVLS staff is willing to help.

The www.protectnylibraries.org website has been updated and awaits your participation by collecting the info/testimonials and filling out the online survey. The deadline for submitting the information/photos/videos is February 23rd, which will give NYLA a week to collate the info and have it ready for Library Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 1st.

MVLS is also working on getting appointments for Library Advocacy Day. The Governor has proposed a 10% cut to library aid in his 2011-2012 budget, so we need you to make a special effort to join other MVLS representatives on March 1. It is very important that we have people from all counties in our region at the meetings with their state representatives. You are the best people to tell the stories of how valuable your library is to your community. We will again be arranging carpooling from MVLS.

Nominations to the MVLS Board of Trustees

2011-02-07T11:48:00.002-05:00

The MVLS Board of Trustees is now soliciting trustee nominations from Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties. Members of the Mohawk Valley Library System Board of Trustees are elected at our annual meeting in May. This year, trustees will be elected from Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties. There are two seats open for Montgomery County, one to fill an expired term and a one year election to fill a current vacancy.

A memo explaining duties and requirements for System trustees and a nomination form has been sent to all member library directors and board presidents, as well as to all current MVLS board members. Please contact Carol Clingan (cclingan@mvls.info) if you have any questions or need another copy of the memo or nomination form. Nominations should be submitted to Carol by March 25, 2011.

Grant Opportunity - WalMart and Sam's Club Giving Programs

2011-02-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

WalMart and Sam's Club Giving Programs award grants to local nonprofit organizations, including libraries, that are working to create opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in the communities WalMart and Sam's Club serve.

The minimum grant award amount is $250. Application are accepted from February 1 through December 1. To learn more about the program visit the website above and contact the Community Involvement Coordinator at the WalMart or Sam's Club store nearest you.

Webcast - YA Alert : New Teen Titles for 2011

2011-01-31T08:49:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Young adult literature remains one of the most exciting areas of the publishing world, and it’s challenging to keep up with the latest news and books. In this information-packed Booklist Publications webinar, attendees will learn about the year’s hottest YA releases. Booklist’s Young Adult editor Gillian Engberg will be joined by publishing representatives who will fill you in on their leading teen titles for spring and beyond. Sponsored by Egmont USA, Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Walker Books for Young Readers, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Disney Book Group.

Preregistration is required for this webinar. Sign up at this link. This webinar will be archived and e-mailed to all registrants. If you cannot attend the live presentation, you should still register for the webinar in order to be notified when the archive is available for viewing.

PLS Spring Conference

2011-01-30T10:09:00.002-05:00

Date: Friday, April 15, 2011
Time: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Place: Greenburgh Public Library, Elmsford, NY
Cost: $30

The Public Libraries Section of NYLA announces its 2011 Spring Conference. Featured speakers this year are Diane McCulloch and James Keller. Diane will be hosting sessions on Personal Branding and Dynamic Meeting Skills. James will be teaching about Increasing Library Relevance Through Branding and Using Performance Metrics for Success.

Full conference information including lodging information and a registration form can be found here.

Grant Opportunity - Let's Talk About It : The Civil War

2011-01-27T07:11:00.001-05:00

The ALA Public Programs Office and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are now accepting applications for “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War,” a reading and discussion program in America’s libraries. Public libraries are invited to apply online through April 19 by visiting www.ala.org/civilwarprograms.

Just in time to commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial, “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War” follows the popular Let’s Talk About It model, which engages participants in discussion of a set of common texts selected by a nationally known scholar for their relevance to a larger, overarching theme. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from NEH to the ALA Public Programs Office.

In June, 50 public libraries will be selected to host the reading and discussion series and receive support materials from NEH and ALA. The program grant includes:
A $2,500 grant from NEH to support program-related expenses.
• Twenty-five sets of three titles: including “March” by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin, 2006), “Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam” by James McPherson (Oxford University Press, 2002) and a forthcoming Civil War anthology of historical fiction, speeches, diaries, memoirs, biography, and short stories, edited by national project scholar Edward L. Ayers and co-published by NEH and ALA.

• Promotional materials, including posters, bookmarks and folders, to support local audience recruitment efforts.

• Training for the library project director at a national workshop, where they will hear from the project scholar, expert librarians and organizers and receive a program planning guide, materials and ideas.

“Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War” is supported by NEH’s We the People initiative, which aims to stimulate and enhance the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture. More information including project guidelines and the online application are available at www.ala.org/civilwarprograms.

Teleconference - Free Content for Library Collections

2011-01-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

Date: Friday, February 4, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Place: Online at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/dupage.htm
Cost: Free

The Internet offers a treasure trove of free resources that can greatly expand the range of information and services that libraries can offer their patrons. But it's not always easy to find the best information to meet users' needs. In this program, Michael Galloway, Manager, Digital Collections for ipl2: Information You Can Trust, and John Mark Ockerbloom, editor of The Online Books Page, will give a tour of some of the millions of books, magazines, journals, and informative web sites that can be accessed online for free.

Preregistration is required. Sign up by following the directions at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/dupage.htm. College of DuPage teleconferences are provided at no charge to New York's library community by the New York State Library and are supported in part with funds provided through the Library Services Technology Act.

Webcast - Libraries are Essential : Providing Core Services for Readers

2011-01-24T15:42:00.002-05:00

Date: Thursday, January 27, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online at www.libraryjournal.com/novelistcoreservices
Cost: Free

Libraries are often a community hub, the place where everyone is welcome and where everyone can not only find the information they need, but also seek solace and support. In short, libraries are an essential part of any thriving community. In this first of a three-part series of webcasts on the essentialness of libraries, Robin Nesbit, Sharron Smith, and Duncan Smith explore the value of readers’ services and best practices for conveying that value to the community.

Providing Core Services for Readers is first in the three part Libraries are Essential series of webcasts.

Registration is required for this webcast. Sign up at www.libraryjournal.com/novelistcoreservices. If you are not able to make the live webcast of Libraries are Essential: Providing Core Services for Readers, register now and you will get an email notification from Library Journal after the event when the webcast is archived and available for viewing at your convenience.

New in the Professional Collection

2011-01-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

The Anywhere Library : A Primer for the Mobile Web
by Courtney Greene

New in the Professional Collection

2011-01-13T15:04:00.002-05:00

A Few Good Books : Using Contemporary Readers' Advisory Strategies to Connect Readers with Books
by Stephanie Maatta

Marketing in the Moment : The Practical Guide to Using Web 3.0 Marketing to Reach Your Customers First
by Michael Tasner

Workshop - Expanding Connections : Online Outreach

2011-01-11T15:50:00.003-05:00

Date: Thursday, February 3, 2011
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Place: MVLS Service Center
Instructor: Polly Farrington

Are you taking advantage of all the online opportunities to connect with your customers and community? Does your library website serve as a virtual branch, providing easy 24/7 access to information and education resources? And most important, does it provide ways to easily connect with the most important library resource - YOU and your staff? This hands-on workshop will give you a chance to explore how to take your library's online presence to a new level via your webpage, blogs, social networking tools & more.

Polly Farrington will present :"Expanding Connections: Online Outreach", which will teach participants to implement activities suggested at Libby Post's January "Going Viral" workshop. Come and work with Polly personally to learn or improve your online skills. The MVLS Laptop Lab will be available for your use; or bring your own laptop.

This LSTA grant will pay $25 to each MVLS library that attends and returns follow up evaluations for workshops for this grant project.

Space is limited! Register using this online form. Sign up early to ensure your spot, but no later than Tuesday, February 1. 2011

* Supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Webinar - ADA Update : Revised Regulations for Disability Acommodations for the Public

2011-01-07T16:11:00.001-05:00

Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/502/index.html
Cost: Free

•Has your library recently added ebooks, podcasts, or other new electronic resources?
•Are you planning a renovation? Just finished one?
•Working to redesign your library website?
•Is that marmoset really a legally designated service animal?

Some of the newly revised American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations take effect on March 14, 2011, and more are in the works. Libraries face new challenges and requirements for meeting both the spirit and letter of the law.

At the end of this webinar, attendees will understand the new ADA:

•accommodation requirements for libraries for users with disabilities
•federal regulations that redefine "service animals"
•standards for electronic resources, including websites
•accessible building design
•grievance procedures

An overview of the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Government will also be presented.

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to library staff involved with accessibility issues, involved in building renovation projects, or working with special needs library users.

