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Cheery Friday Greetings for a Thursday!
There are several pieces of information to pass along on this beautiful June day, a few days ahead of the summer solstice!
First of all, a very happy Juneteenth Eve and Juneteenth to all! I have to admit that 10-11 years ago, I did not know about Juneteenth, though it has been honored and celebrated in Black communities for 150 years. I was attending a Diversity Consortium of Tompkins County meeting where participants were discussing not scheduling meetings on that day. Realizing that I had much to learn, I went home and did a great deal of reading and listening.
Today, Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday. Much like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, even those who do not participate in related events are at least aware that the day is observed because civil rights, human rights, and inclusive histories matter. As library and cultural education workers, we play an important role in sharing, making accessible, and preserving the stories that help people better understand our collective past. Sometimes that work takes the form of collections/resources, exhibits, or programs/events.
Whether you attend one of the many events Christine has highlighted in the DEIJA LibGuide, spend time reading about Juneteenth (our LibGuide is a good start!), enjoy the day with family and friends, or simply weed your garden, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on both our history and our responsibility to one another. While we cannot change the past, we can help shape the future—through learning, understanding, and the small actions that collectively can make an important difference.
Membership Survey
Although we continue to await access to the State Library platform needed to submit our 2026–2031 Plan of Service and annual report, our planning work continues. We are adding the finishing touches to what will become an annual membership survey. Similar to last year’s Plan of Service survey but shorter in length, it will help us better understand member needs, identify emerging trends, and inform priorities. We expect to release it toward the end of next week, so please keep an eye out for it—and share it widely with your colleagues. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Electronic Resources for 2026–2027
We are pleased to share that the following electronic resources will continue to be available through SCRLC: OCLC FirstSearch/WorldCat Discovery, EBSCO's Literary Reference Source, Niche Academy, and LibGuides.
Libraries with extensive LibGuides content may find it beneficial to maintain their own subscription, but members with a small number of guides—or those wishing to explore the platform—are welcome to use SCRLC's subscription. The same is true for Niche Academy: all SCRLC members are welcome to use.
We are also pleased to announce that EBSCO is providing access to Exploring Race in Society at no additional cost as part of the regional subscription. The resource should appear automatically among your available EBSCO databases, beginning July 1st.
Please also note that Literary Reference Source includes access to the LRS eBook collection. If you have questions about any of these resources, please contact Claire.
The Empire State Library Network (ESLN) will also continue the Candid subscription.
Visit our Electronic Resources page for more information.
Yours in partnership,
Mary-Carol
Mary-Carol Lindbloom
Executive Director
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