Newsletters & Updates

STLS Mission

Statement

The Southern Tier Library

System, a member-driven

regional consortium of public

libraries, supports and

strengthens its members

through clearly defined, cost-

ffective services which make

possible the coordination and

sharing of resources, enabling

all individuals in the five-

county region to have equal

access to excellent library

service.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

WITH TRUSTEES

Trustees are the dedicated citizen volunteers who hire the library director, make library policy, raise funds, and promote library programs and activities in the local community.

In order to carry out our mission, the Southern Tier Library System relies on the following forms of communication with library trustees: annual trustee workshop; county discussion groups; System planning meetings; meetings with individual boards of trustees; and distribution of information and/or publications considered of interest to trustees. Now, we are adding a quarterly newsletter to provide a forum on library service, to describe STLS activities and to provide suggestions on the nuts and bolts of responsible trusteeship. The newsletter is available online at the STLS website <www.stls.org>. At the website, click on “About STLS,” then click on “Newsletter.”

Tell me, by telephone 607/962-3141, or by email, stl_ristiina@stls.org, what you would like to see in future newsletters. I look forward to hearing from you.

--Ristiina Wigg

THE REGENTS COMMISSION REPORTS

After 18 months of study, the Regents Commission on Library Services presented its report to the Regents on July 14. The Commission concluded, “libraries must provide the essential pathway for all the people of New York to become full participants in the information age,” but at the same time it concluded that “levels of library service available to the citizens of New York State are grossly uneven, ranging from world-class to woefully deficient.”

The Commission proposed ten initiatives, two of which will generate much discussion in our area:

1. “Promote the availability of local public library service...and improve local support for public libraries through the formation of Public Library Districts.”

The Commission recommends that NYS use state aid incentives to encourage libraries to create public library districts. These districts would expand existing library service areas to incorporate unserved areas and provide for public vote on the library budget and public election of trustees.

2. “Promote equitable library services for all New Yorkers through a need-based formula.”

Using a study of library funding, the Commission concluded that a “minimum funding level of $20 per capita is necessary to meet the basic needs of library users...” The Commission recommends that New York State increase state aid to libraries and use the increase to adopt a need-based library aid formula to reduce funding disparities. The Commission proposes that new aid to be used to (1) leverage local tax support up to a minimum level of $20 per capita, and (2) target the areas that lack the tax base necessary to support quality library service.

The 52-page report with supporting research is available from Sheila Hallahan, STLS and online at <www.nysl.nysed.gov/rcols/finalrpt.htm> Read it. How can you use the research done by the Commission to benefit your library?

Photo of people at reception for Allegany County library trustees, August 2000

Photo of Senator McGee receiving Certificate of Appreciation

A Certificate of

Appreciation

presented to

Senator McGee at

August Reception

for Allegany County

Library Trustees

CARING FOR OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS

If a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, where can they find the information they need? The doctor can provide medical information, but how about information about insurance coverage or home health aides? “Caregivers are faced with the challenge of finding the information they need to meet the needs of their loved one. Many times this is done with limited financial resources,” says Pat Baroody, Caregiver Resource Coordinator, Steuben County Office for the Aging.

In a new website <www.stls.org/caregiver>, created by the Southern Tier Library System, caregivers can easily find lists of service providers in our area organized by the service they provide. Caregivers can also find links to subject lists of library resources in the STLS regional online catalog STARCat; a glossary of terms used in the field of gerontology; and web links to many regional, state, and national organizations and resources. Baroody says, “It’s a tremendous timesaver to have one site that can lead caregivers to the answers they seek.”

STLS member libraries in Andover, Dundee, Hammondsport, Horseheads, Watkins Glen, and Wayland will host public forums at their libraries and use a jointly developed PowerPoint presentation to introduce the website to caregivers, agency staff, colleagues from neighboring libraries, and library users.

The website is accessible at all STLS member libraries and to citizens at home, work and school over the Internet. This project is funded with Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Electronic Doorway Libraries

Basic 2000 EDL Level:

dial-up access to the Internet
electronic access via the Internet to library's bibliographic records in a system catalog, and
access to the bibliographic records of other libraries remotely
introductory training about use of the Internet available for library personnel and users

Advanced EDL Level services:

dedicated 56K line or better and graphical access to Internet
commercial databases electronically accessible in library or over Internet
digitized resources available remotely
multilevel training about use of the Internet

Events & Activities

STLS Trustee Workshop

Trustee Working Relationships:

Communication is the Key

Saturday, September 16^th

Presbyterian Church, Bath

9:30 am - Noon

STLS Annual Meeting

Tuesday, October 17th

Days Inn, Bath

5:30 – 9:00 pm

Children’s Book Week

Theme: Fuel Your Mind

November 13-19, 2000

This year’s program highlights

the nourishment that kids get

from a healthy, balanced diet

of reading.

Board of Trustees

Thomas Daulton, President
John Wilgus, Vice President
Steven Hoover, Treasurer

Jane Jamison, Secretary
E. Jane Booth

John Callanan

Nana Clute

Renchen Falvey

Robert Heywood

Cathleen Linnecke

Marialyce Martin

Claudia Radin

Joseph Sartori, Jr.

Sandra Van Wormer

Donald Walker

Southern Tier

Library System

Ristiina Wigg,

Executive Director

Congratulations to Electronic Doorway Libraries

This year, to help the New York State Library recognize libraries that are Electronic Doorway Libraries based on updated criteria, STLS surveyed member libraries to determine which services they provide.

STLS members identifying themselves at the BASIC 2000 Level are:

Big Flats, Elmira Heights, Southside, and West Elmira branches of Steele Memorial Library, and libraries in Addison, Andover, Atlanta, Belfast, Belmont, Bolivar, Branchport, Canaseraga, Canisteo, Cohocton, Cuba, Fillmore, Friendship, Howard, Montour Falls, Odessa, Penn Yan, Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Richburg, Savona, Scio, Watkins Glen, Whitesville.

STLS members identifying themselves at the Advanced Level are:

Avoca, Bath, Corning (when reopened), Dundee, Hammondsport, Hornell, Horseheads, Rushford, Steele Memorial Library (Elmira), Wayland, and Wellsville.

Congratulations! Libraries are an important resource for all residents, regardless of economic circumstances, who need access to the ever-expanding world of electronic information. EDL certificates will be presented at the STLS Annual Meeting in October.

Copies of the Electronic Doorway Library action plan, Doorways to Information in the 21^st Century: Every New York Library an Electronic Doorway Library are available from Sheila Hallahan, STLS or on the Internet at <http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/edl/index.html>.