There is no preregistration required for this webinar. Simply visit the link above beginning at 2:30 PM on February 16 to join in. Webinars are archived on the Infopeople website and are available for viewing after the original broadcast date.

Grant Opportunity - Wish You Well Foundation

2011-01-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

The Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. Organizations with a 501 (c) 3 are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed approximately 4 times per year. Requests for funding generally range from $200 to $10,000. Application forms and complete program information is available here.

Velma K. Moore Award

2011-01-03T09:45:00.002-05:00

The Library Trustees Association of New York State (LTA) is seeking nominations for the 2011 Velma K. Moore Award to be presented at the Trustee Institute, April 29 & 30, 2011 in Albany.

The Velma K. Moore Award was established in 1962 to honor the memory of Velma Moore, wife of former NYS Lt. Governor Frank C. Moore. From 1947 until her death in l1961, Velma actively worked to improve library service in New York State. A member of LTA from its establishment, she also served two terms as its president.

The award is presented annually at the LTA Trustee Institute and carries a cash prize of $1,000 which is given to the recipient's library of choice. The award is granted to an individual or group of individuals who has made exemplary contributions to the development of library services in New York. Nominees may include trustees, a community member, staff or any group of library supporters. Please note that current LTA directors are NOT eligible and former LTA directors cannot be nominated for the award until one year after leaving their service on the LTA board.

Criteria for evaluating nominees includes service to local, county, system or state libraries which advances the effectiveness of these libraries; service in areas of legislation or other support that advances library causes; promotional services through publishing, speaking or involvement in professional or lay library groups or organization; service to state or national library organizations; and/or service on state study committees.

Nominations may be submitted by e-mail or mail. The official e-mail address for nominations is: rreissig@librarytrustees.org. Please put Velma K.. Moore Award in the subject line. Submitting nominations to any other e-mail will not be accepted. You may mail nominations to: Rita Reissig, 360 Castle Street, Geneva, NY 14456.

Deadline for nominations is February 15, 2011. The letter of nomination must include the following for the nominee: name, address, telephone number.

MockArena Results

2010-12-15T15:26:00.001-05:00

The results are in from MVLS and UHLS’s joint MockArena held Thursday, December 9, 2010 at UHLS.

Drum Roll please:

Randolph Caldecott Medal:
Art and Max by David Wiesner

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award: 3 way tie between
Can I Play, Too? by Mo Willems
Max Spaniel: Funny Lunch by David Catrow
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean

John Newbery Medal:
Countdown by Deborah Wiles

(Robert F.) Sibert Informational Book Award:
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down written by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Michael L. Printz Award:
As Easy As Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

Live Webcast of the Real Awards
The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live webcast of its Youth Media Awards. The number of available connections for the Webcast are limited and the broadcast is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online visitors can view the live Webcast the morning of the announcements. Those interested in following the action live should bookmark http://alawebcast.unikron.com .

The Youth Media Awards will begin at 10:45 a.m. EST on Jan. 10, 2011, but visitors should be able to begin logging on to the Webcast at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Workshop - Going Viral : Communicating with NonTraditional Library Users

2010-12-13T10:35:00.002-05:00

Date: Thursday, January 6, 2010
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Place: MVLS Service Center
Presenter: Libby Post, Communication Services

You may consider that everyone in your community knows about how essential a service your library is; but does everyone know? What about those non-traditional library users, the ones who use your resouces from their home computers but rarely physically enter your library? How do you communicate with them to gain their support?

Libby Post, President of Communication Services will present :"Going Viral - Communicating with Non-Traditional Library Users", which will enable participants to embrace social networking and other new strategies to communicate with your technologically savvy younger adult patrons. The January 6 workshop will include introduction to the topic with follow up implementation activities for a year two workshop to be held in January 2012.

This LSTA grant will pay $25 to each MVLS library that attends and returns follow up evaluations for workshops for this grant project. Please register using this online form by Tuesday, January 4, 2011.

This workshop is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

DEMCO Gamer Gear $5000 Grant

2010-12-09T09:09:00.002-05:00

If your library registered to participate in ALA's National Gaming Day 2010, you are eligible to submit an entry to win DEMCO’s awesome Gamer Gear Shopping Spree. If you win, you will get $5,000 to spend with them to enhance your game programs. Find more information and the application on the DEMCO site. Entries are due by December 15.

