28-297, Director of the State Library
For full announcement
Evaluation of Training and Experience To Be Held During
August 2013
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By June 17, 2013
Minimum Qualifications
On or before August 31, 2013, you must have a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from an ALA accredited institution; AND eight years post degree professional library experience. Five or more of the eight years must have included management experience involving fiscal, program planning, and policy responsibility in a research, academic, or library system setting with a collection of at least one million items.
Showing posts with label state librarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state librarian. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Friday, December 31, 2010
Joseph F. Shubert, NYS Librarian Emeritus
From: Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, New York State Education Department
I am sorry to tell you that Joseph F. Shubert, New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries from 1977 to 1996, died November 24, 2010 in Plano, Texas. The family has communicated that there will be a memorial service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York on Saturday March 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
Joe Shubert began his professional career as reference and documents librarian at the Nevada State Library in 1951, and also served as State Librarian of Nevada and Ohio. From 1962 to early 1966, he was Assistant Director of the American Library Association International Relations Office. His tenure at the New York State Library was exceeded only by that of James I. Wyer, who was State Librarian from 1908 to 1938. Mr. Shubert was the 19th State Librarian since the founding of the Library in 1818.
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING NEW YORK’S LIBRARY SERVICES FOR ALL
Mr. Shubert's 19 years included continuous improvement of the nation's most comprehensive library system and the nation's most respected State Library. Under his expert leadership, State funding for library development programs and statewide library services increased by $56 million, from $26 million annually in 1976 to $82 million annually in 1996. Library development programs that were instituted or greatly expanded during Shubert's tenure included:
o State aid for award-winning public library outreach services which touch the lives of people who are homebound, unemployed, incarcerated, speakers of languages other than English or persons struggling to overcome disabilities and disadvantages.
o State aid to library systems for database development and technology for resource sharing and broader access to information among all types of libraries - academic, public, school and special.
o State aid to library systems for a stellar program of resource sharing resulting in New York's consistent record in out-distancing all other states in public library interlibrary loan.
o Establishment of school library systems based in the Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) and the Five Big City school districts, leading to greater school library participation in resource sharing than in any other state.
o Establishment of the first comprehensive State-funded program in the nation dedicated to the ongoing conservation and preservation of rare, unique and fragile library materials for use by future generations.
NATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
As State Librarian of Ohio, Mr. Shubert was one of the three founders of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies in 1973. He was Chair of that organization and also chaired the legislative, statistics and other committees at various times. He also chaired the Legislation Committee of the 50,000-member American Library Association and was instrumental in advancing improvements in the federal Library Services and Construction Act.
For the Library of Congress, Mr. Shubert served on the Advisory Committee for the Center for the Book (1979-82) and as a member of the Network Advisory Committee (1981-96). He was a trustee of the Ohio College Library Center and OCLC Inc., served on the Depository Council to the Public Printer and was a trustee of the Northeast Document Conservation Center.
President Ford appointed him to the Advisory Committee for the 1979 White House Conference on Library and Information Services and he served on a planning group for the 1991 conference.
AWARDS, HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Mr. Shubert received distinguished alumnus awards from the University of Denver (1979), the SUNY College at Geneseo (1985), and the Distinguished Public Service award and medal from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at the University at Albany (1987). The American Library Association division, the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) honored him in 1985 with the Exceptional Achievement Award for "distinguished service in strengthening the role of the state library on the national level".
In 1991, the Ohio Library Association designated him for the Ohio Library Hall of Fame. In 1996, he received both the New York Library Association’s Distinguished Service to Libraries Award and the New York State Association of Library Boards’ Velma K. Moore Award.
On the occasion of his 1996 retirement, The New York State Board of Regents named him State Librarian Emeritus and adopted a resolution at their meeting expressing thanks for "distinguished leadership in library and information services for all New Yorkers."
In his post-retirement years, Shubert worked with others to found the Committee for the New York State Library (now the Friends of the New York State Library), a not-for-profit group of readers, library users, scholars, historians, and others whose mission is to stimulate government and public support for the nation's greatest State Library. He continued to be active with that organization for many years.
RECOGNIZING SHUBERT’S CONTRIBUTIONS
In recognition of Mr. Shubert's many contributions to statewide library service, the Regents Advisory Council on Library Services established the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award which is presented annually to recognize achievements of small, medium, and large libraries and library consortia in New York State. The Friends of the New York State Library provides $1,000 for the winner of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award in honor of Mr. Shubert's leadership and his tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to high-quality library services for all New Yorkers.
Those interested in honoring Mr. Shubert's memory are invited to make a donation to the Friends of the New York State Library in support of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award. Please send donations to the Friends of the New York State Library, PO Box 2247 Empire State Plaza Station, Albany, NY 12220 or to give online visit HERE. Please identify that the donation is in support of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award. The Friends of the New York State Library is a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
I am sorry to tell you that Joseph F. Shubert, New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries from 1977 to 1996, died November 24, 2010 in Plano, Texas. The family has communicated that there will be a memorial service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York on Saturday March 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
Joe Shubert began his professional career as reference and documents librarian at the Nevada State Library in 1951, and also served as State Librarian of Nevada and Ohio. From 1962 to early 1966, he was Assistant Director of the American Library Association International Relations Office. His tenure at the New York State Library was exceeded only by that of James I. Wyer, who was State Librarian from 1908 to 1938. Mr. Shubert was the 19th State Librarian since the founding of the Library in 1818.
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING NEW YORK’S LIBRARY SERVICES FOR ALL
Mr. Shubert's 19 years included continuous improvement of the nation's most comprehensive library system and the nation's most respected State Library. Under his expert leadership, State funding for library development programs and statewide library services increased by $56 million, from $26 million annually in 1976 to $82 million annually in 1996. Library development programs that were instituted or greatly expanded during Shubert's tenure included:
o State aid for award-winning public library outreach services which touch the lives of people who are homebound, unemployed, incarcerated, speakers of languages other than English or persons struggling to overcome disabilities and disadvantages.
o State aid to library systems for database development and technology for resource sharing and broader access to information among all types of libraries - academic, public, school and special.
o State aid to library systems for a stellar program of resource sharing resulting in New York's consistent record in out-distancing all other states in public library interlibrary loan.
o Establishment of school library systems based in the Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) and the Five Big City school districts, leading to greater school library participation in resource sharing than in any other state.
o Establishment of the first comprehensive State-funded program in the nation dedicated to the ongoing conservation and preservation of rare, unique and fragile library materials for use by future generations.
NATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
As State Librarian of Ohio, Mr. Shubert was one of the three founders of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies in 1973. He was Chair of that organization and also chaired the legislative, statistics and other committees at various times. He also chaired the Legislation Committee of the 50,000-member American Library Association and was instrumental in advancing improvements in the federal Library Services and Construction Act.
For the Library of Congress, Mr. Shubert served on the Advisory Committee for the Center for the Book (1979-82) and as a member of the Network Advisory Committee (1981-96). He was a trustee of the Ohio College Library Center and OCLC Inc., served on the Depository Council to the Public Printer and was a trustee of the Northeast Document Conservation Center.
President Ford appointed him to the Advisory Committee for the 1979 White House Conference on Library and Information Services and he served on a planning group for the 1991 conference.
AWARDS, HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Mr. Shubert received distinguished alumnus awards from the University of Denver (1979), the SUNY College at Geneseo (1985), and the Distinguished Public Service award and medal from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at the University at Albany (1987). The American Library Association division, the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) honored him in 1985 with the Exceptional Achievement Award for "distinguished service in strengthening the role of the state library on the national level".
In 1991, the Ohio Library Association designated him for the Ohio Library Hall of Fame. In 1996, he received both the New York Library Association’s Distinguished Service to Libraries Award and the New York State Association of Library Boards’ Velma K. Moore Award.
On the occasion of his 1996 retirement, The New York State Board of Regents named him State Librarian Emeritus and adopted a resolution at their meeting expressing thanks for "distinguished leadership in library and information services for all New Yorkers."
In his post-retirement years, Shubert worked with others to found the Committee for the New York State Library (now the Friends of the New York State Library), a not-for-profit group of readers, library users, scholars, historians, and others whose mission is to stimulate government and public support for the nation's greatest State Library. He continued to be active with that organization for many years.
RECOGNIZING SHUBERT’S CONTRIBUTIONS
In recognition of Mr. Shubert's many contributions to statewide library service, the Regents Advisory Council on Library Services established the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award which is presented annually to recognize achievements of small, medium, and large libraries and library consortia in New York State. The Friends of the New York State Library provides $1,000 for the winner of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award in honor of Mr. Shubert's leadership and his tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to high-quality library services for all New Yorkers.
Those interested in honoring Mr. Shubert's memory are invited to make a donation to the Friends of the New York State Library in support of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award. Please send donations to the Friends of the New York State Library, PO Box 2247 Empire State Plaza Station, Albany, NY 12220 or to give online visit HERE. Please identify that the donation is in support of the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award. The Friends of the New York State Library is a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
2010 Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State Now Available
State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Bernard A. Margolis announced that the 2010 edition of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State is now posted on the New York State Library’s website. This critical tool is a continuation of a decades long effort to provide library trustees with a readable and concise reference to assist them in the performance of their duties. The new 2010 edition strengthens those areas of the Handbook that have generated the most interest since the 2005 edition.
The Handbook was written by Jerry Nichols, Director of the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University and member of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, with the assistance of the Public Library System Directors Organization of New York State (PULISDO), the Library Trustees Association of New York State and the New York State Library. The purpose of the Handbook is to assist both new and experienced public library trustees in New York State to better understand their job and to present the basic information they need to provide quality library service to their community. It offers advice on the philosophy of governing a library and on the practical, nuts-and-bolts aspects of responsible trusteeship. The information provided is based on the laws and regulations governing public libraries in New York State and on the proven “best practices” in the field.
