NYC Library Card Act into Law

New York City recently signed into law the Library Card Act. This Act requires that the NYC Department of Education supply library card applications and information about how to obtain a library card to students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, ninth grade, or when transferring to a new school.
"Libraries are an integral part of our education system," says NYC Council member Jimmy Van Bramer, who introduced the act. "It's undeniable that children who read more and use their libraries do better academically. As an educational resource, it is important to use every opportunity to bring libraries and students together".

Action needed

Three of NYLA’s 2010 Legislative Priorities have passed the Senate and all three bills could potentially save libraries and their taxpayers money, yet they remain bogged down in the Assembly Ways and Means or Rules Committees. The three bills are:

Cooperative Bidding for Public Libraries and Library Systems (Passed Senate 3/8 – In Assembly Rules Committee 6/8)

This legislation (S.3903 Oppenheimer/A.6154 Paulin) would add public libraries and library systems to list of public entities, like cities, towns, villages, BOCES, school districts, that are allowed to engage in cooperative bidding. Cooperative bidding allows libraries and library systems to go out to bid for services or products jointly instead of individually, thereby getting a better price and saving money.

Public Library Systems Eligible for Local Government Efficiency Grants (Passed Senate 6/3 – In Ways & Means 4/20)

The bill (S.6875A Oppenheimer/A.10412 Bing) would expand eligibility to apply for local government efficiency grants to include public library systems. Currently libraries are allowed to apply, but not library systems. By allowing library systems to apply for these grants, they can fund new or expand shared services or other cooperative initiatives that would save libraries money.

BOCES-Libraries Internet Partnerships (Passed Senate 3/15 – In Ways & Means 6/16)

This bill (S.4634 Oppenheimer/A.8673 Gunther) would authorize BOCES to contract with public libraries or library systems for internet services. BOCES would be able to add libraries and library systems to their bids for internet services, thereby lowering the price and obtaining higher speeds for internet service.

Another NYLA priority bill is also pending in the Senate and held in Assembly Ways and Means:

Public Library Construction Grants

This legislation (S.4248 Aubertine/A.6155 Paulin) (Reported to Ways and Means 6/3) would modify the public library construction grant program to enable grants to be used to purchase vacant land as well as lower local match to 25% of project costs for libraries in high need areas.

The Legislative Session is due to end either this week or next, so I urge you, your staff and trustees to contact your state Assemblymembers as soon as possible to get them to pass these cost saving measures for libraries.

Visit http://www.protectnylibraries.org/ and click on Vote Button to send letter to your legislators.

Michael J. Borges

Executive Director

New York Library Association

6021 State Farm Road

Guilderland, New York 12084

518-432-6952, ext. 101

518-427-1697 (fax)

director@nyla.org

Service Desk Manager/Student Trainer at SUNY Geneseo

Position Available: Service Desk Manager/Student Trainer at SUNY Geneseo

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Part-time (35 hours per week), 12-month, temporary position on a one year renewable contract. The Service Desk Manager provides leadership and coordination for Service Desk operations and is responsible for: supervising, training and scheduling student workers; providing circulation services including basic reference assistance for on-campus and remote users; developing and implementing circulation policies and procedures; and overseeing the scheduling and maintenance of library classrooms and research consultations. Milne library is in the process of merging our reference and circulation services into a single service point. This position will play a key role throughout this transition.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong interpersonal skills and outstanding customer services skills;

Ability to work in a team environment and independently;

Skills in the use of a variety of computer software used in the library;

Ability to deal with and lead change in a rapidly developing library environment;

Ability to work with students from a wide range of cultural and academic backgrounds;

Excellent written and oral communication skills;

Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Supervisory and/or management experience highly desirable

Experience delivering and/or developing training programs

Demonstrated knowledge and experience with electronic and web-based reference resources;

Experience in circulation, course reserves, reference

SALARY RANGE: $11.00 - $13.00/hour with benefits. Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

HOURS: 9 am to 5 pm. Mon-Thurs, 9 am to 2 pm. Friday; occasional nights and weekends (flexibility for MLS students).

To Apply: Send cover letter that addresses stated qualifications; resume; and the names and contact information for three (3) current, work-related references to Michelle Costello, Milne Library, SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY 14454. Search will remain open until candidate is selected.

MLS/LIS students are encouraged to apply.

Institutional Information: SUNY Geneseo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting, supporting, and fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students. Minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

About the Library: The mission of the Library is to connect the College community to information, ideas, and works of imagination. To support the College as a center of excellence in undergraduate education we provide instruction and expertise in the organization, evaluation, and use of information resources. We strive to create an intellectual environment that promotes the search for knowledge and a passion for lifelong learning. Exemplifying the modern library as a dynamic multipurpose learning environment, Milne Library is the hub of the college. Integrated within the Library are the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, the Center for Academic Excellence, and the Satellite Writing Center. Milne has the largest number of public access computers on campus (over 300), and houses over 500,000 volumes and provides access to over 44,000 electronic journals. The Library staff of 34 people includes 17 professional librarians.

About SUNY Geneseo: The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Geneseo nationally recognized as a center of excellence in undergraduate education, is a public liberal arts college with selected professional and masters level programs. The campus is located in the historic village of Geneseo in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Western New York, conveniently located close to the city of Rochester. Enrollment on this residential campus averages approximately 5,400 undergraduates and 150 graduates.

