CLRC

Webinar: Disaster Preparedness Basics - People, Policies, Practices, and Procedures
2025-02-26 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Webinar Description:
In July, 2024, Rome was hit by an EF2 tornado that went through the city’s center coming within a block of the library. In this one hour program, learn what procedures, policies, and partnerships helped Jervis to respond quickly to the tornado warning and as an essential component of the community’s response. In addition, you will be invited to consider other actions that can be part of response preparedness.
About the Presenter:
Lisa Matte earned her MLS from the University at Albany and her MS HRM (Human Resources Management) from Stony Brook. In her life before libraries, she was in fast food management for 6 years and retail bookselling for 4 years, experiences she values in their application to libraries.
As a librarian for services to teens at Jervis In Rome, NY she was recognized as Forty Under Forty in the Mohawk Valley. As the Library Director, a position she has held since 2005, she has been honored with the Mayor’s Community Excellence Award, the Rome Branch of the NAACP’s Shirley Chisholm Freedom Fund Award, Oneida County’s COVID-19 Hero Award, and the NYS Assembly Woman of Distinction designation. In 2022, she was enshrined in Rome NY’s Arts Hall of Fame. More recently, Jervis was chosen as this year’s CLRC Library of the Year.
Live captioning will be provided.
This webinar will be recorded and a recording will be shared with all registrants afterward.

**All participants will have the option to request a certificate of attendance for 1.5 contact hours.**
All CLRC events are open to CLRC members and members of the Empire State Library Network.
All Attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct.

LILRC Webinar: Talking Book Library Service Information Session for Library Workers - Adult Services
2025-02-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library is a branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) that provides FREE accessible reading material for patrons who are blind, low vision, physically disabled, print disabled, or otherwise unable to read print, to patrons located in the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. Andrew Heiskell Library offers materials to borrow in a wide range of formats, including braille, talking books (audio), and magazines, for users of all ages, as well as players and mobile apps. Patrons can also find accessible programming and events, individual coaching in assistive technology, group workshops, braille study groups, the Dimensions Lab for tactile creation, and more. Ashley Dalle, Interim Chief Librarian, will present on how to apply for NLS service, the benefit to you, your students, and your patrons, as well as the types of assistive technology courses and workshops that are being offered, for FREE, to library patrons.

Resource Sharing Virtual Conference 2025
2025-02-27 12:30 - 16:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Conference Schedule

12:30 – 12:40 Welcome and Housekeeping

12:40 – 2:00 Keynote Addresses
12:40 – 1:30 Recharge: Transforming Burnout into Growth
Melissa Lawson, Coordinator for Access Services, Utica University
1:30 – 2:00 Presentation
Gregg Kiehl, Library Director, Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3)*
*This presentation is in place of the planned keynote address, “Transforming Workflow Pain Points into Smart Solutions” by Elise Thornley, Senior Head of Resource Sharing, Binghamton University Libraries. Elise’s slides will be made available after the conference, along with her contact information,

2:00 – 2:15 Break

2:15 – 3:15 Panel Discussion: Trends in Resource Sharing
Tor Loney, Library Development Specialist, Division of Library Development, New York State Library
Haleigh Mikolajczyk, Program Consultant, Southern Tier Library System
Sarah Shank, Access Services Manager, Ithaca College

3:15 – 3:45 Empire Library Delivery Update
Maria DeGaetano, Empire Library Delivery Coordinator, Empire State Library Network

3:45 – 4:00 Closing Remarks

This event is free and open to all ESLN members. Hosted by CLRC and SCLRC.
Questions? Please contact co-chairs Christine Brown (SCLRC) at cbrown@sclrc.org or Sophie Friedman (CLRC) at sfriedman@clrc.org.