Margolis said “Library trustees play a special, keenly important role in shepherding the dedicated and prudent use of library resources. Always striving to provide the best service which benefits and supports the entire community, trustees must make policy, personnel and fiscal decisions crucial to a positive direction for the library. This new edition of the Handbook for Library Trustees in New York State provides advice, guidance and practical information to help trustees succeed in their important stewardship and governance roles. As New York’s State Librarian, I am pleased to congratulate and to thank Jerry Nichols, the public library systems and the Library Trustees Association of New York State for this new edition. I encourage every trustee to refer frequently to this useful tool as you undertake the exciting challenges and responsibilities of delivering high-quality public services to your communities.”
Mary Ellen O’Connor, President of the Library Trustees Association of New York State said, “In the complicated and always challenging world of library finances and policy, we as library trustees, must be vigilant in our fiduciary role; mindful of our responsibility to develop libraries of excellence through our attention to library policies; and embrace an active commitment to on-going trustee education and training. This handbook provides New York’s some 6,000 library trustees with a solid foundation in the basic duties of library trusteeship.”
Print copies of the Handbook may be ordered from the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in Bellport, New York. The cost is $3.75 per copy plus shipping. Please email orders to the attention of Roger Reyes, Business Manager at roger@suffolk.lib.ny.us or mail orders to Suffolk Cooperative Library System, 627 N. Sunrise Service Road, PO Box 9000, Bellport, New York 11713. Phone (631) 286-1600. New York State libraries are advised to check with their public library system to see if the system may already have copies available for member library boards.
The Handbook was written by Jerry Nichols, Director of the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University and member of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, with the assistance of the Public Library System Directors Organization of New York State (PULISDO), the Library Trustees Association of New York State and the New York State Library. The purpose of the Handbook is to assist both new and experienced public library trustees in New York State to better understand their job and to present the basic information they need to provide quality library service to their community. It offers advice on the philosophy of governing a library and on the practical, nuts-and-bolts aspects of responsible trusteeship. The information provided is based on the laws and regulations governing public libraries in New York State and on the proven “best practices” in the field.
Margolis said “Library trustees play a special, keenly important role in shepherding the dedicated and prudent use of library resources. Always striving to provide the best service which benefits and supports the entire community, trustees must make policy, personnel and fiscal decisions crucial to a positive direction for the library. This new edition of the Handbook for Library Trustees in New York State provides advice, guidance and practical information to help trustees succeed in their important stewardship and governance roles. As New York’s State Librarian, I am pleased to congratulate and to thank Jerry Nichols, the public library systems and the Library Trustees Association of New York State for this new edition. I encourage every trustee to refer frequently to this useful tool as you undertake the exciting challenges and responsibilities of delivering high-quality public services to your communities.”
Mary Ellen O’Connor, President of the Library Trustees Association of New York State said, “In the complicated and always challenging world of library finances and policy, we as library trustees, must be vigilant in our fiduciary role; mindful of our responsibility to develop libraries of excellence through our attention to library policies; and embrace an active commitment to on-going trustee education and training. This handbook provides New York’s some 6,000 library trustees with a solid foundation in the basic duties of library trusteeship.”
Print copies of the Handbook may be ordered from the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in Bellport, New York. The cost is $3.75 per copy plus shipping. Please email orders to the attention of Roger Reyes, Business Manager at roger@suffolk.lib.ny.us or mail orders to Suffolk Cooperative Library System, 627 N. Sunrise Service Road, PO Box 9000, Bellport, New York 11713. Phone (631) 286-1600. New York State libraries are advised to check with their public library system to see if the system may already have copies available for member library boards.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
State Librarian Update 9
Please feel free to pass along this update to colleagues, friends, and anyone you think would benefit from reading about library matters in New York State. This update and past updates are posted on the New York State Library’s website.
New York BTOP at THE TOP: While the champagne (New York, of course) hasn’t flowed yet (there are, after all, rules about that!), we are celebrating the major $15 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This will bring $9.5 million in federal stimulus funds to New York to support the expansion of broadband access in 41 upstate counties through public access computing centers in 30 public libraries and 5 e-mobile computer training units, including one operated by library systems and one community college. This is the largest library grant nationally in this program to date and we hope will set the pattern for a bold expansion of broadband access everywhere in the state. Additionally, the grant includes providing online job search and other skills enhancing resources to the targeted 41 counties. We hope to leverage these resources to permit statewide access to these online job resources. For more information on this important new grant, please contact Library Development Specialist and Grant Project Coordinator Mary Linda Todd at mtodd@mail.nysed.gov.
Charter Actions: One of the unseen aspects of the State Library’s work revolves around “chartering”. Every one of the 755 public and association libraries in the State must have a “charter” (incorporation) from the New York State Board of Regents or from the Department of State and must be registered (licensed) by the State Education Department. Without a charter, a library cannot be recognized as a library to receive financial support. Without a registration certificate, which attests that the library meets minimum standards, a public or association library cannot accept local or state public funds.
“No charter/No library” - “No registration/No public funds”.
Sometimes the charters are provisional, sometimes absolute. The charters guide the governance of the state’s public and association libraries and codify the details of the library types, the library service areas, the number and length of terms of trustees, the use of assets, the elements of legal service and the provisions for dissolution should that ever be necessary. At the last Regents meeting eight (8) charter actions were approved. There are about nine (9) additional charter actions pending and it is rare that a meeting of the Regents passes without a library charter action. In 2009, the Regents approved 90 library charter actions. The Division of Library Development staff provides extensive background information about the proposed charter changes and the charters are usually approved by the Board of Regents with little controversy. The pending charter actions include a wide range of proposed changes ranging from changing a library’s name, to lengthening the term of trustee service to five years, to dissolving one association library and transferring its assets to a newly created school district public library. This important work, exacting and detailed, is conducted by Joseph J. Mattie and the Library Development Specialists serving on the Public Library, Public Library System and School Library Systems Team with the able assistance of Education Program Assistant Maria Hazapis. Should you have any questions about library chartering, there is excellent information on the State Library’s website.
. Your public library system is also available to assist with chartering. Each system has a complete set of official library charter documents for their member libraries on microfiche. You may also contact Maria Hazapis at mhazapis@mail.nysed.gov and she will either answer your question or put you in touch with the appropriate Library Development Specialist.
NYSCIS In Flight: I have been talking about the concept of aggregating the acquisition of database resources on a state-wide basis. If information is the oxygen of the information economy then our job is to deliver to New Yorkers the most complete array of on-line information resources. The idea for the New York State Comprehensive Information System has taken wing in the form of new legislation drafted by the New York Library Association. The proposed legislation will benefit the entire state library community and provide the structure from which we can build on existing state resources to create an easily accessible oxygen source for everyone. This will build on NOVELNY and in the process expand the availability of resources in a cost-effective and cost-efficient way. I hope everyone will assist us as we move this idea from concept to operation. My special thanks to Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito, Chair of the Assembly Government Operations Committee, for her wonderful leadership and support on this issue.
Award: The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award was created by the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to honor long-serving State Librarian Joe Shubert. Joe’s 22 year service was characterized by great energy and great change. The award in his honor is intended to recognize achievements by New York State libraries and library consortia of all sizes and types. The award is given annually to individual libraries and to library consortia to recognize achievements that improve the quality of library service to their users. The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award recognizes the many ways that libraries, through their programs, staff, and services, make a significant difference in their communities. The 2010 award announcement will be posted shortly on NYLINE and I encourage libraries and library systems to apply. For more information on the Award, visit
the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries website.
Leadership Change: The distinguished Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver has tapped Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing (Manhattan 73) to serve as the new Chair of the Committee on Libraries and Education Technology.
Improving library funding is one of Assemblyman Bing’s long-standing legislative interests. He successfully shepherded legislation to use the most current Census figures for the calculation of State Aid to Libraries. He has authored over 60 pieces of legislation which have passed the Assembly and over 2 dozen that have been enacted into law.
Please share congratulations with Assemblyman Bing on his selection to chair this important committee for libraries. We thank Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton for her important, though much too short, service as Committee Chair. She clearly understands the critical and central role played by libraries. She will now be serving as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Majority Steering Committee. We should probably expect another shift in Committee Chairs after the fall elections. Every time there is a change we have an important chance to educate another library champion and to expand the legislative knowledge base about libraries.
Lead in Books: The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff had previously informed me that they were at work on an advisory opinion informing libraries of how to handle older books in children’s collection which might exceed the new “lead” levels imposed by the latest changes to the Consumer Product Safety Statutes. I have just learned that the Commission has stopped its work after learning that California Congressman and House Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman is working on legislation to exempt books from the requirements. Again, there is no need to panic, to remove any books, or to change any acquisition or weeding policies or practices. We will keep you posted as legislation is introduced on this important topic.
Kirkus Not Yet Buried: Just as the last Update moved through the ether, a colleague shared the information that the famous Kirkus Reviews had been purchased and will continue. This is, of course, great news for those of us who believe that books will continue to be written, published, printed, bound, lent (sold), and read! I am glad that my report was at best premature.
School Libraries: Congratulations to Superintendent Philip Steinberg of the Pine Bush Central School District for his decision not to eliminate two elementary school librarian positions! Facing a very tough budget year, the elementary school positions were on the chopping block. Pine Bush’s leadership recognized the significant and positive impact of school librarians on student achievement. The study by Dr. Ruth Small at Syracuse University I School reaffirms the evidence that New York kids do better with great school libraries and great school librarians. These positions are worth fighting for and more importantly… our children and their learning success requires strong, capably staffed school libraries in every school. We can not let it be open season on school librarians. These positions are vital to learning!
April is: School Library Month and includes National Library Week
(April 11-17, 2010) with the theme: "Communities thrive @ your library®." Go forth and celebrate! April is also the time for the first Empire State Book Festival (April 9-10) at the Empire State Plaza. For more information, go to www.empirestatebookfestival.com.