Webinar - Introduction to Digital Preservation

2010-12-08T12:06:00.000-05:00

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Digital preservation is a phrase that is thrown about frequently in the archives and library world. And, responsibility for saving our era from being known as the "Digital Dark Age" has fallen to us. But, do you really understand what it means and is required to preserve digital objects? Join us for this 2-hour online webinar for an introduction to terms, concepts, and some methods for beginning your institution's foray into this important and challenging area. Expert presenters from the State Library of North Carolina's Digital Information Management Program
include Lisa A. Gregory, Digital Projects Liaison; Jennifer Ricker, Digital Collections Manager; and Amy Rudersdorf, Director, who also presented during WebJunction's recent Digitization & Preservation Symposium.

Preregistration is required for this event, click here to sign up.

Grant Opportunity - Bank of America Charitable Foundation

2010-12-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation works to create neighborhood excellence in the communities served by the bank in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While local community priorities determine how funding is allocated, grants typically fall into four main categories: Community Development, Education, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Culture. Each of the company's markets, in partnership with local community leaders, sets specific target areas of interest within these major categories. There are no deadlines for grant applications. Visit the company's website to access the priorities for local funding in each region.

Webinar - Turning Customers into Champions : Marketing as a Team Sport

2010-12-01T08:34:00.001-05:00

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: FREE

In this age of Twitter, Facebook and texting, there is still no substitute for good old-fashioned person-to-person communication. The commercial world knows this and is placing renewed emphasis on this basic strategy. Libraries should, too!

The good news: We can afford it-and do it even better than they can!

Whether you want to promote a particular service or advocate for increased funding, word-of-mouth marketing is simply the best way to get your message to the people who need to hear it. Learn what it takes with Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace, authors of "Building a Buzz: Libraries and Word-of-Mouth Marketing" (ALA Editions, 2010)

By the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will be able to:

•Understand and apply basic word-of-mouth marketing techniques
•Understand the importance of getting everyone on the staff involved
•Share key techniques with their colleagues

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to Library administrators, managers, including branch and project managers, and front-line staff with an interest and/or responsibility for marketing.

There is no need to pre-register for this webinar - just visit http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/444/index.html starting at 2:30 PM to join in. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day after the webinar at http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived.

Grant Opportunity - Stewarts Holiday Match

2010-11-30T09:20:00.000-05:00

Stewart's Shops matches individual donations made at their stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and distributes funds to local nonprofit agencies. Organizations that benefit children are eligible to apply for funds. An application can be downloaded at the Stewart's Shops web site. All applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2011.

Webinar - Re-Energizing Your PreSchool Storytime : New Ideas for Busy Children's Staff

2010-11-23T15:22:00.001-05:00

Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: FREE

It's Monday morning, AGAIN! Time to get your storytime ready for the week. Ho Hum. You could always recycle a previous storytime or... you can jazz up your repertoire with new fingerplays, flannels, puppets and book suggestions.

Try something new!
• Learn how to use Readers Theater and bring your story alive with the help of your audience. A dramatic read aloud of a story is great for children's communication skills, collaboration skills and learning to use expression.

Make better connections with storytime parents!
• Set up a "Stay and Play" after your storytime. Learn how to plan developmentally appropriate activities and share early literacy information with your participants.

Save time!
• We sure don't have enough. Let this webinar help you refresh your love of storytime and provide you with new material. You won't have to spend time planning, just get out there and try out these fresh new ideas!

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will learn about:
• New examples of traditional storytime elements; including puppets, fingerplays, books, flannels and music
• Readers theater; bring your stories to life with the help of your audience
• "Parent Patter" – a technique your storytime parents will appreciate
• "Stay and Play" – an innovative approach on how to extend your storytime fun

This webinar will be of interest to storytime presenters and others engaging in preparing and presenting programs for children.

There is no need to pre-register for this webinar - just visit http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/452/index.html starting at 2:30 PM to join in. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day after the webinar at http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived.

Online Conference - Serving the 21st Century Patron

2010-11-23T12:10:00.000-05:00

Date: Wed & Thurs, December 1-2, 2010
Time: 12 PM - 5:00 PM both days - join only the sessions you want
Place: Online
Cost: Free

WebJunction's second online conference is coming December 1 & 2, 2010. Topics will focus on the changing needs, approaches, challenges and opportunities related to customer service in your 21st Century library. Browse the conference program, consider attending the conference with others in your library or region as an online conference cohort, and register now for this FREE 2-day event!

