NYSLAA conference report by Lidia

~2009 NYSLAA Conference Report ~

Submitted by :
Lidia Grzegorek
Ontario Public Library


That was my first experience with NYSLAA and I really liked very much. We had a great selection of the courses and I wish I would have a chance to take more. But all the ones I would like to take it were offered unfortunately in the same time.
I liked very much “WEB Trends in the Libraries”, also” Blogs, Wikis, and RSS” They were really very informational. The presenter Geoff Kirkpatrick was very knowledgeable and he captivated the audience. Another good course was “Dealing with Difficult People and Mastering Conflict”. I learned a lot from this course.
“Introduction to Photoshop” was a good program, but it was an upper level course, not really for novices like me. I did not like the set-up of the tables. Some of us were seating back to the presenter and could not follow easily his instructions on the projection screen.
Above all that was a great conference, had a wonderful atmosphere, everybody was so friendly and I will gladly participate in NYSLAA again next year.
Lidia Grzegorek
Ontario Public Library

Glen Iris 5k- 2009

Good morning everyone!

The 2009 Glen Iris 5k will take place this year on Saturday, September 12.
The Glen Iris 5k is a fund raiser for the Castile Public Library.

This is a great way to get in alittle excersise AND help out one of our member libraries.

For more information - please check out -
http://www.castile.pls-net.org/5k.html

I hope to see LOTS of PLS people there this year. :-)

NYSLAA conference

FYI.....
Reports should start to be uploaded later this week

Thanks

Ray Murray Award Winner

Debby Emerson, Assistant Director of the Rochester Regional Library Council
(RRLC), is the recipient of the 2009 Ray Murray Award. Ms. Emerson has been
an advocate for professional development of library support staff through
her work at RRLC. Donna Hanna, SUNY Geneseo writes: "Debby is an
outstanding advocate for library assistants. She offers invaluable
assistance to us as a member of the RRLC Library Assistants' Committee and I
feel she encompasses every attribute for which the Ray Murray Award is
given."

To read about this and other items of interest to libraries please visit
"What's New" on the RRLC homepage, http://www.rrlc.org.

Wood looking for Walking Ambassador

Wood Library has two "Walking Ambassador" volunteer positions with stipends of $300 each. Great opportunity for people in-between jobs or retirees. The volunteers will help plan and run a 10-week walking, fitness program at Wood Library in Fall 2009. Volunteers will work with a small group of people age 50 and over who want to make exercise and walking part of their lives. The program is part exercise, part education, part inspiration. You don't need to be a fitness expert, just be committed to the notion that exercise is beneficial, be able to inspire others, like working with people, and have presentation and organizational skills. Supervision, training manual and materials provided. The project is funded by FF Thompson Foundation in partnership with Wood Library. For more information, call or email Barbara Henry, Adult Services Librarian at Wood Library: 585-394-1381 or bhenry@pls-net.org

Message from ALA bout volunteering

Last week, I wrote to let you know that the American Library Association is working with the White House, in partnership with the Corporation for National & Community Service, to get libraries involved in a national volunteer initiative that will run from June 22 to September 11, 2009.

By early next week, an announcement will come from the White House asking partners, including libraries, to post their local volunteer opportunities online. Since the initiative will then officially launch on June 22, you’ll want to have any information on volunteer opportunities at your library ready to go in anticipation of this quick turnaround. We recognize that this doesn’t give you much time, but we hope you will consider being a part of this important initiative.

Please visit www.ala.org/summerofservice to find a one page fact sheet on the initiative from the Corporation for National & Community Service.

Volunteer opportunities can be posted right now by visiting www.serve.gov, and I encourage you to do that as soon as you are able.

The ALA will keep you informed as this initiative progresses, and the next time you hear from us will be after President Obama has announced it publicly. The ALA will also be providing tips and resources for volunteer ideas, best practices, and ways to contribute your own information, ideas and stories, all of which you can access at www.ala.org/summerofservice.

Prior to the public launch of the service initiative, the Corporation for National & Community Service is looking for volunteer opportunities that will take place on June 22nd to use as potential examples. If you do have such a volunteer opportunity going on in your library, we encourage you to fill out the form posted at www.ala.org/summerofservice and send it back to library@ala.org no later than June 17.

Thank you so much for all that you do to ensure your community has access to great library services and resources!

Sincerely,

Keith Michael Fiels
Executive Director
American Library Association

Gorham library needs help

The very busy Gorham Free Library is looking for a part-time clerk. Starting wage is $8.50 per hour with flexible hours needed. We are looking for up to 23 hours per week. The job entails regular clerking duties. Please feel free to e-mail me for specifics or call me this afternoon (12-4) or tomorrow afternoon from 12-6 to discuss at 585-526-6655. Diane Hovey