ESLN Webinar: Innovations in Employee Benefits - An Ask the HR Expert Webinar
2025-02-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Exploring unconventional benefits that libraries, museums, and other cultural organizations can offer to recruit, retain, and inspire employees. Written material: legal guidance and sample language for implementing creative benefits.
This is the second event in our 4-part “Ask the HR Expert” series.
About the presenter: Stephanie “Cole” Adams is an attorney who represents libraries, educators, students, and creative professionals. Cole provides the Ask the Lawyer service that New York State’s nine library resource councils provide to each library in the state. She is a member of the ALA Lawyers for Libraries faculty, the Vice Chair of the Erie County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Committee, and served as the General Counsel of Niagara University for over ten years. Cole is a proud graduate of SUNY Buffalo School of Law and Hampshire College.
We invite you to submit a question for the presenter – there will be a place to do that during the registration process. The deadline to submit questions is Friday, January 10, 2025.
Free to ESLN Members. Registration is required. This webinar will be recorded.
This session is sponsored by Empire State Library Network.

New York Heritage Bits & Bytes: Schenectady County Historical Society, Siena College, and NY Archives Magazine
2025-02-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Adding digitized collections to NY Heritage creates unique opportunities for research which can lead to unexpected and fruitful collaborations! This episode of Bits & Bytes highlights a recent example of a successful partnership between a class of Siena College undergraduates and the Schenectady County Historical Society. Using the Samuel Jones Family Papers collection on NY Heritage and other materials from the SCHS collections, students in Professor Jenn Dorsey’s Honors NYS History class wrote a biography of Schenectady politician Samuel Jones. Their article has now been published in the Winter 2025 issue of NY Archives Magazine. Join SCHS archivist Marietta Carr, Siena Professor Jenn Dorsey, and two of the student authors to discuss their collaborative process, their approach to biography writing, and the results of their work.
Presenters: Marietta Carr, Archivist at Schenectady County Historical Society and Jennifer Dorsey, Professor of History at Siena College
This webinar will be recorded. Live transcription will be available.
We are committed to offering inclusive, diverse, and equitable services to all of our members. To request specific accommodations, please contact rrlc@rrlc.org at least five business days ahead of the program you’d like accommodations for.
If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Hughes at rhughes@rrlc.org

LILRC Webinar: Girls Who Code - Cost-Free Library Curriculum and Programs
2025-03-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Computer science skills are some of the most sought-after and highest-paying in the US job market, with demand growing 3X the national average. In 1995, 37% of computer scientists were women. Today, only 24% of computer scientists are women. Attrition for CS interest in girls is heightened between the ages of 13 and 17.
This is where Girls Who Code steps in: We are on track to close the gender gap in technology by 2030. We have reached over 500 million people, served over 500,000 girls through our programming, and 50% of our participants are from historically underrepresented groups.
During this presentation, we will provide an overview of Girls Who Code’s educational philosophy and impact, and introduce our free Clubs Program. We’ll engage participants in a deep dive into the Clubs experience with Girls Who Code. We’ll discuss the ways that we can directly support communities in growing their clubs, building their networks, and engaging with students at all levels of coding. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss how to incorporate our curriculum into their communities.
Presented by: Michaela Burger, Senior Associate, Community Partnerships & Outreach, Girls Who Code

Webinar: Another Survey?! Making Your Next Survey Count
2025-03-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Webinar Description:
Are you interested in surveying your library users or community members but aren’t sure how to get started? Or, do you have experience administering surveys but find it challenging to ask meaningful questions that yield useful information? Join us for a webinar that will focus on the principles of survey design and administration, including:

The purpose of survey research, including when (and when not to!) use surveys
Guidelines for designing effective surveys
Best practices for pre-testing surveys
Tips for successful survey administration
Analyzing and using survey results

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to review and improve existing survey items, as well as to practice writing original survey items. You will leave with new skills and increased confidence to design and administer effective surveys.
Webinar Learning Outcomes

Recognize when it is appropriate to use a survey
Increase knowledge of best practices for designing, pre-testing, and administering surveys
Gain awareness of how to use survey results for various purposes including program improvement and communicating impact

About the Presenter:
Linda Hofschire has more than 25 years of experience conducting social science research and evaluation and providing training in-person and online. She directs the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL), an initiative to provide data and evaluation training for library staff. She also works as a library evaluation and training consultant. Previously, she was the director of the Library Research Service at the Colorado State Library. Linda was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2017. She has an MA and PhD in Mass Media from Michigan State University, and an MLIS from the University of Illinois. She is passionate about making data accessible and meaningful to users.
Live captioning will be provided.
This webinar will be recorded and a recording will be shared with all registrants afterward.

