CLRC

LILRC Webinar: Designing Immersive Virtual Reality Spaces with Spatial.io
2025-09-30 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Discover how to design and host your own immersive virtual art gallery using Spatial.io, a web-based platform for building interactive 3D spaces. In this session, we’ll explore how libraries and creators can use Spatial.io to bring exhibits and programs into virtual environments accessible from VR headsets, mobile devices, and desktop computers.
You’ll be guided through the process of setting up an account, navigating the interface, and adding your own content to build gallery or meeting spaces. VR headsets are not required to participate but can enhance the experience. Attendees should be comfortable with creating online accounts and uploading digital files.
Presented by Christopher Van Wickler, Head of Emerging Technologies (STEM Lab), Great Neck Library

LILRC Webinar - Ancient Worlds, New Tech: Bringing History to Life with AR and MR in the Library
2025-10-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Bring the past into the present with immersive technology! This webinar explores how libraries can use Augmented and Mixed Reality (AR/MR) to activate cultural stories, build layered exhibits, and engage patrons of all ages. Learn how to design interactive experiences using tools like Adobe Aero, BlippAR, and ZapWorks—no coding required. We’ll spotlight successful library case studies and walk through accessible workflows to create your own programs. Featured ideas include Myth in Motion: AR Poster Series, Augment the Exhibit, Time Travelers’ Map, History on a Cube, Voices in the Stacks, and Smells of the Past. Whether you’re working with a single display or developing full immersive zones, this session will help you start small, think big, and connect your community through technology and story.
Participants will be able to:

Distinguish between AR and MR and identify key tools for each that are accessible in public and academic libraries.
Apply practical workflows to create spatial, visual, and auditory exhibit layers using beginner- and intermediate-friendly tools.
Design interactive programming that brings cultural heritage to life through multisensory experiences such as AR posters, Merge Cube artifacts, soundscapes, and tactile installations.

2025 Annual Conference
2025-10-16 | Hamilton College
You’re invited to the Central New York Library Resources Council’s 2025 Annual Conference on Thursday, October 16 at Hamilton College!
Register Now!
Registration Deadline: Monday, October 6, 2025

Schedule at a Glance

8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Optional Nature Walk @ Root Glen

9:30 AM
Registration Opens – Coffee & Pastries

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Welcome & Keynote Panel

11:25 AM – 12:25 PM
Lightning Talks – Morning Block

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch

1:00 PM
Business Meeting & Library Awards

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Lightning Talks – Afternoon Block

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
EOD – Thank You & Raffle

3:00 PM
Optional Tour of Burke Library @ Hamilton College

Schedule Details

8:45 am – 9:30 am Optional Nature Walk @ Root Glen
Join CLRC for a nature walk at Hamilton College’s own Root Glen, a botanical garden spanning 7.5 acres in the heart of campus. Root Glen is named after the Root family who once lived on the land and contains 65 species of trees, dozens of shrubs, and scores of varieties of flowers. Wide, soft paths run through the scenic area, composed primarily of a beautiful crushed red stone. The walk will be short and non-strenuous.

9:30 am Registration Opens – Coffee & Pastries
Continental Breakfast Pastries and Fruit will be provided by CLRC. Coffee/Tea/Water will be provided by Hamilton College.

10:00 am – 11:15 am Welcome & Keynote Panel
The Central New York Library Resource Council welcomes you to our 2025 Annual Conference! We are pleased to once again offer an opportunity for our members across Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, and Onondaga counties to come together and share ideas, learn about one another’s work, and celebrate our many accomplishments. We are very grateful to our presenters and attendees for their willingness to participate in this annual event!
Libraries and cultural organizations are resilient. Our ability to adapt and respond to new challenges has enabled us to thrive for centuries. We presently face a daunting array of challenges from political headwinds, emerging technologies, and evolving expectations for our services. This keynote panel will celebrate our collective strength and offer a forward-looking perspective on the critical issues we face. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion exploring how we can bolster our resilience through sustainable funding models, fostering positive staff morale and well-being, and cultivating strong community partnerships. Together, we will examine proactive strategies for grappling with technological advancements, enhancing our disaster preparedness, and cultivating the institutional flexibility and adaptability necessary for a vibrant future.
PANELISTS
Allison Comes, Systems Librarian, OCM BOCES School Library System
Allison Comes leads the O²CM School Library System, supporting school library media specialists in 33 districts while fostering collaboration, resource sharing, and forward-thinking library innovation.

