This Month at CLC: June 2019
The Board of Trustees Takeover Edition!
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CLC’s
16th Annual Meeting
is quickly approaching, and we think you should consider the importance of attending this event on June 6. Here’s why:
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- Every CLC member institution has a vote to determine the budget, membership dues, and who represents you on the CLC Board of Trustees. If you’re not sending someone from your library to this important meeting, you are giving away your vote. So, please designate your official representative and send them armed with information on how you want to vote on these important issues.
- CLC has awards! OK, it's not the Academy Awards, and we don't have a red carpet, but we think honoring and showing appreciation for our colleagues and community partners is a big deal.
- You can be a Know-body. People who attend our meeting get a preview of what’s coming up. This is a great time to learn what we are working on behind the scenes and what you can expect in the coming year.
- You’ll learn something new. This year our meeting is being held at CT Public. You may know them as CT Public Broadcasting, or CPTV, or WNPR. You’ll not only tour and learn about their learning lab, but you’ll hear about CT Public initiatives that impact your community and library.
- It’s fun! CLC’s annual meeting brings together members from all types of libraries across the state, and creates fun ways for them to get to know each other.
- It’s delicious. We serve food and drinks!
Convinced? Great! Click this link and sign up:
In preparation for our big event, we're devoting this issue to sharing some of the work that our dedicated board of trustees does for CLC. The fifteen individuals who comprise our board do SO much more than attend a meeting once a month. The time and attention that they devote to CLC serving on committees, advocating for the organization, and generously sharing their expertise ensures that CLC remains innovative and vibrant for all members. We've invited them to "take over" this issue, and share some of their initiatives. Enjoy their perspectives - and be sure to connect with them at CT Public on June 6. See you there!
Jennifer Keohane
Executive Director
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By Jennifer Keohane
Our annual meeting is usually when we publicly recognize our outgoing board members. Unfortunately, two out of three will not be able to attend on June 6 to have their moment in the spotlight and to receive the thanks that they so rightfully deserve.
Please join me, the CLC Board of Trustees, and the CLC staff in thanking Marian Amodeo, Jane Fisher, and Randi Ashton-Pritting for their combined 22 years of service to CLC. They each have brought unique experience, skills, and points of view that have helped the organization grow and thrive.
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Marian Amodeo
, Director of the Hamden Public Library, has served on the CLC Executive Committee as member-at-large for the past four years, as well as serving on the newly formed Advocacy Committee. She has consistently and enthusiastically educated the board as well as members about the value and benefit of CLC membership. Marian’s unique experience and warmth will be missed not only on the CLC board, but throughout the Connecticut library community when she retires in October.
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Jane Fisher
, Director of the Wallingford Public Library, has led our board as both vice chair and chair, and is currently in the role of immediate past chair. She co-chaired the Bylaws Committee and has served on both the Personnel Committee and Dues Task Force. For six years, Jane has been instrumental in helping shape the infrastructure and vision for CLC’s future. She led CLC during the evaluation and rollout of the initial CLC business development plan, and her thoughtful consideration of issues and team building expertise have been extremely valuable.
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Randi Ashton-Pritting
, Director, Harrison Libraries, University of Hartford, is no stranger to the CLC board. She served for six years beginning in 2004, and led the organization as chair in 2006/07. After just a few years off, she stepped up again in 2013 and agreed to serve another six years! Randi is a strong advocate for CLC’s academic members and served as the CLC liaison to CCALD. Anyone who knows Randi knows she is both an early riser and an idea person, and her enthusiastic suggestions for new partners, programs, and services have helped CLC grow and thrive throughout its sixteen year history.
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The Nominating Committee's primary responsibility is to fill vacancies on CLC’s fifteen-person Board of Trustees. We work with the board, CLC, and the membership to make sure the board represents all member types, sizes and regions throughout the state. This is one way CLC ensures feedback from a range of members, which CLC can use to enhance the value and relevance of its products and services. When there are no vacancies, the Nominating Committee reviews and updates our procedures and practices to make the transitions for outgoing and incoming trustees as smooth as possible. For example, this year we wrote best practices for recognizing outgoing board members, created a fillable nomination form, and are currently working on a new board member orientation packet and training module.
What I most enjoy about being on the Nominating Committee is meeting new people and making new connections in the process of recruiting for the board. I get to talk to librarians from all walks of life who share a passion for being active in their professions and an interest in actively supporting CLC’s mission. It is always exciting to present a new candidate to the board, and rewarding to watch new members settle in and start sharing their perspectives and their expertise with us!
