By Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director – Southern Tier Library System
Friday, August 28th, 2015
Deputy Director Al Oliveras listens intently during the
Outreach Services session of this year’s PULISDO Conference.
We have the entire year of 2016 to put together a succinct, measurable plan for how we want to define STLS moving into yet another decade of this evolving century. Our member libraries will write this chapter for us, so we can develop a vision that makes us grow stronger as a whole.
It has been six Fridays since I wrote my last message. I realize the Friday Follow-up is tagged as a weekly message from the executive director, but you may recall I took last summer off from writing as well to focus my efforts on professional development and planning STLS initiatives. It also a good time of year to spend vacation with family and friends.
I understand many member librarians are quite exhausted at this point in summer. Reading programs are coming to an end, fewer vacationers are visiting your communities and families are getting ready to go back to school. Most librarians are probably looking forward to that first day of work following Labor Day when the library actually sounds like a library from the early 20th century. Peace and quiet.
I will admit I prefer our 21st century libraries. I love the sound of children running from their parents to barge into the juvenile section. Or the continual beep of an ILS scanner tracking library materials headed to someone’s home for consumption. I even enjoy the distorted blast of music coming from the headphones of a teenager’s iPod simply because he chooses to be in the library rather than somewhere else. I also welcome this sound because there is probably a librarian around the corner waiting to ask him to turn the volume down. She won’t shush him, but instead respectfully strike up conversation so he is forced to be engaged.
Assistant Director – Head of IT Ken Behn (4th from right) talks it up with IT professionals from 22 of 23 NY library systems at this year’s PULISDO Conference.
The one thing I would like to share with you this week is the continual discussion of moving libraries forward. Several STLS consultants attended the Public Library System Director’s Organization (PULSDO) Conference in Utica last month. 22 of 23 New York State library systems were in attendance to share ideas on how we plan for the future (2017 – 2021) to make our public libraries even stronger than they are today.
One of the highlights, or should I say proud moments of this Conference was observing and hearing about STLS consultants taking a leadership role in coordinating and presenting discussion groups. Deputy Director Al Oliveras spent weeks leading up to the conference to plan and facilitate a thoughtful session on Outreach Services to local communities. Additionally, Assistant Director – Head of IT Ken Behn led talks on cyber security, and helped other library systems address their own internal issues regarding this topic. Lastly, Member Services Consultant Margo Gustina and I were able to present on STLS’ Sustainability Module, which assists member libraries in identifying their community’s true potential for leveraging necessary library funds.
Before leaving Conference, Ken, Margo and I did an impromptu presentation on STLS’ approach for connecting member libraries to dark fiber Broadband, and how we will assist libraries with digital literacy training once their libraries are connected. We finished by saying, “It’s not enough to just develop the infrastructure (Broadband) for the purpose of System and member library efficiencies. It’s what we do with that infrastructure once it is in place that makes the real difference. There is a genuine need for digital literacy in all our communities.”
Member Services Consultant Margo Gustina (left) is a great listener
and offers sound advice regarding best practices at this year’s Conference.
This last statement is just a small sample of the STLS character. The STLS team and our trustees will begin planning for our 2017-2021 Strategic Plan this fall. Clearly we want member libraries part of this process. We have the entire year of 2016 to put together a succinct, measurable plan for how we want to define STLS moving into yet another decade of this evolving century. Our member libraries will write this chapter for us, so we can develop a vision that makes us grow stronger as a whole.
In closing, I will share with you an email I sent our STLS team yesterday regarding our initial discussions about strategic planning. We will start this process with STLS trustees and team members, and then move inward to engage the amazing member libraries we serve.
Email correspondence start:
“The second portion of our meeting will focus on the discussion of strategic planning for 2017 – 2021. The Agenda highlights some of the Areas to Identify as we think about how we want to move forward as an organization. This planning is not about STLS the organization, our member libraries or the individual communities we serve. This planning is about Our Community. How do we as STLS the organization (team members and trustees) engage with member libraries (directors, staff, trustees, volunteers, Friends) to improve the quality of life within Our Community (the multiple counties, towns and villages), so this generation and future generations have the resources to meet the needs of humanity.
I understand this might seem like a very universal take on putting together a five-year strategic plan. But, I think you are all aware of my belief in the greater good public libraries can potentially provide. It is our job as the region’s leading public library organization to tap into that potential to make the World a slightly better place.”
Email correspondence end:
Me (right) sitting with Tim Burke, executive director Upper Hudson Library System, trying to wrap my head around NYS Comptroller audits, and how to best prepare member libraries through policy development. Hope everyone has those “Conflict of Interest and Whistle Blower” policies in place. Check out our Member Library Board Checklist for Policy Development to learn about other necessary policies.
Have a great final August weekend, STLS. As always, please feel free to call or write with questions. We appreciate all you do!
Kindest Regards,
Photo courtesy of Filomena Jack.
Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director
Southern Tier Library System
Follow me on Twitter: @comlibpartner