Lisa Moore, Executive Director, Onondaga Historical Association
Lisa Romano Moore was named Executive Director of the Onondaga Historical Association in September of 2022, after serving as the organization’s Director of Development for two years. Her career in non-profit management and advancement includes positions at the Onondaga Community College Foundation, the Say Yes To Education Initiative, Syracuse University’s academic departments and athletics, Central New York Community Foundation, and various academic institutions. She currently serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Community Library of Dewitt and Jamesville. She lives in Dewitt with her partner, Steven Bessette, and is the proud mother of Hannah and Jack, and a golden retriever, Denali.
Amanda Perrine, Executive Director, Onondaga County Public Libraries
Amanda Perrine is the Executive Director of the Onondaga County Public Libraries, focusing on the system and the Syracuse city libraries. A Syracuse University iSchool graduate, she also adjuncts teaching graduate students about library leadership and management. When not at work, Amanda can be found reading and exploring Central New York and beyond.

James Teliha, Dean of the Library & Learning Commons, Utica University
Jim Teliha has just finished his 10th year as the Dean of the Library & Learning Commons at Utica University. He has worked in libraries since 1978, and before coming to the Mohawk Valley, he worked in libraries as a librarian in Idaho, Rhode Island, and Oregon, and as a paraprofessional in Oklahoma and Colorado, where he grew up.

11:25 am – 12:25 pm Lightning Talks – Morning Block
11:25 am – 11:40 am Northside Photo League
Description: This past summer, a public library in Syracuse, NY distributed disposable cameras to groups of young people and encouraged them to capture images from their life. These young photographers formed the Northside Photo League, taking photography walks around the neighborhood and also bringing their cameras home with them. Their photographs offer a look at the life and spirit of their communities, which are often overlooked.
Presenters: Tamice Gates and Sean Molinaro, Children’s Librarians, White Branch Library; Renée Deemer, Librarian Assistant, Soule Branch Library Tamice has worked for OCPL since 2015 and has been a library page, clerk, librarian assistant, and librarian. Sean is a public librarian in Syracuse, NY with the White Branch Library, where he has worked with members of the community since 2013. Renée is a professional photojournalist and is the Librarian Assistant at Soule Branch Library, focusing on design work and digital literacy workshops.

11:40 am – 11:55 am Building AI Support Networks in Libraries: Lessons Learned from Launching an AI Committee
Description: This presentation shares how Syracuse University Libraries formed an artificial intelligence committee to support both internal library operations and the broader user community. Attendees will gain practical strategies for establishing partnerships and support networks to address AI-related needs in academic, school, and public library settings.
Presenters:
John Stawarz (He/Him), Online Learning Librarian, Syracuse University John serves as an online instructor in Syracuse University’s MSLIS program and is currently editing a book about library support for online degree programs that will be published by ACRL.
Juan Denzer (He/Him), Engineering and Computer Science Librarian, Syracuse University Juan holds degrees in Computer Science and Library Science and serves on the Syracuse University Libraries AI Committee, advising on AI in library services. He is the author of two books, with recent contributions including an ACRL 2025 panel on AI and ALA’s AI Literacy Essentials for Academic Libraries.
Kiley Jolicoeur (She/Her), Metadata Strategies Librarian, Syracuse University Kiley currently serves as the chair of the Libraries’ Artificial Intelligence Committee.