Next year will be particularly eventful as we will have six board members whose terms are expiring in June of 2020. You will be hearing from Nominating again soon!
Sarah Briggs
Chair, CLC Board of Trustees & Nominating Committee
Library Media Specialist, Jonathan Law High School, Milford
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Proactively, the Bylaws Committee rolled up its sleeves this year to accomplish the first phase of a two-phase review of the Connecticut Library Consortium bylaws. Not revised since 2014, the bylaws made reference to processes and procedures that were out of date. More importantly, the document could impede the ability of CLC to move forward with the recommendations of the business plan.
The goal of the Bylaws Committee was to give CLC and its members an unambiguous document that reflected organizational needs today and in the near future. The committee also made recommendations to ensure that the bylaws were aligned with CLC's certificate of incorporation. The revisions are less about substance and more about allowing CLC to do its work more efficiently. For example, the revised bylaws allow for multiple "regular membership meetings" rather than just one annual meeting at which the business of the organization may be conducted. This allows for flexibility when and if needed. In addition, redundant wording was eliminated and language clarified.
At its May 16, 2019 meeting, the CLC Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve the recommended 2019 draft CLC bylaws and to bring the document forward to the full membership for their consideration at the CLC annual meeting on June 6.
Phase 2 of the project will focus on specific changes of critical substance, and will come through the Bylaws Committee as organizational needs arise.
Much appreciation to the members of the Bylaws Committee - Co-Chair Jane Fisher, C0-Chair Marie Shaw, Sarah Briggs, Carol Ansel, Mary Hogan, Janice Wilson, Jennifer Keohane, and Christine Sarrazin - for their dedication and work this year.
Marie Shaw
Program Coordinator, Library Technology Certificate, Three Rivers Community College
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HARNESSING "THE POWER OF WE": EVERYONE WINS
It’s not breaking news that the state budget doesn’t look great. And in fact, it isn’t. In 2002, the year before CLC was incorporated from the merger of four "Cooperating Library Service Units" (CLSUs), the CLSUs received $600,000 from the state. For the last two years, that funding has dwindled to $124,000. Although we continue to advocate to our state legislature (and you should too!), we’re making preparations to ensure the continued vitality of CLC even if that state funding is never restored.
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L-R: Ellen Paul, Jennifer Keohane, Marian Amodeo, Marie Shaw, and Sarah Briggs, along with Mary Hogan, presented
You've Got a Friend: How CLC Saves You Time and Money
at the CLA Conference in April.
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That’s why, as the Advocacy Committee, we’re shifting directions. We will, of course, always advocate to the state legislature, but now our focus is on advocating for CLC to members, potential members, and the general library community. We’re harnessing "The Power of WE": the power of the board, the power of our members, and the power of CLC.
Did you see our presentation at CLA in Mystic? Five CLC board members and Jennifer presented on the past, present, and future of CLC. We also shared and gave more detail on CLC’s plan to replace lost revenue from the state by strengthening and refining discounts, membership expansion and retention, expansion of CLC contracted services, developing a consultants pool, and expanding professional development.
As board members, we are committed to continuing to advocate for CLC, even if that advocacy is different from our past efforts. So, let me leave you with this. CLC works best when we all work with CLC. When you’re thinking of buying a new product, don’t go it alone. Think CLC first. When you need a partner for a new idea, you’ve got a friend. Think CLC first. And when you’ve got a project too big for one library, harness the power of "we." Think CLC first. Together, we’ll ensure the continued vitality of CLC for years to come.
Ellen Paul
Chair, Advocacy Committee
Director, East Hampton Public Library
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CONSULTANTS POOL COMMITTEE
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It happens every day in libraries - a new trend, a new idea, a new technology appears on the scene. Or the needs and demands of your library patrons shift dramatically, practically overnight. How do libraries cope? With limited staff and board capacity as well as limited knowledge in some of these very specific and niche areas, libraries need a reliable, trusted source to turn to for support. Enter CLC with its newly established Consultants Pool Committee!
The committee was created in response to
A New Way Forward: A Business Plan for the Connecticut Library Consortium
, developed by the Kairos Group in January 2018. The committee charge is to develop a model program and structure for the delivery of consulting services to member libraries in seven key areas: human resources, space planning, fundraising/grant writing, marketing/communications, social service training, professional development, and interim directors. Additional areas/specialties will be considered as the service develops and demand requires. The Consultants Pool Committee will provide the foundation for this service by: 1) identifying and vetting the initial consulting pool, with a goal of securing up to 3-5 consultants in each area; 2) researching models and recommending a structure for the service; 3) identifying people or groups who will vet consultants; and 4) providing ongoing direction and input for the program once it is established.
