May 2001

Plans Are Set For The Annual Meeting The North Country Reference & Research Resources Council will hold its 36th Annual Meeting at the Riveredge Resort in Alexandria Bay on May 24, 2001. Discussion groups included at this year’s meeting include: Protecting Your Computer’s Desktop - Discussion Leader: Betsy Brooks, Clinton Essex Franklin Library System. Betsy received a Professional Development Grant from the Council to attend a conference called "Computers I Libraries," where she had the opportunity to participate in a session on this subject. If you join in on this group, you will be able to hear the ideas she heard at the conference, as well as discuss your own problems and solutions in this area. The Long Distance MLS - Discussion Leader: Inger Curth, Jefferson Community College. Discussions have been on-going in the North Country regarding the difficulty of attending graduate school for advanced degrees. Travel, weather, and inability to take time away from work or family have prevented may people from pursuing a graduate degree. Technology may now be able to provide an alternative. Inger Curth obtained her library degree from Syracuse University via the University’s distance learning program. She will describe her experiences with this program, and lead a discussion on the pros and cons of such an approach. While this discussion will be interesting for almost anyone at the Annual Meeting, we especially hope that it is informative to library assistants who may wish to pursue a library degree. Information Literacy and the Academic Library - Discussion Leader: Michelle Toth, SUNY Plattsburgh. Michelle has recently returned from the ACRL (Academic and Research Libraries) Annual Conference, where she was a presenter on the subject of Information Literacy, especially as it relates to the SUNY Trustees’ information management mandate. Information management is part of the undergraduate general education program on campuses nationwide, and we welcome the opportunity to provide a forum for your ideas and insights Rare Book Conservation - Discussion Leader: Mark McMurray, St. Lawrence University. This is an opportunity for people to bring examples and questions regarding the conservation and repair of books and materials. Guest Speaker: Virtual Reference - Have you heard of the "Virtual Reference Desk?" If you are wondering what it is, how it works and how it fits in your library, then plan to be with us on May 24, when Pauline Shostack, Syracuse University Information Institute will address us on this subject. The Annual Meeting will also include the announcement of the winner of the Eleventh Annual Award for Excellence in Library Service, honor retiring members of the Board of Trustees and welcome newly elected ones. The Council staff is looking forward to a fun and information day, and if the sun shines on the river, so much the better. We hope you can join us. Flyers with registration forms for the Annual Meeting are in the mail.