**All participants will have the option to request a certificate of attendance for 1.5 contact hours.**
All CLRC events are open to CLRC members and members of the Empire State Library Network.
All Attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct

LILRC Webinar: Legal Research for Beginners
2025-03-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Learn about the process of legal research in this beginner webinar on law librarianship. This informative session will discuss where to find the law including primary sources such as constitutions, statutes, court opinions and case law, regulations, and administrative decisions as well as important secondary and scholarly sources which may be cited as persuasive authority such as treatises, law reviews, specialized periodicals, annotations, and restatements, as well as legal encyclopedias. Both free and commercial sources will be demonstrated and discussed.
Webinar participants will learn:
• How to track down a legal citation
• How to distinguish between statute and case law citations
• Where to find both Federal and State statutes
• Where to find both Federal and State court opinions
• Where to find specialized legal materials such as regulations, dockets, forms, and reporters
• How to check the validity of a case before citing it
Ellyssa Kroski is the Director of Innovation & Engagement at the New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of 77 books including Law Librarianship in the Age of AI for which she won the AALL’s 2020 Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award. She is a librarian, an adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University, and an international conference speaker. She received the 2017 Library Hi Tech Award from the ALA/LITA for her long-term contributions in the area of Library and Information Science technology and its application. She can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/author/ellyssa

LILRC Webinar: From Apollo to Artemis - Stories from NASA
2025-03-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Join LILRC when we welcome author Herb Baker. In his new book, From Apollo to Artemis, Stories from my 50 years with NASA, Herb Baker shares about his vast life experiences with NASA. From going to middle school with the astronaut’s kids, to covering the Apollo 11, 12, 13, & 15 missions onsite at the Manned Spacecraft Center with the news media, to a 42 year career with NASA (spent at JSC, KSC, & NASA HQS), followed by serving as an officer on the NASA Alumni League-JSC Board of Directors, Herb Baker has spent most of his life involved with NASA, supporting the Space Shuttle, ISS, Constellation, and Orion Programs as well as Flight Operations, including support to the Astronaut Office.
From the Apollo missions to the groundbreaking Artemis program that aims to return humanity to the lunar surface, this book chronicles the evolution of NASA through the eyes of someone who lived it. With vivid recollections, the author shares behind-the-scenes stories of the triumphs and challenges that helped shape the course of space exploration.
Whether you’re a space enthusiast, a history buff, or someone fascinated by the human spirit’s relentless pursuit of the unknown, From Apollo to Artemis provides an insider’s perspective on NASA’s most ambitious endeavors. The author’s personal anecdotes, combined with historical context, create a rich narrative that captures the excitement, dedication, and innovation that define NASA.
About Herb Baker
Herb retired from NASA in 2017 after 42 years of service. He spent most of his career at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) supporting the Space Shuttle, Space Station, and Orion Programs but also worked at the Kennedy Space Center and NASA Headquarters. His last position was serving as the Manager of the Operations Support Office which provided support to the Flight Operations Office at JSC and included support to the Astronaut Office, Mission Control operations, NASA’s Aircraft Operations, and astronaut training. He is currently an Officer on the Board of Directors of the NASA Alumni League-JSC and spends most of his time volunteering for organizations that promote STEM engagement, including the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Space Center Houston.
This program is being presented in cooperation with NASA’s Solar System Ambassador program.

ESLN Academic Leadership Series: Budget Management
2025-03-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
This series of six 90-minute panel discussions will feature academic library leaders from across New York State discussing various topics relevant to new and emerging leaders. Panelists represent a wide variety of academic institutions and provide a diverse set of experiences. As part of each session, participants will have opportunities to network with other new and emerging leaders through breakout rooms and small group discussions in addition to the larger panel discussion. These sessions will not be recorded.
Join us for the next event in this series, Budget Management! Many library leaders take on leadership roles without prior budgeting experience. This session will discuss some of the core elements associated with budget management.
Topics discussed may include:
– Types of budgeting processes: incremental, activity based, value proposition, and zero based.
– Who is involved in the budgeting process, inside and outside of the library.
– Authority to assign budget dollars to various expense categories.
– Strategies to determine which funds to use for various expenses (operating funds, endowed funds, grants, gifts, Friends groups, etc.)
– Internal and external factors that influence budgets and how to handle changes (new programs, changes in campus leadership, NovelNY, COVID, student enrollment, etc.)
– Handling mid-year budget cuts or sudden needs for increased funds.
Panelists: Becky Albitz (Marist College); Corey Ha (SUNY Geneseo); Brian Sullivan (Alfred University)
Facilitator: Sarah Conrad Weisman (SUNY Oswego)

