LibraryAware RCLS News 11-23-2020

Ramapo Catskill
Library System

N e w s

November 23, 2020

RCLS News Archives

News

The American Dream Literacy Initiative strives to develop tools and resources for libraries and library staff to provide effective literacy services to adult English language learners in their communities and across the country.

The American Library Association and Dollar General Literacy Foundation invite public libraries to apply for grants to expand services for adult English language learners or adults in need of basic education and workforce development. Up to 16 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded.

The grants allow libraries to augment their print and digital English as a second language (ESL) collections; increase computer access and training; provide job training; hold English language learning (ELL), general educational development (GED) and citizenship classes; and raise the visibility of services for immigrant populations.

Public libraries are eligible if they serve adult English language learners and are located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store. Read the project guidelines and apply online by Friday, January 29, 2021.

Plan of Service

Focus Group Sessions

RCLS is working on creating its Plan of Service for 2022-2026. We want to hear from you, the library community. In our efforts to provide the best service possible to our member libraries, RCLS is conducting four (4) focus group sessions for library directors. Please sign up to share with us your ideas, concerns, and opinions during these focus group sessions scheduled in December, on the services and opportunities we can offer going forward. Please register today for one of the online sessions that best fits your schedule by using the RCLS online calendar. The groups are limited to no more than 12 participants. Each session is planned to run 90 minutes or less as needed. Once registered, you will receive a Zoom link to attend the session two days before the session date.

2020 Teen Video Challenge!

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) recently announced the five winners of the 2020 National Teen Video Challenge/TVC contest for "Imagine Your Story.” The New York State Library along with Summer Reading at New York Libraries is proud to announce that one of the winning video entries was submitted by a teen from a New York State public library!

Congratulations to all of the

winning teens, and special kudos to the North Greenbush Public Library (Upper Hudson Library System) which sponsored the winning video entry of “The Places I Can Go.” There were a total of 72 entries from around the country this year, with five winners chosen for national and regional recognition along with a cash prize.

You can view these creative and awesome TVC winning videos on the Summer Reading site at https://www.summerreadingnys.org/teens/teens-video-challenge/

Developing Leaders Program

Congratulations, Meg!

From Madelyn Folino, Director of the Florida Public Library (FPL): I am pleased to announce that Meg Sgombick of our staff has been selected for the 2021 Cohort of New York Library Association’s (NYLA) Developing Leaders Program (DLP). Admission to the program is very competitive and limited to 30 applicants per year from all kinds of New York libraries. Meg has been awarded a full scholarship. She will participate in 37.5 hours of training from November – June, concluding with a final small group joint project in the spring.

Meg started at FPL in 2009 as a part-time Library Clerk and advanced to Library Assistant, then Library Assistant (Children’s Services) with responsibility for K-5 and teen programs. In 2016, she became full-time and as the director’s assistant, handles purchasing, publicity and social media. There is hardly anything happening at FPL that Meg doesn’t have a hand in.

She also provides substantial help to the Friends of the FPL, assisting them with PR and all their project and printing needs. In 2019, she was the co-recipient of the first Randall Enos Conference Scholarship and attended NYLA for the first time. Since then, she has volunteered her able services to the Friends of Libraries Section.

Meg is already an experienced leader and volunteer. Through the activities of her five children (two college graduates, two college students and one in high school), she has served as PTA President, Girl Scout leader and unit coordinator for all troops in Florida and currently serves on the board of education for the Florida Union Free School District. Recently, she has added Zoom, transcribing online meetings and recording library programs and sharing them via Facebook and YouTube to her repertoire. She is always ready to learn new skills and is optimistic that the DLP will provide many new opportunities for growth. We are so proud of her!

Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award

The New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries has announced that electronic applications are being accepted for the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award and will be due on December 15, 2020. Although this has been a difficult and unusual year for libraries due to the pandemic, the council would like to recognize the good work that continued on.

Named after the late Joseph F. Shubert, former State Librarian, the Award honors libraries or library consortia that have taken significant steps to improve the quality of library service to its users. An award of $1,000, graciously donated by the Friends of the New York State Library, will be given to the winner along with a plaque.

Projects nominated for the Award should document measurable progress in identifying user needs, taking steps to meet those needs, and evaluating the results. All types of libraries are eligible to apply (academic, public, school and special). Previous applicants are encouraged to apply and previous winners of the Award may apply after 3 years.

2019 Recipient

Southern Adirondack Library System Honored with 2019 Shubert Library Excellence Award

The New York State Library and the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries has awarded the Southern Adirondack Library System (SALS) with the 2019 Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award for its Fresh Food Collective Farm-2-Library Distribution program. Read the full press release here.

RAC Chairperson Grace Riario and State Librarian Lauren Moore present the 2019 Joseph F. Shubert Award to Sara Dallas, Director, Southern Adirondack Library System.

News Worthy

Regional News

Spring Valley's Main Street named for Sandra Wilson, slain Finkelstein Library guard | Lohud.com 11.13.20

National News

Middletown library’s Book Yak on a Kayak wins international recognition | StamfordAdvocate.com 11.16.20
Chicago Public Library Eliminated Late Fees, Now They’re Seeing Inspiring Results | mymodernmet.com 11.13.20
One of Lexington’s most popular and bilingual library branches will expand | Kentucky.com 11.12.20
Boston Public Library announces plan to address systemic racism and inequity | BostonGlobe.com 11.10.20

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RCLS Board News

RCLS Board Meeting Talking Points

At its Monday, November 16 meeting, the RCLS Board of Trustees had the following Talking Points:

Minisink Valley School District is looking to create a school district library. They are currently looking for locations.
RCLS took possession of a new delivery van and it will be on the road soon.
Farewell to Marianne Gallagher, who was the Directors Association representative to the RCLS Board.
There is a full slate of nominees for RCLS Board officer positions for the Board to approve at the December meeting.
The Plan of Service groups have been moving forward. Focus Groups with member library Staff have been completed. Trustee and Directors groups will be coming up.

The Talking Points will be elaborated on in the Minutes of the November 16 Board meeting, which will be posted to the RCLS website about a week before the next virtual regular meeting on Monday, December 21. The current materials are available on the website (Minutes/Financial Reports and Executive Director’s Report). If you have any questions about the Talking Points, contact Grace Riario at RCLS (243.3747, ext. 233 or e-mail).

RCLS Headquarters Directory

The RCLS team is available to help you via email and phone.
Don't hesitate to reach out. 845.243.3747

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