Cheery Wednesday Greetings!

We’re coming to you a couple of days early due to the holiday. I hope this edition of the News finds you--and everyone in your life--healthy and safe.

When my oldest daughter was 4 years old, the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving as we headed into Ithaca to shop, she said to me, “Are you excited about Thanksgiving?” She has always seemed wise beyond her years, which is how I found myself explaining my conflicting feelings about Thanksgiving to a 4-year old. I remember the conversation vividly to this day.

“Well, I don’t know,” I said. “It’s nice to have time off and to see your grandparents and to have a day of thanks, but the Thanksgiving story is all wrong. The arrival of the Pilgrims or Puritans and other groups from across the sea was terrible for the Native peoples who were already here. Both of your grandmothers’ grandmothers’ grandmothers’—way back to the third ship to arrive at Plymouth—were part of that group. The Pilgrims and the groups that followed kept taking and taking from the Native peoples—first their help and then their very land. Even here where we are right now and everywhere throughout this country, land was stolen and taken from them."

We continued to discuss what this meant, including the 60+ Native Nations that were forced relocated to Oklahoma, the boarding schools, diseases, and what we can do in today’s world (ah, for that resource back then!). It was a lot for a 4-year old to absorb.

That Monday, she walked into her preschool classroom at Binghamton University and announced that she didn’t like Thanksgiving because we stole Native American land and sent kids to boarding schools (and apparently went into great detail). Instead of hushing her, the teacher used it as an opportunity to further discuss this very complicated issue with the class and in the process, worked on developing empathy. Today, there is a plethora of excellent material to help parents, educators, librarians, etc. discuss challenging issues with our youngest of learners, from social justice (from Edutopia) and racism (Yes! Magazine) to stolen land. This piece on Decolonizing Thanksgiving is an Oxymoron provides food for thought and includes some recommended books for kids.

I’m still not a fan of Thanksgiving. On the positive side, most years it is a time to be with family and friends and to reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. For those of us who have a daily practice of gratitude, it is but one of 365 days to give thanks. The Haudenosaunee people's Thanksgiving Address, which is included below, is not related to the upcoming holiday but associated with an ongoing practice of gratitude and giving thanks. Today's edition of Yes! Magazine includes an article from 2018, Don't Trash Thanksgiving: Decolonize It, which has some great suggestions.See also What does Thanksgiving mean to Native Americans?

On Monday, we discussed land acknowledgements at SCRLC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee meeting. What emerged: we need to develop a standard one, determine when to use it and do so consistently, add it to the website and LibGuide, and have it reviewed and approved by the closest indigenous nation—in our case, the Cayugas. I am looking forward to hearing Loriene Roy’s thoughts on land acknowledgements at our upcoming program on December 14, Library Services for Indigenous Peoples: From Land Acknowledgement to Outreach. I hope to see you there!

Have a safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday.

From the Onondaga Historical Association, "This video explores aspects of the Thanksgiving Address and the ways that the Haudenosaunee give thanks to the different elements of the environment. The goal is to share the Haudenosaunee perspective on being thankful, and to have the visitor reflect upon what they are thankful for, as well as to re-examine their own relationship to nature." Here is a printed version of the Thanksgiving Address, available through the National Museum of the American Indian.

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Last week a panel of school librarians from across New York presented to the NYSED Regents and the Regents Advisory Council on the role of School Librarians in Remote and Hybrid Instruction. This was a collaboration between the New York State Library and SLSA (School Library Systems Association). Roma Matott, school librarian from the Sherburne-Earlville CSD, participated as a panelist.

Tompkins County Public Library reopening for "express browsing" | The Ithaca Voice

Next Director's Meetup: Monday, December 14, 4:00pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95880178218 | Meeting ID: 958 8017 8218

Or call in: 1-646-876-9923 | Passcode: SCRLC

Next All Member Meetup: Tuesday, December 1, 1:00pm

https://zoom.us/j/109469034 | Meeting ID: 109 469 034

Or call in: 1-646-876-9923 | Passcode: SCRLC

Next Resource Sharing Meetup: Tuesday, December 8, 1:00pm  

https://zoom.us/j/109469034 | Meeting ID: 109 469 034

Next Special Collections/Local History/Archivists Meetup: Wednesday, December 2, 2:00pm

https://zoom.us/j/715709544 | Meeting ID: 715 709 544

Let us know if your library is open or closed in on this Google Sheet and check the status of other organizations.

View these events on the ESLN Continuing Education Calendar

Youth Substance Use Prevention (LILRC)

December 1, 1:00pm

Instructional Videos for Everyone (2-part program) (NNYLN)

December 1 & 17, 2:00pm

How to Build An Anti-Bias Library (LILRC)

December 2, 3:00pm

part of New York State Library Digital Equity Webinar Series (METRO)

December 3, 2:00pm

Learning Canva (LILRC)

December 7, 10:00am

December 7, 4:00pm

Providing Your Library's Value with the E's of Libraries (LILRC)

December 8, 10:00am

Raising Your Level of Librarian-Faculty Collaborations (NNYLN)

December 8, 2:00pm

Reach Your Patrons: Creating a Coordinated Library Marketing Plan (LILRC)

December 10, 10:00am

SMART Goals - A How-To, Hands-On Working Session (CLRC)

December 10, 10:00am

I Didn't Sign Up For This - Creating an Effective Pandemic Operation Plan (CLRC)

December 14, 2:00pm

The Legislature & Libraries (NYLA Advocacy Fundamentals: A Virtual Series)

December 15, 9:00am

Program Possibilities for Today - 30 Ideas in 60 Minutes (CLRC)

December 16, 3:30pm

A Guide to Crafting and Promulgating the Library Employee Handbook (LILRC)

December 17, 10:00am

Program Possibilities for Today - 30 Ideas in 60 Minutes (CLRC)

December 17, 3:30pm

December 18, 10:00am

Learning Lucidpress (LILRC)

January 8, 10:00am

Workplace Productivity Skills: Spreadsheets (LILRC)

January 11, 10:00am

Empowerment through Self Advocacy (NYLA Advocacy Fundamentals: A Virtual Series)

January 19, 9:00am

Plannning a Successful Giving Day: How to Get Started with Fundraising (LILRC)

January 19, 1:00pm

Trauma-Informed Care (LILRC)

January 21, 1:00pm

Recent Developments in Labor & Employment Law (LILRC)

January 27, 10:00am

Available on our YouTube Channel

NEW! Communications, Part 1: Stemming the Tide with Jill Hurst-Wahl

Send a request to jphilippe@scrlc.org for access to online classes in design, business, technology, photography, entrepreneurship, film and writing through Skillshare.

In addition to the weekly Tech-Talk newsletter, SCRLC members have access to the Tech-Talk Database, which offers an up-to-date, searchable library of technology and communication articles and videos. Look for the login information at the top of your weekly Tech-Talk newsletter or email jphilippe@scrlc.org.

A free instructional design training program available through WebJunction to enable library workers to transfer their in-person teaching skills to the online environment. The 7 modules include: Orientation, Foundation, Diversity, Community, Content Creation, Course Management, & Capstone.

From McGraw Historical Society

Whether you are actively looking for a job or just want to be prepared in uncertain times, SCRLC is offering confidential and objective resume and cover letter review, as well as interview coaching. Let us know what would help you feel prepared. Fill in the form below and we will be in touch.