WLA Spring/Summer 2021 Newsletter

Volume 6 Spring/Summer 2021

Libraries Embrace Change

Las bibliotecas se acogen al cambio

President's Message

Since its formation more than 80 years ago, the Westchester Library Association's greatest legacy has been its inclusion of academic, public, school, and special libraries to discuss an assortment of library and information issues relevant to our current times. Given the increased need to connect with colleagues and fellow library and information professionals during the pandemic, WLA has continued to offer professional development workshops and monthly Meet & Unwind gatherings on a virtual platform.

Our first Virtual Midwinter Conference was held on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 and featured guest speakers Hillel Arnold of the Rockefeller Archive Center; Robert Cartolano of the IT Department of the Columbia University Libraries; Lisa Krupp of the Lindenhurst Memorial Library; and Kathryn Shaughnessy of St. John's University. It was such a success that we will be proceeding with our Second Virtual Annual Conference & Business Meeting on Friday, May 7. Guest speakers include Damon Centola, author of Change: How to Make Big Things Happen, Michael Schein, author of The Hype Handbook, B.K. Fischer, the first Poet Laureate of Westchester County, and a group of panelists speaking about "Library Careers: Career Paths and Transitioning Roles." Our panelists represent a broad array of careers in libraries: Clara Cabrera, Research & Reference Supervisor at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Door in New York City; Barbara Davis, Co-Director of the Westchester Historical Society; Ellen Elsen, School Media Specialist at the Dobbs Ferry Free School District; Dr. Christine Angel, Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information and Science, St. John’s University, and David Waring, Music Librarian of the Greenwich Library. Registration details are included below.

We hope you will join us for WLA's Annual Conference this year, when we also will be announcing the winners of this year's Professional Development Awards and the association's plans to become a Round Table of the New York Library Association (NYLA). This exciting new affiliation with NYLA will allow WLA to refocus as a group, expand its professional development opportunities, and reach a wider audience. The WLA board looks forward to a new and revitalized roster of events in the fall. Until then, keep well and stay tuned for announcements about the formation of the NYLA Round Table.

Tribute to Bonnie Katz

It is with tremendous sadness that the Westchester Library Association mourns the loss of librarian Bonnie Katz, who worked at the Ossining Public Library for fifteen years. Bonnie was an insatiable learner, always keen to take courses and workshops, and she kept a close eye on new and emerging technologies that could better serve library patrons. Her enthusiasm for learning and discovery was boundless. Her interest in professional enrichment led her to WLA, where she served on the board for several years, planned an annual conference, and was elected President in 2013. During her tenure, WLA focused on inclusivity in libraries, a topic of great importance to Bonnie. Bonnie’s dedication to WLA, the Ossining Library, and all that libraries represent, made her a role model to her colleagues throughout Westchester. Her colleagues will treasure her ability to find beauty in the smallest moments, her optimism and positive spirit. In her honor, WLA will present an annual Award at the Midwinter Conference--usually held at the Ossining Library--to a librarian or library staff member who exhibits Bonnie's spirit of giving and dedication to libraries.

2021 Virtual Annual Conference

Friday, May 7th

Candidates for 2021 WLA Officer Elections

Election Slate

Introducing the 2021-2022 candidates for the WLA Executive Board. Electronic ballots will be sent out to members by April 22nd.

President: Kim Stucko

Kim is enjoying her time working at the Greenburgh, Croton, Chappaqua, and Mt. Kisco libraries as a part-time Adult Services Librarian. Prior to serving as WLA Vice President, Kim was co-chair of the Professional Development Committee. She began her library career shortly after obtaining her MLS degree from LIU/Palmer School and also has an MS degree in Computer Science from Marist College.

Vice President/President Elect:

Kathy Palovick

Kathy is a Teen Services Librarian at the Mamaroneck Public Library. Previously she has worked at the Dobbs Ferry, Mount Pleasant and Ardsley Public Library. She is currently the chair of the Legislative Committee and has also served on the Professional Development Committee. Kathy graduated with an MLIS from Long Island University's Palmer School in 2012.

