MVLS.info

Workshop - Effective Meetings

2009-07-14T12:02:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009
Time: 9:30 AM - noon (coffee at 9:00 AM)
Place: Upper Hudson Library System
Presenter: Mary Fellows, Manager of Youth and Family Services, UHLS
Cost: $15

Meetings are a fact of work life. Meetings can advance understanding and informed decisions – or feed frustration and waste time. In “Control Is Not A Dirty Word: Effective Meeting Management,” Upper Hudson Library System presents a workshop in which you will learn how to:

o Determine when to hold a meeting
o Design a meeting to get the outcome you want
o Keep the meeting on track by managing difficult personalities, conflicts, and interruptions
o Positively influence productivity of meetings you are attending but not running

Whether you are a seasoned manager seeking to hone your skills, a rising star taking on more work or volunteer responsibilities that include chairing meetings, or a victim of painful meetings preparing to act, this workshop offers practical help.

To register, please email Mary Fellows at mary@uhls.lib.ny.us or call her at 518-437-9880 ext. 228. Registration deadline is August 18.

New Mohawk Valley Events Website

2009-07-13T15:41:00.002-04:00

Leah at Canajoharie shared this with me:

There is this great new site for goings on in the Mohawk Valley: http://www.mohawkvalleyguide.com/ They do a nice job and have an events calendar that anyone can post to. This is a great way for libraries to get the word out about summer reading programs and events.

Thanks for sharing, Leah!

NYLA Conference 2009

2009-07-12T16:55:00.000-04:00

The Early Bird registration deadline for the 2009 NYLA conference is fast approaching! Register by July 21 to secure the best rates for this year's conference, to be held in Niagara Falls from October 14-17. And remember that MVLS has funding available to offset conference costs for one attendee from each member library. Contact Carol for information on receiving this funding.

NOVEL Database Training

2009-07-12T12:12:00.000-04:00

Two free online training sessions on Gale's Health and Wellness Resource Center database have been scheduled. All libraries receive this database as part of the NOVEL program. Sessions will be held:

Tuesday, July 14, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Monday, August 3, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Preregistration for these sessions is NOT required. You will simply need to connect to the webinar a few minutes prior to the training start time. Information on connecting can be found here.

Festival of Writers in Rensselaerville

2009-07-10T10:04:00.003-04:00

The Rensselaerville Library and the Rensselaerville Meeting Center are going to host a three day Festival of Writers to benefit the Rensselaerville Library from July 31, 2009 through August 2, 2009. There will be events for everyone to enjoy, including a street festival and movie screenings (with the authors of the books upon which the movies are based, and a children’s festival. There will be workshops and discussions with many celebrated writers including William Kennedy and Andy Rooney. Some of the other celebrated writers include Molly O’Neill, Bill Logan, Dan Hofstadter, George Pendle, Natalie Bober, H.B. Gilmour, Deb Lucke, Stephen O’Connor, Helen Benedict, Lance Morrow, Tudson Talbott, returning guest writer Owen Sheers, and others.

All are welcome to attend. Tickets are required for many portions of the event. Registration forms and complete information can me found on the Rensselaerville Library's website, here.

PLS Awards

2009-07-07T15:49:00.003-04:00

Deadlines have been extended on the following awards. New deadline is July 31.

The Public Library Section of NYLA announces the following awards:

NYLA Dewey Fellowship
Dewey Fellowships are awarded to three NYLA members, selected by designated Section, to attend the NYLA Annual Conference. Dewey Fellows are chosen on the basis of the following criteria:1) five or more years of experience as a librarian
2) record of accomplishment in the library profession3) involvement in activities to advance the library community.Dewey Fellowship pays for up to $1250 of the cost of attendance of the 2009 NYLA Annual Conference. Additionally, each Dewey Fellow will receive a $100 Gift Certificate for use at the NYLA store, and will be acknowledged on NYLA's website, at the Annual Conference and in the NYLA Bulletin. Deadline: July 31, 2009

