|
Cheery Friday Greetings!
Bibliographic & Referral Center (BARC) Update and Reboot! Much of yesterday’s Board meeting covered routine matters, e.g., approving bill sheets, reviewing reports, and discussing the leadership retreat (more on that in a moment). One key decision, however, was the approval for SCRLC to pilot BARC in-house for the next 12 months.
To prepare for this transition including staff training, user support, plus the development of new procedures and guidelines, we are pausing BARC for a few months. We hope to be up and running by mid-October.
We are also reevaluating how we handle fiction requests and may be able to accommodate a limited volume. BARC training sessions will be offered in the fall once the service is more established. Stay tuned for updates!
A reminder that Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) will continue to operate BARC through mid-August. Because there is a period of winding down, i.e., returning materials, tracking down outstanding requests, etc., the last day to place a new request through BARC is Thursday, July 31. If you have ordered an item through BARC/TC3, you will need to finish the process through TC3, e.g., return materials to them.
Regional Conversations. There are still opportunities to register for one of the regional conversations, all of which are being held via Zoom. While these conversations will help with the development of the 2026-2031 Plan of Service, they’re equally valuable as a networking opportunity for participants. What insights or experiences would you like to share with your colleagues? What are you hoping to learn from them? They’re a chance to talk about your successes, challenges, and plans in a supportive, collaborative space.
Click here to register for a session!
Membership Dues & Fees Task Group. This group will begin meeting via Zoom in August, and we’re still looking for a few more volunteers—both full and affiliate members are welcome to join. This is a short-term commitment, with just a couple of meetings planned, and the work wrapping up by mid-September. If you're interested in participating, please reach out to me—we’d love to have you on board!
Leadership Retreat, September 26 at Taughannock State Park. If you serve on a SCRLC advisory committee, the Plan of Service Design Team, task group, etc., you are invited to join the Board for a restorative day in Nature. This unplugged retreat will focus on well-being, mindfulness, recharging, finding joy, inspiration, and a modicum of peace. Hiking and Tai Chi are available for those so inclined. The aim is for everyone to leave feeling refreshed, energized, and hopeful.
One of the nice perks of serving on an SCRLC committee is that in addition to providing meaningful contributions and gaining experience for your resume/CV, sometimes events like this are offered!
Interested in joining a committee? Contact me to learn more.
New York Library Association Awards. This year, I have the honor of chairing the NYLA Awards & Recognition Committee. Great news--the deadline for nominations has been extended to Monday, August 18. Most of the awards do not require the nominee or the nominator to be a NYLA member. Awards can really make someone’s day and it is great publicity for the library, too! Here is a link to information about each award and the form.
Also, be on the lookout for an announcement about the SCRLC Awards!
Also from NYLA--there is still time to register for their upcoming Library Skills Academy. You can find more information and the registration link here. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, August 5. It promises to be a fantastic program.
Enjoy the weekend!
Yours in partnership,
Mary-Carol
Mary-Carol Lindbloom
Executive Director
| 