Treasurer: Allison Robbins

Allison is the Technology and Training Librarian at the Ossining Public Library, where she has worked since 2016. She has served as WLA Treasurer over the past year and previously served as secretary. Allison graduated from LIU's Palmer School in 2019 with an MSLIS and an Advanced Certificate in Archives and Records Management.

Secretary: Melissa Victoria

Melissa works primarily as a Youth Services Librarian at Bronxville Public Library and Children’s Librarian at Greenwich Library in Connecticut, as well as having previously worked as a Children's Librarian at Hendrick Hudson Free Library. She entered the University at Albany's MSIS program while working as a Library Assistant and BEAMS

Program Coordinator at the Ossining Public Library, graduating this past December 2020. Librarianship is her second career as she has an MS.ED in School Psychology/ Counseling and

spent many years working in Early Childhood Education.

NYLA Round Table

A motion has been advanced by NYLA Members, and WLA Board Members, Giovanna Fiorino-Iannace and Elaine Provenzano, to create a new NYLA Round Table to represent the Westchester Library Association (WLA).

The Westchester Library Association Round Table (WLA)

Purpose: The Westchester Library Association’s purpose is to provide for the exchange of ideas and experiences among members and to foster library services to all residents of Westchester County.

In order to advance this request to the NYLA Council,the signatures of 25 NYLA members must be collected by petition. To electronically add your support, follow the instructions below.

In order to electronically sign the petition in support of forming an WLA Round Table, click here.

It is hoped that the required signatures will be secured in advance of the May 6th NYLA Council meeting. If approved the new Round Table would begin operation June 1, 2021.

STILL TIME TO APPLY!

WLA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Don't miss out--deadline has been extended to April 28th! Each year, the Westchester Library Association awards up to two, $500 scholarships. This award is designed to assist WLA members pursuing Professional Development activities and courses that will contribute to or enhance their performance in a library career.

If you are interested in applying for an award, please click below:

WLA Professional Development Award 2021-2022 – Application

WLA Professional Development Award 2021-2022 – Instructions

WLA 2020/2021 Fall/Winter Program Highlights

Midwinter Conference 2021:

New Technology and Best Practices in

Libraries and Archive Collections

February 3rd

On Wednesday, February 3rd, WLA hosted a virtual Mid-winter Conference regarding new technology and best practices in libraries and archive collections. These recommendations were certainly timely and applicable. Here are some highlights from the panelists:

Hillel Arnold,Assistant Director and Head of Digital Programs of the Rockefeller Archive Center: As a repository for the study of philanthropy around the world, the archive discovered that limited physical access to the collection during Covid-19 also created new opportunities to implement new technology infrastructure. Arnold espoused a healthy relationship with technology driven by values, not solutions, with the archive’s value’s statement fostering to “Engage and empower users, provide ethical access, collaborate, and create a culture of learning.” He also stated that a technology ecosystem needs equilibrium and thoughtful application. It works best when matched with people and expertise and must be actively maintained. Rockefeller conducts user research, integrating testing into development cycles. This usability testing helps to avoid surprises, and offers a better experience for end users.

Robert Cartolano,Vice President, Digital Programs and Technology Services for Columbia University Libraries & Information Services: Cartolano focused on four topics: “The library is the brand; open supports sustainability; collaboration makes a difference; and you don’t need to dominate a market to influence it.” Providing examples of how Columbia University Libraries have used technology to successfully improve branding, open access and overcome other challenges, he also proposed avoiding traps that might impede sustainability, economy, ecology, and equity. Cartolano believes that collaboration is key and no library should go it alone, citing the success of the shared collections of Columbia, Princeton, NYPL, and Harvard, as well as DPLA (Digital Public Library of America). He states that libraries are trusted partners in the community, fostering core library values to the constituents we serve.

