What’s NYLA Library Advocacy Day InsideFeb 15, 2013 · 1 Trustee FYI Spring Serving Public...
Transcript of What’s NYLA Library Advocacy Day InsideFeb 15, 2013 · 1 Trustee FYI Spring Serving Public...
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Trustee FYI
Spring Serving Public Libraries in Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and southern Ulster Counties since 1959 2013
Ramapo Catskill Library System
NYLA Library Advocacy Day
Library Trustees, volunteers, Friends, Champions, and staff are asked to attend
New York Library Association (NYLA) Library Advocacy Day on Tuesday,
March 5 in Albany, NY. This advocacy event is planned and coordinated each year
by NYLA and supported by library systems and libraries statewide.
We ask for your help in reaching out to our legislators for the restoration of State
Aid to library systems. We need to make the case for the value of library systems in
helping member libraries meet local needs while reducing local expenditures through
collaborative, consolidated and cooperative services. Library systems in New York
State have received flat-line funding for over two decades. They have experienced
cuts in State Aid in each of the last five years. In 2012 the cut was about 20%.
By restoring Library Aid to $102 million, the Legislature will help libraries main-
tain New York State’s critical information infrastructure.
RCLS staff prepares information packets, which provide attendees with back-
ground materials and talking points to help them make the case for libraries when
meeting with their legislators. Scheduled appointments are made with each of the
State legislators that repre-
sent the RCLS area.
In addition, RCLS along
with the Mid-Hudson Li-
brary System provides bus
transportation to Albany
leaving from five area loca-
tions – West Nyack, New-
burgh, New Paltz, Kingston
and Catskill. See the en-
closed flyer for details. To
register for the bus, use the
RCLS online calendar
(http://calendar.rcls.org/) and
click on the event. Mail your
check, $12 per person, paya-
ble to “RCLS” to Ruth
Daubenspeck at RCLS. The
registration deadline for the
bus is Monday, February 25.
Visit the RCLS Web site
for more information at
http://bit.ly/VReRhn.
What’s
Inside
2 Mark Your
Calendar
2 Public Library
Trustee to Take
an Oath of
Office
2 System
Orientation
3 Meet Roslyn
Applebaum
Huriwitz
4 Library Trustee
Advocacy
5 RCLS Board
News
6 Focus on
Trustees –
Using the
Political
Postcard
Format for
Rural Library
Marketing
7 2013 LTA
Trustee
Institute
7 New York
Library
Trustees
Online
Pictured left to right, Daniel B. Hulse (RCLS Development Officer), Martha Anderson (RCLS Trustee), Kathy Rose (Pearl River Public Library Director), Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Christina Ryan-Linder (Pearl River Public Library Youth Services Librarian) and Samuel L. Simon, (former RCLS Trustee) NYLA Library Advocacy Day 2012
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Trustee FYI
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, February 18 Presidents Day– RCLS CLOSED
Tuesday, February 19 RCLS Board Meeting, RCLS 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
NYLA Library Advocacy Day
Sunday, March 10—Saturday, 16 Teen Tech Week
Saturday, March 16
Freedom of Information Day
Monday, March 18 RCLS Board Meeting, RCLS 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Orange/Ulster BOCES Spring Recess Day—RCLS CLOSED
Sunday, April 7
Library Snapshot Day
Wednesday, April 10 RCLS Orientation RCLS 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 14—Saturday, 20
National Library Week
Monday, April 15 RCLS Board Meeting, RCLS 7:00 p.m.
Public Library Trustee to Take an
Oath of Office
Many library trustee terms began on January 1. This is an
important reminder that New York State Public Officer's Law
§10 requires all public library trustees (but not association li-
brary trustees) to take an oath of office within 30 days of begin-
ning their term of office. Public library trustees are public offic-
ers and the oath of office is required to officially undertake and
perform the duties of a public library trustee.
If a public library trustee does not properly complete and
file an oath of office, the trustee’s position may be deemed va-
cant. See Public Officer's Law §30(1)(h).
For more information about how and why the oath of office
is administered, and where to properly file an oath of office,
please see the Oaths of Office FAQ on the New York State Li-
brary Web site.
Not sure whether your library is legally a public library or
an association library? Library type information is listed for
every public and association library in New York State on the
“Find Your Public Library” Web page.