Exclusivity in Online Publications: I have just learned that the Federal Trade Commission has begun investigating complaints stemming from the exclusive online distribution agreements for TIME Inc. publications. This is good news. My recent e-mails to Consumers Union, the New York not-for-profit organization which publishes Consumer Reports, and the publisher who began the recent trend of having only one online vendor source for popular magazines, brought an answer from Vice President Jerry Steinbrink. He informed me: “Our relationship with EBSCO is not exclusive, but we do not have the resources to manage more than one distributor”. Mr. Steinbrink has opened the lines of communication for more discussion and I will be talking with him soon.
In the meantime, if you happen to be a member of the Consumers Union you might want to suggest that they adopt a more enlightened market view when it comes to their own products and services. Jim Guest, CEO can be reached at GuesJa@consumer.org or Vice President Steinbrink at jsteinbrink@consumer.org.
ALA Elections: The polls are now open. Please vote. I just voted for Sara Kelly Johns for President, Jim Neal for Treasurer, Frank D’Andraia for ACRL President Elect, and Mary Fellows for ALSC President Elect - all great New York leaders.
Personal Privilege: Generally, except for a bit of ‘editorializing’ every now and then, I have kept these updates free of personal observations. Now, however, the Update may have to take a short hiatus and I wanted you to know why. I have been diagnosed with cancer and am actively pursuing treatment which I expect will include chemo and a bone marrow transplant. I am upbeat that I can win the fight. One of my great friends from Michigan, Jim Luke, has set up a website - www.berniemargolis.com - as a means of keeping anyone interested updated on my progress. It is also a place where people can post messages to me and where I can spout off. It is probably a case of technology gone wild but nonetheless is a great way to stay in touch. I hope to be back with my Updates soon.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
New York BTOP at THE TOP: While the champagne (New York, of course) hasn’t flowed yet (there are, after all, rules about that!), we are celebrating the major $15 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This will bring $9.5 million in federal stimulus funds to New York to support the expansion of broadband access in 41 upstate counties through public access computing centers in 30 public libraries and 5 e-mobile computer training units, including one operated by library systems and one community college. This is the largest library grant nationally in this program to date and we hope will set the pattern for a bold expansion of broadband access everywhere in the state. Additionally, the grant includes providing online job search and other skills enhancing resources to the targeted 41 counties. We hope to leverage these resources to permit statewide access to these online job resources. For more information on this important new grant, please contact Library Development Specialist and Grant Project Coordinator Mary Linda Todd at mtodd@mail.nysed.gov.
Charter Actions: One of the unseen aspects of the State Library’s work revolves around “chartering”. Every one of the 755 public and association libraries in the State must have a “charter” (incorporation) from the New York State Board of Regents or from the Department of State and must be registered (licensed) by the State Education Department. Without a charter, a library cannot be recognized as a library to receive financial support. Without a registration certificate, which attests that the library meets minimum standards, a public or association library cannot accept local or state public funds.
“No charter/No library” - “No registration/No public funds”.
Sometimes the charters are provisional, sometimes absolute. The charters guide the governance of the state’s public and association libraries and codify the details of the library types, the library service areas, the number and length of terms of trustees, the use of assets, the elements of legal service and the provisions for dissolution should that ever be necessary. At the last Regents meeting eight (8) charter actions were approved. There are about nine (9) additional charter actions pending and it is rare that a meeting of the Regents passes without a library charter action. In 2009, the Regents approved 90 library charter actions. The Division of Library Development staff provides extensive background information about the proposed charter changes and the charters are usually approved by the Board of Regents with little controversy. The pending charter actions include a wide range of proposed changes ranging from changing a library’s name, to lengthening the term of trustee service to five years, to dissolving one association library and transferring its assets to a newly created school district public library. This important work, exacting and detailed, is conducted by Joseph J. Mattie and the Library Development Specialists serving on the Public Library, Public Library System and School Library Systems Team with the able assistance of Education Program Assistant Maria Hazapis. Should you have any questions about library chartering, there is excellent information on the State Library’s website.
. Your public library system is also available to assist with chartering. Each system has a complete set of official library charter documents for their member libraries on microfiche. You may also contact Maria Hazapis at mhazapis@mail.nysed.gov and she will either answer your question or put you in touch with the appropriate Library Development Specialist.
NYSCIS In Flight: I have been talking about the concept of aggregating the acquisition of database resources on a state-wide basis. If information is the oxygen of the information economy then our job is to deliver to New Yorkers the most complete array of on-line information resources. The idea for the New York State Comprehensive Information System has taken wing in the form of new legislation drafted by the New York Library Association. The proposed legislation will benefit the entire state library community and provide the structure from which we can build on existing state resources to create an easily accessible oxygen source for everyone. This will build on NOVELNY and in the process expand the availability of resources in a cost-effective and cost-efficient way. I hope everyone will assist us as we move this idea from concept to operation. My special thanks to Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito, Chair of the Assembly Government Operations Committee, for her wonderful leadership and support on this issue.
Award: The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award was created by the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to honor long-serving State Librarian Joe Shubert. Joe’s 22 year service was characterized by great energy and great change. The award in his honor is intended to recognize achievements by New York State libraries and library consortia of all sizes and types. The award is given annually to individual libraries and to library consortia to recognize achievements that improve the quality of library service to their users. The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award recognizes the many ways that libraries, through their programs, staff, and services, make a significant difference in their communities. The 2010 award announcement will be posted shortly on NYLINE and I encourage libraries and library systems to apply. For more information on the Award, visit
the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries website.
Leadership Change: The distinguished Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver has tapped Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing (Manhattan 73) to serve as the new Chair of the Committee on Libraries and Education Technology.
Improving library funding is one of Assemblyman Bing’s long-standing legislative interests. He successfully shepherded legislation to use the most current Census figures for the calculation of State Aid to Libraries. He has authored over 60 pieces of legislation which have passed the Assembly and over 2 dozen that have been enacted into law.
Please share congratulations with Assemblyman Bing on his selection to chair this important committee for libraries. We thank Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton for her important, though much too short, service as Committee Chair. She clearly understands the critical and central role played by libraries. She will now be serving as Vice-Chair of the Assembly Majority Steering Committee. We should probably expect another shift in Committee Chairs after the fall elections. Every time there is a change we have an important chance to educate another library champion and to expand the legislative knowledge base about libraries.
Lead in Books: The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff had previously informed me that they were at work on an advisory opinion informing libraries of how to handle older books in children’s collection which might exceed the new “lead” levels imposed by the latest changes to the Consumer Product Safety Statutes. I have just learned that the Commission has stopped its work after learning that California Congressman and House Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman is working on legislation to exempt books from the requirements. Again, there is no need to panic, to remove any books, or to change any acquisition or weeding policies or practices. We will keep you posted as legislation is introduced on this important topic.
Kirkus Not Yet Buried: Just as the last Update moved through the ether, a colleague shared the information that the famous Kirkus Reviews had been purchased and will continue. This is, of course, great news for those of us who believe that books will continue to be written, published, printed, bound, lent (sold), and read! I am glad that my report was at best premature.
School Libraries: Congratulations to Superintendent Philip Steinberg of the Pine Bush Central School District for his decision not to eliminate two elementary school librarian positions! Facing a very tough budget year, the elementary school positions were on the chopping block. Pine Bush’s leadership recognized the significant and positive impact of school librarians on student achievement. The study by Dr. Ruth Small at Syracuse University I School reaffirms the evidence that New York kids do better with great school libraries and great school librarians. These positions are worth fighting for and more importantly… our children and their learning success requires strong, capably staffed school libraries in every school. We can not let it be open season on school librarians. These positions are vital to learning!
April is: School Library Month and includes National Library Week
(April 11-17, 2010) with the theme: "Communities thrive @ your library®." Go forth and celebrate! April is also the time for the first Empire State Book Festival (April 9-10) at the Empire State Plaza. For more information, go to www.empirestatebookfestival.com.
Exclusivity in Online Publications: I have just learned that the Federal Trade Commission has begun investigating complaints stemming from the exclusive online distribution agreements for TIME Inc. publications. This is good news. My recent e-mails to Consumers Union, the New York not-for-profit organization which publishes Consumer Reports, and the publisher who began the recent trend of having only one online vendor source for popular magazines, brought an answer from Vice President Jerry Steinbrink. He informed me: “Our relationship with EBSCO is not exclusive, but we do not have the resources to manage more than one distributor”. Mr. Steinbrink has opened the lines of communication for more discussion and I will be talking with him soon.
In the meantime, if you happen to be a member of the Consumers Union you might want to suggest that they adopt a more enlightened market view when it comes to their own products and services. Jim Guest, CEO can be reached at GuesJa@consumer.org or Vice President Steinbrink at jsteinbrink@consumer.org.
ALA Elections: The polls are now open. Please vote. I just voted for Sara Kelly Johns for President, Jim Neal for Treasurer, Frank D’Andraia for ACRL President Elect, and Mary Fellows for ALSC President Elect - all great New York leaders.
Personal Privilege: Generally, except for a bit of ‘editorializing’ every now and then, I have kept these updates free of personal observations. Now, however, the Update may have to take a short hiatus and I wanted you to know why. I have been diagnosed with cancer and am actively pursuing treatment which I expect will include chemo and a bone marrow transplant. I am upbeat that I can win the fight. One of my great friends from Michigan, Jim Luke, has set up a website - www.berniemargolis.com - as a means of keeping anyone interested updated on my progress. It is also a place where people can post messages to me and where I can spout off. It is probably a case of technology gone wild but nonetheless is a great way to stay in touch. I hope to be back with my Updates soon.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
Monday, March 01, 2010
Family Literacy Library Services Grant Awards Announced by NY State Librarian
State Library Announces 2009-2011 Family Literacy Library Services Grants
March 1, 2010
Family Literacy library projects will be offered in nineteen New York State counties with the help of grants from the New York State Library, Bernard Margolis, New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries, announced today. Ten grants to public libraries and public library systems totaling $510,169 over two years will be awarded to support Family Literacy Library Services projects in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
“New York State’s Family Literacy grants help public libraries and public library systems develop or expand library services to parents, children and caregivers,” said Mr. Margolis. “All of the programs will reach out to families of diverse backgrounds and will provide materials and activities to help them enjoy early literacy experiences together.”
