Help Shape Public Library Trustee Education in New York State! Survey open NOW!

A big part of what makes New York’s libraries strong are the citizen boards that govern them. Neighbors helping neighbors. However, with increasing regulations, the tax cap and rapid changes in our society related to technology, economics, education and the environment – public library trustees have never had more to contend with.

Thanks to the ILEAD USA program through the New York State Library, a team has been formed to spearhead the effort to develop a standardized trustee education framework to facilitate knowledge creation among public library trustees in New York.

Public library trustees and directors are invited to participate in a survey that will inform the HATS team’s activities as they work with their partners to strengthen trustee education in New York State.

The goal of this survey is to gain a general understanding of trustees’ confidence level in board related topics, preferences in receiving information, and limitations in the area of trustee education.

Input will help shape the next step in this project; please answer as honestly as possible. All responses are anonymous.

If you are a library trustee, jump right in and respond to the survey and be sure to share this opportunity with your peers on the board.

Library directors, we ask that you not only fill out the survey but encourage your board of trustees to do so as well.

Responses are due by Monday, June 15th

Survey link: http://bit.ly/HATSsurvey

Posted by Southern Adirondack Library System on Thursday, June 4, 2015

Early Literacy Community Asset Analysis training

Early Literacy Community Asset Analysis training – Tuesday May 5 at the Indian Lake Public Library (map) from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
This will be for anyone who missed the 2014 sessions.

You will leave the session with some demographics about children from 0-5 in your community and a map of other community agencies that also serve young children and families. We will also discuss how to run a focus group.

This is an opportunity to make sure that you understand why your young patrons and families are, or are not using your library and what other community services they do use. It will also show if your community has changed in the past few years. There will be some “homework” after the session provide by the Division of Library Development.

Please RSVP by Friday May 1, 2015. Please bring a laptop, if you don’t have one, please reserve one with me.

Light refreshments will be served, 3 CE credits will be earned. Can’t make this session? Do you want to host a session in your region? Please contact me.

For more information about NYS DLD’s Ready to Read NY initiative, visit : http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/earlylit/

Every Child Ready to Read in two parts

Where: SALS training room or Schuylerville Public Library
Part 1 morning session: ECRR2 training
Part 2 afternoon session: How to teach ECRR2 to community partners (part 2 of Ready to Read in NY Libraries training)
Everyone is welcome to the morning session. The afternoon session is limited to staff who received Community Asset Analysis Training. If you would like Community Asset Analysis training in your region, please contact me and we will set up a day to run a workshop.

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will learn how to access relevant community demographic information.
• Participants will learn how to conduct key informant interviews and focus groups.
• Participants will learn how to identify strategic local partners.
• Participants will learn strategies for dealing with cultural, racial and economic differences.

Some background information:
The Division of Library Development has a two primary goals with ReadyToRead NY
• Each kindergarten age child in New York State will have the skills needed to succeed in the school years ahead.
? Each public library in New York State will offer strong early learning services to their community.

The need for community assessment as a foundation skill in the training plan emerged from statewide surveys into the knowledge base of public library staff in New York State. Almost 40% of survey respondents could not answer a question about students in their community being prepared for reading success once they enter kindergarten. Some 47% of survey respondents did not know if most children in their community were reading at grade level by third grade. The survey also indicated that 51% of respondents wanted training in developing community partnerships for early literacy.

Based on this information, New York State’s early literacy training plan began to take shape with a community assets analysis training as the first component. The ability to conduct a local community needs assessment will enable every library to better serve residents through focused programs, resources, and effective partnerships.
Future training sessions are:
Community Assets Analysis – Spring 2015, 1 on 1 ongoing through Fall 2015
ECCR2 (Every Child Ready to Read 2) Fall 2015, 1 on 1 ongoing
Library Spaces: Spring 2016, 1 on 1 ongoing
Outreach and partnerships: Fall 2016, 1 on 1 ongoing
Everyone serves families: Spring 2017, Fall 2017

For more information about NYS DLD’s Ready to Read NY initiative, visit : http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/earlylit/