Spring is here! Take time to renew and rejuvenate
your career with our upcoming conference and
professional development workshops.
Annual Conference: Traditional conferences have pre-determined topics, panels, and workshops. The 2019 WLA Annual Conference will be a Do-it-Yourself "Unconference", with topics for discussion and exploration determined by the participants--you! An "unconference" creates an atmosphere where new ideas can percolate and rise, energizing attendees with many possibilities to take back to their libraries. Let's get inspired by communicating our ideas and best practices, as well as challenges.
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Keynote Speaker: Rory Scholl
"Truth in Storytelling: Unifying through the Tales that Bind Us"
WLA DIY "Unconference"
Make it Yourself,
Do it Yourself,
Serve Yourself
Monday, May 20th, 2019
8am - 4pm
Gateway Center
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We need your input now!
When you register, please choose three topics of interest from the list and suggest one additional topic. Votes will be tallied and chosen topics announced at the conference.
WLA Members $45*
Non-members $55*
*Includes breakfast, lunch, business meeting, all sessions, Keynote Speaker, vendors, raffle
Register early to guarantee your spot. Registration ends May 15.
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STILL TIME TO APPLY!
WLA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
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Don't miss out--deadline is April 15th!
WLA will award at least two $500 professional development scholarships at our conference in May.This award is designed to assist WLA members pursuing Professional Development activities that will contribute to or enhance their performance in a library career. If you are interested in applying for an award, click here:
The WLA Board would like to especially thank Special Libraries Association for their donation toward our award program.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR UPCOMING PROGRAMS
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Professional Development Programs
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Mid Winter Conference 2019:
The Human Library
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On Wednesday, January 30th, 2019 WLA’s Mid-Winter conference was held at the Ossining Public Library. The topic was “The Human Library.” Presentations were given by Brian Avery, Director of the Pawling Free Library, Philip Poggiali, Instructional Services Librarian at the Mortola Library at Pace University’s Pleasantville campus, as well as Steve Feyl, Associate University Librarian at Pace University. Designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue, the Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers--a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered. Tissues are often needed in sessions. The Human Library was developed in Copenhagen in 2000 by a young and idealistic youth organization called “Stop the Violence.” In just a few years, the organization has grown to 30,000 members all over the country. Over sixty people registered for this most interesting event, and left excited and intrigued to possibly try this initiative out at their own libraries. For more information on “The Human Library” please visit
http://humanlibrary.org.
As a follow up to our Mid-Winter
Human Library
conference, Catherine Riedel volunteered to be a book at the Pawling Library's Human Library day. Read about her experience
here
.
Submitted by
James Trapasso
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Library Advocacy Day 2019
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The New York Library Association (NYLA) published its 2019 Library Advocacy Agenda, available in pdf format on the
NYLA website
. In summary, the Agenda calls for statewide aid to ensure that libraries are able to build sustainable communities and provide equitable access for all New Yorkers.
Governor Andrew Cuomo released his FY2019-2020 Budget Proposal, which includes a third straight year of cuts to library funding. NYLA is currently hosting an online petition for anyone who would like to contact their local elected officials about the budget and the need for properly funded libraries.
The American Library Association will be releasing its State of America’s Libraries report for 2019 during National Library Week (April 7-13). The State of America’s Libraries report is released every year during National Library Week and outline statistics and issues affecting all types of libraries. The 2017 report is available on the
ALA website.
Library Advocacy Day
was held on February 27 in Albany. Library Advocacy Day is an annual event where librarians and library advocates from across the state meet in Albany to voice their support for libraries to state lawmakers. Since 2011 state libraries have gained eleven million dollars in additional aid thanks to the efforts of those who attend this event.
Submitted by
Kathy Palovick
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Implicit Bias Professional Development Workshop
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On Thursday morning, Feb 28, over fifty WLA members attended our “Implicit Bias” Workshop led by Dr. Adwoa Akhu. During the two hour program, Dr. Akhu spoke about the meaning and implications of our unconscious biases, led us through some self-awareness activities, and explained how we can deal with our own biases. A licensed
clinical psychologist who has been in the field for over twenty years, Dr. Akhu’s blend of professional experience and education mixed with personal knowledge and wisdom helps her effectively reach, teach, and inspire others. She emphasized that we all are programmed to have biases, and that becoming aware of our own prejudices is the first step to changing how we react and respond to people. Issues occur and prejudices are shown when we do nothing to alter our own behavior in light of our biases. Dr. Akhu emphasized the importance of mindfulness techniques, like breathing exercises, as focused thinking and calming the mind are essential to identifying these biases in ourselves. She also provided attendees with resources to expand on what they learned, including information about the
Submitted by Diana Lennon & Megan Fenton
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2019 Mock Awards
The winners they selected were:
Mock Printz Winner:
Hey, Kiddo
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Mock Printz Honors:
The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Thunderhead
by Neal Shusterman.
Boots on the Ground
by Elizabeth Partridge.
Mock Caldecott Winner:
Ocean Meets the Sky
by the Fan Brothers
Mock Caldecott Honors:
Julián is a Mermaid
by Jessica Love
Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Dreamers
by Yuyi Morales
Blue
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Mock Newbery Winner:
The Journey of Little Charlie
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Mock Newbery Honors:
The Parker Inheritance
by Varian Johnson
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science
by Joyce Sidman
Submitted by Z Baird
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Board of Directors
Executive Officers:
Diana Lennon
President
Elaine Provenzano
Vice President
Giovanna Iannace
Secretary
Sharon Rothman
Treasurer
Section Chairs
Mayra Cabrera & Anthony Reda
Academic
Kathryn Feeley
Reference
Maxine Grandison
Support Staff
Catherine Riedel
Youth Services.
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Regular Membership Fee is $30.00/year
Organizational Membership Fee is $100/year for five staff
Retired Librarian Membership fee is $10.00/year
Currently Unemployed Librarian fee is $10.00/year
Library School Student Membership Fee is $10.00/year
Membership year runs from January 1
st
to December 31st.
Please make your check payable to Westchester Library Association.
Mail to: Kathy Beirne
Westchester Library Association
Ossining Public Library
53 Croton Avenue
Ossining, NY 10562
Email: Kbeirne@wlsmail.org
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