The program theme for 2009-2011 projects is early literacy for children from birth-5. Each project will provide research-based programs, workshops, activities and resources for young families. Parents and caregivers who participate in these projects will have the resources they need to provide rich early literacy experiences at home. Their children will have a better opportunity to enter school ready to read and ready to learn.
Libraries will partner with schools and other community agencies to reach parents and children who are most in need and to increase awareness of the importance of early literacy experiences and resources in young children’s lives. Use of public libraries can provide the early exposure to literacy activities that is crucial for success in school and beyond.
For more information about the grant program, see this page or contact Cassandra Artale, Library Development Specialist, New York State Library/Division of Library Development, (518) 474-1479, or cartale@mail.nysed.gov.
Following are the public libraries and public library systems that will receive NYS Family Literacy Library Services grant awards:
Brooklyn Public Library (Kings County) $75,728 - Brooklyn Builds Readers: Read Together, Play Together, Learn Together
Brooklyn Builds Readers (BBR) will help families integrate play into early literacy activities. A borough-wide public library campaign in collaboration with children’s services providers will highlight the importance of play for childhood learning and the importance of parents as their child’s play partner. Parents and caregivers will be introduced to early learning games during the library’s Babies & Books and Toddler Time sessions and at the library’s First Five Years workshops.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (Erie & Niagara Counties) $71,760
- Ready-to-Read, Ready-to-Learn at the Library
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, with Project Flight and the Buffalo News, will establish a task force to coordinate regional early literacy initiatives, promote community awareness of the importance of early literacy, and provide continuing education to librarians, caregivers and educators. Library Literacy Centers in the Central Library and three branch libraries will provide research-based programs and services to at-risk, underserved families so that their children will be prepared to enter school Ready-to-Read and Ready-to-Learn.
Dormann Library (Steuben County) $65,526 - My First Teacher
My First Teacher will provide resources and programs for families in Steuben County to encourage reading early and often with children.
Programming will be offered in the library and at Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics that serve 500 at-risk families. During the clinics, staff will present literacy activities for mothers and children and give participants a Read to Me bag to take home. Little Red Bookshelves and two early literacy computer workstations will be placed in high-use community service agencies with waiting rooms to provide parents with teaching opportunities on-site and with books to take home.
The New York Public Library, the Branch Libraries (Bronx, New York and Richmond Counties) $75,728 - Daddy and Me @ the Library
Daddy and Me @ the Library will provide important resources for The New York Public Library to reach a traditionally underserved population:
fathers and male caregivers of young children. Recent research indicates that children are better readers and perform better in school when their
fathers have read to them. In partnership with Literacy Inc., the
library will reach out to male caregivers in a wide array of community groups and teach staff how to make these men feel welcome in the library. New programs and materials will be developed to encourage fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, adoptive or foster fathers, teen fathers, brothers, uncles, and other male caregivers to visit the library more frequently and read to their young children.
Olean Public Library (Cattaraugus County) $25,935 - LEAP Forward at the Library
Project LEAP (learn, explore and participate) is a partnership of the Olean Public Library, the Olean Family Connection Even Start, and Parent Education Healthy Families Cattaraugus. Programs and activities will teach pre-reading skills to young children and provide support for parents and caregivers to continue these activities at home. Families will have access to an expanded library collection of early literacy and parenting materials in a variety of media.
Potsdam Public Library (Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Saint Lawrence Counties) $19,391 - Science in the Library
Potsdam Public Library will partner with Head Start and family literacy programs in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties to build young children’s early literacy skills through science education.
Teachers will learn how to implement science-based literacy programs and will be connected to core science collections in eight public libraries.
Parents will learn how to be their child’s first teacher and enjoy science-based literacy activities at home. Science in the Library is a research-based program supported by SUNY-Potsdam staff and students who will provide science expertise, programs, and support for families
entering projects in an early literacy science fair.
Queens Library (Queens County) $63,026 - Early Literacy Enrichment Program
Queens Library will promote early childhood literacy to new immigrant families. Workshops on early childhood development, toddler reading programs, and support materials will be developed in multiple languages-Spanish, Bangladesh, Chinese, Portuguese and English. The program will be part of Queens Library’s Literacy Zone project to promote life-long learning with a focus on ages one through five.
Richmond Memorial Library (Genesee County) $26,982 - Eat, Read, Grow
Eat, Read, Grow will address two significant early childhood needs:
development of pre-reading skills and healthy nutritional habits. In partnership with Cooperative Extension nutritionists and master gardeners, the library will present programs that teach early literacy skills through hands-on activities, books, songs and finger plays that focus on healthy eating. A guidebook of objectives, materials, activities and resources will be created at the end of the project and distributed through Cooperative Extension and the Nioga Library System.
Seneca Falls Library (Seneca County) $25,750 - Raising Readers
The Seneca Falls Library will partner with local daycare centers, preschools, schools, and other community organizations to implement Raising Readers and to promote the library as an essential early literacy resource. Raising Readers will teach parents and caregivers how to develop reading readiness skills when they read stories to their children. Programs will be held in the library and at partner sites.
Southern Tier Library System (Allegheny, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates Counties) $60,342 - Beginnings
Beginnings is an early literacy project that will strengthen family involvement in language and pre-reading skills for children from birth to age five. Staff from eight Southern Tier member libraries and their partner agencies will attend workshops on how to use research-based Every Child Ready to Read activities to enhance existing programs.
Following the workshops, the libraries and their partner agencies will work together to introduce parents to activities that are fun and will help their children get ready to succeed in school.
March 1, 2010
Family Literacy library projects will be offered in nineteen New York State counties with the help of grants from the New York State Library, Bernard Margolis, New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries, announced today. Ten grants to public libraries and public library systems totaling $510,169 over two years will be awarded to support Family Literacy Library Services projects in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
“New York State’s Family Literacy grants help public libraries and public library systems develop or expand library services to parents, children and caregivers,” said Mr. Margolis. “All of the programs will reach out to families of diverse backgrounds and will provide materials and activities to help them enjoy early literacy experiences together.”
The program theme for 2009-2011 projects is early literacy for children from birth-5. Each project will provide research-based programs, workshops, activities and resources for young families. Parents and caregivers who participate in these projects will have the resources they need to provide rich early literacy experiences at home. Their children will have a better opportunity to enter school ready to read and ready to learn.
Libraries will partner with schools and other community agencies to reach parents and children who are most in need and to increase awareness of the importance of early literacy experiences and resources in young children’s lives. Use of public libraries can provide the early exposure to literacy activities that is crucial for success in school and beyond.
For more information about the grant program, see this page or contact Cassandra Artale, Library Development Specialist, New York State Library/Division of Library Development, (518) 474-1479, or cartale@mail.nysed.gov.
Following are the public libraries and public library systems that will receive NYS Family Literacy Library Services grant awards:
Brooklyn Public Library (Kings County) $75,728 - Brooklyn Builds Readers: Read Together, Play Together, Learn Together
Brooklyn Builds Readers (BBR) will help families integrate play into early literacy activities. A borough-wide public library campaign in collaboration with children’s services providers will highlight the importance of play for childhood learning and the importance of parents as their child’s play partner. Parents and caregivers will be introduced to early learning games during the library’s Babies & Books and Toddler Time sessions and at the library’s First Five Years workshops.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (Erie & Niagara Counties) $71,760
- Ready-to-Read, Ready-to-Learn at the Library
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, with Project Flight and the Buffalo News, will establish a task force to coordinate regional early literacy initiatives, promote community awareness of the importance of early literacy, and provide continuing education to librarians, caregivers and educators. Library Literacy Centers in the Central Library and three branch libraries will provide research-based programs and services to at-risk, underserved families so that their children will be prepared to enter school Ready-to-Read and Ready-to-Learn.
Dormann Library (Steuben County) $65,526 - My First Teacher
My First Teacher will provide resources and programs for families in Steuben County to encourage reading early and often with children.
Programming will be offered in the library and at Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics that serve 500 at-risk families. During the clinics, staff will present literacy activities for mothers and children and give participants a Read to Me bag to take home. Little Red Bookshelves and two early literacy computer workstations will be placed in high-use community service agencies with waiting rooms to provide parents with teaching opportunities on-site and with books to take home.
The New York Public Library, the Branch Libraries (Bronx, New York and Richmond Counties) $75,728 - Daddy and Me @ the Library
Daddy and Me @ the Library will provide important resources for The New York Public Library to reach a traditionally underserved population:
fathers and male caregivers of young children. Recent research indicates that children are better readers and perform better in school when their
fathers have read to them. In partnership with Literacy Inc., the
library will reach out to male caregivers in a wide array of community groups and teach staff how to make these men feel welcome in the library. New programs and materials will be developed to encourage fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, adoptive or foster fathers, teen fathers, brothers, uncles, and other male caregivers to visit the library more frequently and read to their young children.
Olean Public Library (Cattaraugus County) $25,935 - LEAP Forward at the Library
Project LEAP (learn, explore and participate) is a partnership of the Olean Public Library, the Olean Family Connection Even Start, and Parent Education Healthy Families Cattaraugus. Programs and activities will teach pre-reading skills to young children and provide support for parents and caregivers to continue these activities at home. Families will have access to an expanded library collection of early literacy and parenting materials in a variety of media.
Potsdam Public Library (Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and Saint Lawrence Counties) $19,391 - Science in the Library
Potsdam Public Library will partner with Head Start and family literacy programs in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties to build young children’s early literacy skills through science education.
Teachers will learn how to implement science-based literacy programs and will be connected to core science collections in eight public libraries.
Parents will learn how to be their child’s first teacher and enjoy science-based literacy activities at home. Science in the Library is a research-based program supported by SUNY-Potsdam staff and students who will provide science expertise, programs, and support for families
entering projects in an early literacy science fair.
