November 2009

Table Of Contents
First NNYLN 2-Day Conference Is Successful
Out & About
Report From The Automation Committee
A Look Inside The "Choices & Challenges" Conference
People In The News

First NNYLN 2-Day Conference Is Successful

The Northern New York Library Network’s 2009 Conference: "Choices & Challenges" was held Oct. 5 & 6 at Clarkson University. Over 50 people attended the event, which offered participants a season’s worth of educational opportunities in one conference.

Representation included staff from public, hospital, academic and school libraries, as well as museums and historical organizations. Participants had the following to report about the event:

  • "I enjoyed both days of this event and appreciate all the organizational work that went into providing such good leadership, the registration welcoming group, refreshments, and the use of video projection teaching assistance. Well done everybody!"

  • "Excellent concept and presentations."

  • "This was much better than I had anticipated."

    • NNYLN Executive Director John Hammond and guest speaker Dr. David Lankes of Syracuse University.

  • "The conference was a good idea - it was well presented - David Lankes was excellent - inspiring."

  • "Appreciated the leadership as well as the NNYLN staff presence."

  • "A good first conference!"

  • "The gentleman (David Lankes) from Syracuse was absolutely top rate."

  • "The conference format worked really well! I definitely attended classes that I wouldn't normally have tried and enjoyed them."

  • "The Gaming class, which was fabulous, and High School to College, which was fantastic and very, very inspiring. Also, the luncheon speaker was amazing! Great job all around, thanks very much."

  • "The vendor presentations on Tuesday and the OCLC WorldCat Local presentation on Monday covered comparable products giving us a chance to really compare similar products from competing vendors."

    Were you unable to get to each class you wanted, or realized you didn’t write something down? Copies of several of the instructors’ presentations may be found on the Network’s website.

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    • Out & About

    Classes:

    • Nov. 9, 2009 - "Microsoft Access, Level 2: Office 2007" will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the NNYLN in Potsdam. The cost is $15 for library staff, and $59.95 for all others.

    • Dec. 2, 2009 - "Mail Merge with Microsoft Office 2007" will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the NNYLN in Potsdam. The cost is $10 for library staff, and $29.95 for all others.

    Office Information:

    • The NNYLN office will be closed November 26 & 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

    • There will be a NNYLN Board of Directors meeting on Dec. 3 at the Network office.

    Send us your stuff:

    Would you like to borrow a Kindle?

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    Report From The Automation Committee

           

    The NNYLN Automation Committee met on September 16, 2009 to review projects funded through the Network’s RBDB Grant.

    After discussing the fiscal problems that the grant faces (11 percent cut in last 18 months), the group reaffirmed the importance of two core programs funded through this grant: online resource sharing and electronic access to high quality commercial databases.

    Regional Resource Sharing is accomplished through the continued implementation of ICEPAC and ICICILL. The ICEPAC regional catalog now contains 1,856,905 bibliographic records and 3,546,761 holdings. New materials continue to be added quarterly through the assistance of NNYLN member libraries and systems. ICICILL handled 37,807 requests in the past twelve months, and usage has remained constant. An additional component of resource sharing is the availability of First Search for resource sharing (formerly know as Group Access Capability). Seventeen libraries receive subsidized access to this feature.

    Commercial Database Access will be maintained for at least another year. The suite of fully subsidized databases consists of Wilson Omnifile, Watertown Daily Times Online, and OCLC WorldCat. Usage of all three increased in the past year, and each has an important niche in providing online research support.

    In the past twelve months, 170,468 searches have been made of the three reference resources.

    The Committee also affirmed the importance of Continuing Education, particularly in the effective use of library technology, and forwarded a total RBDB grant budget of $190,537 for Board review.

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    A Look Inside The "Choices & Challenges" Conference

    Participants got comfortable in the Hospitality Room...

        

    ... then it was off to the sessions, where even the instructors had some fun...

       

       

       

    ... and the conference wrapped up with a guest speaker and luncheon.

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    People In The News

  • SUNY Potsdam Librarian Jane Subramanian was recently honored as a winner of the Music Library Association’s national competition titled "Best of Chapters." She was chosen for her work on "The Norwood Brass Firemen Band’s Strong Beat Since the 1870s."

  • North Country Library System Director Stephen B. Bolton was recently honored for 30 years of exemplary service with the system and for his numerous personal and professional accomplishments with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Senator Darrel Aubertine presented Mr. Bolton with a Senate Proclamation .Ted Ford, Legislative Aide to Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell, also presented Mr. Boltons with a congratulatory certificate. Mr. Bolton has been Director of NCLS for six years.

  • Potsdam Public Library Director Patricia Musante was recently named the recipient of the AAUW Agent of Change award for her service to the community. The award is given to a woman in St. Lawrence County whose work as employer, employee or volunteer is noteworthy.

  • NNYLN Executive Director John Hammond has been appointed to the NYS Board of Regents Advisory Council in Libraries. The Regents established the RAC in 1894 to "serve as a library council with whom the University offices may consult whenever the advice or cooperation of experts may be desirable."

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