NYLA 2021 Conference Highlights |
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The New York Library Association’s Annual Conference and Trade Show has wrapped up for 2021. This year’s conference was a hybrid of recorded, virtual, and in-person events featuring library leaders sharing their experiences in delivering services to their communities, including sessions presented and curated by MHLS member libraries and staff. Attendees who registered for the virtual and in-person conference can access recorded and virtual sessions through the Pheedloop online conference platform until November 30th, 2021, and in December, everyone will be able to purchase access to these sessions. Stay tuned for pricing for this content in the coming weeks!
The recorded session, Tackle a Construction Project Successfully! presented by Julie Kelsall-Dempsey, Highland Public Library Director and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director will be available on-demand through Pheedloop. At the in-person conference, Amy Smith, Red Hook Public Library Head of Programs & Youth Services and Dawn Jardine, Red Hook Public Library Director, presented Prioritizing Digital Equity When Everyone Says No.
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Pictured (l-r): Dawn Jardine, Red Hook Public Library Director and Amy Smith, Red Hook Public Library Head of Programs & Youth Services
MHLS Outreach and EDI Specialist, Kerstin Cruger, in her role as NYLA Friends of the Library Section’s President-elect, convened Friendly Relationships, Working Together for the Library, facilitated by MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin. Amy Smith was also recognized at the Inaugural Banquet for her completion of the NYLA Developing Leaders program.
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(l-r): Program from the conference and Rebekkah during her keynote presentation.
In September, MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, was invited to provide the closing keynote address at the national library conference in Iceland. Rebekkah shared the work being done by U.S. libraries on the topic of sustainability, using the triple bottom line framework of social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic feasibility. Many MHLS member libraries' work was featured in the presentation, including the Library of Local Project, sustainably designed library facilities, library efforts to address food scarcity, Repair Cafes, disaster preparedness programs, and support of the Climate Smart Communities effort in New York State.
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Clinton Community Library has been awarded a grant for $6,000 by the Northeast Dutchess Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to support their slate of Optimistic Aging programs. These include Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Mah Jongg, Teatime Book Group, online lectures, and Lunch & Learn (which they hope to resume in-person), and more to be added as they further expand this series. |
Patterson Library Director Stephanie Harrison (pictured center) and Board of Trustees President Donald Ferraro (pictured left) were presented a check for $2,500.00 by Jeffrey Motta, Putnam County Savings Bank Branch Manager. The donation will be used for a new TBS Book Scan Station, allowing patrons to easily scan and fax important documents at no cost. |
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Join Library Journal for the virtual version of their long-running, in-person Design Institute program on Tuesday, November 30th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Attendance is free! Throughout the day, you’ll engage with experts in library architecture and design through live and pre-recorded webcast sessions. You’ll attend architect-led breakouts featuring design challenges submitted by attendees, and you’ll visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall where you can learn more about service and product offerings for your library and pose your questions and challenges to the architects. A comprehensive selection of sponsor resources will be available to attendees to ‘take home,’ and the event will be available for on-demand viewing for three months following its live broadcast. To learn more and to register visit, https://www.libraryjournal.com/?event=design-institute-2021. |
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Resource Sharing & Sierra |
Join Laurie Shedrick, MHLS Assistant Director / Technology Operations Manager on Wednesday, December 8th at noon to become acquainted with the necessary skills and workflows needed to manage the primary tasks of circulation desk work. Circulation 101 is intended for any new staff or perhaps experienced staff wondering if there are more efficient ways to do things while covering the circ desk. Reserve your seat!
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In partnership with the University of South Carolina, the University of Maryland, the University of Washington, Syracuse University, and Emporia State University, the American Library Association (ALA) seeks to recruit a cohort of 8-10 racially and ethnically diverse doctoral students focused on advancing racial equity and social justice in library and information science curricula. Applications will be accepted via the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse. Applications will close on December 10th, 2021. Learn more in the press release. |
The American Library Association has more than $300,000 in scholarships available to students who are studying in programs that have been accredited by ALA at the master's degree level. Additionally, there are scholarships available for minorities, persons with disabilities and people who are already employed by libraries but do not have an MLS. Visit the website for more information and guidelines. The deadline to apply is March 1 st, 2022. |
Join the American Library Association (ALA) Policy Corps. ALA is looking for librarians working in the Northeast! To join the Policy Corps’ team and develop advocacy skills, apply by December 1 st, 2021. ALA will be hosting a virtual session to answer questions on November 22nd at 1:00 pm. Finalists will be asked to record and submit a two-minute video presentation on a sample policy issue. Visit their website for more information. |
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Reference & Collection Development |
The Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) of American Library Association (ALA) and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are pleased to announce the opening of the 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries grant cycle. These grants recognize libraries for their role in the growth of graphic literature and awards funds and resources for graphic novel collection development and programming and are open to libraries and institutions across North America. Deadline for applications is February 13 th, 2022. Learn more at https://www.ala.org/rt/gncrt/eisner. |
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The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is pleased to announce their first annual Summer Symposium on December 2nd, 11:30 am – 4:30 pm. All library staff who are interested in summer programming are welcome to attend this free event. To learn more and to register visit https://www.cslpreads.org/summer-symposium/. |
The New York State Office of Information Technology Services’ is hosting the “NYS K-12 Kids Safe Online Poster Contest.” The contest is a kindergarten through 12th grade computer safety contest and is open to all students in New York State. The goal of this contest is to encourage cyber security through the creation of posters and teach kids to use the Internet safely and securely. New York State winners will be announced in the 2023 NYS Kids Safe Online Calendar. NYS entries will also be entered into the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center ( MS-ISAC) National Computer Security Poster Contest for a chance at the national contest. The deadline for entry is December 17th, 2021. For more information, please visit the contest website or email cyber.outreach@its.ny.gov with any questions. |
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Libraries interested in participating in the 2022 MHLS Turning Outward Cohort Program are invited to join the introductory webinar on Thursday, December 9th at 10:00 am. Casey Conlin, MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator will outline the value of “turning outward”, through community conversations, to seek public knowledge about community aspirations to better guide the future design of library services, programs, partnerships, and resource allocation. This webinar will also provide a brief overview of the program schedule and expectations for 2022. Registration is available through the MHLS Calendar.
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Administration & Management |
Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that expands New York State's Paid Family Leave (PFL) legislation to allow caring for siblings beginning January 1st, 2023. Under the current law, employees cannot take leave to care for a sibling with a serious health condition. In effect since 2018, PFL is employee-paid insurance that provides workers with job-protected, paid time off to bond with a newly born, adopted, or fostered child; care for a family member with a serious health condition, or assist loved ones when a member of the family is deployed abroad on active military service. Currently, Paid Family Leave family care covers caring for spouses, domestic partners, children and stepchildren, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, and grandchildren with a serious health condition. Through this legislation the definition of "family members" expands to include siblings. This includes biological siblings, adopted siblings, stepsiblings, and half-siblings. These family members can live outside of New York State, and even outside of the country. Read more here. |
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On October 28 th, 2021, Governor Hochul signed legislation that significantly expands the scope of New York Labor Law Section 740 (NYLL 740), the state’s “whistleblower” protection law covering all private sector employees. Most notably, beginning in January 2022, employees and independent contractors will be protected for reporting employer activity that they reasonably believe violates any law, regardless of whether the law relates to public safety or whether the activity was an actual violation. |
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