May 2010
Table Of Contents
NNYLN Annual Meeting Now Includes Mini-Conference
New Papers, Additional Content Added Online
First Archival Conference Proves Successful
North Country Digital History Site Has New Look
Rose Waddell Passes Away
People In The News
Welcome to the Northern New York Library Network’s 45th Annual Meeting and Mini-Conference being held at the Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid on Thursday, May 20, 2010. As always, the event will provide attendees with an occasion to be updated on Network programs and projects, to gather with friends and colleagues, and this year to enjoy a day in the Adirondacks. Those attending the May event will also have unique chances for continuing education.
The Annual Meeting will now include a Mini-Conference consisting of four professional development classes, organized on two tracks. The Technology track will contain technology updates and content management systems. The Administrative/Management track will present classes on performance management and strategic planning.
The Network has gathered experts in these fields in this single location to provide the library community with the opportunity to attend first-rate continuing education classes not typically available locally.
The presenters for the day will be:
(morning classes)Christopher Lerch, Director of Library Technical Services at RIT, will present a class on Trends in Technology for Libraries. Ronald Katz, President of Penguin Human Resource Consulting LLC, and a member of the Cornell University ILR adjunct faculty, will present a class on Performance Management. (afternoon classes)
Todd Marshall, PhD candidate, School of Information Studies at Syracuse University will present a class on Integration and Relevant Issues in Content Management Systems. Floyd Ormsbee, Ph.D., Management at Carleton University, Ottawa Ontario Canada, and instructor at Clarkson University School of Business, will present a class on Strategic Planning. The agenda for the day will be:
8:00 a.m. - NNYLN Board of Trustees Meeting
8:30-9:30 a.m. - Gathering for Refreshments and Registration
9:30 a.m. - Morning Classes (choose one of two)
12:00 p.m. - Lunch: with the Annual Meeting, announcement of the Award for Excellence in Library Service, and Door Prize give-aways
1:00 p.m. - Afternoon Classes (choose one of two)
3:30 p.m. - Event ConcludesPlan to take a day to refresh, renew and re-learn... attend the Northern New York Library Network’s 45th Annual Meeting and Mini-Conference. There is no fee to attend, and sign-up is easy at the Network's website by going to Classes, or calling 1-315-265-1119.
One newspaper representing a true North Country community, and another show-casing the lives and trends of local college students have been added to nearly two million pages of regional history. The Ogdensburg Journal with a run from 1857-1916, and the SUNY Potsdam student newspaper The Racquette, with a run from 1927-2009, are the latest issues to be added to the Northern New York Historical Newspapers website (news.nnyln.net). The Racquette was published as The Normal Racquette from 1927 to 1942.
These two newspapers join over 45 others with a total of more than 1,803,000 pages on the Northern New York Historical Newspapers site. The images for the newly added papers are exceptionally clear, which will result in excellent indexing.
The Ogdensburg Journal is a daily newspaper which has coverage of all of St. Lawrence County, as well as Ogdensburg. Except for the six months of January-June 1903, the run is complete. The NNYLN has permission to add issues up to 1989, which it intends to do over the next few months.
"The historic newspapers project is an incredible resource," noted Wayne Miller, Executive Director of the Ogdensburg Public Library. "Addition of the ‘Journal’ fills in a big chunk of the history of Northern New York.
"While the ‘Ogdensburg Journal's’ efforts to document community life and view the way forward continue daily, the work of the NNYLN provides a wonderful rear view mirror of where we have been," Mr. Miller said. "Were it not for the long-standing partnership between the ‘Journal,’ the NNYLN, and the Ogdensburg Public Library in preserving 150 years of our history on microfilm, this project would not be possible."
SUNY Potsdam Librarian/College Archivist Jane M. Subramanian noted The Racquette, and earlier title The Normal Racquette, student newspaper have always been a significant resource for many different types of needs on campus.
