• All remaining database and CCD orders are due December 2nd. Please email Laurie with your orders and any questions.
• Anyone who was unable to attend our General Membership meeting on November 19th can find the resources from the day in this Google Folder.
• We have a new Union Catalog and ILL process. Please see below for more information, including training materials.
• Calling all Librarians! We want to hear from you about the awesome things you are doing in your library. Please consider presenting at our January CC meeting on January 14th. Apply here by December 13th.

The New York State Legislature has appropriated $500,000 to be awarded through a competitive grant program to encourage participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is a community-based program mailing free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth until their 5th birthday, no matter their income. It is the goal of this grant program to provide financial assistance to allow additional organizations to participate as new Local Program Partners and for established Program Partners to be able to increase their enrolled members in existing coverage areas and/or expand into new areas.

Funds will be available to libraries, library systems, non-profits, school districts, BOCES, non-public schools, and charter schools in New York State. Individual grants will be limited to a maximum of $49,000 to pay up to 50% of a Local Program Partner’s costs from the Imagination Library. All applicants must have a Memorandum of Agreement with Dollywood as a Local Program Partner in DPIL by the application deadline. Eligible applicants who are a Local Program Partner for more than one Imagination Library program may submit one application per program.

The grant application is now open. All applications must be submitted by 1/10/2025 at 5:00 PM. For more information and the link to apply, please visit the NYS Grants for Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website. View the full Announcement of Funding Opportunity and Grant Guidelines here.

Please email NYSLImaginationLibrary@nysed.gov with any questions.

Taken from the "Is this media? How can you tell?" lesson from Project Look Sharp grades PK-2, this bulletin board gets kids thinking about media and media literacy. Kristy says it is one of her favorite units.

On November 19th, librarians from across the region gathered for the annual General Membership meeting here at Ballard Road Conference Center. At this meeting, librarians learned about our new union catalog and how to complete ILLs.

If you were not at the meeting or need a refresher, please see below:

• Emailed ILLs may continue until December 6th to give everyone a chance to train staff and practice using the system. Please do not request or respond to ILLs via email after December 6th.
• Beginning December 9th, everyone should be using the ILL system with TLC for all ILLs.
• Let us know if you are experiencing difficulties or errors as you start to use the system. We are here to support you and we recognize that this is a change that may take some getting used to before it runs like clockwork.

Instructions for all users can be found in this Google Folder. Please refer to the information for the automation system your school uses. You will also find the recording of the training from yesterday in that folder. Feel free to watch and rewatch it as needed.

Email libraryservices@wswheboces.org if you have questions or need assistane.

Hi folks! There is more coming on this in coming days, but here are two quick screencasts I made the other day to help a particular location determine what is or isn't in their catalog. (Meaning, if I scan a barcode and the item doesn't come up, is it gone? Can I add it back in?) This is a common question as we figure out how the new system works.

Screencast, using LS2 Cataloging: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cZXrY8nVaoP

Screencast, using LS2 Staff: https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cZXrrcnVaDU

NERIC's Annual Technology Awareness Day will be held December 13th. Click the post above to be taken to their registration page.

We know that we learn best from our colleagues. With that in mind, our January Communication Coordinator meeting will be devoted to learning from each other. An agenda with presentations will be sent out in January before the meeting.

If you are interested in presenting, please fill out this survey by December 13th.

As always, this workshop is open to all librarians regardless of being a CC.

Date: January 14, 2025

Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Ballard Road Conference Center

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=4959106

More information to come. Space is limited so register early.

As always, this workshop is open to all librarians regardless of being a CC.

Date: April 2, 2025

Time: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Ballard Road Conference Center

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=4959110

Topic: TBD, but we will also celebrate our retirees and our School Librarian and Administrator of the Year Awardees.

Date: May 15, 2025

Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Ballard Road Conference Center

Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=4959120

The Regional BOCES School Library Systems are collaborating to bring you multiple book studies this year. Please see the attachment below for information. These book studies are limited to 20 participants so you will want to register early.

Kerrie Burch, School Library System Director

Karin Howansky, School Library Media Specialist

Laurie Doyle, Information Processing Specialist

Deb Massa, Information Processing Specialist