The School Library Systems Association is an organization made up of all (or at least most) of the SLS directors across the state. It has been my honor to serve the organization this past year as President.

On October 17, I was also happy to pass the gavel to Elizabeth Naylor-Gutierrez, one of the New York City SLS directors as she takes on the role of SLSA president.

One week to Library 2.0 Tech Camp at the Rensselaerville Institute and things are falling into place. Here, I work with Polly Farrington and Ken Petersen to put the finishing touches on the agenda.

I’m very excited after today’s meeting. These two presenters have so much to offer and offer so much so willingly! I know that the people who participate are going to have some fun and learn important new skills at the same time.

Planning quality, relevant professional growth opportunities for such a great variety of librarians in so many unique situations is a real challenge but a critical role of the SLS.

You really can’t do it without a strong network of people that you can call on the share their expertise.

The Summer 2007 staff development for Capital Region librarians is just beginning!

Here we are at another beautiful building. This is the Otesaga Resort and Conference Center on Otego Lake in Cooperstown, NY. Every year, all of the School Library System directors meet here for a three day conference.

It is a great opportunity for sharing ideas and information, as well as resolving issue that we are all facing. Some of the topics we discussed this year included: cooperative purchasing of an online resource for all of our schools, managing online database purchasing, consolidation of a statewide information fluency curriculum and school library advocacy.

With all of the work we accomplished in our time here, we did have some short breaks when we could take walks downtown or around the grounds of the Otesaga. Some people caught an early morning swim in the heated pool and everyone enjoyed the delicious meals. But don’t be deceived by the beauty of it all, Otesaga week means WORK!
Luckily, it is all done in this beautiful setting.

Well the big day finally came on May 4 and Dr. Ross Todd was in Albany for his presentation. We had a great turnout at Hudson Valley Community College. Dr. Todd challenges us once again to turn theory into practice.
Instead of these presentations being a finish – they are really a beginning. Now that we have learned about the research, how do we turn that into improved practice in our schools?
Dr Todd quoted an unidentified building principal, “I hear all these great things about school libraries, but I don’t see them happening in my school.”
Could that be one of our principals? Maybe! If so, we need to work on improving all school library programs until these perceptions are banished!
Onward!

On this sunny day in March, Dee Portzer, Michele Hausmann, Cheryll O’Connor
and I traveled to New York City by train to see Stephen Abrams, Vice President
of SirisDynix.

(Cheryll and Michele didn’t want pose for this photo!)

We were also fortunate to have Mr. Abrams join us for lunch. Here we are on our way back into the Metro Library Council offices – after lunch.

We enjoyed his message about the future of libraries and OPACS and social networking.

A long day!

People throughout the state who work at BOCES, city schools or independent schools with an interest in educational media and technology can join the EMTANYS – Educational Media and Technology Association of NYS.
This organization works to negotiate pricing on resources and to provide an opportunity for people to come together statewide and network on these important topics for our schools. Our most recent conference in Syracuse this March included topics such as Internet Field Trips, Information Fluency Curriculum (yes , I presented that curriculum again!) and “Second Life” application in the classroom.

Here I am with the new President Elect of EMTANYS – Chuck Waters from OCM BOCES.

Today I was at the Hamagrael Elementary School in Bethlehem visiting the new librarian there, Pam Held. Pam and her principal are determined to build a strong program. Pam has lots of energy and a solid understanding of inquiry based learning and information literacy skills. Teachers here are already begining to work with Pam in her first year on the job.
Darn, I forgot to take a picture

The Capital Region BOCES SLS Council decided this year to attend NYLA’s Library Lobby Day as a group.

We had appointments with Assemblymen Tonko, Eddington and Reilly and Senators Farley and Seward. With each of them, we explained the high value of a solid school library program and the need for increased funding for school libraries and school library systems.
We feel very positive about the possibility for increases in the $6 and about full funding for NOVEL.

Of course, it’s all about politics and, between now and the final budget votes, a lot can happen. A new governor makes things even less predictable. Still, we are guardedly optomistic.

Lobby Day is an unusual opportunity to see citizens engaged in the political process at the grass roots level.

My colleage, Judy, is the SLS Director at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. She just hosted a great conference with presenters Gail Bush and Vivian Vande Velde. This was a great opportunity for me to hear some wonderful speakers and to meet librarians from a different part of the state. Guess what – the concerns are pretty much the same. How can we get kids to read more? How can we squeeze our limited dollars to get more resources for kids? How can we engage teachers in information literacy concepts integrated into content area? I had a wonderful time at this conference in Geneva NY and I learned some things too!