"The editors and writers for ‘The Racquette’ frequently need to investigate earlier information from the student newspaper for current articles. There have been many research needs in the past that have made extensive use of a large number of issues of ‘The Racquette,’ including faculty performing research related to the college's history, students doing college history-related research projects for courses, academic departmental projects, alumni projects, and projects of outside researchers. Our College Advancement and Alumni Relations offices on campus frequently need to discover information for their projects as well," Mrs. Subramanian stated.
"In addition, alumni enjoy back issues of ‘The Racquette’ because they portray happenings and activities during their time of attendance at the college. In many cases, it has taken a great deal of time searching page by page and issue by issue to find the needed information, especially if the specific time period isn't known. The keyword search capability available (on the NNYHN website) with the newly digitized version, will be truly wonderful in providing easier and quicker access to needed information for everyone. The online version will allow those at distance the opportunity to search or browse around the student newspaper themselves, which has never been possible previously," the archivist said.
Additionally, coverage has been extended for two Plattsburgh newspapers on the Northern New York Historical Newspapers website.
The gap of the Plattsburgh Republican between 1820 and 1866 has been filled with editions from 1811-1923. Unfortunately this paper was filmed badly from folded originals, so retrieval will not be as good as was hoped. The years 1924 to 1942 are in line to be added in the coming months.
Coverage of the Plattsburgh Daily Press has also been expanded. That title now extends from 1894 to 1942, when it combined with the Plattsburgh Daily Republican to form the currently published Press-Republican.
Over 60 people were in attendance for the Northern New York Library Network’s first North Country Archival Conference held April 9, 2010 at Clarkson University in Potsdam.Participants arrived from Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties.
Following the conference attendees had the following to say about the event:
"The conference was truly great! Having an all-day event really gave me a much better opportunity to network with colleagues and make new contacts," a librarian stated. "I also found that certain concepts were repeated in different workshops which really helped reinforce the information. And a couple of times I realized ‘Oh, gosh, I never thought about that.’ So, the information presented was very thorough! But what I liked best about the conference was the inspiration. There were so many creative ideas being presented by the speakers and the audience... I could take those suggestions and adapt them to my needs and environment. I will return to work with new enthusiasm and fresh ideas."
A representative of church archives said, "I liked talking to other people who have projects underway. Very helpful to hear speakers - they paved the way as to how I’m going to approach the question of how to handle our church archives as we approach our bicentennial year in 2011. I enjoyed talking to the appraiser."
A librarian said, "The sessions in this conference were invaluable resources. The information presented will help me do my job better and more effectively."
A historical society representative noted, "Scheduling was just right. Each presentation was worthwhile; numerous suggestions to help us with our tasks as historians and preservationists. Nice that state leaders came to show their interest in what volunteers and local paid persons do to perpetuate this state-wide effort. Gratifying."
"Thanks; really appreciated this today!," a college library attendee said. "I’m new to the North Country and found this a wonderful intro to resources, programs, etc."
A museum representative stated, "(I) came away with lots of ideas. Do it again!"
"Good handouts. Audio-visual supplements to presentations were especially good. Excellent choice of programs to attend," a historical society attendee said. "Great one-day conference!"
NYS Archivist Christine Ward
Appraiser Ted Comstock (right)
More photos from the Archival Conference may be found online on flickr.com.
The North Country Digital History site has been updated and now has a fresh new look! The site was created to showcase the history of the Northern New York Library Network’s seven-county region.
There are currently 17 institutions that contribute to the NCDH site, and over 23,440 images.
The NNYLN is looking to add more content to the site and is available to assist repositories in getting their collections prepared. For more information, contact Pam Ouimet by email, or call 315-265-1119.
The NNY Library Network has received word of the passing of Rose E. Waddell, 97, of Chapmanville, W.Va. She was an original incorporator of the North Country Reference and Research Resources Council. She died March 17, 2010, at Logan Regional Medical Center at Logan, W.Va.Ms. Waddell was a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany with a bachelor's of education and a master's of library science. She was a former teacher and librarian in Clinton County, and a member of the New York State Library Association