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Cheery Friday Greetings,
I hope that your September is off to a great start!
While SCRLC’s fiscal year runs from July to June, September always feels like the beginning of the year, likely due to the seasonal rhythm of students heading back to school and campus life picking up again. Even if we're not working in an academic environment or taking a course, the many years we spent in classrooms leave a lasting impression. September brings that familiar sense of renewal and possibility.
September also brings Library Card Sign Up Month! This year’s theme is “One Card, Endless Possibilities.” We would love to know if your library has planned any special programs, outreach activities, or partnerships in celebration. If yes, please share the details—and by all means send photos for the News!
Speaking of library cards, SCRLC also offers one—the SCORA Card—short for South Central Onsite Reciprocal Access. SCORA is designed for serious library users (and we do define this!) who wish to borrow circulating materials in person from participating libraries.
This program does not replace any existing reciprocal onsite agreement(s) that you may have. Rather, it expands opportunities by providing onsite access and borrowing privileges at more libraries. Participation is arranged directly between individual libraries.
I hope that your library will consider joining this initiative. Similar reciprocal access programs have been running successfully and seamlessly for many years in other Empire State Library Network councils. We believe that SCORA can offer the same value to our region.
Please reach out to Christine Brown with any questions about the documentation, signup form, etc.
Save the Date! Friday, October 24th! Registration will be opening soon for SCRLC’s 59th Annual Meeting, which will be held at the historic Park Church in Elmira with a tour of the site and the Chemung County Historical Society to follow. Our keynote speaker is Talima Aaron from the John W. Jones Museum, who will share insights into the life of this remarkable abolitionist and the inspiring journey of establishing the Museum.
Also--consider nominating a colleague for an SCRLC Award (see the next section!).
Regional Conversations. There are several opportunities to join a Region Conversation in the upcoming week! They are held over Zoom and run up to 1.5 hours. While these conversations will help us develop the 2026-2031 Plan of Service, they are equally valuable as networking opportunities. What insights or experiences would you like to share with your colleagues? What are you hoping to learn from them? Discuss your successes, challenges, and plans in a supportive, collaborative space. Here are the remaining sessions:
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Tuesday, September 9, 1:30pm, Library Assistants REGISTER HERE
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Wednesday, September 10, 11:00am, Directors (any type of SCRLC member organization) REGISTER HERE
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Wednesday, September 10, 1:30pm, Library Systems REGISTER HERE
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Friday, September 12, 11:00am, General REGISTER HERE
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Friday, October 10, 11:00am, Academic Libraries REGISTER HERE
Advocacy.
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State Level: The Freedom to Read Act remains unsigned, and the Open Shelves Act still needs to be passed by the Assembly. As I mentioned last time, this is an important issue to keep in mind if you are speaking with your Assemblymember.
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Federal Level: According to the American Library Association, the House of Representatives Subcommittee voted to fund the Institute of Museum and Library Services in next year’s budget. This is great news, but advocacy remains critical. Visit this link for actions to take to support library funding. It is a good opportunity to thank our Representatives and Senators for supporting libraries. Tell Congress to #FundLibraries.
Have a nice weekend!
Yours in partnership,
Mary-Carol
Mary-Carol Lindbloom
Executive Director
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SCRLC Annual Awards are open for nominations! Consider nominating a colleague for one of our six awards by October 3rd. The awards will be presented at our 59th Annual Meeting of the Membership on October 24th.
The George F. Johnson Memorial Library in Endicott has joined the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.
Students are returning to school libraries this week. We wish everyone a rewarding school year!
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SPOTLIGHT ON
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility
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SCRLC retains an attorney to offer its members timely input on human resources, intellectual property, digital rights management, vendor contracts, First Amendment, civil rights, employment law, and other legal issues that can impact library operations.
There are some new RAQ's on the website:
A Librarian's Guide to Negotiating E-Resource Contracts in New York State: a New Ask-the-Lawyer Resource
Our colleagues in western New York organized a group of academic and hospital librarians to develop resources for pricing transparency and library-aligned values in e-resource contracts. As a result, the Ask The Lawyer team put together A Librarian’s Guide to Negotiating E-Resource Contracts in New York State.
WNYLRC is requesting your feedback on this resource, so we can continue to improve it with your input!
View the related RAQ: "Pushing Back On Problematic Terms in Subscription Contracts" above.
Do you have a question? Ask the Lawyer.
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Ithaca College Library
August 25
| | Claire Lovell, Mary-Carol Lindbloom, Karin Wikoff, Diane Capalongo, Gabriela Castro Gessner | | |
SCRLC Staff attended Karin Wikoff's retirement party at Ithaca College Library.
Karin was the Electronic Resources Librarian followed by the Electronic and Technical Services Librarian combined for over 21 years. Karin led the Electronic and Technical Services Department through major innovations, served as Interim College Librarian, published influential works, and represented IC in regional and national library initiatives. She championed DEIJA in all aspects of her work and built lasting partnerships across the library community. Karin served on a couple of SCRLC's Plan of Service Design Teams, was part of a Membership Dues & Fees Task Group, and was a SCRLC intern back in the day! She will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees at SCRLC.
Jim Bondra also celebrated his retirement after serving as Ithaca College's Business Librarian for nearly 35 years.
| | Events produced by the eight other library councils in the Empire State Library Network are open for SCRLC members to attend. | | |
NYS Coordinated Collection Development Aid (CCDA) Webinar (ESLN)
September 9, 10am
Prepared to Help: Library of Things and Emergency Response (NYS Library)
September 9, 2pm
Game On: Using Archeogaming to Engage Patrons with History and Culture (LILRC)
September 10, 11am
NYS Conservation and Preservation Grant Writing Workshop (ESLN)
September 10, 1pm
The Ultimate AI Policy for Your (Public, Academic, Museum, etc.) Library (ESLN)
September 11, 10am
Trauma-Informed Communication from a Relational Lens (CLRC)
September 16, 2pm
A Guide to Court Help on NYcourts.gov (LILRC)
September 17, 11am
Path-to-Belonging Informational Webinar (FLLS)
September 17, 2pm
Beyond Access: Inclusive Programming in Libraries (NYS Library)
September 19, 11am
Collection Development Today, Part 1: Community-Centered Practices (METRO)
September 19, 11am
Strengthening Internship Pathways: Best Practices for Libraries, Archives, and Information Agencies (CDLC)
September 23, 10am
Anticipating and Resolving Workplace Complaints (LILRC)
September 26, 1pm
Using Data for Building and Presenting Academic Library Value (ESLN)
September 30, 2pm
Collection Development Today, Part 2: Intellectual Freedom (METRO)
October 3, 11am
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Library Juice Academy - SCRLC Member Discount
Members can get a 20% discount off the cost of any course at Library Juice Academy!
Email jphilippe@scrlc.org for the discount code.
Explore their current offerings at libraryjuiceacademy.com.
| | New Traveling Exhibit: Urban Renewal in New York State | | | | |
This exhibit is an excellent opportunity to share the history and mixed legacy of New York's Urban Renewal program with your patrons. Urban Renewal in New York State, like all our traveling exhibits, is free to reserve and can be hosted by a member organization for one month. The exhibit consists of four retractable banners, each measuring 33 inches wide by 7 feet tall.
Reserve the exhibit.
See the full online exhibit here.
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