This summer we're planning future programs.
A Message From the Director
Hi everyone,

We hope you are well and returning to some sense of normalcy. 

Although CDLC never closed or stopped providing services, like most of the world we have been working primarily remotely since March 2020. We are gradually reopening the office and are beginning to accept visitors (masks required if you are not vaccinated). If you’d like to stop in to see us, contact us and we’ll let you know when we’re available to meet (Zoom also continues as an option). We missed seeing you!

I also wanted to share that effective July 1, I am assuming an additional role as Chair of the Empire State Library Network (ESLN). 

ESLN is the statewide umbrella organization comprised of the nine multi-type regional library councils (often referred to as the 3Rs). 

One of CDLC's greatest strengths is bringing members together to share and collaborate. Scaling this up to the statewide level is a benefit of being part of ESLN. 

Through ESLN, we provide and frequently subsidize statewide services for members. This includes New York Heritage, NYS Historic Newspapers, Empire Library Delivery, Ask Us 24/7, and the Ask the Lawyer service. Additionally, and particularly over the past 15 months, ESLN councils offered virtual programs and collaborated on programs. 

We also work with our ESLN colleagues to pilot and roll out statewide services, including the Ask the HR Expert service, the Empire ADC, and a potential statewide institutional repository we are piloting with a few libraries (including Union College).

Finally, because CDLC and the other councils rely almost entirely on statewide funding, advocacy efforts, in partnership with the New York Library Association, are key. 

When you see information about ESLN-sponsored programs and services, know that you are eligible to participate if your institution is a CDLC member. 

I’m excited to be stepping into this new role to work with my colleagues to bring statewide services to you. If you have ideas or suggestions please let me know. 

I’ll keep you posted on CDLC and ESLN activities. In the meantime, take time this summer to reconnect with family and friends and take time for yourself. It’s been quite the experience that we have been through!
Connections
(All Board Business This Month!)
At the June Board meeting, new officers were approved: 

  • President: Emily Spinner, Ellis Medicine
  • Vice President: Eric Trahan, Mohawk Valley Library System
  • Secretary: Joanna DiPasquale, Union College
  • Treasurer: Rebecca Mugridge, University at Albany

Thank you to outgoing President Eric Trahan, Mohawk Valley Library System and outgoing Treasurer Tim Burke, Upper Hudson Library System, for their commitment and leadership in these positions. 

Thanks to outgoing Trustees: J’aime Pfeiffer, WSWHE BOCES School Library System, and Gary Schwartz, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Retiree). We greatly appreciate the time and insight they provided as Board members.

Welcome to new Trustee Annie Gersztoff, Capital Region BOCES School Library System, joining the Board in the new mandated School Library System seat. We look forward to working with Annie in this capacity.

We continue to seek nominations for two vacant Board positions: (1) at-large and (1) non-librarian research community positions. The at-large position is a partial one-year term expiring in 2022 and the incumbent would then be eligible to serve two full terms. The non-librarian research community position is a full 5-year term. If you are interested in being considered or in nominating someone, please contact me. 
CDLC is hosting a series of tech-related webinars offered by Your Nerdy Best Friend. Review the topics and register for either the live or on-demand webinars!
Collections
What unique collections are in your library? Organized by the Collection Development Committee, a Unique Collections Guide is on our website. Complete this questionnaire to add your collections. 

As part of an ESLN series of webinars on resource sharing-related topics, we'll provide a CCDA update on August 25 from 2:00-3:00 pm. Academic libraries participating in the CCDA program are encouraged to attend.
In case you missed it: OverDrive to Acquire Kanopy
Statewide Collaborations
The PILLARS Symposium: Preparation, Information Literacy, Libraries, Academic Resources, and 21st Century Skills for Transitioning from Secondary School to College is quickly approaching on July 7-9. This event is sponsored by ESLN in collaboration with the New York School Library Systems Association.
ESLN is offering a series of webinars on resource sharing-related topics. The next one, The Future of Resource Sharing: Technologies on the Horizon, is July 14 from 1:30-2:30 pm. 
As part of the new Ask the HR Expert service ESLN is offering a series of webinars. All are from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Future topics and dates are:
  • September 20 - Trust & Leadership
  • October 18 - Leading Performance
Save These Dates: The New York Library Association (NYLA) Annual Conference is on! For 2021, they are offering a virtual conference (October 28-29) and an in-person conference November 3-6 in Syracuse. Attend one or both. Registration opens on August 1. 
Member News
Congratulations to:
  • J’aime Pfeiffer, School Library System Director of the WSWHE BOCES School Library System, and a CDLC Trustee, on her retirement. We’ll miss working with J’aime and wish her the best!

  • Kerrie Burch for her appointment as the School Library System Director of the WSWHE BOCES School Library System. Kerrie was most recently the SLS Director at Questar III School Library System (among other roles). She is also a CDLC Trustee and President of the School Library Systems Association.

  • Lisa Brainard, Library Director at Russell Sage College, on her upcoming retirement. We wish Lisa all the best and thank her for her support of CDLC.

  • Johnstown Public Library, a member of the Mohawk Valley Library System, for receiving a Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services of New York (DHPSNY) Archival Needs Assessment grant. Archival Needs Assessments thoroughly examine an institution’s archival program, identifying and addressing specific organizational needs. 
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind Regards,