Queens Library (Queens County) $63,026 - Early Literacy Enrichment Program
Queens Library will promote early childhood literacy to new immigrant families. Workshops on early childhood development, toddler reading programs, and support materials will be developed in multiple languages-Spanish, Bangladesh, Chinese, Portuguese and English. The program will be part of Queens Library’s Literacy Zone project to promote life-long learning with a focus on ages one through five.
Richmond Memorial Library (Genesee County) $26,982 - Eat, Read, Grow
Eat, Read, Grow will address two significant early childhood needs:
development of pre-reading skills and healthy nutritional habits. In partnership with Cooperative Extension nutritionists and master gardeners, the library will present programs that teach early literacy skills through hands-on activities, books, songs and finger plays that focus on healthy eating. A guidebook of objectives, materials, activities and resources will be created at the end of the project and distributed through Cooperative Extension and the Nioga Library System.
Seneca Falls Library (Seneca County) $25,750 - Raising Readers
The Seneca Falls Library will partner with local daycare centers, preschools, schools, and other community organizations to implement Raising Readers and to promote the library as an essential early literacy resource. Raising Readers will teach parents and caregivers how to develop reading readiness skills when they read stories to their children. Programs will be held in the library and at partner sites.
Southern Tier Library System (Allegheny, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates Counties) $60,342 - Beginnings
Beginnings is an early literacy project that will strengthen family involvement in language and pre-reading skills for children from birth to age five. Staff from eight Southern Tier member libraries and their partner agencies will attend workshops on how to use research-based Every Child Ready to Read activities to enhance existing programs.
Following the workshops, the libraries and their partner agencies will work together to introduce parents to activities that are fun and will help their children get ready to succeed in school.
Friday, October 09, 2009
State Librarian's Update #6
Please feel free to pass along this update to colleagues, friends, and anyone you think would benefit from reading about library matters in New York State. If you want to receive the State Librarian’s Updates directly, send your e-mail address to ppaolucc@mail.nysed.gov. This update and past updates are posted on the New York State Library’s website.
State Aid: Typically by this time in the fiscal year over 95% of the State Appropriation for library aid would have been paid to libraries and library systems. This year is different. The State’s cash flow challenges and shrinking revenue have delayed the distribution process.
We just received approval (known as certification) to pay an additional $15 million of the total of $91.08 million approved in the 2009-10 budget. This means that 63% of the appropriated funding has now been paid. My understanding is that another $15 million (about 16%) will be provided by our control agencies at the beginning of November and the balance will be approved and hopefully fully distributed by the end of December. I know that this late distribution poses many challenges. I know that the calls of many library supporters to legislators urging the speedy payout of library aid made a difference. I wish there was a way to insulate libraries from the dreary economic picture. Education of public policy makers on all the issues of delayed aid payments is very important.
New Training Calendar: Elizabeth Carrature-Brown of the State Library’s Library Development staff has developed a new on-line New York Library Careers Information Calendar”. Please check it out. It is devoted to listing upcoming training and professional development activities across the state. It will include the widest range of training from “free” webinars to multi-session training programs. I hope you will contribute if you offer or provide training to the library community. It’s free.
As practitioners of lifelong learning, we need to not forget our own educational and training needs. Next year new regulations will take effect which will require newly certified public librarians to provide evidence of continuing education to maintain professional certification.
This new requirement will rely heavily upon the wonderful continuing education offerings of our state’s library schools, statewide library associations and public library, school library and 3Rs systems. Ideas to improve this new service will be welcomed by Elizabeth (ecarratu@mail.nysed.gov).
Regents Advisory Council on Libraries: The Regents Advisory Council (RAC) is the oldest of the advisory groups to the State Board of Regents. Its critical role is to advise the Regents, and the State Librarian, about important library matters and to reflect upon the issues which impact upon all of the state’s libraries. The Regents, at their September meeting, appointed four new members of the Regents Advisory Council: John Hammond, Executive Director of the Northern New York Library Network; Dionne Mack-Harvin, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library; Mary Muller, President of the Board of Trustees of the Troy Public Library and Principal of Market Block Books; Louise S. Sherby, Associate Dean and Chief Librarian of Hunter College Libraries, City University of New York (CUNY). Congratulations to our new members. In welcoming the new members of the RAC, I ask that you share your concerns with them about matters that require the Regents’ attention. Contact information is posted on the RAC webpage. The RAC makes regular reports to the Regents, through the Regents’ Cultural Education Committee. At the September 25th RAC meeting, the Council voted to endorse the development and implementation of a separate New York State Learning Standard for Information Literacy. The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has promulgated Standards for the 21st Century Learner which is widely used. It can be accessed here. This could serve as a great model for New York State. Our special thanks to Norman Jacknis, Ellen Bach and David Ferriero who have completed their RAC service. We appreciate their major contribution of time, energy, skills and interest.
Google Book Search: I was especially pleased to learn that the court hearing scheduled for October 9th on the Google Book Search settlement has been postponed until November 7th. The parties to this class-action suit, the Authors Guild and the American Association of Publishers have gone back to the bargaining table with Google. Libraries are NOT parties to the suit but will be significantly affected by its outcome. The governments of Germany and France are opposing the settlement along with the Attorneys General of six (6) states. I have weighed in to advocate for a list of 14 improvements to the settlement which I believe will help libraries and mitigate some of the expected long term financial consequences. You can see my perspective here. Obviously there are many views about the settlement, pro and con. The U.S. Department of Justice has shared its “concerns” with the Court and the U.S. Register of Copyright testified about her serious disagreements and concerns before Congress. I am somewhat optimistic that the settlement can be re-constructed to give libraries better access. School libraries were completely forgotten in the original settlement proposal. State libraries, law libraries and medical libraries also were not included.
While economic issues have been widely discussed the settlement needs a great deal of work to protect user privacy and to prevent censorship of materials. Stay tuned. There probably will be a google number of e-mails about the Google Book settlement.
Libraries and Broadband: And speaking of Google...The national “Fiber to the Library” (F2L) movement begun by Digital Village Associates has recently received a boost with the announcement of support by Google, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) and the Fiber to the Home Council (FTTH).
The Fiber to the Library movement aims to bring 100 Mbps Internet connections to all of the 16,500 public libraries in the United States by 2012. “Libraries serve as the most logical community hub and gathering place to provide access to emerging technology and information” according to Digital Village founder Donald Means. The short term goal is to influence the broadband planning now being undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC plan is due to Congress in February 2010.
Cultural Education Fund: The Cultural Education Fund is the vehicle for financial support for the State Library, the State Museum, the State Archives and Public Broadcasting. Fees, collected by County Clerks, often from real estate transactions, support the fund. The fund is bankrupt. If all obligations were included the fund would have a negative balance of over $5 million. Revenues experienced an uptick in September and we are buoyed by this possible symbol of economic recovery. Discussions are continuing about raising the level of fees collected to support the fund. Fees have not been increased in about ten years. This continues to be our best avenue of support for this fund.
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA): The LSTA is the primary federal funding support program for libraries. I am pleased to announce that we have looked at this program and done some internal review and re-prioritization to be able to increase the funds available for grants to libraries by $300,000 each year over the next two years. A total of $1.6 million ($800,000 a year) will be allocated for two-year grants (April 2010-March 2012). While this is not a huge increase, we believe that every little bit will help. Systems will be hearing more about the program deadlines and priorities from Mary Linda Todd, the State Library’s LSTA Coordinator.
Election time: New Yorkers have reason to celebrate as elections to support the creation of new library districts have resulted in success.
Congratulations to all the library supporters and dedicated staff and board members working long hours to educate the public about the role that well-supported libraries play in the vibrancy of every community.
Special kudos to the people of Troy with a huge election victory supporting a new district with a healthy funding base and a newly elected Board. Despite the challenging economic times New Yorkers do understand and appreciate the value of library service!
Library leadership: I predict that you will be reading more and more about library leadership in the coming months. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is looking at ways of supporting and developing leadership as one of the best ways of moving libraries forward. So it is especially appropriate that New York’s library leadership is being tapped for national leadership. Sara Kelly Johns has just been nominated as a candidate for President of the 67,000 member American Library Association. Sara is an acclaimed school librarian/school library media specialist (Lake Placid Middle/Sr. High School), formerly served as President of the Association of School Libraries and is a current member of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. And, to amplify the importance of our state as a source for great leaders and because one New York leader is not enough, James G. Neal, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian, Columbia University has been nominated to be Treasurer of the American Library Association. Long active in ALA and the Association of Research Libraries, Jim is a distinguished and sought-after speaker and wonderful library thinker…and doer! I have the privilege of knowing them both and am thrilled with their nominations. If you are not a member of the American Library Association, I cannot think of a better time for you to consider joining and exercising your vote for two highly qualified New Yorkers in next spring’s ALA election.
State Library Staffing: The voluntary severance program for state employees will result in the loss of eleven full-time library positions (down from the originally expected 18 departures) for the State Library.
Hardest hit will be our services to the blind and physically handicapped, the Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) and our preservation work. Under this state program, designed to reduce state expenditures, all the vacated positions will be eliminated. We are strategizing on the best ways to sustain our service levels in these vital areas.
New York Library Association Meeting: I hope to see you at the upcoming New York Library Association (NYLA) confab in Niagara Falls. The State Library, along with NYLA and the New York State Association of Library Boards will be hosting the always popular Friday morning (9:45 am, Conference Center II and III, Porter & Deveaux Rooms) program on legislative matters. Joining Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Cannell and myself will be Regents Chancellor Emeritus Robert M. Bennett; Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology; Assemblyman Sam Hoyt; Senator Antoine Thompson; Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte; Kevin Verbesey, NYLA Legislative Chair; and Mary Ellen O’Connor, NYSALB President. Please come with your questions about critical legislative and funding matters facing libraries of every type. I will also be hosting a “talk to the state librarian” session on Friday at 2:15 p.m. (Conference Center IV, Whitney Room). Needless to say, the NYLA Annual Meeting is a great way to learn about all the “new” professional trends, to become acquainted with best practices and to continue your own individual learning and networking.
