The Director's Cup

Cheery Friday Greetings....

....here at the end of National Library Week and Earth Day Wednesday! I hope you are well and staying safe.

As you know, state library aid has been cut by 2.59% for 2020-2021. It is uncomfortable, but we can mostly carry on without major changes to our programs and services.

The Governor has indicated that he and the Department of Budget will be reviewing revenue periodically. In a press conference last weekend, he mentioned cutting Education by as much as 50% without assistance from the federal government (this would include state library aid). Further decreases could happen in increments, depending on when and if help from the federal government is received. The SCRLC Board will have many scenarios to work through at their May meeting.

This week the Senator from Kentucky suggested that rather than helping the states, they should simply go bankrupt. Our Governor objected-very strongly and repeatedly as I am sure you heard. Governor Cuomo reiterated that COVID-19 is not a Red and Blue issue-that all Americans are being affected and this is not some type of Blue state bailout as had been suggested.

The Senator from Kentucky could learn much from our profession. We library workers help everyone find information regardless of what side of politics anyone is on, or whether or not we personally agree with what we are finding for them. Libraries help/serve/engage with their communities-all of their communities--and the federal government should be thinking along those lines, too--not along party lines.

Although I am often at odds with the Governor over cuts to state library aid, he has demonstrated true and exceptional leadership--even Evidence-Based Leadership--in the COVID-19 crisis. I feel fortunate to live in a state where we have a Governor who is data-driven and a big-picture thinker.

His reliance on data is apparent now and was evident when he banned fracking a few years ago-though not before two SCRLC villages-Dryden (near Ithaca) and Middlefield (near Cooperstown) had to sue to prevent fracking in their towns.Other evidence-based leaders to watch in this crisis include Bill Gates and Angela Merkel.

Bill Gates presented a TED talk back in 2015 in which he predicted we'd have a pandemic and that we were not prepared for it. More recently (yesterday!) he released a memo regarding the current one and how to accelerate innovations around it.

Before Angela Merkel went into politics some 30 years ago, she earned a PhD in chemistry (her thesis was on quantum chemistry). Here is an article from April 20 on how she has been using her science-based approach and reasoned thinking to lead Germany through the pandemic. Germany's approach may have resulted in fewer fatalities than other European countries such as Italy and Spain.

Who are you watching and following during these times? Join our meet-ups to discuss.

You have probably read the press release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) regarding their partnership with Battelle and OCLC to inform safe handling of library materials and reopening best practices. METRO, one of the ESLN Councils, is at ground zero for COVID-19 in NYC. Their executive director, Nate Hill, is on the executive steering committee and participating in a couple of the working groups. It is good news for the libraries and library systems of NYS to be represented in this way and I look forward to the results of the excellent work they will be doing.

Yours in partnership,

Mary-Carol Lindbloom

Executive Director

SCRLC Community

A Checkup Survey

We would like to hear more about how you are doing with this new reality. Here is a quick survey checkup to find out more about your current challenges and comforts and what we can be doing to help. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Zoom Meetups

Next Resource Sharing Meetup: Friday, May 1, 1:00pm

https://zoom.us/j/924611225 | Meeting ID: 924 611 225

Or call in: 1-646-876-9923

Next Special Collections/Local History/Archivists Meetup: Wednesday, May 6, 2:00pm

https://zoom.us/j/715709544 | Meeting ID: 715 709 544

Or call in: 1-646-876-9923

Member Status Updates

Check on the status of other organization's and update your own on this Google Sheet.

News Items

COVID-19 Research Partnership to Inform Safe Handling of Collections, Reopening Practices for Libraries, Museums

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, together with OCLC, Inc. and Battelle, announced a new collaboration to support the nation's libraries and museums as they consider safe reopening practices in light of COVID-19. Full press release here.

Here are some answers to recently asked questions:

Do you have a question during this unprecedented time? Ask the Lawyer!

Distance Learning

Archived Webinars from SCRLC

Available on our YouTube Channel

Featured: Mindfulness for Librarians

Skillshare

Send a request to jphilippe@scrlc.org for access to online classes in design, business, technology, photography, entrepreneurship, film and writing through Skillshare.

Featured: Style Your Space: Creative Tips and Techniques for Interior Design

Design4Learning: Online Teaching and Learning Skills for Library Workers

A free instructional design training program available through WebJunction to enable library workers to transfer their in-person teaching skills to the online environment. The 7 modules include: Orientation, Foundation, Diversity, Community, Content Creation, Course Management, & Capstone.

D4L was developed in partnership among the South Central Regional Library Council, Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, and the Empire State Library Network. It was funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Tech-Talk Database

In addition to the weekly Tech-Talk newsletter, SCRLC members have access to the Tech-Talk Database, which offers an up-to-date, searchable library of technology and communication articles and videos. If you would like access to the database, look for the login information at the top of your weekly Tech-Talk newsletter or email jphilippe@scrlc.org.