10 Things You Need to Know about Emergency Preparedness

In light of September being National Disaster Preparedness Month, the following  information may be good to have on hand to pass along to your patrons as needed.

1. September is National Preparedness Month. Disasters can strike quickly and without warning making every second count during an emergency. Since 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sponsored National Preparedness Month, which encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools and communities. The site’s toolkit includes helpful information, such as how to build an emergency supply kit, making a family game plan, staying informed before, during and after an emergency, and other preparedness resources and tips. Be ready and be safe! Find preparedness events in your community.Continue reading

Basic Library Law for Trustees – Free Webinar

On Friday November 8, from 10 am to 11 am, the New York State Library and the Library Trustees Association of New York State will offer a free one hour webinar by Jerry Nichols, editor of the Handbook for Public Library Trustees of New York State and Director of the Palmer Institute for Public Library Organization and Management; Long Island University.

Basic Library Law for Trustees

This webinar will introduce public library trustees to the critical laws and regulations that govern their library.  Topics will include the legal structure of libraries; the By-Laws and other critical documents; conduct of meetings and FOIL; policy fundamentals; trustee liability; and legal resources for trustees.

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Captivate Curious Minds with a Library Geocache

Entice the public to your library by creating a library Geocache.  What is a Geocache you say?  Well, it is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.  Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

A log sheet and small trinkets are often placed inside the cache; a library cache could include bookmarks or other items with library information on them.  Or, why not make it a book trading geocache?  The options are limitless.  Geocaching is a great community activity that can put your library on the map!  To learn more about Geocaching and hide/seek one, click here.