When the program is up and running, CLC’s role will be to "guide libraries in identifying which consultants are best-equipped to meet the current organizational needs in the areas listed above [and] ensure services are provided with integrity and delivered in a proficient manner" (Kairos report).
The committee members are all excited to get to work developing a consultancy model and structure to serve the libraries and librarians of Connecticut. Stay tuned for additional details and opportunities!
Veronica Kenausis
Chair, Consultants Pool Committee
Associate Dean of Library Services & Academic Success Programs, Western CT State University
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
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CLC’s current professional development offerings include roundtables, product webinars, discounts to BookExpo and national conferences, periodic Trendspotting symposiums and vendor expos, as well as collaboration with partners like Goodspeed Opera House. The newly formed Professional Development Task Force, which is made up of board members and other volunteers representing various library types, will be looking to: 1. Research and evaluate professional development options currently available to members as well as those in the planning stages; 2. Evaluate the topics, delivery models and programs that will best meet Connecticut librarians’ needs by library type; and, 3. Provide CLC members with a professional development program that uniquely meets their needs.
A key research component will be to benchmark Connecticut professional development offerings for librarians against offerings for librarians in other states. National certification programs will also be reviewed. An important goal would be not to duplicate offerings but rather to identify possible strategic partners for enhanced offerings, making sure any new programs, courses or workshops are kept affordable. Stay tuned, more information forthcoming!
Mary Hogan & Leticia Cotto
Co-Chairs, Professional Development Task Force
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EXCLUSIVE CLC OPPORTUNITY AT THE GOODSPEED!
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Wednesday, June 26
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam
The event will include:
- Live viewing of a technical rehearsal - a unique opportunity usually only offered to VIPs and high-level donors
- Q&A with the creative team
- Tour of the Scherer Library of Musical Theatre at Goodspeed, the only library in the world dedicated solely to American musical theater
- Social hour next door at the historic Gelston House featuring generous hors d'oeuvres
$20 per person. Space is limited to just 40 CLC member library staff.
Register today!
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Exclusive Ticket Savings:
Because of Winn Dixie
musical at Goodspeed Opera House
The beloved, award-winning novel about a mutt named Winn Dixie and a quirky community learning to get along has been transformed into
an uplifting new musical at the Goodspeed!
CLC members save $15 off adult price tickets, Wed & Fri evenings, June 28 - Aug 2. Limit 8 per order. Call 860-873-8668 or order online at
www.goodspeed.org
. Use code
LIBRARY15
.
Valid on select seats and subject to availability. Restrictions may apply. Not valid for previously purchased tickets or in combination with any other offer. Regular service fees apply.
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Turnitin
FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. CLC's 2019-20 prices once again feature the guaranteed lowest price available to Connecticut K-12 schools! New this year, Free Extended Help Desk for all CLC members purchasing Turnitin. Order, renew or add additional services like integration for LMS by
Friday, June 14
. Contact Julie for assistance -
jyulo@ctlibrarians.org
. See CLC’s
Turnitin page
for more information
.
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Wednesday, June 12, 10:30am - 1:00pm
Ferguson Library, Stamford
TOPIC: AN INSIDE LOOK AT OFFICE SYSTEMS
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Join your office administrator colleagues for an insider's look at Ferguson Library's office systems. We will learn about the technology they use and how they organize around it. This should spark a conversation where we can all share and learn! Lunch generously provided by Ferguson Library.
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Thursday, June 13, 10:00am - noon
Burritt Library, Central CT State University
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Join your Connecticut college and university library resource sharing colleagues at an ILL Roundtable meeting just for academic libraries. The group will be joined by Mike Richins from Colorado State University via Webex to discuss Rapid ILL.
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Thursday, June 27, 9:00 - 10:30am
Godfrey Memorial Library, Middletown
INAUGURAL MEETING!
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The Genealogy Roundtable is open to anyone interested in exploring and sharing resources and strategies for genealogy and family history research. This will be our first meeting, so we will introduce ourselves and our institutions. We'll discuss as a group what our interests and concerns are, with an eye to setting up topics for future meetings. If you've never been to the Godfrey before, welcome! There will definitely be time to prowl around and peruse the collection.
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These meetings are just a sample of upcoming roundtables -
7 meetings are happening in June!
Please explore and register for your favorites. Everyone is welcome at a CLC roundtable.
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