Nominations sought for Labor Award

The American Library Association's Reference & User Services Association is seeking nominations for the 2010 John Sessions Memorial Award recognizing library contributions to the labor community.

The award, a plaque supported by a donation from the AFL-CIO, recognizes a library or library system that has made a significant effort to work with the labor community and has consequently brought recognition of the history and contribution of the labor movement to the development of the United States. The award is named for John Sessions, former American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) co-chair of the AFL-CIO/ALA Joint Committee on Library Service to Labor Groups.

Those interested in submitting a nomination can download the nomination form from the awards section of the RUSA website or request the form from Liz Markel, RUSA Marketing Specialist or from Bobray Bordelon, chairperson for the award committee. All nominations must be received by Dec. 15.

Recent award recipients include the U.S. Department of Labors Wirtz Labor Library (2009) for its efforts in supporting the history and contribution of the labor movement in the United States by both maintaining unique and historically significant collections, including rare international material, and making this material accessible to the broader public; The Walter P.
Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich., (2008) for its No Greater Calling online resource chronicling the influence and history of Walter P. Reuther, an American labor union leader; and the James B. Carey Library at the School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. (2007) for its role as a resource for in-depth and specialized information resources and service to the labor community.

Past winners with recent, new contributions are encouraged to apply.

New York State Library Job Information Web Page Helps Library Staff Help Job Seekers

Thousands of New Yorkers are seeking career counseling and employment-related assistance through their public libraries in these tough economic times. Libraries and library staff across the state are struggling to meet increased demands from the public for a wide variety of job-related services and web-based information.

To help libraries and library staff better help job seekers, the New York State Library has created a web page with links to important Job and Career Information resources.

Please visit the New York State Library's Job and Career Information web page for:
* Basics in job search resources
* Links to outstanding public library system and public library employment and education web pages
* State and national job and career links
* Recent media items on the importance of libraries for people who are unemployed and in need of job and career assistance and resources

According to the NYS Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in New York State is 8.1 percent, with the total number of workers unemployed at 792,000 as of March, 2009. To view these and other statistics see the New York State Department of Labor's site.

Public Libraries and Department of Labor Employment Centers

New York's unemployment numbers now show that 762,600 workers statewide are unemployed. Because of the tremendous need for assistance with employment and retraining information and assistance, the NYS Department of Labor (DOL) is interested in placing some DOL employees who could provide employment counseling, programs and training, to work in public libraries across New York.

The State Library and the public library systems are working with the DOL to assess interest and capacity for hosting such staff in public libraries. The public library systems are surveying member libraries this week and next and results will be shared with the Department of Labor as soon as results are complete.

Public Library Systems and public libraries continue to work individually in many regions of the state to collaborate on job/career information training and workshops for both library staff and the public.

For additional information on the survey please contact: Cassie Artale, New York State Library / Division of Library Development, 518/474-1479, cartale@mail.nysed.gov

Growing Your Own: Building the Capital Region Economy

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, the New York State Association of Counties and the New York State Department of Labor invite you to join top elected officials, business leaders, educators and policy experts for a special Policy Forum on February 11, 2009 from 9:00 – 4:30 at The Desmond in Colonie. The topic is "Growing Your Own: Building the Capital Region Economy Through Targeted Workforce Development.”

There is no charge for this event, and lunch will be provided. You are welcome to join us for the entire day, or any individual sessions of particular interest. Please RSVP to Arraya Anderson, aanderson@nysac.org.

Growing Your Own:
Building the Capital Region Economy
Through Targeted Workforce Development

February 11, 2009
The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Colonie

Agenda

9:00 – 10:30 The New York State Economy: What Does the Future Hold? (Plenary Session, NYSAC Legislative Conference)
Hon. Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller
James Orr, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Reaction Panel
Frank Mauro, Executive Director, Fiscal Policy Institute
Ken Pokalsky, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Business Council of New York State
Hon. Thomas Santulli, Chemung County Executive
Moderator: Robert Ward, Deputy Director, Rockefeller Institute of Government

10:30 – 11:00 Break

11:00 – 4:30 Greater Capital Region Workforce Policy Forum – Town Hall

11:00 – 11:10 Welcome and Introductions
Steve Acquario, Executive Director, New York State Association of Counties
Hon. Mike Breslin, Albany County Executive
Hon. Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer County Executive

11:10 – 11:40 Regional Industry Sector Strategies: A Good Approach?
Bruce Herman, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development, New York State Department of Labor

11:40 – 12:40 – A Capital Region Promising Industry Sector: A Case Study
Susan Christopherson, Cornell University Research Group
Ned Rightor, Cornell University Research Group
Isabelle Andrews, New York State Association of Counties
Peter Neenan, Director, NYS Department of Labor, Division of Research and Statistics (invited)
Moderator: Susan Arbetter, Host, New York Now, WMHT-TV

12:40 – 1: 30 Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 Business Leaders Speak Out: Our Workforce Needs, Now and in the Future
Kevin Lake, Philips Medical Systems
Peg Murphy, Espey Manufacturing
Larry Treen, Sixnet
Ed McGrath, AMD (invited)
Moderator: Peter Wohl, Regional Director, Empire State Development.

2:30 – 3:20 Elected Leaders Panel: Our Priorities for our Communities
Hon. Mike Breslin, Albany County Executive
Hon. Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer County Executive
Hon. Jerry Jennings, Mayor, City of Albany
Hon. Earl Van Wormer, Chair, Schoharie County Board of Supervisors
Moderator: Susan Arbetter, Host, New York Now, WMHT-TV

3:20 – 4:10 Workforce Preparation Panel: Our Plans to get the Workforce Ready
Dustin Swanger, President, Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Karen Coleman, Director, NYS Department of Labor Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions
Gail Breen, Fulton-Montgomery-Schoharie Workforce Investment Board
Charles Dedrick, District Superintendent, Capital Region BOCES
Ed Murphy, Workforce Development Institute
Moderator: John Twomey, Executive Director, NYATEP

4:10 – Wrap- up, Next Steps: Robert Ward, Deputy Director, Rockefeller Institute of Government

4:30 – Adjourn