By Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director – Southern Tier Library System; Friday, June 26th, 2015
This week, STLS team members embarked upon a new initiative. The project was discussed and created during an STLS staff meeting in April. By now, a good majority of member libraries are aware of this venture because they were participants. In total, STLS team members visited close to 30 of 48 member library outlets in five days. In short, we have organically deemed the week of June 22nd, Member Library Appreciation Week.
This week is not something we promoted to member libraries. In fact, we didn’t even discuss it following our April meeting. We brainstormed for 30-minutes about ways to show member libraries how much they mean to us. We then put together a list of questions that might help us understand how to provide better services. After the very positive and healthy discussion, we didn’t speak a word of it. Well, not until last Wednesday, just four days prior to June 22nd.
I sent out an email to our STLS staff listserv reminding them what we discussed two-months prior. As part of my message, I included 5 questions our team developed to serve as framework for conversations with member libraries. Basically, we leveraged the week of June 22nd as an opportunity to learn from our members. Despite my last-minute reminder, STLS team members did what they always do… rise to the occasion.
I look forward to sharing pictures, comments and feedback from this week’s travels. However, it will have to wait until everyone gets back. Some folks are still on the road as I write this message.
In the meantime, I am pleased to announce STLS has partnered with Library Trustee Association (LTA) to host an evening of learning for member library trustees. LTA has selected the Fred and Harriett Taylor Memorial Library in Hammondsport as their destination. Trustees from around the region, even outside of STLS are welcome to participate. There is no fee to attend, and a light dinner will be served.
Continuing Crucial Connections will take place on Monday, July 13th from 4 pm until 7:30 pm. It will feature two speakers from Western New York. Cassie Guthrie, Greece Public Library Director and previous director of the Pioneer Library System as well as Conrad Wolan, partner with the law firm of Sayles & Evans in Elmira, New York.
Both speakers bring a wealth of public library and legal expertise to the table. Trustees will be enabled to ask questions they for which they seek answers. For more information about this event, please visit the Library Trustee Association Website – [http://librarytrustees.org]Continuing Crucial Connections [http://librarytrustees.org/blog/2015/06/lta-stls-invite-trustees-and-directors-to/] sponsored by LTA and Southern Tier Library System. Online registration is also available through this link.
STLS is very fortunate and honored to develop this relationship with LTA. We have roughly 275 library trustees in the Southern Tier Library System, and we acknowledge our mission is to provide our member libraries, and the people who serve in our libraries the necessary resources to enrich their communities.
We hope trustees will take advantage of this opportunity, and use it as a mechanism to shape public library services throughout the Southern Tier.
Until we speak or meet again, have a great weekend STLS!
Kindest Regards,
Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director
Southern Tier Library System
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