11:55 am – 12:10 pm Unlocking the Law Library: Free Resources for the Public
Description: The New York State Unified Court System manages public access law libraries in every county throughout the state. Attendees will learn about these libraries’ free legal resources and assistance, including the “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) form creation program.
Presenters: Michele Coolbeth, Senior Law Librarian, Onondaga Supreme Court Law Library and Kristin Neri, Law Librarian, Onondaga Supreme Court Law Library Michele and Kristin are both graduates of Syracuse University’s iSchool. Prior to becoming a law librarian, Michele was a school library media specialist. Kristin came to law librarianship with a background in public librarianship and community outreach.

12:10 pm – 12:25 pm Encouraging Digital Leadership in Undergraduate Internships in Archives & Special Collections
Description: To develop responsible digital citizens, students need to learn how to evaluate technologies available to them and make decisions accordingly. However, undergraduate students don’t often get the chance to make big decisions on real-world projects. This talk will detail two individual internship projects involving undergraduate students’ work on segments of a large scale digital project and will also provide strategies for fostering collaborations between librarians and undergraduate students through individualized learning experiences.
Presenter: Marissa Caico (She/Her), Digital Collections Librarian, SUNY Oswego Marissa works within the Archives & Special Collections unit to make unique resources accessible and discoverable to a wider audience. Marissa earned her MSLIS from Syracuse University. Her research interests include digital preservation, digital humanities, information literacy, digital pedagogy, and library anxiety. She lives in Syracuse, New York.

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
We will change rooms for the lunch portion of the conference.
Attendees will choose (1) sandwich option during conference registration. Accommodations can be made for dietary restrictions.

Turkey w/brie and cranberry mayo on baguette
Grilled chicken salad w/ apples on croissant
Roasted portabella w/ goat cheese and red pepper on focaccia

Lunch will also include:

House Made Potato Chips – GF
Autumn Apple & Quinoa Salad – GF and Dairy Free
Pumpkin Chip Chocolate Chip Cookies – GF
Iced Tea with Mint, Ice Water

Coffee Service will be refreshed during lunch.

1:00 pm Business Meeting & Library Awards
Nominations for Library Staff All-Star are open to any academic, public, school, or special library (this includes archives and museums) staff member in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, or Onondaga County. We truly mean any staff member – not just librarians. Library staff members may not win All-Star awards two years in a row.
Nominations for Library of the Year are open to any academic, public, school, or special library (this includes archives and museums) in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, or Onondaga County. However, a library may not win the award two years in a row. Nominations for Library of the Year must be self-submitted. Library staff can submit one nomination per library so please plan accordingly.
See the CLRC Library Awards page for further information.

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm Lightning Talks – Afternoon Block
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm New Educational Programming
Description: Over the last year, the Oneida Community Mansion House has reinvigorated and redesigned its education programs for student groups of all ages. This presentation will outline these new interactive programs that engage middle school, high school, and college groups both in person and virtually.
Presenter: Thomas A. Guiler (He/Him), Director of Museum Affairs, Oneida Community Mansion House A scholar of intentional and utopian communities, Tom received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University and taught for 5 years at the University of Delaware and Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. He researches and teaches 19th and 20th century American social and cultural history and has particular interests in social protest, material culture, decorative arts, and public humanities. He has published and presented on a wide variety of intentional communities including Byrdcliffe, Roycroft, and Rose Valley in addition to extensive work on the Oneida Community. His book, The Handcrafted Utopia: Arts and Crafts Communities in America’s Progressive Era, which examines utopian communities in the Arts and Crafts Movement is due out in the Fall of 2025 with the Richard W. Couper Press of Hamilton College.

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm 10 Fundable Accessibility Upgrades For Your Library
Description: Learn about fundable ideas that can transform your library into a more accessible and inclusive space. Each idea is designed to spark interest, attract support, and make meaningful change
Presenter: Jill Hurst-Wahl, Hurst Associates, Ltd In her own consulting practice, Jill works at the intersection of information, technology, and people, which includes creating inclusive systems and spaces. In addition, Jill is part of Widerstand Consulting, which helps organizations (including libraries) create a healthier environment for staff, partners, and clients.