Outstanding Public Library Building Awards
There are two awards of $1000 each ; one award will be given to a construction project in a community serving less than 20,000, one award will go to a project in a community serving over 20,000. The 2009 awards will be given for new construction projects (not building renovations). All projects must have been completed by December 31, 2008 for consideration in the 2009 award cycle. Deadline: July 31, 2009

L. Marion Moshier / Asa Wynkoop Award for Distinguished Librarianship
This award is named in honor of two New York State library pioneers who nurtured the growth of small libraries. This award honors a public library Director who has given outstanding service to a community of 7,500 or less. Award recipients are selected by the PLS Board upon the recommendation of the PLS awards committee. The award includes $1,000, a plaque for the library and inclusion on a plaque to be placed in the NYLA office. Attendance at the NYLA conference is a requirement of acceptance. Deadline: July 31, 2009

Continuing Education / Post MLS Grant for up to $250 toward the cost of participating in continuing education or post-MLS study (four awards per year -- deadlines are June 1, October 1, December 1, and February 1).

Please visit the PLS website at http://www.nyla.org/pls for more information and application instructions.

New in the Professional Collection

2009-06-28T15:30:00.000-04:00

Game On! : Gaming at the Library

by Beth Gallaway

Books About Reading Books

2009-06-24T11:21:00.001-04:00

(From Sue, who is now returning these books to the libraries from whence they came.)

I've been reading parts of some reading books for teachers and librarians that I think have value in what we do and how we interact with kids, and promote reading!

"The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child" is by Donalyn Miller, 2009.

Ok, I've had this book checked out for over a month. I've started it about 6 times. (maybe have had 2 months??) Today, at lunch thought would give one last chance before returning it (because have had about 2 months) and opened in the middle. I'm in the middle of chapter "Cutting the Teacher Strings" and finally the book has awakened me. I guess I needed to cut to the chase and see her examples rather than read the first 1/3 with the philosophy. A sixth grade teacher, she "requires" her students to read 40 books a year. And explains what happens during that road, and she reacts and respects and gives kids the chance to be turned onto reading. Practical examples with snippets of advice in between (I still haven't read the first half btw). And an exemplary bibliography of all the books she has in her classroom at the end. If you've listened to Nancy Pearl's thoughts on creating readers and respect in book advising, this is Pearl in action in a school. (I've got a 9th and a 5th grader, and hearing the stories of teachers in her book really resonates.) I'm returning it so someone else can take a turn! (oh and she has a blog: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/book_whisperer/ The June 22 entry has a great entry on summer reading.

You ask why I'm reading these books on the right book for the right reader for the right times? Because it's summer, and I've been setting up online summer reading programs for our members, and every year at this time I start thinking about prizes for reading and what works and requirements and the purpose of the program to begin with and how to make it easy and fun for kids to participate and find the books that they REALLY would like to read and enjoy, no matter their level. I'm also trying to discover ways that will keep the kids coming into the library to get books, and teachers do have a captive audience during the school year!

Then, I discovered Teri S. Lesesne. I interlibrary loaned from the Sage College Library her "Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers" from 2006 and read it, (since obviously didn't have the ability to renew it for 2 months!). Of course, being a skinny book helped! Again, this book is from the captive school professional perspective, but it does have lots of great lists and tidbits of information. (Both Miller and Lesesne are proponents of actually asking kids what and why they read (and don't read) certain books, and respecting their answers.) By tidbits of information, she lists post reading activities, facts, and the every important least favorite post reading activities. And there's a fantastic booklist at the end, for tweens/middle school students.

Again, fascinating reading. I have a better understanding of kids' reading, and how to approach them in a public library setting. Or the friends of my kids that I keep shoving books onto. My next chore is to figure out how to suggest them to teachers for their summer reading. Any ideas? Let me know how you do it!!