For more information, please contact:

Michelle Costello

Circulation Management, Milne Library

SUNY Geneseo

1 College Circle

Geneseo, NY 14454

Email: costello@geneseo.edu Tel: 585-245-5788

Paraprofessional of the Year from Library Journal

The 2010 Paraprofessional of the year is Allison Sloan , Senior Library Associate, Reading Public Library, Massachusetts.
To read her article, check out the March 1, 2010 Library Journal.

Editorial: Not Yet Equal

This is a great article. The word Paraprofessional has been a term used for library support staff for many years. It's a term that can really upset Library Workers who feel that they are not a "para- professional" - They are just as much as professional as the MLS staff.
The 2010 Library Journal Paraprofessional of the year, Allison Sloan, made a case for using the term "Paralibrarian" to her colleagues.
I would love to know your thoughts after reading this article from Library Journal (on-line).

Editorial: Not Yet Equal

NYLA conference registration now open

The 2010 New York Library Association conference registration is now open.
This conference is being held in November in Saratoga Springs, NY
For more information -
Please check out www.nyla2010.org

Library Paraprofessional position available

Position Information

Job Title	Library Paraprofessional
Posting Number	2009000126

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

Clarkson University invites applications for a part-time, library paraprofessional who will primarily serve as support working with circulation, reserves, interlibrary loan, stacks management, and reference. We seek an innovative, friendly, and enthusiastic professional with excellent oral and written communication skills, effective time management skills, highly developed customer service skills, strong computer skills, and one who is able to collaborate as a member of a team. This position requires regular evenings and weekend hours during the academic year.

Click this quick link to find more about this job:

https://clarkson.peopleadmin.com/postings/404

To view open positions, click “Career Opportunities” on the left navigation bar of the HR Web site at http://www.clarkson.edu/hr .
For more information, please contact the Human Resources office at 315-268-6497.

Michelle L. Young, MLS
Director of Libraries, Associate Professor
Clarkson University

8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, New York 13699-5590

Office 315.268.4268 Blackberry 315.323.7910
Home 315.389.5817 Fax 315.268.7655

myoung@clarkson.edu, IM myoungatclarkson, Facebook, LinkedIn

Helping the local community - in Baltimore, MD

Terri Summerhill shops online for her weekly groceries at Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Orleans Street branch in the new Virtual Supermarket Project funded by $60,000 in federal stimulus money to Baltimore’s, Food Policy Task Force. The program, unveiled in early March, offers laptops at the library where residents can order from a local grocer and pick the items up from the Orleans Street or Washington Village branches. The branches are in the city’s biggest “food desert” areas targeted by the city Health Department for their scarcity of grocery stores and nutritious food options.

PLS members who attended NYSLAA

Nine staff members from the Pioneer Library System and member libraries attended the 2010 NYSLAA conference in Corning.

If you see any of these staff members, be sure and ask them how they liked the conference!

• Pam Dibble - Macedon Public Library
• Susie Flick - Geneva Public Library
• Michele Goodenough - Ontario Public Library
• Nicki Haupt - Williamson Public Library
• Heidi Jensen - Pioneer Library System
• Kristen Moeller - Ontario Public Library
• Terry Mulee - Walworth Public Library
• Peg Pelletier - Newark Public Library
• Lisa Wemett - Retired from the Webster Public Library (former PLS staff member)

PLS new director appointed

The Board of Trustees of the Pioneer Library System is pleased to
announce the appointment of Cassie Guthrie as Executive Director of the
Pioneer Library System. Ms. Guthrie will assume her duties on July 21,
2010.

Cassie is currently Director of the Seymour Library in Brockport, New
York and has worked previously as Community Relations Librarian at the
White Plains Public Library and Reference & Adult Services Librarian at
the Port Chester Public Library.

Posted on behalf of
Kathleen Brown, President
Pioneer Library System
Board of Trustees

2010 NYSLAA Conference

The 2010 New York State Library Assistants Association (NYSLAA) conference was held June 9th - 11th in Corning, New York. The conference started off on Wednesday afternoon with tours available at the Corning Museum of Glass and the Benjamin Patterson Inn Museum. Each tour lasted about 2 hours and cost only $4.00 to attend. Wednesday evening NYSLAA held a Mixer at the Corning Incorporated Headquaters. The Mixer included a wine tasting, snacks and a tour of the sculptures at the headquarters.
Two workshops were held Thursday during the day. Most of the workshops were held at the Radisson Hotel in Corning. There were many different workshop to choice from when registering for the conference. (I'll post any and all conference workshop summaries on this blog when they become available). Thursday evening we were honored with a glass blowing demonstration followed by dinner and entertainment all held at the Corning Museum of Glass. Our conference badges gave us free admission to the museum along with a 10% discount at the museum gift shops.
Friday another two workshops were offered. Again, there were many different workshop to pick from. Friday afternoon we ended the conference with a luncheon at the Radisson. Our keynote speaker was Lee Welles.
It was another GREAT conference!
Next years conference is being held at SUNY Geneseo. If you have never attended a NYSLAA conference - I highly recommend you do! Next year's conference will be close to us. Hope to see you all there!