Questions about the legal requirement for oaths of office or
about library types should be directed to Brenda Adams (e-mail
or ext. 223) or Robert Hubsher (e-mail or ext. 242 at RCLS).
System Orientation
RCLS System Orientation will be conducted on Wednes-
day, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The System Orientation
introduces member library staff, trustees, Friends and others to
the RCLS staff and familiarizes them with available services.
Register today by using the RCLS online calendar at http://
calendar.rcls.org/ and clicking on the event.
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013
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Trustee FYI
Meet Roslyn Applebaum Hurwitz
Daniel B. Hulse, RCLS Development Officer
New City resident Roslyn Applebaum Hurwitz is a new RCLS Trustee. She
was elected at the Annual Meeting on September 14 to fill the Rockland County
seat vacated by Samuel L. Simon.
A self-avowed library lover, the New City Library has been her home library
for over 40 years and she visits there at least twice a week. In praising this local
institution, Roslyn explains that she likes the ease at which she can find and re-
quest a book, and simply loves the professionalism of the staff. Whenever her
grandchildren are in town, they want to visit the New City Library with her. One
of her favorite offerings of the library is the Ten Favorite Authors list.
Roslyn is recently widowed after being married for over 50 years. She enjoyed
domestic and international travel with her husband during their time together. She
is the mother of three grown children and grandmother of four. Roslyn and her
husband moved to Rockland County with their two oldest children 41 years ago.
Her youngest child was born in Rockland. All her children attended Clarkstown
Schools and graduated from South High School. One daughter lives in Israel,
whom Roslyn visits yearly; another daughter in Chicago and a son in Westchester
County. Roslyn shared that learning to Skype has enabled more frequent visits
with her children and grandchildren.
Cooking large dinners for 12 or more has been a passionate hobby for Roslyn
over the years. At various times the number of guests has been as many as 30 peo-
ple.
Roslyn received her BA from Hunter College in Physiology and Public Health,
an Advanced Degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia Uni-
versity and a Master of Science Degree from Long Island Uni-
versity in Community Health. She holds licenses to practice both
Physical Therapy and Nursing Home Administration in the State
of New York.
During her career Roslyn has held numerous positions in
both Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. She worked in two
major New York City Hospitals – Bellevue and Montefiore, as a
private contractor for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
and for the Daughters of Jacob Geriatric Center and Kings Har-
bor Healthcare Center. For over 16 years she has been the Ad-
ministrator of Northern Manor in Nanuet.
Retiring about five years ago, Roslyn still does some private
contract physical therapy coverage at the Tolstoy Nursing Home
when needed.
Roslyn is a Life Member of Hadassah and a member and on
the Board of the Nanuet Jewish Center and treasurer of The Sis-
terhood.
Understanding the commitment required to serve on the
RCLS Board of Trustees, Roslyn is eagerly looking forward to
working with the other members in her appointed committee
roles and with the Board as a whole.
RCLS Trustee Roslyn Applebaum Hurwitz
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Trustee FYI
Library Trustee Advocacy
Who is in a better position to speak out about libraries
and library systems than library Trustees? Trustees are
volunteers who are seen as trying to make their commu-
nities better. While Directors and their staff are knowl-
edgeable, they are considered as having a vested inter-
est. Trustees, as volunteers and community leaders,
have a unique view of the library as a public service.
They are in a position to communicate to elected
officials the importance of the library in their com-
munity. By volunteering, Trustees are demonstrating
their strong belief in the value of the library, an institution
dedicated to the pursuit of uncensored intellectual freedom and a
source of information and lifelong learning.
Tips for talking to elected officials:
Be prepared before your visit. For information on the issues and support mate-
rials, visit the RCLS Web site at http://bit.ly/VReRhn and the New York
Library Association Web site at http://bit.ly/VRezXD.
Thank the legislator for being a library supporter. Most legislators are part of
the silent majority that support libraries and systems, but need to be encour-
aged to take a more active and visible role such as speaking up while in meet-
ings with their colleagues and writing letters to their legislative leadership.
When meeting with your legislators, remember, you are meeting with them to
educate them on the issues, not berate or lecture them. Express your frustra-
tion and disappointment at the lack of proper state funding and
what that means for your local public library and system (a service
fee to the library).