Workshop - Book Repair

2009-06-21T15:35:00.002-04:00

Date: Thursday, August 5, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Place: CDLC Headquarters, 28 Essex St., Albany
Presenter: Kary Barth, Kapco Library Products
Cost: $5 (CDLC personal memebrs); $10 (MVLS library staff)

This workshop is designed to demonstrate quick and easy techniques for extending shelf life on general circulating materials. Prevention is the key, but the presenter will be addressing specific common repairs such as: tipping in loose pages, broken spines, torn header caps, ripped and torn pages.

Registration is limited to 25 people. Complete a registration form by July 24.

Congratulations to Dawn Lamphere

2009-06-19T09:09:00.002-04:00

The following is excerpted from an article that appeared in The Leader-Herald on May 8, 2009:

"The Montgomery County Bar Association has recognized St. Johnsville's Margaret Reaney Memorial Library director, Dawn Lamphere, with the Liberty Bell Award.

The aware is given annually by local bar associations in conjunction with Law Day to honor outstanding citizens in the local community.

State Supreme Court Justice Joseph M. Sise, bar association president, presented the award.

Sise noted the many programs and services offered by the library for people of all ages and interests, a news release said."

"Lamphere, who lives in St. Johnsville with her daughter Davida Capece, will mark her 32nd year as library director June 1."

Congratulations, Dawn!

Teens' Top Ten Downloadable Bookmarks

2009-06-18T15:00:00.001-04:00

YALSA now offers downloadable bookmarks (PDF file) featuring the 2009 Teens’ Top Ten nominees for librarians to distribute to teens at their libraries. The bookmarks feature the 25 titles nominated for this year’s list of favorite books. Teen readers are encouraged to read the nominees throughout the summer, then vote for their favorite titles starting August 24. The online poll closes on September 18, and winners will be announced in a webcast during Teen Read Week, October 18–24....

Joseph F. Schubert Award

2009-06-16T15:25:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Deadline is June 30
Applications are now available for the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award, which recognizes the achievements of small, medium and large libraries and library consortia of New York State.

The Award will recognize a library or library consortium that has taken significant steps to improve the quality of library service to its users. This year, the award of $1,000 is co-sponsored by EBSCO Information Services and The Friends of the New York State Library.

For a copy of the application form and information on the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award, please go to:http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/adviscns/rac/award/index.html

Projects nominated for the Award should document measurable progress in identifying user needs, taking steps to meet those needs, and evaluating the results. Previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply, and previous winners of the Award may re-apply after 3 years. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2009.

Science in the Spring Programs Featured on School Website

2009-06-16T15:21:00.002-04:00

The Science in the Spring program held in Gloversville on May 13 is currently featured on the Gloversville Enlarged School District's website. Check out http://www.gloversvilleschools.org to read the story.

Congratulations

2009-06-04T10:18:00.003-04:00

6/1/09 Volunteer Luncheon,
originally uploaded by norlib.

Congratulations to Virginia Conover, named Northville Public Library's Volunteer of the Year! Virginia is a former member of the Northville and MVLS Boards. Pictured: Virginia Conover, and Northville Lbrary Director Michael Burnett.

Great New Websites for Kids

2009-06-03T09:02:00.000-04:00

The Great Web Sites for Kids committee has selected 19 sites as a 2009 Great Web Site for Kids. These sites have been added to the Great Web Sites for Kids page. Great Web Sites for Kids are those considered the best web sites for ages birth to 14, outstanding in both content and conception. As applied to web sites for young people, “great” should be thought to include sites of especially commendable quality, sites that reflect and encourage young people’s interests in exemplary ways. For the full list go to the website: http://www.ala.org/greatsites.

