See below for links to the programs from the 4th annual SENY-Con...
Jen Palmentiero, Southeastern NY Library Resources Council
This session will introduce participants to Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative (Empire ADC), an emerging service of Southeastern and the Empire State Library Network. The goal of Empire ADC is to provide standardized, online access to archival finding aids contributed by all sizes and types of repositories in NY State. The presenter will provide a demonstration of the website and submission tools for contributors, as well as background information on the project.
Kristin Charles-Scaringi, Kingston Public Library
Librarians can use storytelling techniques to develop a professional narrative that can be used in the application, interviewing, marketing, and professional development processes. Once we know our own story and why we do what we do, we are better prepared to create a road map to further develop our careers and, perhaps, the profession as a whole.
Megan Coder, SUNY New Paltz
This research explored the informational needs of family members and other individuals who experienced a terminal cancer diagnosis of a loved one that included a predicted lifespan (e.g. 5 months, 2 years, etc.). Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to investigate the print and online resources these individuals used to find and gather information about the terminal diagnosis, reliability of the found medical information, barriers faced in obtaining information, and anticipated uses of information.
A Qualtrics survey consisting of 40 questions was designed using a combination of Likert-scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. The survey was distributed to the university faculty and student listservs, library organization listservs and message boards, and local medical facilities with an average response rate of 63 respondents per question. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with those survey individuals who indicated interest in talking more in-depth about their loved ones and information-seeking experiences.
The data gathered through both the survey and semi-structured interviews was analyzed as whole and categorized into relevant themes in order to more fully understand the informational needs of this population. Connections will be made with previously published medical library research as well as suggestions for future research.
(This presentation is available upon request)
Claudia Depkin, Haverstraw King’s Daughters Library
Casey Conlin, Mid-Hudson Library System
Geoffrey Kirkpatrick, Bethlehem Public Library
Members of the NYLA Sustainability Initiative will provide an update on group activities including the new Sustainable Library Certification Program.
The goal is to create a culture for reading for all our schools and county. To that end, our schools have entered a race around the county for reading books. The implementation of our reading program that we are undertaking, “The Cross County Reading Challenge,” uses Google Data Studio to compare what books and how much our students are reading across our county. We offer monthly random prizes and the competition has created readers from even our struggling students. Every book counts in helping each school move ahead in the race.
Making Inroads: Two Years of Outreach at the Bard College Library
Alexa Murphy, Jeremy Hall, Kate Laing, Amber Billey, Betsy Cawley, Bard College
Over the past few years, the Bard College Library staff has been striving to create stronger connections across campus to support student preparation and success. The college’s unique, informal work culture is based more on relationship-building than formal structure, which presents both challenges and opportunities for the library’s efforts to connect to the campus community. Over the past two years, we’ve been able to gain traction by thinking creatively and building relationships with a variety of student-services oriented groups on campus. This poster will highlight some of our successful outreach initiatives of the past two years, including a House Librarian program that connects librarians to students via the college’s faculty-in-residence program, establishing a required library orientation for first-year students, and partnering with the Access and Equity office.
Getting It Done - The Art of Accomplishment for the Solo Librarian
Mary Jo Russell, Vassar Brothers Medical Center Library
Getting Things Done (GTD for short) is a way to approach everything coming in and taking the next steps to process it all. In this poster presentation, the GTD method will be outlined as a method for keeping organized in a solo librarian setting where everything is important. Based on the best-selling book by David Allen.
Stephan J. Macaluso, SUNY New Paltz
Katherine Zipman, SUNY New Paltz
Visitor Identities (or VI) is a five-category framework used by many informal learning communities, like museums and zoos, to understand what motivates people to visit their exhibits. The VI framework has not been widely applied to library settings, but by watching a sample of New York Public Library’s Library Stories videos, we found that many NYPL patrons’ testimonials align with one or more of the five VI categories. These results suggest that libraries might use Visitor Identities as a tool for interviewing patrons and for reviewing services, programming, and outreach endeavors by helping library staff ask “Who are our patrons and why do they visit us?” In this presentation, we will demonstrate the VI categories and how we identified them in library patrons’ videos; describe some ways this research can be applied to library services; and discuss the challenges of doing VI research using video testimonials.
Mindy Grey, Arlington High School
Jaclyn Heeney, Arlington High School
Lucy Miller, Arlington High School
Librarians from Arlington High School and Overlook Primary School will share our experiences using Karen Jensen's diversity audit process to evaluate our fiction collections. Auditing allows us to move from a good-faith effort to purchase diverse titles to targeted collection development based on data. We've found that the auditing process is not only a good way to get to know our books from a new perspective, it's an opportunity to involve students & staff in collection analysis and development. Join us to consider how this adaptable process might work for you.
Paul T. Agne, Red Hook Public Library
Libraries are education. Entertainment. Community. And a whole lot more. Make your library a place for curiosity, excitement, and learning with fun, hands-on science activities and experiments for homeschooling families!
As libraries continue to grow and adapt to better serve the needs of their communities, demands for unique and engaging programming have surged. At the same time, libraries are centers of learning uniquely positioned to bridge a variety of educational gaps in unique ways.
The informal learning environment provided by a library proves particularly beneficial and enticing to homeschool families. Homeschool families are eager to discover education and entertainment enrichment opportunities for their children. While some activities may be cost-prohibitive for some families, library programming is not. Further, the library offers a respite for parents and is a valuable socialization opportunity for school-age homeschooled children. Benefits to patrons also translate to benefits for the library. Attracting homeschooling families drives circulation, increases program attendance, develops community, and much more.
Developed over the course of more than a year with weekly, hands-on science activities and experiments, Red Hook Public Library’s Homeschool Libratory program has grown a contingent of homeschool families as well as a variety of hands-on, experiential, science activities.
This session outlines the value of working with the homeschool community, provides an overview of Red Hook Public Library’s Libratory program, gives examples of hands-on activities, and outlines tips for successful program design and execution.
Amy Schuler, Carey Institute of Ecosystem Studies
In 1967, Mary Flagler Cary left her 2,000 acre Millbrook estate to a charitable organization “engaged in the conservation, maintenance, and preservation of natural resources,” leading to the establishment of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Join me in exploring the passions and pursuits of Mary and her beloved husband Melbert.
Kate Bellody, SUNY New Paltz
Campus libraries often become familiar, safe spaces for students, both academically and personally. Libraries are uniquely centered to support the whole student by encouraging wellness and connecting students with mental health and community resources. This presentation details initiatives to bring mental health and wellness into the library, allowing students to discover resources and services that may be intimidating to access.
The presentation shares dynamic yet practical strategies to establish campus collaborations and leverage library resources and expertise to provide students with information that continues to prove essential to their academic experience. It will address the process, benefits, and challenges of integrating more personal services in a traditionally academic space. Initiatives range from digital guides to flyers and book displays. These actions appear understated, but can provide a significant service when done with intention and care.