Lisa Kropp,Director of the Lindenhurst Memorial Library: To meet the needs of the patrons during the pandemic, Kropp quickly increased technology efforts to transition from a physical building to virtual environment, focusing on building engagement and advocacy. She hired a technology specialist to coordinate these efforts, and provided a supportive training environment for employees to reach beyond their tech comfort zone with technology, including the purchase of personal laptops for home use. Other positive changes to library services were in fixing wifi and router issues for patron access beyond the building, offering hot spots, as well as creating more engaging online programming, and using social media more effectively.

Kathryn Shaughnessy, Associate Professor and Open Education Librarian at St. John’s University: Shaughnessy focused on the ethics of technology, neutrality, collaboration, and inclusion by design, adding that like the other speakers, librarians are advocates where decisions are being made in technology for end users. From ADA compliance and universal design to open access, she discussed the myriad of ways librarians provide bridges across the digital divide. Using universal design principles, things are designed so the widest possible population can use it without additional accommodation. We can all be part of the design process and decision making. Shaughnessy also provided examples of tools that allow audits of technology accessibility, and promote an open ecology of information to further break down barriers. Technology makes it possible to disseminate and distribute information more quickly and fairly, which proved a timely tool for researchers during Covid-19.

Staying Fit While Working From Home

December 14th

Alyssa Klein, Senior Physical Therapist at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, provides an interactive virtual presentation on ways to stay fit while you are working or studying from home.

Westchester County Archives

January 14th

Westchester County Resources and Archives What's Available & Helping Patrons Access Resources

On January 14th, Jackie Graziano, Reading Room Manager of the Westchester County Archives, and Patrick Raftery, Associate Director and Librarian at Westchester County Historical Society, presented information about their institutions’ collections, and how patrons can access those services during the pandemic. Patrick and Jackie also discussed the common reference questions they get from area patrons, and noted that interest in both local history and genealogy have boomed during this Covid-19 period. A recording of the program is available on WLA’s YouTube channel and a helpful handout was provided to assist area librarians in directing patrons to the collections and current services available at the archives.

Job Interview Skills for the

Covid-19 Period & Beyond

March 1st

Job Interview Skills for the Covid-19 Period and Beyond 3.1.21

The library community has felt the economic impacts of Covid-19. Shifts in the landscape of staffing and new positions are significant and many professionals in our community are in the market for a new position. To support these efforts WLA invited Jeanne Nelson, an instructor of business etiquette and workplace savvy, and Lyn Leis, professional career coach and Associate Director of Career and Professional Development at Mercy College, to provide a workshop on interviewing during this unique period. Jeanne and Lyn covered the dos and don'ts of professional interviewing--from what to wear and preferred methods for follow up, to how all of this works in our newly virtual environment. Jeanne and Lyn’s presentation recording can also be viewed on WLA’s YouTube channel.

Libraries & Covid-19 Survey Results

In our last WLA Newsletter (Fall 2020), we surveyed members about changes in their libraries due to Covid-19. The majority of the forty respondents work in public libraries, and, not surprisingly, reported similar adjustments while navigating through the challenges of the past year.

Over 85% of the libraries added Curbside Service, while 35% made computers available by appointment. Less than half offered Study Appointments.

Almost all respondents' libraries removed or moved furniture, and restricted access to meeting rooms.

Thirty percent found new uses for outdoor space, and 65% made changes to the entrance/exits of their buildings.

About five percent had no change in their outreach efforts, but some added "Take & Make" type of kits for patrons.

Ninety two percent reported the use of online meeting platforms, and 45% purchased new technology (Zoom, devices, etc).

About a quarter of the libraries made no budget changes, while some froze budgets or increased their spending on digital resources and PPE supplies.

Perhaps most importantly, a majority of libraries stated that their patrons were "understanding" and "thankful" but that they also "expressed frustration" with quarantine wait time, mask wearing, and fewer services. They have enjoyed online programs and Curbside Services, but like many of us, they want to return to "normal". While libraries are still figuring out what that looks like, many have learned that we are resilient, and that libraries are essential to our communities.