Preregistration is required for this event ; click here to sign up.

Webinar - Top Tech Trends for the Non-Technical

2010-11-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: FREE

When it comes to technology, the gap between "I can't believe the library has that!" and "I can't believe the library doesn't have that!" is getting shorter and shorter. Even if you're not a techie at heart, you probably agree that staying abreast of new tech tools and techniques is an important part of providing relevant library service. But isn't there some easy way to keep up with all the changes without bogging down in impenetrable details or permanently ruining what's left of your work/life balance?

The answer, of course, is yes! Just spend an hour with Joan Frye Williams, Infopeople's own trend spotter and tech explainer extraordinaire. Joan will bring you up to speed on what's hot, what's not, what you can just ignore, and what you need to know to stay in the mainstream. She'll describe the technologies that are most likely to change the way you work, and how you can prepare for those changes. She'll also point you towards the best technology investments for people with limited time and dollars.

Joan promises to deliver a technology update that is both painless and practical. Don't miss it!

This one-hour webinar will be of interest to staff in all types of libraries

There is no need to pre-register for this webinar - just visit http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/434/index.html starting at 2:30 PM to join in. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day after the webinar at http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived.

Webinar - Young Adults Deserve the Best : Using Competencies to Serve Teens in Your Library

2010-11-17T12:02:00.001-05:00

Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

The current generation of teens is the most ethnically diverse and technologically plugged-in ever. Is your library ready to serve them?

YALSA's Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth play a key role in everyday service to young adult patrons. Join Sarah Flowers, YALSA President-elect and author of Young Adults Deserve the Best: Putting YALSA's Competencies into Action, to discuss practical ways to promote and apply the competencies to ensure quality library service to the teens in your community.

Preregistration is required for this event ; click here to sign up.

Webinar - Libraries Build Community

2010-11-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Some view the public library as a central purchasing and distribution center of books, movies, and music. Today, that content is increasingly digitized and consumed on gadgets carried in our homes, backpacks, purses and pockets. Distribution remains germane and yet, libraries are well positioned to extend beyond the limits of this role, to facilitate what John Seeley Brown and Paul Duguid called the social life of information. Social media technology presents libraries with new opportunities to enhance and extend the distribution model, to empower and engage patrons to build relevant and vibrant communities via the library. Moderator Chrystie Hill and presenters Helene Blowers and Nancy Dowd will engage you in a discussion of how public libraries build community with technologies and programs, new and old. Join us for this special webinar presented in collaboration with ALA TechSource.

Preregistration is required for this event, click here to sign up.

Webinar - Writing a Library Behavior Code

2010-11-09T13:02:00.000-05:00

Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: FREE

Libraries are more aware than ever before of who the sexual offenders are in their communities. What are the legal rights of the offenders, and the obligations of the library? What should the library do when someone is soliciting for charity, or selling services or products on library grounds? How much notice and appeals should be given to a library user, when asking him to leave for two hours? For six months?

During this webinar, we will:
•Review elements of enforceable patron conduct codes – (FEND off lawsuits!)
◦Free Speech (focus on behavior, not speech)
◦Equal enforcement
◦Notice of policy to library users
◦Due process (appeals)

In addition, information and guidance will be presented on:
•Handling solicitations or sales on library grounds
•The legal status of sex offenders in the library
•Due process – how much notice and appeals should you give?

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will learn about:
•Elements of enforceable library behavior codes
•Sex offenders' rights and responsibilities in the library
•Handling solicitation and harassment problems by library users

This webinar will be of interest to staff at both public and academic libraries.

There is no need to pre-register for this webinar - just visit http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/430/index.html starting at 2:30 PM to join in. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day after the webinar at http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived.

Workshop - Best of the Best 2010

2010-11-04T14:34:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, December 2, 2010
Time: 9:30 AM - noon
Place: MVLS

Join us for our annual look at favorite titles from 2010. Come as early as 8:30 AM to select children's and teen preview books. Register for Best of the Best using this online form.

Director's council will follow the workshop. Lunch can be ordered.

