SAVE THE DATE: The CDLC Annual Meeting and Luncheon is Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Express in Latham.
From the Director.....
Dear CDLC Members and Supporters,

Happy 2019! We look forward to a great year ahead working with our Board, committees and members to ensure we continue to provide valuable services.  To support this, we're reviewing our recent Member Survey responses: you indicated that you value networking and opportunities to connect with others regionally, whether via Interest Groups, our Member Showcase or other programs and events. Other valuable mentions (some, but not all) included the weekly TechTalk email, our Jobs Posting page, the services we provide to hospital libraries, New York Heritage Digital Collections, and our responsive and helpful staff.  Survey responses will help determine how to best serve you. Many thanks to all that completed the survey!
Our year is off to a great start as we welcome our newest team member!  Meghan Wakeman, our Resource Sharing Librarian, will be working with members and our Committee on Resource Sharing to address and administer your resource sharing needs. Meghan was most recently a librarian at Albany Public Library where she provided reference services and served as Interlibrary Loan Supervisor. We're happy she is here! 
REMINDER!
Our Regional Automation Advisory Committee is sponsoring two free webinars to watch from your library (or elsewhere). Elyssa Kroski, Director of IT at the New York Law Institute, presents 15 Free Tech Tools for Libraries on Thursday January 17 and Makerspaces in Libraries on February 5. Both webinars are from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Thanks to all that came out to give Kathy Corbett, our Office Services and Bibliographic Assistant, a proper send-off. Kathy retired after 35 years of dedicated service to CDLC-she will be missed! It was wonderful to see members and Kathy's former colleagues at her retirement reception. She loved seeing everyone and was glowing in her retirement tiara!
Local Connections
Interest group meetings have been scheduled for 2019 (with more being planned!) Join your local colleagues for some good conversation! 

Connect to CDLC too! We are available via email or you can call us. We recently automated our phone system to get you directly to who you are calling.  A list of staff members with their phone extensions is here.
JUST FOR FUN: If one of your goals is to run a 5K, consider joining the Librarians in Cardigans team organized by my former colleague Donna Dixon. Sasha's Run  takes place Sunday April 28 in Mechanicville-a flat course for a good cause that you can walk or run, with plenty of time to train. All are welcome: cardigans and superhero costumes optional! 
FYI: Empire Library Delivery members (or potential members!): the Empire State Library Network (ESLN) is entering an RFP process for the next Empire Library Delivery contract, which expires in July 2020. View updates here. 
Shared Collections
The Collection Development Committee is highlighting regional collections: join us March 29 at 2:00 p.m. at  Voorheesville Public Library for a tour of their local history collections.

We're accepting applications for 2019 Regional Collections Grants through January 31. All CDLC member institutions, including individual public and school libraries, are eligible. If your library has items to catalog, images to digitize and add to New York Heritage, or newspapers to contribute to the NYS Historic Newspapers, apply!

Save the date: The Regional Automation Advisory Committee is hosting a program Wednesday, April 10 at 9:30 to discuss oral histories. This initial meeting is intended as an opportunity to share ideas on how to conduct a successful oral history or what tools are needed if you are considering one. What questions do you want answered? Let us know: an agenda is in the works with more information soon!

I was so excited to receive my Upper Hudson Library System's  "VIP 36er" library card after completing their Library Expedition! Kari, Susan, Maria (ESLN) and I all earned our cards by visiting all of the public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties over the past several months, as did CDLC Board Member Gary Schwartz, who shared his experience in an opinion piece published in the Times Union. Thanks UHLS-it was fun! 
In case you missed it: IMLS announced a new discretionary grant program, Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries. The goal is to support projects that strengthen the ability of small and rural libraries and archives to serve their communities. The deadline to submit an application is February 25. 
CDLC relies almost entirely on state funding to support member programs and services. Advocacy Season is here! Consider joining us on NYLA's Advocacy Day Wednesday February 27 and get ready for it by attending a program at CDLC on February 19 at 10:30 a.m.
ALSO JUST FOR FUN: 
If you have a vehicle you are looking to re-purpose, be inspired by Italy's smallest library!
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. 

Kind Regards,