LILRC Webinar: Stories on Skin - A Librarian's Guide
2025-03-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
If archives are tangible transmissions of personal and community knowledge through time, then tattoos have as much claim to the descriptor as board minutes or team photos. From time immemorial, people have marked themselves to transmit knowledge. Terry and Libby will discuss the genesis of this book and its investigation of tattoos and culture, community meaning, memory, social control, and gender expression. We’re hoping for lively discussion, too!
Terry Baxter (he/him) has done archival work since 1985, most recently with Multnomah County Archives and the Oregon Country Fair Archives. His work focuses on helping community members connect with each other through both space and time and uses archives to build those connections. He lives in Cully with two jewells and is visited by his grandkids frequently.
Libby Coyner-Tsosie (she/they) has been an archivist for over 15 years, working in academic libraries, government archives, and museum archives. Coyner-Tsosie worked as an archivist at Elon University, where she built a zine collection and taught students about research in primary sources. She is a member of the 2016 cohort of Archives Leadership Institute at Berea College and is proud to have been held in love and community with a group of tremendous archivists and the late bell hooks.

CDLC Webinar: Leveraging AI to Transform Your School Library
2025-03-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
This program will explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically generative AI, in the school library. The presentation will delve into the ethical implications of AI use, discussing relevant curricular standards and the role of school librarians in fostering ethical information practices. It will explore how media literacy skills can empower students to critically evaluate AI-generated content and become discerning consumers of information. Additionally, the presentation will address potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI and offer strategies for educators to harness its power while maintaining the human touch in the learning process.
Attendees will leave with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively integrate AI into their classrooms and libraries, ensuring its responsible and beneficial use for students.
About the Presenter: Kerrie Burch is the School Library System Director at WSWHE BOCES. Before taking the position at WSWHE BOCES, she was the Director of the School Library System, Model Schools, and Arts at Questar III BOCES. She has also worked as a School Librarian at two rural schools, covering grades K-12.
She is an At-Large Member of NYLA Council and is a School Library Systems Association Past President, serving as President in 2020-2021. In 2024, she was awarded the School Library Systems Association Distinguished Service Award. She earned her Certificates of Advanced Study in School Building Leader and School District Leader from SUNY Plattsburgh, her Masters of Science in Information Science from the University at Albany, and her Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from SUNY Potsdam. She is an adjunct professor in the School Library Media program at St. John Fisher University. Her areas of professional interest include curriculum, assessment, and technology instruction in the library.

LILRC Webinar: Conflict Management - Part One, Understanding Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Responses to Conflict
2025-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
In our current sociopolitical climate, polarizing forces all too often lead to difficulty living and working in connection with others. In this interactive program, participants will learn about common origins of conflict and general methods for working through conflict in order to increase connection. Please be prepared for active discussion about these topics. Please note that this is the first part of a two part series.
Topics covered in Part 1 will be:

Neurobiology of conflict
Reciprocal nature of conflict
Cognitive biases that impact our ability to connect
Behavioral Strategies to reduce conflict
Self Regulation Strategies
De-escalation Strategies
Active Listening
Approaches to building empathy