ARIA and the Library Community: On September 10th the State Senate gave overwhelming approval to ARIA (Academic Research Information Access) (A.7229/S.5419) legislation designed to make state financial resources available for high-cost database resources for the academic and research library community. The Senate vote came after an earlier vote in the Assembly approving the legislation with almost no opposition. The legislation, as passed, creates a concept and mechanism but includes no funding support. The legislation is about to move to the Governor’s desk. He will have ten days to review and to either sign or veto. Regardless of his action it is a major achievement that the need for database resources, as an economic development tool, is acknowledged in this visible way. This is a great building block for the Comprehensive Information System that I have been talking about and have been calling NYSCIS (New York State Comprehensive Information System). I have supported the ARIA legislation. As with most legislation, it has a few areas I believe could be strengthened and broadened. Clearly the State Library needs a more direct role in the operation of ARIA. Sadly, ARIA has created a division in the library community. In challenging economic times, it has been seen by some as a potential dilution of the state’s resource commitment to public libraries and school libraries.
For others it creates an “exclusive” class of libraries for expensive database resources. For others it appears to be an initiative of the New York State Higher Education Initiative (NYSHEI) in conflict with the goals of the New York Library Association (NYLA). Of course, there are even many more views and perspectives. This diversity of beliefs, viewpoints, and opinions generally helps us as a community. It provides a basis for fruitful and productive discussions where we come together, share our common goals, understand our disagreements, and build new understanding. I am planning to bring people with a variety of perspectives together in the next months and will invite the NYLA Council and NYSHEI Board to meet with me soon to discuss this matter. I invite your assistance in helping to bring the library community together. Our strength and effectiveness must be built on a foundation of trust, respect and appreciation of our similarities and our differences. Thanks, in advance, for your help.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
State Aid: Typically by this time in the fiscal year over 95% of the State Appropriation for library aid would have been paid to libraries and library systems. This year is different. The State’s cash flow challenges and shrinking revenue have delayed the distribution process.
We just received approval (known as certification) to pay an additional $15 million of the total of $91.08 million approved in the 2009-10 budget. This means that 63% of the appropriated funding has now been paid. My understanding is that another $15 million (about 16%) will be provided by our control agencies at the beginning of November and the balance will be approved and hopefully fully distributed by the end of December. I know that this late distribution poses many challenges. I know that the calls of many library supporters to legislators urging the speedy payout of library aid made a difference. I wish there was a way to insulate libraries from the dreary economic picture. Education of public policy makers on all the issues of delayed aid payments is very important.
New Training Calendar: Elizabeth Carrature-Brown of the State Library’s Library Development staff has developed a new on-line New York Library Careers Information Calendar”. Please check it out. It is devoted to listing upcoming training and professional development activities across the state. It will include the widest range of training from “free” webinars to multi-session training programs. I hope you will contribute if you offer or provide training to the library community. It’s free.
As practitioners of lifelong learning, we need to not forget our own educational and training needs. Next year new regulations will take effect which will require newly certified public librarians to provide evidence of continuing education to maintain professional certification.
This new requirement will rely heavily upon the wonderful continuing education offerings of our state’s library schools, statewide library associations and public library, school library and 3Rs systems. Ideas to improve this new service will be welcomed by Elizabeth (ecarratu@mail.nysed.gov).
Regents Advisory Council on Libraries: The Regents Advisory Council (RAC) is the oldest of the advisory groups to the State Board of Regents. Its critical role is to advise the Regents, and the State Librarian, about important library matters and to reflect upon the issues which impact upon all of the state’s libraries. The Regents, at their September meeting, appointed four new members of the Regents Advisory Council: John Hammond, Executive Director of the Northern New York Library Network; Dionne Mack-Harvin, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library; Mary Muller, President of the Board of Trustees of the Troy Public Library and Principal of Market Block Books; Louise S. Sherby, Associate Dean and Chief Librarian of Hunter College Libraries, City University of New York (CUNY). Congratulations to our new members. In welcoming the new members of the RAC, I ask that you share your concerns with them about matters that require the Regents’ attention. Contact information is posted on the RAC webpage. The RAC makes regular reports to the Regents, through the Regents’ Cultural Education Committee. At the September 25th RAC meeting, the Council voted to endorse the development and implementation of a separate New York State Learning Standard for Information Literacy. The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has promulgated Standards for the 21st Century Learner which is widely used. It can be accessed here. This could serve as a great model for New York State. Our special thanks to Norman Jacknis, Ellen Bach and David Ferriero who have completed their RAC service. We appreciate their major contribution of time, energy, skills and interest.
Google Book Search: I was especially pleased to learn that the court hearing scheduled for October 9th on the Google Book Search settlement has been postponed until November 7th. The parties to this class-action suit, the Authors Guild and the American Association of Publishers have gone back to the bargaining table with Google. Libraries are NOT parties to the suit but will be significantly affected by its outcome. The governments of Germany and France are opposing the settlement along with the Attorneys General of six (6) states. I have weighed in to advocate for a list of 14 improvements to the settlement which I believe will help libraries and mitigate some of the expected long term financial consequences. You can see my perspective here. Obviously there are many views about the settlement, pro and con. The U.S. Department of Justice has shared its “concerns” with the Court and the U.S. Register of Copyright testified about her serious disagreements and concerns before Congress. I am somewhat optimistic that the settlement can be re-constructed to give libraries better access. School libraries were completely forgotten in the original settlement proposal. State libraries, law libraries and medical libraries also were not included.
While economic issues have been widely discussed the settlement needs a great deal of work to protect user privacy and to prevent censorship of materials. Stay tuned. There probably will be a google number of e-mails about the Google Book settlement.
Libraries and Broadband: And speaking of Google...The national “Fiber to the Library” (F2L) movement begun by Digital Village Associates has recently received a boost with the announcement of support by Google, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) and the Fiber to the Home Council (FTTH).
The Fiber to the Library movement aims to bring 100 Mbps Internet connections to all of the 16,500 public libraries in the United States by 2012. “Libraries serve as the most logical community hub and gathering place to provide access to emerging technology and information” according to Digital Village founder Donald Means. The short term goal is to influence the broadband planning now being undertaken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC plan is due to Congress in February 2010.
Cultural Education Fund: The Cultural Education Fund is the vehicle for financial support for the State Library, the State Museum, the State Archives and Public Broadcasting. Fees, collected by County Clerks, often from real estate transactions, support the fund. The fund is bankrupt. If all obligations were included the fund would have a negative balance of over $5 million. Revenues experienced an uptick in September and we are buoyed by this possible symbol of economic recovery. Discussions are continuing about raising the level of fees collected to support the fund. Fees have not been increased in about ten years. This continues to be our best avenue of support for this fund.
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA): The LSTA is the primary federal funding support program for libraries. I am pleased to announce that we have looked at this program and done some internal review and re-prioritization to be able to increase the funds available for grants to libraries by $300,000 each year over the next two years. A total of $1.6 million ($800,000 a year) will be allocated for two-year grants (April 2010-March 2012). While this is not a huge increase, we believe that every little bit will help. Systems will be hearing more about the program deadlines and priorities from Mary Linda Todd, the State Library’s LSTA Coordinator.
Election time: New Yorkers have reason to celebrate as elections to support the creation of new library districts have resulted in success.
Congratulations to all the library supporters and dedicated staff and board members working long hours to educate the public about the role that well-supported libraries play in the vibrancy of every community.
Special kudos to the people of Troy with a huge election victory supporting a new district with a healthy funding base and a newly elected Board. Despite the challenging economic times New Yorkers do understand and appreciate the value of library service!
Library leadership: I predict that you will be reading more and more about library leadership in the coming months. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is looking at ways of supporting and developing leadership as one of the best ways of moving libraries forward. So it is especially appropriate that New York’s library leadership is being tapped for national leadership. Sara Kelly Johns has just been nominated as a candidate for President of the 67,000 member American Library Association. Sara is an acclaimed school librarian/school library media specialist (Lake Placid Middle/Sr. High School), formerly served as President of the Association of School Libraries and is a current member of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. And, to amplify the importance of our state as a source for great leaders and because one New York leader is not enough, James G. Neal, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian, Columbia University has been nominated to be Treasurer of the American Library Association. Long active in ALA and the Association of Research Libraries, Jim is a distinguished and sought-after speaker and wonderful library thinker…and doer! I have the privilege of knowing them both and am thrilled with their nominations. If you are not a member of the American Library Association, I cannot think of a better time for you to consider joining and exercising your vote for two highly qualified New Yorkers in next spring’s ALA election.
State Library Staffing: The voluntary severance program for state employees will result in the loss of eleven full-time library positions (down from the originally expected 18 departures) for the State Library.
Hardest hit will be our services to the blind and physically handicapped, the Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) and our preservation work. Under this state program, designed to reduce state expenditures, all the vacated positions will be eliminated. We are strategizing on the best ways to sustain our service levels in these vital areas.
New York Library Association Meeting: I hope to see you at the upcoming New York Library Association (NYLA) confab in Niagara Falls. The State Library, along with NYLA and the New York State Association of Library Boards will be hosting the always popular Friday morning (9:45 am, Conference Center II and III, Porter & Deveaux Rooms) program on legislative matters. Joining Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Cannell and myself will be Regents Chancellor Emeritus Robert M. Bennett; Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology; Assemblyman Sam Hoyt; Senator Antoine Thompson; Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte; Kevin Verbesey, NYLA Legislative Chair; and Mary Ellen O’Connor, NYSALB President. Please come with your questions about critical legislative and funding matters facing libraries of every type. I will also be hosting a “talk to the state librarian” session on Friday at 2:15 p.m. (Conference Center IV, Whitney Room). Needless to say, the NYLA Annual Meeting is a great way to learn about all the “new” professional trends, to become acquainted with best practices and to continue your own individual learning and networking.
