Spring Library Assistants Conference Is Held

Approximately 30 assistants representing 12
different libraries attended the North Country
Library Assistants Spring Conference.

Library Assistants from throughout the North Country held their Spring Conference on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at the Northern New York Library Network in Potsdam. The program included an informative workshop and presentations on changes in libraries.

During the morning session, Jill Hurst-Wahl, consultant and president of Hurst Associates, presented the workshop, "Change: It’s a Good Thing!" Attendees were asked to consider what change is, and were given tools to deal with changes in their workday lives. Discussion included understanding change through questioning, considering the impact, and seeing change as an addition, not a subtraction. Hurst-Wahl also focused on technology, including IM, blogs, wikis and podcasts, as well as digital libraries and federated searches.

Assistants heard from three speakers in the afternoon about changes in the way libraries are serving their clients. John Hammond, Executive Director of NNYLN, spoke about wireless, handhelds, laptops, and other trends in technology, and he provided names of people who can offer local assistance. He pointed out services such as e-mail reference, chat, digitizing materials and Internet cafes are services being added by local libraries at a steady pace.

Patricia Musante, Executive Director, Potsdam Public Library, presented a very positive view of downloading books, including e-Books, Tumble Books and others. Nancy Alzo, Head of Public Services at Crumb Library, SUNY Potsdam, talked about "Interlibrary Loan: Now and Tomorrow." Today patrons expect fast service. ILL is characterized by shared collections, viewing patrons as universal and coordinating collection development.