Library Assistants Take Part In Spring 2007 Conference

By Pat Wiley
Saranac Lake Free Library Assistant

Twenty-seven library assistants from throughout the North Country participated in their spring conference day, Team Building, on April 19, in the Adirondack Room of the Joan Weill Library at Paul Smith’s College.

During the morning session, Dan Davis of Potsdam shared personal stories and led the group through a variety of team building activities. He discussed the importance of building relationships, being empathetic, and not passing judgment. Davis said we need to step back and take a personal inventory in order to change, and realize the importance of affecting others in a positive way each day.

Paul Smith’s Director of Library and Educational Resources Neil Surprenant, led the group on a tour of the impressive Joan Weill Library, including the Academic Support Center, smart rooms, group study rooms, technical services and the information commons. Mr. Surprenant explained that those who planned the library considered ways to make the library warm and inviting to students to reverse the trend of students not going to the library. While the building is modern, it has elements of traditional Adirondack design.

Following the conference, the Library Assistants Committee met. The next Library Assistants conference in slated for April 2008.