Free Gaming in Libraries Course

2009-06-02T12:14:00.003-04:00

Gaming guru Scott Nicholson from Syracuse University is teaching a month-long course on gaming in libraries. Anyone can participate by viewing the daily lecture on YouTube (sessions are 10-15 minutes long), and through a discussion group hosted at ALA Connect. Best of all - it's free. Get all the details at the course blog, http://www.gamesinlibraries.org/course/

Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award

2009-05-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

This Empire Friends Roundtable of NYLA award honors a volunteer member or group of the library community whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends organizations.

The nomination form can be found at http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=57. Please list all relevant information (nominee and sponsor contact information – including mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses). Describe the individual’s/group’s commitment to library service in detail. Send three copies of the nomination form and relevant supporting materials, press releases, etc. to Judith Kharbas, 53 Bright Oaks Dr., Rochester, NY 14624, or email
jdkharbas@rochester.rr.com by July 24, 2009. (These materials will not be returned). For further information call 585-247-8416 or email jdkharbas@rochester.rr.com. The deadline for nominations in July 24.

YALSA SummerSlam

2009-05-21T10:19:00.000-04:00

Put a little muscle into your summer reading program by signing up for the SummerSlam Reading Jam, a pilot project from YALSA and World Wrestling Entertainment. The first 500 libraries to sign up for the project will receive 25 mini-posters from WWE (each poster is numbered). Pass them out to any patrons between the ages of 10 and 18 who check out at least two books between June 24 and July 16. Two of your patrons could win a trip for two to WWE’s SummerSlam pay-per-view event in L.A. this August, and your library could win $1,000 for materials for the teen and tween collection. Full details, including the official rules and how to register, are available on the YALSA website.

Grant Opportunity - Bank of America Charitable Foundation

2009-05-20T10:12:00.000-04:00

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation works to create neighborhood excellence in the communities served by the bank in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While local community priorities determine how funding is allocated, grants typically fall into four main categories: Community Development, Education, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Culture. Each of the company's markets, in partnership with local community leaders, sets specific target areas of interest within these major categories. There are no deadlines for grant applications. Visit the company's website to access the priorities for local funding in each region.

Workshop - Play, Move and Sing

2009-05-20T09:58:00.000-04:00

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Place: MidHudson Library System, Poughkeepsie
Presenter: Sukey Molloy
Cost: $25 for non-MHLS libraries (includes lunch)

This program is good for library staff working with children, ages 1 – 5 who want to take part in a fun, active and thought provoking workshop in action based learning for library and pre-school environment.

The workshop will cover:

Creating fun and interactive circle activities
Designing developmentally based circle time curriculum
Learning terms and facts related to movement and the developing brain
Learning new lap rides, finger plays, movement stories
Learning how to include rhythm, kinesthetic previews, and visual cues
Enhancing story book & felt board activities, and more

Webinar - Securing Major Gifts

2009-05-19T09:26:00.000-04:00

Polaris Library Systems is hosting a series of free webcast events about fundraising in challenging economic times. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or just getting started, this series of 1-hour webcasts provides tips, tools, and techniques to maximize your fundraising efforts in today's economy. Webinars are presented by Ron Barrows, founder and owner of the Barrows Group, a consulting firm specializing in capital campaigns, feasibility studies, and fundraising strategies.

The third webinar in this series, Securing Major Gifts, will be held on Tuesday, June 2, from 2 PM - 3 PM. Register online for this webinar here.

The first two webinars have already taken place. The first, Reevaluating Fundraising in Today's Economy, can be replayed at any time by visiting http://www.polarislibrary.com/. The second, Beyond Governance - Using your Volunteer Board as a Resource, will be available for replaying shortly at the same web link.

Gaming Survey

2009-05-18T15:20:00.002-04:00

Did your public library run a gaming program in 2008 (we know many of you did!)? Did you have Chess, Scrabble, Computer games, Console games or ANY other type of gaming as a library program? Please take a few minutes to share your gaming data with the Library Game Lab at Syracuse University. Data collected from this survey is used to understand how libraries are using gaming, as well as to secure grant funding. The survey (available here) is open until May 31.