Presenter:
Dr. Samuel M. Colbert, PhD is a counseling psychologist, licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD at Ball State University and completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn’s) counseling center. He received his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Ball State University and his Bachelor of Arts at SUNY Geneseo, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Colbert is a clinician, consultant, educator, and researcher. He practices couples and individual therapy at Philadelphia Couples Therapy, a private group practice in Philadelphia, PA. He has also taught multiple undergraduate courses, including: The Psychology of Sexuality, Multicultural Counseling and Fundamentals of Counseling Skills. He has presented hundreds of LGBTQ+ Skill Building Workshops, with varied audiences including, psychologists at the Annual American Psychological Convention, National Rehabilitation Psychological Conference, and fellows at John’s Hopkins. Informed from his teaching, training, and clinical experiences, Dr. Colbert has co-authored a chapter in Navigating Difficult Teaching Moments in Teaching Diversity and Social Justice published by the American Psychological Association. His research includes exploring factors leading to the health and well-being of gender and sexual minority people possessing intersecting identities.
Sam is honored to continue to share his passion for learning, teaching, and training with the Long Island Library Resources Council!

CDLC Webinar: What is a Library Strategist?
2025-03-18 13:30 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
As libraries evolve to meet changing academic and community needs, employing a Library Strategist offers a transformative solution for institutions seeking to remain essential to the communities they serve. A strategist can bridge the gap between current practices and future goals, aligning library operations with institutional priorities while fostering innovation and collaboration. At the same time, actors like resistance to change, gaining staff buy-in, and balancing long-term vision with immediate operational needs pose strategic challenges that must be addressed. Learn how, for the past two years, Library Strategist Elaine Lasda has helped her library manage change, evaluate trends, and implement new service models while working to create a culture of trust and alignment, moving everyone toward shared goals. Does your library need a strategist? This presentation is sure to provide attendees with a framework and context for considering this new approach to library leadership.
About the Presenter:
Elaine Lasda is the Library Strategist at the University at Albany Libraries, where she holds the rank of full Librarian. Her role in the Libraries centers around change management, project management, and raising staff and stakeholder engagement. Since 2001 she has served a variety of progressively more responsible roles at UAlbany. Elaine is the author of the “Metrics Mashup” column, which appears 3 times per year in the Online Searcher section of Computers in Libraries magazine.

LILRC Event: Jewish Librarians Meetup
2025-03-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Join us for conversation with fellow librarians and library workers to share your workplace concerns.

ESLN Webinar: Patrolling the Stacks? - Responding to Activity By ICE & Other Law Enforcement Agencies At Your Library
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
New York libraries of all types have an ethical and legal obligation to protect library records and patron privacy, including when information is requested by law enforcement or private investigators. This webinar by attorney Stephanie “Cole” Adams, her team, and a special guest will review the rules and practical techniques for following those legal and ethical obligations.
Whether you are a library worker, director, or trustee, join us for 90 minutes of active learning!
We invite you to submit a question for the presenter – there will be a place to do that during the registration process. You can also submit questions over email to nathan@losapllc.com. The deadline to submit questions is March 7.
Presenter: Stephanie “Cole” Adams is an attorney who represents libraries, educators, students, and creative professionals. Cole provides the Ask the Lawyer service that New York State’s nine library resource councils provide to each library in the state. She is a member of the ALA Lawyers for Libraries faculty, the Vice Chair of the Erie County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Committee, and served as the General Counsel of Niagara University for over ten years. Cole is a proud graduate of SUNY Buffalo School of Law and Hampshire College.
Free to RRLC and ESLN Members. This event will be held on Zoom Webinar; registration is required.
This webinar will be recorded; you must register to receive the recording.

Webinar: The Whys, Whats, and Hows of Performance Evaluation - Making the Process Work
2025-03-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Webinar Description:
As supervisors, managers, and directors, we know that we are supposed to complete an annual performance evaluation for each of our direct reports. The process has been declared a “must do” activity by many human resources (HR) and business leaders. Have you ever wondered why? This session will provide a brief history of how performance evaluations originated, an overview of the many different types of performance evaluation systems that exist, and some guidelines on how you can develop a performance evaluation system that works well in your work environment.
About the Presenter:
Terry Kirchner joined the Westchester Library System as Executive Director in January 2009. In this role he works with the 38 independent public libraries in Westchester County to provide professional development and training opportunities for library staff and trustees; to offer administrative support, shared services and group purchasing to the public libraries; and to expand the community engagement of libraries, with a focus on the unserved and underserved populations within the county.
Previously, he worked at Columbia University and the New York Public Library.
Terry is trained as an executive coach, earned his doctorate in Human Development, has an MBA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a Masters in Library Science.
Live captioning will be provided.
This webinar will be recorded and a recording will be shared with all registrants afterward.

