2012 NCLS Annual Meeting

NCLS held its 64th annual meeting on Saturday, October 6th at Jefferson Community College with over 150 in attendance. Senator Hugh Farley served as keynote speaker. Addresses were also given by Assembly members Will Barclay and Addie Russell. Pictured below are our 2012 award winners.

November 2012

In this issue…

An Amazing Building Transformation for the Williamstown Library

Hammond Free Library Kindle Winners

County Funding Outlooks

Summer Reading Program Participation Up

Did you know we’re on Facebook?

Undecided Voter? The Voters’ Guide for Library Advocates Could Help

It is a paradox that far too few Americans participate in the wonderful ritual of democracy that we call Election Day. -Brad Henry

Steve Bolton with Director of the Year, Lyn Swafford of the Canton Free Library

Steve Bolton with Trustee of the Year, Nelson Schwartzentruber of the Wm. H. Bush Memorial Library of Martinsburg

Amy Zuch with Charee Cook, Director of the

Crosby Public Library of Antwerp, Improvement

Award Winner

Emily Owen with Lyn Swafford, representing the Morley Branch of Canton

Free Library, Improvement Award Winner

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A Complete Transformation for the Williamstown Library

With the help of a matching NYS Construction Grant, a $20,000 contribution from the Town of Williamstown, fundraising, and donations, the Williamstown Library has been completely transformed and has a brand new, large addition on the back of the building. The new brick red siding looks dynamite!

The bids came in about $10,000 above the original estimate, so extra money needed to be raised. One local donor promised $2,000 if the library could match it— which they did THREE times. With a raffle, collecting cans & bottles and the local restaurant giving 10% of all food sales for one week, they raised the extra $10,000 in a few short months. One young boy emptied his piggy bank and donated $4.05.

The Williamstown Library is truly the center of the small, rural community. Since construction was completed just a few weeks ago, many people who have never come in before have been stopping by to check it out and compliment its spiffed up appearance.

Congratulations to Director Bev Ripka, the library board, and all the volunteers, donors, and patrons!

Kindle Winners at the Hammond Free Library

Summer Reading Program participants Rachael Hodgdon, 12th grade, and Matthew Hodgdon, 4th grade, were the lucky winners of Kindle E-Readers at the Hammond Free Library.

In other program news, the once monthly Pre-K Story Hour begins in December and goes through May. The library will also be collecting for “Toys for Tots” and the Hammond Food Pantry. In January, back by popular demand, is the Iris Paper Folding workshop by Liz Scarlett.

The library has new hours: Monday 5-7pm Tues, Wed, Thurs 12-5pm Saturday 9am-noon

Front: Rachael Hodgdon, Trustee Sandra Bogart, Matthew Hodgdon Back: Board President Marcella Lavarnway, Secretary Terry Hollister, VP Diane Lewis, and Director Sherrie Moquin

BEFORE AFTER

!

Central Libraries Advisory Committee (CLAC) Meeting Wednesday, November 14th at 10am North Country Library System Facilitator: Steve Bolton Oswego County Library Directors Policy Discussion Monday, November 19th at 2pm Pulaski Public Library Facilitator: Amy Zuch NCLS CLOSED Thursday, November 22nd and Friday November 23rd For Thanksgiving

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Upcoming Events

County Funding Outlooks

Jefferson County

Tentative budget includes a 2% ($3,300) increase for libraries from $165,000 to $168,300 Visit the Jefferson County Libraries Advocacy Page for more information.

Lewis County

Amount unknown (request was for $27,842) until preliminary budget is presented on November 6th Public hearing November 15th at 5pm, Lewis County Court House (A speaker is needed— contact Amy Zuch if you are willing to volunteer) Visit the Lewis County Libraries Advocacy page for more information

Oswego County

Strategic Planning and Government Committee voted for flat funding ($55,000) on October 29th after an original motion to cut $2,000 was defeated. Will go through Ways and Means and full legislature before finalized— the committee warned of probable cut before all is said and done. Visit the Oswego County Library Council page for more information.

St. Lawrence County

Complete elimination proposed—from $99,000 to $0 Public hearing for partner agencies October 30th, presentation was made by Emily Owen (NCLS), Wayne Miller (OGD), Pat Musante (POT), and Tom Langden (CAN). Visit the St. Lawrence County Liibraries Advocacy page or on Facebook!

View upcoming events and register at: The NCLS Class Registration Page

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If your library has information to share in NCLS @ccess, Please contact Amy Zuch at NCLS: 782-5540 or azuch@ncls.org

Automation Update Currently involved in some stage of the automation process are Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake, the Hepburn Library of Lisbon, the Constableville Library, and the B.E. Strong Memorial Library of Turin. Hay Memorial Library of Sackets Harbor ‘went live’ on October 24th. Congratulations! If your library is interested in automation, please contact your Consultant.

The NCLS property on October 30th, the day after ‘Hurricane Sandy’ came through. It was a beautiful day!

Summer Reading Program Participation Increase

This year most public library systems reported an increase in participation levels over 2011. Of the 23 systems in NYS, four reported increases of 15% or higher, and one those was NCLS!

PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS WITH 15% OR HIGHER INCREASES IN PARTICIPATION:

Monroe County Library System

North Country Library System

Pioneer Library System

Queens Library Congratulations to all of our member libraries for their great SRP’s and for achieving higher levels of participation!

Not sure who to vote for at the state level on November 6th?

Check out:

The Library Advocate’s Guide To the Voting Records of the New York State Legislature

from the New Yorkers For Better Libraries Political Action Committee