ARIA and the Library Community: On September 10th the State Senate gave overwhelming approval to ARIA (Academic Research Information Access) (A.7229/S.5419) legislation designed to make state financial resources available for high-cost database resources for the academic and research library community. The Senate vote came after an earlier vote in the Assembly approving the legislation with almost no opposition. The legislation, as passed, creates a concept and mechanism but includes no funding support. The legislation is about to move to the Governor’s desk. He will have ten days to review and to either sign or veto. Regardless of his action it is a major achievement that the need for database resources, as an economic development tool, is acknowledged in this visible way. This is a great building block for the Comprehensive Information System that I have been talking about and have been calling NYSCIS (New York State Comprehensive Information System). I have supported the ARIA legislation. As with most legislation, it has a few areas I believe could be strengthened and broadened. Clearly the State Library needs a more direct role in the operation of ARIA. Sadly, ARIA has created a division in the library community. In challenging economic times, it has been seen by some as a potential dilution of the state’s resource commitment to public libraries and school libraries.
For others it creates an “exclusive” class of libraries for expensive database resources. For others it appears to be an initiative of the New York State Higher Education Initiative (NYSHEI) in conflict with the goals of the New York Library Association (NYLA). Of course, there are even many more views and perspectives. This diversity of beliefs, viewpoints, and opinions generally helps us as a community. It provides a basis for fruitful and productive discussions where we come together, share our common goals, understand our disagreements, and build new understanding. I am planning to bring people with a variety of perspectives together in the next months and will invite the NYLA Council and NYSHEI Board to meet with me soon to discuss this matter. I invite your assistance in helping to bring the library community together. Our strength and effectiveness must be built on a foundation of trust, respect and appreciation of our similarities and our differences. Thanks, in advance, for your help.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Message from the State Librarian -- Update #5
New Commissioner: The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has a new Commissioner and the University of the State of New York (USNY) has a new President. Dr. David M. Steiner, currently Dean of the School of Education, Hunter College at the City University of New York (CUNY), will begin his new duties on October 1st in both of these capacities. In introducing him after the Regents vote of appointment, Chancellor Merryl Tisch made special note of the Regents role in cultural education and the new Commissioner’s interest in this area. I join many others in feeling great excitement about Dr. Steiner’s appointment. His credentials are remarkable and include a stint as Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts. Clearly books and culture have played an important role in his life and career. While you can Google the many articles about/by him, I want to especially call to your attention the autobiographical piece he wrote for the National Association of Scholars simply titled An Education Lived. It is not only a great read but also an insightful piece about the person who will give important leadership to all matters about education and lifelong learning in New York, including libraries.
P.S. I would encourage you to add Dr. Steiner to your mailing lists and
include him on your invite lists. Thanks.
Cultural Education Fund: The fund which supports the State Library, State Museum, State Archives and the Office of Public Broadcasting is still bankrupt. Legislation to improve this situation is not moving and we continue to face the realities of a dismal state funding picture. Adding to this situation is the expected impact of the voluntary severance program now being implemented in order to reduce the state
payroll by at least 4,500 employees. It appears that over 10% of the State Library staff will participate in the program which provides a $20,000 cash incentive to the employee and results in the elimination of the position which they vacate. We expect to lose up to 18 members of the State Library staff, most with many years of service and knowledge. We will need to reorganize our work and assess the impacts on our
services. The dollars saved by the State will have a negative impact on our federal funding situation because the result will be a reduction in the State’s required "maintenance of effort". It’s a rollercoaster ride and we are just trying to hold on through a series of steep and fast turns.
Library Aid Update: Thus far, the Division of the Budget has released $42 million of the $91 million appropriated for 2009-2010 Library Aid. The State Library immediately processed $42 million in basic aid payments to the 73 library systems. All systems should now have their basic aid payments. The Governor is asking the legislature to return in September to make further budget reductions in order to address New York's growing budget deficit, which is now estimated at over $2
billion.
Broadband: The State Library, working with a wide variety of State Education Department partners and libraries and organizations across the state will submit this week two (2) grant proposals under the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The grants request federal funding of over $34 million to support the role of libraries in providing public computing access and to fund major computer literacy and fluency initiatives as well as a major public awareness/marketing campaign. My thanks to all of the partner organizations for help with this. I believe, at last count, over 60 organizations representing hundreds of libraries and other organizations are included in the proposals. The timeframe was short and the application process filled with challenges, but a rather ambitious proposal was developed and will be submitted. The Public Computing Centers initiative includes expansion of capacity and the addition of the BroadbandExpress, a mobile public computing center capacity. The Sustainable Broadband Adoption initiative includes the creation of curricula, the creation of specialized training
for school and library professionals, the delivery of public training, the creation of Broadband Buddies and Cyber-Sages programs and a comprehensive public awareness and marketing campaign. The executive summaries of the proposals will soon be available online. We will keep you updated as we learn more about funding success.
Library Procurement: I had an opportunity to present testimony at a recent hearing hosted by Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, Chair of the Assembly Government Operations Committee and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Educational Technology. Michael Borges of NYLA, Jason Kramer of NYSHEI, John Smith of the Westchester Library System and Carla Rasmussen Chiaro, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of General Services (OGS) and her colleague Anne G. Phillips, Associate Counsel, (OGS) also presented testimony. The focus was on database resources. There was consensus that greater flexibility is needed for libraries to realize savings from aggregating the purchase of databases. I proposed, again, the idea of a New York State Comprehensive Information System (NYSCIS) with some state funding support. I have a follow-up meeting with Deputy Commissioner Chiaro to see if some of the State’s procurement rules could be helpful in lowering the cost of databases for everyone. You can read my testimony here.
New Netherland: The New York State Library and the New York State Archives are home to a treasure trove of early records of the Dutch in America. You may have seen a recent CBS Sunday Morning television piece on the New Netherland Institute here at the New York State Library. Library staff (Charles Gehring) have been at work for 35 years translating these early records. The Prince of Orange, the Crown Prince of the Netherlands and the Crown Princess Maxima will be visiting the United States and the New York State Library on Tuesday, September 8th to view our work and support our efforts.
Summer Reading: It’s not too late…to read just another one before the summer comes to an end!
Regulations on Deaccessioning: This fall, the Board of Regents will be considering converting what has been emergency rules on deaccessioning for museums and historical societies into permanent rules (Amended Rule 3.27). The permanent rules being proposed are only applicable to museums and historical societies chartered by the Board of Regents. While there is proposed legislation which would significantly
broaden the impact of deaccessioning requirements on more institutions, including legislatively-chartered museums and libraries, the proposed regulations do NOT include those changes. I know there has been great concern about the impact of any expanded law or regulations on libraries. We will continue to monitor this and keep you apprised of developments. The underlying public policy issues are significant and
important. When material is given to museums, libraries and historical societies does the "public trust" in which it is held have certain rules which must be followed? When times are tough is maintaining the collection more important than staying open? If material is no longer appropriate should another institutional home be found before it is sold? The ages old quandary comes to mind: do we save the painting or do we save the cat? There are good questions to be asked about how
materials are removed from collections, what transparency should be expected/required and what should the limits be on how the funds that might be realized could be used. The proposed regulations will be published on August 26 in the State Register and will be accessible here.
In a few weeks I hit the road again with visits to different parts of the state with workshops, speeches and library get-togethers including the important NYLA Conference in Niagara Falls. I look forward to meeting you and providing help and guidance. If we are now in the "dog days of summer," please enjoy them.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
August 13, 2009
P.S. I would encourage you to add Dr. Steiner to your mailing lists and
include him on your invite lists. Thanks.
Cultural Education Fund: The fund which supports the State Library, State Museum, State Archives and the Office of Public Broadcasting is still bankrupt. Legislation to improve this situation is not moving and we continue to face the realities of a dismal state funding picture. Adding to this situation is the expected impact of the voluntary severance program now being implemented in order to reduce the state
payroll by at least 4,500 employees. It appears that over 10% of the State Library staff will participate in the program which provides a $20,000 cash incentive to the employee and results in the elimination of the position which they vacate. We expect to lose up to 18 members of the State Library staff, most with many years of service and knowledge. We will need to reorganize our work and assess the impacts on our
services. The dollars saved by the State will have a negative impact on our federal funding situation because the result will be a reduction in the State’s required "maintenance of effort". It’s a rollercoaster ride and we are just trying to hold on through a series of steep and fast turns.
Library Aid Update: Thus far, the Division of the Budget has released $42 million of the $91 million appropriated for 2009-2010 Library Aid. The State Library immediately processed $42 million in basic aid payments to the 73 library systems. All systems should now have their basic aid payments. The Governor is asking the legislature to return in September to make further budget reductions in order to address New York's growing budget deficit, which is now estimated at over $2
billion.
Broadband: The State Library, working with a wide variety of State Education Department partners and libraries and organizations across the state will submit this week two (2) grant proposals under the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The grants request federal funding of over $34 million to support the role of libraries in providing public computing access and to fund major computer literacy and fluency initiatives as well as a major public awareness/marketing campaign. My thanks to all of the partner organizations for help with this. I believe, at last count, over 60 organizations representing hundreds of libraries and other organizations are included in the proposals. The timeframe was short and the application process filled with challenges, but a rather ambitious proposal was developed and will be submitted. The Public Computing Centers initiative includes expansion of capacity and the addition of the BroadbandExpress, a mobile public computing center capacity. The Sustainable Broadband Adoption initiative includes the creation of curricula, the creation of specialized training
for school and library professionals, the delivery of public training, the creation of Broadband Buddies and Cyber-Sages programs and a comprehensive public awareness and marketing campaign. The executive summaries of the proposals will soon be available online. We will keep you updated as we learn more about funding success.
Library Procurement: I had an opportunity to present testimony at a recent hearing hosted by Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, Chair of the Assembly Government Operations Committee and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries and Educational Technology. Michael Borges of NYLA, Jason Kramer of NYSHEI, John Smith of the Westchester Library System and Carla Rasmussen Chiaro, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of General Services (OGS) and her colleague Anne G. Phillips, Associate Counsel, (OGS) also presented testimony. The focus was on database resources. There was consensus that greater flexibility is needed for libraries to realize savings from aggregating the purchase of databases. I proposed, again, the idea of a New York State Comprehensive Information System (NYSCIS) with some state funding support. I have a follow-up meeting with Deputy Commissioner Chiaro to see if some of the State’s procurement rules could be helpful in lowering the cost of databases for everyone. You can read my testimony here.