Grant Opportunity - Alibris Collection Award

2010-11-03T08:28:00.001-04:00

The Alibris Collection Award is an annual grant of up to $3000 worth of books to an academic, public, special, or K-12 library supporting specific collection development projects that advance the mission, priority areas, and goals of the selected library.

The purpose of the Award is to help provide materials for libraries with replacement projects, retrospective collection development projects, or routine collection building needs.

Applications are due by December 1, 2010. Procedures for applying can be found here.

Workshop - Mockarena : Evaluating the Best Books of 2010 for Children and Teens

2010-11-01T09:30:00.004-04:00

Date: Thursday, December 9, 2010
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Place: Upper Hudson Library System
Presenters: Mary Fellows, UHLS and Sue Rokos, MVLS
Cost: Free for MVLS and UHLS library staff ; all others $15

Boost your collection development knowledge and polish your reader’s advisory skills with this UHLS/MVLS workshop. You'll hear bookflashes for the best books of the year. Then we'll enter the arena for discussions and mock elections for the Caldecott, Newbery, Geisel, Sibert, and Printz Awards. We’re planning on examining six books in each category, with the exception being eight titles in Caldecott.

Here is the second list of titles in each category. See this previous post for List #1.

Mock Caldecott Nominations:
Art and Max by David Wiesner
Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter ; illustrated by Red Nose Studio
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black ; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson ; illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering

Mock Newbery Nominations:
Crunch by Leslie COnnor
A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata
Mirror Mirror : A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Josee Massee

Mock Geisel Nominations:
Can I Play, Too? by Mo Willems
Pete the Cat : I Love my White Shoes by Eric Litwin ; illustrated by James Dean
What If? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Mock Sibert Nominations:
Ballet for Martha : Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan ; illustrated by Brian Floca
The 'Extraordinary' Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley ; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringam
Sit-In : How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney ; illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Mock Printz Nominations:
Incarceron by Cathering Fisher
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
The Firefly Letters : A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle

Mark your calendars and register now using this online form! MVLS and UHLS libraries may register for free; all others $15.00. Contact Sue Rokos, srokos@mvls.info for more information.

Webinar - Serving the Young Adult Population : It's Not Just About Video Games

2010-10-31T11:29:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, November 4, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Place: Online
Cost: Free

Need to develop or improve your library services to youth? This webinar will provide you with a basic primer on how to attract and keep young adults interested in your library services and programs and how to create an atmosphere of inclusion comfortable for you, your staff and your local young adults. Join Jill Jarrell, librarian, author and web content consultant, and Maurice Coleman, Technical Trainer at Harford County Public Library, to learn about materials and tactics that can help bring the reluctant reader back into the library and how to create a safe and welcoming space for your young adults.

Preregistration is required for this event, click here to sign up.

Webinar - Emergency Succession Planning

2010-10-29T10:05:00.000-04:00

Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/420/index.html
Cost: Free

Succession planning is something that most of us think about as a long-term process with mid- to distant-future outcomes. But what happens when:

• your Assistant Director suddenly announces her early retirement, effective in two weeks?
• a key department manager unexpectedly moves out of state?

Succession planning is a form of risk management, and in order to be effective, particularly in an emergency situation, the process should start before you need it. During this interactive session, webinar participants will learn how to create an emergency succession plan for critical library positions, including being able to identify the positions for which such a plan is needed and being able to assess your library’s risk of losing key staff.

To get the most out of this presentation, be sure to download handouts in advance and be prepared to work on a plan during the webinar.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will have created an Emergency Succession Plan for one position. They will also be able to:

• define the steps needed to create an emergency succession plan.
• identify the positions for which an emergency succession plan is needed.
• create an emergency succession plan for a critical library position.
• assess the risk of losing key staff.

This webinar will be of interest to staff in all types of libraries, those involved in library leadership, library directors, human resources and training and development staff, and members of Boards of Trustees will benefit from this webinar.

This webinar is free of charge and required no preregistration. Visit the link above beginning at 2:30 PM on November 2 to join in.

Grant Opportunity - Family Literacy Library Services Program

2010-10-28T15:39:00.002-04:00

The online application for the New York State Family Literacy Library Services Program is now open to public libraries and public library systems in New York State. Applications will be accepted through Friday December 10, 2010 at 5:00 PM.