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Smells Like Teen Spirit: Adolescent Hygiene in the Library
Description: It shouldn’t be our job to talk to teens about wearing deodorant, but sometimes it is! Here’s how to do that in the least humiliating way possible for all parties involved while retaining the best chance at positive library vibes.
Presenter: Stephanie Markham (She/Her), Teen Services Librarian, Jervis Public Library Stephanie’s experience as a former zoo educator, professional arguer, retail zombie, and self-identified angsty teen led her to an MLIS from Syracuse University. Since beginning her library career in 2011, Stephanie has had more awkward conversations with teens than she cares to revisit, yet remains passionate about serving this difficult and brilliant demographic.

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Behind the Scenes of a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
Description: Syracuse University Libraries hosted a student workshop that explored Wikipedia, its history, and its modern challenges. After a conversation and Q&A with a Wikipedia expert, librarians worked with students to make their own updates to Wikipedia, focusing especially on making improvements to pages for folks from the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities. This lightning talk will explore how staff prepared for this event, how it went, and some takeaways from running it.
Presenter: Rebecca Johnston (She/Her), Social Sciences and Humanities Librarian, Syracuse University Libraries Rebecca Giver Johnston recently started at Syracuse University Libraries after previously working at Wells College in Aurora, NY. She received her MLIS and MA in History from Simmons University in Boston, MA and her BA from The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm EOD – Thank You & Raffle
The raffle will include a gift basket of local goodies. You must be present to win.

3:00 pm Optional Tour of Burke Library @ Hamilton College
Join CLRC for a short tour of Burke Library, home to Hamilton College’s Library & IT Services. Burke Library houses Circulation, Special Collections, Research & Instructional Design, Jazz Archives, Research Support, the IT Help Desk, College Archives, and more.

Register Now!
Registration is FREE and open to all members of CLRC and the Empire State Library Network.
If you have any questions regarding the Annual Conference, please email Sophie Friedman at sfriedman@clrc.org.
All attendees are expected to follow CLRC’s Code of Conduct.

LILRC Webinar - Managing Conflict in a Culturally Diverse Workplace
2025-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
In our diverse and multi-cultural workplace, it is essential that we have the necessary skill sets to responsibly manage, lead, and work collaboratively with others. This workshop will provide participants with the tools to be both a transformational leader and a team player with a focus on diversity, inclusiveness, sensitivity and the role of being culturally aware.
Presented by: Joshua Bienstock, JD., LLM, Associate Professor of Business Law, New York Institute of Technology, School of Management

LILRC Webinar - Food as Storytelling: Michael W. Twitty and Raj Tawney
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Via Zoom, NY, United States
Food and cooking hold powerful roles in the transmission of stories, as cultural memory, as family history, and more. Join LILRC as we welcome culinary historian Michael W. Twitty and food memoirist Raj Tawney for a conversation about the many ways that food is narrative.
Michael W. Twitty is a culinary historian and food writer from the Washington D.C. area. He blogs at Afroculinaria.com. He’s appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern, Many Rivers to Cross with Henry Louis Gates, and most recently Taste the Nation with Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi.
HarperCollins released Twitty’s acclaimed book, The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, in 2017, which traces his ancestry through food from Africa to America and from slavery to freedom. The Cooking Gene was a finalist for The Kirkus Prize and The Art of Eating Prize and a 3rd place winner of Barnes & Noble’s Discover New Writers Awards in Nonfiction. The Cooking Gene also won the 2018 James Beard Award for best writing as well as book of the year, making him the first Black author so awarded. A follow up book, Kosher Soul :The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew (HarperCollins, 2022) was the 2023 National Jewish Book Council Award Winner for Book of the Year.
Raj Tawney is a writer and journalist whose work largely reflects his multiracial American upbringing. Born to an Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian American family, Tawney has explored his identity and family history through personal essays published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and other outlets throughout the country. His debut memoir Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience (Empire State Editions/Fordham University Press) earned critical acclaim and won a 2024 Best Indie Book Award and Living Now Book Award. His Middle Grade novel All Mixed Up (Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor) was released on November 26, 2024 to much praise.