Keep your message on track. Don’t spend too much of your
limited meeting time on pleasantries. Politely bring the conversa-
tion back to the message of wanting the legislator to take action in
supporting additional funding for libraries and systems.
As you wrap up the conversation, make sure you repeat one last
time what action you hope your legislator will take. Thank them for
meeting with you and for their past support for libraries and sys-
tems. Make sure you leave them any written material you brought that backs
up your point of view.
Thank you to the New York Library Association Web site for information in prepar-
ing this article!
Snowflakes are one of nature’s
most fragile things, but look
what they can do when they
stick together.
-Verna M. Kelly
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Trustee FYI
RCLS Board News
At its Tuesday, January 22 meeting the RCLS Board held its reorganization
meeting. The new officers for 2013 are:
Ira Simon – President
Patricia Soto – Vice President
Mark Specthrie – Secretary
Carl S. Berkowitz – Treasurer
Ira Simon has served as a trustee on the RCLS Board since 2003. He served
as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public
Library (Monticello) from 1989 to 1998. In 1998 he was honored with the RCLS
Award for Meritorious Service by a Library Trustee. Ira also served as President
of the Sullivan County Public Library Association from its inception in 1998
through 2002.
Ira resides in Monticello, NY with his wife Karen. The Simons have two sons.
Ira is employed at the Yeshiva Zichron Moshe in Fallsburg, NY where he is the
Principal of the Secular Studies program. He is also the co-director of Winston
Day Camp, Sackett Lake, NY.
Martha Anderson was appointed as the RCLS Representative on the Library
Trustees Association of New York State (LTA) Board. Martha holds a Bachelor
of Arts degree from Brown University and a Master of Arts degree in Education
Computing from Iona College. She is a retired middle school educator. Martha is
active on several boards and in her church. She enjoys singing in the choir, friend-
ly bridge games, book group discussions and her Kindle. Martha resides in Air-
mont, NY. She has three children and five grandchildren.
The Library Trustees Association of New York State (LTA) is a statewide
organization that represents, assists, educates and honors public library boards
and their trustees as providers of free and universal library service.
The core activities of LTA include:
Advocating support of libraries and their programs;
Communicating with library trustees to inform them of issues affecting librar-
ies and library service;
Educating trustees about their role in the library, and;
Recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of library trustees.
By joining LTA, each trustee of the library receives a year's subscription to
Trustee, the LTA newsletter, along with occasional updates, legislative alerts or
notices of LTA events. Most important, trustees become an active partner in the
ongoing effort to strengthen and improve library service throughout the state.
For more information on LTA, visit their Web site at http://
www.librarytrustees.org/index.php.
The Library Trustee Association sponsored an information booth and two
workshop sessions at the NYLA Conference last November. As part of the LTA
booth display, it held a drawing for a Nook Color e-reader. The Nook Color win-
ner is Patricia Soto, RCLS Vice President and Trustee of the Haverstraw King’s
Daughters Public Library.
RCLS Board President Ira Simon
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Trustee FYI
Using the Political Postcard Format for Rural Library Marketing
David Miller, Former Board President State Library of Ohio
While none of us enjoy being flooded with those oversized political campaign
postcards in the heat of the elections, few can doubt that they are effective advertising
tools. They are perfect for focusing on a single aspect of a campaign issue or candi-
date. Their photo reproduction is excellent, and they also offer the opportunity to sat-
urate a mailing area by reaching every household. I think they would be an ideal way
for libraries to reach all patrons and, maybe more importantly, non-patrons in their
geographic areas to educate the public about what the libraries have to offer.
Consider:
Businesses, service organizations,
social groups and even churches
could be approached about sponsor-
ing the mailings. Hopefully enough
sponsors could be found that the li-
braries could do the mailings on a
monthly basis.
Each month should focus on a very
specific area of the library’s services or
collection. One mailing could talk about
books on CDs, while another could
highlight the wide range of periodicals
that the library receives.
The summer reading program, an annual
Community Reads program and adult
reading groups could each be in the monthly spotlight.
Try to get attractive artwork or photos to dominate the one side of the postcard and
then offer a minimum of words. You want to grab people’s attention about
some facet of the library they might be completely unaware about.