**All participants will have the option to request a certificate of attendance for one contact hour.**
All CLRC events are open to CLRC members and members of the Empire State Library Network.
All Attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct

LILRC Webinar: Stony Brook University Ready for Success Program
2025-03-20 15:30 - 16:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Faculty from the Melville Library at Stony Brook University will introduce the Ready for Success program and have a discussion about high school to college programs.

LILRC Webinar: Conflict Management - Part Two, Putting It Into Action: Connection through Conflict
2025-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
In Part 2 of this interactive program, we will explore specific methods for working through conflict in a productive manner. We will discuss methods for employing and adapting specific strategies for a variety of relationship types (e.g. supervisors to supervisees, supervisees to supervisors, peers and patrons). Please be prepared for active discussion and experiential activities. This workshop will build upon the skills taught in Part 1.
Topics covered in Part 2 will be:

Employing Behavioral Strategies to Work Through Conflict
Managing Expectations
Understanding our Own and Others’ Assumptions/Expectations
Collaborative Goal Setting
Assertiveness Training
Naming boundaries

Presenter:
Dr. Samuel M. Colbert, PhD is a counseling psychologist, licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD at Ball State University and completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn’s) counseling center. He received his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Ball State University and his Bachelor of Arts at SUNY Geneseo, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Colbert is a clinician, consultant, educator, and researcher. He practices couples and individual therapy at Philadelphia Couples Therapy, a private group practice in Philadelphia, PA. He has also taught multiple undergraduate courses, including: The Psychology of Sexuality, Multicultural Counseling and Fundamentals of Counseling Skills. He has presented hundreds of LGBTQ+ Skill Building Workshops, with varied audiences including, psychologists at the Annual American Psychological Convention, National Rehabilitation Psychological Conference, and fellows at John’s Hopkins. Informed from his teaching, training, and clinical experiences, Dr. Colbert has co-authored a chapter in Navigating Difficult Teaching Moments in Teaching Diversity and Social Justice published by the American Psychological Association. His research includes exploring factors leading to the health and well-being of gender and sexual minority people possessing intersecting identities.
Sam is honored to continue to share his passion for learning, teaching, and training with the Long Island Library Resources Council!

SCRLC Webinar: African American Subject Funnel Project
2025-03-25 10:00 - 11:00 | South Central Regional Library Council, 1300 Dryden Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Have you ever wondered how Library of Congress Subject Headings are created? How they’re changed? Who can participate in this process? Additionally, in recent years, the library community has recognized the need to make our libraries more equitable and representative of the diverse groups we serve. This has inspired initiatives to reexamine library spaces, collections and systems. This presentation examines one such effort, the African American Subject Funnel Project. This cross-institutional, collaborative group works to improve catalog records by adding or amending Library of Congress Subject headings related to the African American experience. By exploring these topics, panelists will demonstrate how the library community can work together to improve our catalogs and by extension better facilitate research.
*Participants will be introduced to the work of the African American Funnel Project in order to understand how Library of Congress Subject Headings are added and amended.
*Participants will learn about the structure and operation of one collaborative, reparative cataloging project so that they might organize similar initiatives in their areas of expertise.
*Participants will leave with an appreciation of the complexities of working with the Library of Congress and the need for both technical and subject expertise in order to successfully advocate for additions and changes to the vocabulary.
This webinar will not be recorded.

CDLC Webinar: ReciteMe - Vendor Demo
2025-03-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
We hope you can join us as we host a product demo of ReciteMe, whose suite of accessibility solutions helps create inclusive web experiences.
This session will revolve around the 2024 Federal mandate on web accessibility for public-sector websites. As the vast majority of libraries receive public funding, they must adhere to the updated standards for their digital properties. Our focus will be on your websites, what rules govern them, and what steps to take in making them compliant, followed by a brief demo of accessibility solutions.
Presenter: Dillon O’Doherty is a Business Development Executive at Recite Me who, for four years, has been assisting libraries and nonprofits with attaining their accessibility goals.

