The following was submitted by Josh Skou, Town of Ulster Public Library. Josh was one of five recipients of the 2022 New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference Scholarship from the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS).
"My time at the NYLA conference provided insight into resources which I could use to answer patron inquiries, information about tools to make the library more accessible to the community, and also opened my eyes to a number of programming possibilities.
In attending the Tech Trends for Libraries in 2023 program, I learned of Cricut printers, which are essentially a cheaper, limited version of a 3D Printer. These printers are often the centerpiece of library craft programs, as they can provide an easy to learn digital template for creating everything from custom cards to unique apparel. I believe these devices have the potential to both expand our programming repertoire at the Town of Ulster Library and breach the digital divide by engaging patrons with technology in a familiar and exciting way.
As someone with a background in Social Studies education, I was also delighted to learn about Consider The Source NY via the Fostering Collaboration Between Librarians and Educators program. Consider The Source NY is a digital collection of primary sources and document-based classroom activities centered around the history of New York state. This site grants the library a tool to support both students and educators, as well as an opportunity to make my library’s resources more accessible by uploading primary source documents onto the site.
Attending the conference gave me not only information and tools, but contacts and support from the broader library community."
The NYLA Conference Scholarship from MHLS helps provide new library directors and new library staff with the opportunity to attend the annual NYLA Conference by matching funds provided by the library to underwrite conference attendance.
Articles from all our scholarship recipients will be published in the MHLS Bulletin over the next few weeks!
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