The New York State Family Literacy Library Services Program helps libraries provide family literacy services to children and their parents or caregivers. Family literacy projects in libraries teach parents and caregivers how to nurture literacy skills in very young and school age children. Libraries that focus on family literacy provide materials and programming that encourage interest in reading and literacy-related activities. Instructional workshops and literacy-rich environments in the public library will help expand family use of the library. Priority for funding is given to projects that include partnerships between libraries or library systems and community organizations. In previous years successful partnerships have been established with schools, preschools, weekend and summer learning programs, museums, public television, historical societies, environmental centers, agencies and cultural organizations.

FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES:
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/familylit/index.html
NOTE: You may access the online application through this page.

DIRECT LINK TO THE FAMILY LITERACY LIBRARY SERVICES ONLINE APPLICATION:
https://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants/index.jsp

TO APPLY FOR A USER NAME AND PASSWORD:
http://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants/ldgext/litRegistration.do

Grant Opportunity - Adult Literacy Library Services Program

2010-10-28T15:36:00.001-04:00

The online application for the New York State Adult Literacy Library Services Program is now open to public libraries and public library systems in New York State. Applications will be accepted through Friday December 10, 2010 at 5:00 PM. New York State's Adult Literacy Library Services grants help libraries offer services which will improve adult literacy on the job and in the home. The grants encourage libraries to become community literacy leaders and to strengthen partnerships among local literacy providers.

ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES:
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/literacy/index.html
NOTE: You may access the online application through this page.

DIRECT LINK TO THE ADULT LITERACY LIBRARY SERVICES ONLINE APPLICATION:
https://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants

TO APPLY FOR A USER NAME AND PASSWORD:
http://eservices.nysed.gov/ldgrants/ldgext/litRegistration.do

Webinar - Strategic Reality Check

2010-10-27T15:30:00.002-04:00

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/458/index.html
Cost: Free

Times change and plans need to change with them. If your library has experienced a significant budget, staffing, or management upheaval, you should probably take a fresh look at your strategy.

We’re all familiar with planning processes that take months to develop and require endless meetings. There is another path.

The Strategic Reality Check is a process developed by consultants Joan Frye Williams and George Needham to assist libraries in moving quickly to revise and update their strategic plans.

This focused, pragmatic process consists of four parts:

• Community check-in: What is important to your community? How does the community see itself and its future?
• Service assessment: Where are you now? What are you telling yourself and what are you telling the world? Does the service you provide match the goals set out in your public statements?
• Guiding principles: What makes your library tick? What motivates you? What criteria should inform day-to-day decision making about policies and services?
• Recommendations: Where do you go from here? What course corrections will enable your library to align itself more effectively with your community? How will you sustain this strategy into the future?

This one-hour webinar will provide an overview of the Strategic Reality Check, suggest ways your library might tune up its plans, and serve as an introduction to the full day Infopeople workshops on this process that George and Joan will be leading in December. It will be of interest to directors and other top administrators in all types of libraries. The webinar is also suitable for branch managers and library board members.

Webianrs are free of charge and no preregistration is required. Just visit the link above beginning at 2:30 PM on October 28 to join in.

Webinar - Rural Library Funding Opportunities

2010-10-27T15:23:00.001-04:00

The ALA Washington Office will host a webinar to assist rural libraries with pursuing funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at 2 p.m. EST October 29.

Cheryl Cook, the Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture; Carla Anderson, the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of e-Copernicus, a Washington consulting firm expert in broadband; and Kevin Cherry, Senior Program Officer for the Institute of Museum and Library Service’s Office of Library Service, will participate.

The presenters will discuss the three USDA programs with funds available for rural libraries – the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program, the Communities Facility program and the Community Connect program.

Click here (https://ala.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=xyvbmfs&user_id) to register for the webinar.

Workshop - Digitizing Historical Photographs

2010-10-22T15:06:00.002-04:00

Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time: 9:15 AM - 1:15 PM
Place: Schenectady County Public Library - Central Library
Cost: Free

The NYS Archives is offering this free workshop and since they have space available, they are opening it to the library community.

This workshop will:
* address what you can digitize and why you should do it
* present the scanning process and the creation of the metadata for the scanned item
* discuss how you can use digitized photographs

The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Register by calling 798-5717 or visit http://iarchives.nysed.gov/WorkShops/workshopsDetailServlet?id=1532&cat=0.