LILRC Webinar: Researching Government Information with Shikha G. Joseph
2025-03-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
This seminar will provide information on how to find free United States government information on a variety of topics including congressional bills, laws, regulations, presidential documents, studies, reports and more. There will also be a brief overview on how to find government information for New York State materials.
Shikha Gupta Joseph is the Emerging Technologies Librarian and Assistant Professor at Nassau Community College’s A. Holly Patterson Library. Her duties involve working with both Research & Instruction and Resource Management Units. Shikha received her MLS from CUNY Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in 2009 and joined NCC Library in 2019. Prior to working at NCC, she worked for the New York State Supreme Court, law libraries, and as an attorney.

NNYLN Webinar: Cardholder Signup Policies - Access in Practice
2025-03-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
In 2023, with funding from the Mellon Foundation, Brooklyn Public Library launched a research project to collect and study cardholder signup policies from public libraries across the nation. Using these findings, BPL has convened a diverse working group of public library leaders to develop a policy framework of guiding principles and best practices for cardholder registration. The overall goal is to provide public library staff, leaders, boards and community stakeholders with the tools to have informed conversations about cardholder signup policies that align with the library profession’s stated values of access and intellectual freedom.
Join Amy Mikel, Director of Customer Experience at Brooklyn Public Library, to learn and ask questions about the project’s findings and the policy framework under development, as well as receive a set of actionable steps to analyze one’s own library’s policies around cardholder signup through the lens of access.
Participants may request a certificate of attendance for one contact hour following the event. Free to all who are interested. This webinar will be recorded.

ESLN Webinar: AI On the (GLAM) Job - An Ask the HR Expert Webinar
2025-03-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
A review of how the law impacts use of AI at work in libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions. Written material: guidance and template language for Personnel Manuals and policies (both for using, and for barring use of, AI).
This is the third event in our 4-part “Ask the HR Expert” series.
About the presenter: Stephanie “Cole” Adams is an attorney who represents libraries, educators, students, and creative professionals. Cole provides the Ask the Lawyer service that New York State’s nine library resource councils provide to each library in the state. She is a member of the ALA Lawyers for Libraries faculty, the Vice Chair of the Erie County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Committee, and served as the General Counsel of Niagara University for over ten years. Cole is a proud graduate of SUNY Buffalo School of Law and Hampshire College.
We invite you to submit a question for the presenter – there will be a place to do that during the registration process. The deadline to submit questions is Friday, March 14, 2025.
Free to ESLN Members. Registration is required. This webinar will be recorded.
This session is sponsored by Empire State Library Network.

LILRC Webinar: Recent Developments in Labor & Employment Law
2025-03-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Local, State and Federal jurisdictions continue legislate and regulate labor & employment at an unprecedented rate. It is challenging for the most diligent practitioner to remain current on all the recent developments. This program will bring you up to date on the important updates in labor & employment law along with our predictions for the upcoming year.
Presented by: Joshua Bienstock, JD., LLM, Associate Professor of Business Law, New York Institute of Technology, School of Management

ESLN Academic Leadership Series: Impactful Mentorship
2025-04-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
This series of six 90-minute panel discussions will feature academic library leaders from across New York State discussing various topics relevant to new and emerging leaders. Panelists represent a wide variety of academic institutions and provide a diverse set of experiences. As part of each session, participants will have opportunities to network with other new and emerging leaders through breakout rooms and small group discussions in addition to the larger panel discussion. These sessions will not be recorded.
Join us for the next event in this series, Impactful Mentoring! Many librarians can point to a mentor who significantly impacted their careers. Sometimes these are found through formal mentor programs or through other strategies. This session will focus on the goals of mentorship and how to create effective mentor/mentee relationships.
Topics discussed may include:
– Goals of the mentorship relationship: professional/organizational acclimation, career development, leadership development, etc.
– How to build a successful mentoring relationship.
– Types of external support needed for a successful mentoring relationship.
– How to find a good mentor
– How to know when it is time to end a mentorship.
Panelists: Melissa Jadlos (St. John Fisher University); Curtis Kendrick (Binghamton University); Carol-Anne Germain (University at Albany)
Facilitator: Carey Hatch (University at Albany)