New Netherland: The New York State Library and the New York State Archives are home to a treasure trove of early records of the Dutch in America. You may have seen a recent CBS Sunday Morning television piece on the New Netherland Institute here at the New York State Library. Library staff (Charles Gehring) have been at work for 35 years translating these early records. The Prince of Orange, the Crown Prince of the Netherlands and the Crown Princess Maxima will be visiting the United States and the New York State Library on Tuesday, September 8th to view our work and support our efforts.
Summer Reading: It’s not too late…to read just another one before the summer comes to an end!
Regulations on Deaccessioning: This fall, the Board of Regents will be considering converting what has been emergency rules on deaccessioning for museums and historical societies into permanent rules (Amended Rule 3.27). The permanent rules being proposed are only applicable to museums and historical societies chartered by the Board of Regents. While there is proposed legislation which would significantly
broaden the impact of deaccessioning requirements on more institutions, including legislatively-chartered museums and libraries, the proposed regulations do NOT include those changes. I know there has been great concern about the impact of any expanded law or regulations on libraries. We will continue to monitor this and keep you apprised of developments. The underlying public policy issues are significant and
important. When material is given to museums, libraries and historical societies does the "public trust" in which it is held have certain rules which must be followed? When times are tough is maintaining the collection more important than staying open? If material is no longer appropriate should another institutional home be found before it is sold? The ages old quandary comes to mind: do we save the painting or do we save the cat? There are good questions to be asked about how
materials are removed from collections, what transparency should be expected/required and what should the limits be on how the funds that might be realized could be used. The proposed regulations will be published on August 26 in the State Register and will be accessible here.
In a few weeks I hit the road again with visits to different parts of the state with workshops, speeches and library get-togethers including the important NYLA Conference in Niagara Falls. I look forward to meeting you and providing help and guidance. If we are now in the "dog days of summer," please enjoy them.
Bernard A. Margolis
State Librarian
August 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
2008: A BANNER YEAR FOR LIBRARIES & LIBRARY PROGRAMS
From Jeffrey Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education and Interim State Librarian
Through cooperation and collaboration, the New York State Library and our library and system partners across the state have accomplished a great deal in 2008. Facing a tighter budget the library community has
done a lot with less. We have again met or exceeded many of our goals for the year.
It has been a year of remarkable numbers and accomplishments. For example:
● “Catch the Reading Bug,” the 2008 Statewide Summer Reading Program, attracted over 1.5 million young participants, a 15-percent increase over summer 2007. We met the participation goal for 2010 two years early.
● 325 New York libraries received total E-rate discounts of over $8.2 million.
● The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Online Opportunities Hardware Grant provided some 1,073 funded computers installed in 419 public library building in high need communities. And the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has selected New York State as one of seven pilot states for their new Online Broadband Connectivity Initiative.
● Public libraries and systems will receive $14 million in grants for 181 public library construction projects for 2008–2009.
● The Board of Regents approved 55 library charters. Four new public library districts were formed and 318,588 formerly unserved New Yorkers now have a local public library.
● NOVELNY pilot project annual searches totaled 29.6 million, and usage continues to grow; over 5,500 libraries are registered for NOVELNY.
● The Board of Regents formally adopted an amendment toCommissioner’s Regulation 90.7 Certificates for Librarians. As of January 1, 2010 new public librarian professional certificate holders will be required to complete 60 hours of professional development every five year period.
● The Division of Library Development completed over 85 site visits and oversaw a total of 997 grants to libraries and library systems and sponsored 88 education events for 2485 people.
● The State Research Library held 34 classes; 11 of them provided hands-on training and 15 were customized training classes for community groups and state agencies.
● The State Research Library responded to nearly 21,000 interlibrary loan requests, with 155,000 pages sent electronically
● The State Research Library’s digitization project has scanned 84,667 pages of New York State documents as well as other non-copyrighted materials, and provides links to the digitized information through its online catalog.
● The State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Library served 37,000 registered users with visual or reading disabilities; and TBBL is working on converting to new digital players.
● The Research Library provided information to inmates in New York's correctional facilities; nearly 19,000 requests were complete.
● Bernard A. Margolis was appointed New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries after a rigorous national search. He will officially start his position on January 8, 2009.
I am proud of New York’s library community and the collaborative spirit that you all demonstrate as we continue to develop innovative ways to serve New Yorkers. In the final days of 2008, please accept my
thanks for your efforts.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season and continuing successes in 2009.
Through cooperation and collaboration, the New York State Library and our library and system partners across the state have accomplished a great deal in 2008. Facing a tighter budget the library community has
done a lot with less. We have again met or exceeded many of our goals for the year.
It has been a year of remarkable numbers and accomplishments. For example:
● “Catch the Reading Bug,” the 2008 Statewide Summer Reading Program, attracted over 1.5 million young participants, a 15-percent increase over summer 2007. We met the participation goal for 2010 two years early.
● 325 New York libraries received total E-rate discounts of over $8.2 million.
● The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Online Opportunities Hardware Grant provided some 1,073 funded computers installed in 419 public library building in high need communities. And the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has selected New York State as one of seven pilot states for their new Online Broadband Connectivity Initiative.
● Public libraries and systems will receive $14 million in grants for 181 public library construction projects for 2008–2009.
● The Board of Regents approved 55 library charters. Four new public library districts were formed and 318,588 formerly unserved New Yorkers now have a local public library.
● NOVELNY pilot project annual searches totaled 29.6 million, and usage continues to grow; over 5,500 libraries are registered for NOVELNY.
● The Board of Regents formally adopted an amendment toCommissioner’s Regulation 90.7 Certificates for Librarians. As of January 1, 2010 new public librarian professional certificate holders will be required to complete 60 hours of professional development every five year period.
● The Division of Library Development completed over 85 site visits and oversaw a total of 997 grants to libraries and library systems and sponsored 88 education events for 2485 people.
● The State Research Library held 34 classes; 11 of them provided hands-on training and 15 were customized training classes for community groups and state agencies.
● The State Research Library responded to nearly 21,000 interlibrary loan requests, with 155,000 pages sent electronically
● The State Research Library’s digitization project has scanned 84,667 pages of New York State documents as well as other non-copyrighted materials, and provides links to the digitized information through its online catalog.
● The State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Library served 37,000 registered users with visual or reading disabilities; and TBBL is working on converting to new digital players.
● The Research Library provided information to inmates in New York's correctional facilities; nearly 19,000 requests were complete.
● Bernard A. Margolis was appointed New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries after a rigorous national search. He will officially start his position on January 8, 2009.
I am proud of New York’s library community and the collaborative spirit that you all demonstrate as we continue to develop innovative ways to serve New Yorkers. In the final days of 2008, please accept my
thanks for your efforts.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season and continuing successes in 2009.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Update on the search for the next New York State Librarian:
From NYLINK:
* Preliminary screening of the current pool of applicants has been concluded;
* Phone interviews with a select number of candidates are about to conclude;
* Committee Chair, Liz Hood, envisions scheduling a pool of finalists for onsite interviews by first week of October @ the Cultural Education Center, here in Albany;
* Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Jeffrey W. Cannell, seeks to introduce the successful candidate at the forthcoming 2008 New York Library Association Annual Conference scheduled for November 5 - 8, 2008, in Saratoga Springs, New York;
* Search Committee membership (Updated) : Michael Borges, Executive Director, NYLA; Josh Cohen, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System; Frank D’Andraia, Dean & Director of Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York; Liza Duncan, Director, Technical Services & Systems, Cultural Education Center; Dottie Hiebing, Executive Director, Metropolitan NY Library Council; Liz Hood, Chair of the Search Committee and Director, Office of ETV & Public Broadcasting, NYS Education Department; Christine Kleinegger, representing the Public Employees Federation, Historical Survey, NYS Museum; Barbara Lilley, Program Officer, Library Development, Cultural Education Center; John Monahan, School Library System Director, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES; Frank Munoz, Associate Commissioner, Office of the Professions, NYSED; David Walsh, Chief Information Officer, NYSED; Chris Ward, State Archivist and Assistant Commissioner, NYS Archives, Cultural Education
Center; Pat Whalen, representing the Civil Service Employees Association, Exhibits/Public Programs, NYS Museum.
* Preliminary screening of the current pool of applicants has been concluded;
* Phone interviews with a select number of candidates are about to conclude;
* Committee Chair, Liz Hood, envisions scheduling a pool of finalists for onsite interviews by first week of October @ the Cultural Education Center, here in Albany;
* Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Jeffrey W. Cannell, seeks to introduce the successful candidate at the forthcoming 2008 New York Library Association Annual Conference scheduled for November 5 - 8, 2008, in Saratoga Springs, New York;
* Search Committee membership (Updated) : Michael Borges, Executive Director, NYLA; Josh Cohen, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System; Frank D’Andraia, Dean & Director of Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York; Liza Duncan, Director, Technical Services & Systems, Cultural Education Center; Dottie Hiebing, Executive Director, Metropolitan NY Library Council; Liz Hood, Chair of the Search Committee and Director, Office of ETV & Public Broadcasting, NYS Education Department; Christine Kleinegger, representing the Public Employees Federation, Historical Survey, NYS Museum; Barbara Lilley, Program Officer, Library Development, Cultural Education Center; John Monahan, School Library System Director, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES; Frank Munoz, Associate Commissioner, Office of the Professions, NYSED; David Walsh, Chief Information Officer, NYSED; Chris Ward, State Archivist and Assistant Commissioner, NYS Archives, Cultural Education
Center; Pat Whalen, representing the Civil Service Employees Association, Exhibits/Public Programs, NYS Museum.
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