From Nicki Haupt

~2008 NYSLAA Conference Report~

By - Nicki Haupt, Williamson Free Public Library

This is Nicki's report about the conference.

For some time, I have been unable to answer many patron questions regarding the 2007 Microsoft Office Suite applications. Steve Dresbach (SUNY Geneseo) cleared up much of the confusion many of us have by clarifying applications and demonstrating the many layers of both Word and Excel. Among many other things, I finally learned where the template for resumes is! We played with some Excel documents as well as some Word documents. Steve has given us links of these documents to download to our own computers and play around with. It was worth attending the conference just to attend these two terrific workshops. Our workshops filled up quickly, so hopefully NYSLAA can bring him back again next year.


Evelyn Butrico (NYLink) presented Working Internally and Externally with Diverse Groups. As we are all well aware, the role of the public library has changed and our mission as library professionals is to understand the needs of our diverse patron base (generational diversity, and different cultures, languages, sexual orientation) in order to serve these “customers” and be aware of their issues. Evelyn gave us the general description of the generation types and how best to approach "customers" by these types. But, the bottom line is that we ALL, as part of our jobs, play the role of CT Specialists, baby sitters, parents, shrinks, plumbers, educators, detectives, housekeeping specialists (what is that on the floor??), Ms. Fix-it and the always present, ever smiling complaint department.


Steve Chandler (CU Cooperative Extension) presented Save Energy/Save Dollars. Steve demonstrated applications to be used in our libraries, homes, and as fuel consumers to go green with much information and energy saving websites. Researching vampire surge protectors is on my list as well as replacing my desk lamp incandescent bulb with a CF. And, as soon as I can locate the key to my bike lock, I will be peddling to work ($4.25 a gallon is NUTS).

If you know who coined the phrase “surfing the internet”, you will understand why this “Net ~mom” and Liverpool librarian reminded us never to be afraid to try something new in her keynote address. Jean Armour Polly reiterated that, like the soldiers of ancient Rome, we are all worth our salt and should shake it up (we received salt shakers in our welcome bags this year). And you know we will indeed shake it up!
Jean reminded us of the quote " Never be afraid to try something new. Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic". -- Unknown

She ended her inspiring presentation with a quote:

Do. Do Not. There is no try. (YODA)

This was, thus far, the best NYSLAA conference I have attended. They just keep getting better. Fantastic workshops! Unfortunately it is only once a year that we have the opportunity to network with our peers from academic, business, hospital and public libraries as well as representatives from New Jersey and Virginia. We always return home with a different perspective as to what being a library assistant actually is!


And may the Force be with us all!

Nicki Haupt