Webinar: 15 Ways Libraries Can Use Generative AI
2025-04-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Webinar Description:
Explore the transformative power of AI in libraries with this engaging webinar. This essential session is designed for librarians, information specialists, and enthusiasts eager to harness the latest in AI technology. Highlights include:

Basics of Generative AI: A straightforward primer on generative AI and its relevance today.
Key AI Tools: Explore ten cutting-edge generative AI tools and how they stand to benefit library environments.
15 Practical Uses of AI in Libraries: Learn how generative AI can be applied in various library functions, including research assistance, instructional design, language learning, library programming design, automating grant writing, professional development, enhancing metadata, and much more.
Navigating AI Challenges: Insights into the challenges and ethical considerations of using AI, with strategies for effective management.
Skill Building: Tips for writing effective AI prompts and an introduction to the most useful ChatGPT plugins for libraries.

This webinar is your gateway to integrating generative AI into your library’s offerings, improving efficiency, and engaging your community in new and exciting ways.
About the Presenter:
Ellyssa Valenti Kroski is the Director of Innovation & Engagement at the New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of 75 books. She is a librarian, an adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University, and an international conference speaker. She can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/author/ellyssa.
Live captioning will be provided.
This webinar will be recorded and a recording will be shared with all registrants afterward.

**All participants will have the option to request a certificate of attendance for one contact hour.**
All CLRC events are open to CLRC members and members of the Empire State Library Network.
All Attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct

LILRC Webinar: NDIA's Digital Navigator Model
2025-04-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Informational session about the digital navigator program model, tools, and communities of practice. Discover best practices, critical aptitudes, program workflow processes, and outreach strategies learned from a wide community of digital navigator programs across the nation. We’ll explore ways in which the digital navigator model has been adapted for specific audiences, client success stories, and the actionable tools that can help you build or expand your digital navigator program.
Session Outcomes:
● Understand the digital navigator program model and how it can be implemented and/or expanded in libraries.
● Learn about community-based best practices and outreach strategies in the digital navigator model.
● Hear about strategies of successful digital navigator programs and stories of how digital inclusion barriers were removed for community members.

LILRC Webinar: Developing Micro Assessments for Your Library Marketing Plans
2025-04-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Library marketing activities should always be informed with user data. When conducting market research, you don’t need a large sample to see the “big” picture. Developing scalable micro assessments such as mini surveys, usability studies, interviews, and focus groups with only a few questions can add value to your library’s marketing and outreach efforts. With quantitative research, you are expected to have a large sample. However, that is not the case when conducting market research. In this presentation, micro assessments will be shown to be more effective, easier to manage, and garners more responses than more lengthier surveys.
Presenter: Mark Aaron Polger (they/them)
Mark Aaron Polger is an academic librarian and information literacy instructor who has been working in libraries since 1992. They received their MLIS degree in 2000 from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada) and has worked as a librarian in public, hospital, and academic libraries. Currently, Mark is the Coordinator of Library Outreach at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY). They have written about library marketing in journals and other publications and has presented nationally at library conferences.
Mark is the author of 3 books; Engaging Diverse Learners: Teaching Strategies for Academic Librarians, co-authored with Scott Sheidlower (2017, Libraries Unlimited), Library Marketing Basics (2019, Rowman and Littlefield), and Library Signage and Wayfinding Design: Communicating Effectively with Your Users (2021, ALA Editions) Their research interests include library marketing, outreach, and UX (user experience) design. Currently, Mark is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the open-access, peer reviewed journal Marketing Libraries Journal, which was launched in Fall 2017. Their next book project will be on Library Marketing Post-COVID.

LILRC Webinar: Guide to Crafting and Promulgating the Library Employee Handbook
2025-04-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
The process of crafting a legally compliant employee handbook can be a daunting task. this program will cover critical issues such as identifying the purpose of the handbook, preparing to draft the handbook, including a review all existing policies and drafting an outline, exploring the contents of the handbook, common drafting mistakes to be avoided, how to disseminate the handbook and updating and revising the handbook.
Presented by: Joshua Bienstock, JD., LLM, Associate Professor of Business Law, New York Institute of Technology, School of Management