PLS Awards

2009-05-18T09:57:00.004-04:00

The Public Library Section of NYLA announces the following awards:

NYLA Dewey Fellowship

Dewey Fellowships are awarded to three NYLA members, selected by designated Section, to attend the NYLA Annual Conference. Dewey Fellows are chosen on the basis of the following criteria:
1) five or more years of experience as a librarian

2) record of accomplishment in the library profession
3) involvement in activities to advance the library community.
Dewey Fellowship pays for up to $1250 of the cost of attendance of the 2009 NYLA Annual Conference. Additionally, each Dewey Fellow will receive a $100 Gift Certificate for use at the NYLA store, and will be acknowledged on NYLA's website, at the Annual Conference and in the NYLA Bulletin. Deadline: June 29, 2009

Outstanding Public Library Building Awards

There are two awards of $1000 each ; one award will be given to a construction project in a community serving less than 20,000, one award will go to a project in a community serving over 20,000. The 2009 awards will be given for new construction projects (not building renovations). All projects must have been completed by December 31, 2008 for consideration in the 2009 award cycle. Deadline: June 29, 2009

NYLA Conference Scholarships

NYLA/PLS is pleased to offer two (2) Conference Scholarship awards to encourage public librarians now in the field, or students in library school, to participate in NYLA or PLS activities. Each award maximum is $1300.00, which includes full conference registration, travel or other conference related expenses and membership in NYLA and PLS if the winner is not already a member. Additionally, the winner will be asked to help with staffing at the PLS booth at the conference. The winner(s) is expected to attend the annual conference including the awards ceremony. Award recipients are selected by the PLS Board upon the recommendation of the PLS awards committee. Deadline: June 29, 2009

L. Marion Moshier / Asa Wynkoop Award for Distinguished Librarianship

This award is named in honor of two New York State library pioneers who nurtured the growth of small libraries. This award honors a public library Director who has given outstanding service to a community of 7,500 or less. Award recipients are selected by the PLS Board upon the recommendation of the PLS awards committee. The award includes $1,000, a plaque for the library and inclusion on a plaque to be placed in the NYLA office. Attendance at the NYLA conference is a requirement of acceptance. Deadline: June 29, 2009

Continuing Education / Post MLS Grant for up to $250 toward the cost of participating in continuing education or post-MLS study (four awards per year -- deadlines are June 1, October 1, December 1, and February 1).

Please visit the PLS website at http://www.nyla.org/pls for more information and application instructions.

Wii: Year 2 is Here!

2009-05-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

Wiiiiiiii! It’s time for Year 2! Year 2 gives MVLS a $14,730 grant from the Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Johnstown Public Library; Northville Public Library; Mt. Pleasant Branch, SCPL; Middleburgh Library; Schoharie Free Library; and Sharon Springs Free Library will be presenting and promoting Wii fun programs for adults aged 55 and older throughout their communities.

The Year 2 introductory grant workshop will be held at the Northville Public Library on Thursday June 11, 2009 from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM, and any interested parties are welcome to join us. Consultant Trevor Oakley will lead us through set up, playing, troubleshooting and take-down. To RSVP please call or email Sue, 355-2010, ext. 226.

The LSTA grant will support the programming costs for older adults (those 55 years of age and older) by enabling the purchase of Wii consoles, games and digital cameras to photograph all the fun.

The Wii Fun Program, sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Library System and participating libaries, is made possible, in part, with Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Playaway $100,000 Giveaway

2009-05-13T15:00:00.002-04:00

Enter now for your chance to win a 15-title Playaway collection with bestselling titles, including new releases! Entries will be accepted beginning May 1st, 2009. Three sets of 15 Playaways will be awarded every day from June 1 to July 10. This Sweepstakes is open to authorized employees of a U.S. Public Library System. One entry per person. Daily winners will be announced June 1st - July 10th at playawaylibrary.com.