If you are proud of your Internet-access computers, that would be perfect to fea-
ture one month.
Contact a local print shop to get an estimate of the cost involved so you can
start approaching potential sponsors. Start by asking businesses or groups that have
never helped sponsor library events before. It's a great opportunity to expand your
list of supporters. This should be a no-cost way to reach many people who have not
set foot in your library for years. — DCM
David Miller has been named to the National Advocacy Honor Roll of the
American Library Association and the Association for Library Trustees and Ad-
vocates. He is past president of the State Library of Ohio Board, the Ohio Li-
brary Trustees Association and the Wood County District Public Library Board.
Miller is editor of the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Comments on columns or suggestions for future columns may be sent to him at:
[email protected], or by calling 419.352-4611.
Focu
s on T
rust
ees
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Trustee FYI
2013 LTA Trustee Institute
The 17th Annual Library Trustee Association (LTA) Trustee Institute for trus-
tees, directors and staff provides workshop sessions to inform, educate and chal-
lenge participants. Sessions for all levels of experience will be offered to gain valu-
able information on roles and responsibilities.
The 2013 Trustee Institute will be held on May 3 and 4 at the Millennium Ho-
tel, Buffalo, NY.
The hosts for this year’s Institute will be the three systems from Western New
York: Buffalo/Erie System, NIOGA System, and the Cattaraugus/Chautauqua Li-
brary System.
Included in the Institute will be the presentation of LTA state-wide awards for
the Velma K. Moore Award and the Distinguished Service Award. See the call for
nominations, criteria and deadlines on the LTA Web site at http://bit.ly/X5G8aN.
A keynote speaker and special guests will bring insight and challenges to the
library community. They will bring to our attention the roles and responsibilities
faced by today’s library leaders.
New York Library Trustees Online
NYLTO
The new LSTA grant funded Web site NYLTO (New York Library Trustees
Online) was created to foster communication and sharing of information among
public library trustees and directors. Now in its fifth month, the Web site
is being used by over 600 trustees and staff from eight library systems in
New York State. The site offers several types of valuable resources for
registered users.
Here is what Lynn Skolnick, Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library
and RCLS Trustee, had to say about NYLTO, “My home library, Ethel-
bert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello, is going through a great
deal of change with a new director search, a huge building project and developing
a strategic plan. I can now see the Trustees have been a complacent Board. NYL-
TO offers a number of services, especially in the area of trustee training, that we
need to take advantage of and do a better job.”
If you would like to register for this resource, contact Grace Riario at
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Trustee FYI
RCLS Board of Trustees
Martha Anderson
Carl S. Berkowitz
Norman R. Gallagher
Roslyn Applebaum Hurwitz
Ira Simon
Lynn Skolnick
Alfred Smiley
Patricia Soto
Mark Specthrie
Karen L. Weitzner
David Zuckerberg
Marilyn J. McIntosh (non-voting representative of
the RCLS Directors’ Association)
Executive Director
Robert Hubsher
Ramapo Catskill Library System
619 Route 17M
Middletown, NY 10940-4395
845.243.3747 · FAX 845.243.3739
www.rcls.org
Desktop Publishing Printing by Ramapo Catskill Library System
RCLS Mission
We deliver high-quality consolidated and cooperative services to support member libraries in meeting the
needs of their communities.
RCLS Goals
1. Coordinated Services – Offer a clearly defined set of cost effective coordinated or centralized and
consulting services designed to enhance local library service and maximize the return from local funds
expended.
2. Technology – Enhance and maintain existing automation services and assist member libraries in
implementing emerging technologies to improve library service and cooperation.
3. Resource Sharing – Coordinate Central Library and System services to provide a broad range of
services, library materials and online resources to support equity of access.
4. Professional Development and Continuing Education – Provide opportunities to member libraries'
staff, directors and trustees for the training and skills development needed to support excellent library
service.
5. Advocacy – Encourage and support member libraries in their efforts to increase community awareness
about public library programs, services and governance.
6. Communication – Maintain and promote effective means of communications with and among member
libraries to ensure accountability and cooperation.
7. Organizational Environment – Maintain an organizational environment that allows RCLS to be
responsive and accountable to member libraries.