Category Archives: Friday Follow-up

  New Director in Town and Foundation Grant Recipients   Recipients of 2016 Foundation for Southern Tier Libraries grants include. Front (L-R) Karen Scott, Judy Phillips, Erica Flanagan. Back (L-R) Heidi Robinson, Janet Mahoney, Barbara Radigan, Melanie Miller, Karen Smith, Leah Weber, Katurah Cappadonia. Foundation President and board member of the Watkins Glen Public Library Judy

It has been two weeks since my last Friday Follow-up. I sincerely try to write each week. But, when you are engaged with member libraries (4 board meetings and 5 library visits in 10 days); you prioritize to the best of your abilities. This week I am going to keep it simple. I have spent

Friday Follow-up: a weekly message from Brian M. Hildreth, STLS Executive Director Protecting Humankind One Story Hour at a Time What if libraries opted not to provide story hours or coordinated children’s programs? Would the world be less civilized without these public services? As librarians, we inherently believe encouraging our youth to learn will improve

The Cultural Lifeline to America’s Most Sincere Communities Rural public libraries are the cultural lifeline to America’s most sincere communities. I subscribe to this self-authored statement because I witness it every day. For more than 13 years I have been immersed in the rural public library experience, and quite honestly I wouldn’t have it any

Public Libraries Are Government   Economist Adam Smith, who authored the Wealth of Nations, believed government’s role was to maintain defense, infrastructure and education. Public libraries are government institutions even though libraries sometimes view their organizations as too small to be lumped in with government. I think this misperception stems from the way other governments

Friday Follow-up: a weekly message from Brian M. Hildreth, STLS Executive Director An Invitation to Say Your Library is Amazing This time of year most public librarians are least excited about public service. I am not saying we discontinue our passion for our trade, but rather we must roll up our sleeves and account for

Newer STLS Librarians Discuss Continuing Education Working in Southern Tier libraries for the last two weeks has been fantastic. In addition to my ongoing projects of connecting libraries to Broadband, strategic planning for 2017-2021 and assisting member libraries in obtaining sustainable funds, I have had the joy of visiting many people who make this library

Last week, New York State library systems were asked to provide testimony in writing, or in person to the Assembly Standing Committee on Libraries and Education and Technology. The Committee sought input on the anticipated impacts of increased funding to New York libraries. Library Aid increased for 2015-2016 by 5.6%. I would have liked to attend in person,

Emery and Fleming Awarded for Best Practices at NYLA Mandy Fleming makes her acceptance speech at the SMART membership meeting during the 2015 New York Library Association Conference. Mandy who serve as ILS and technical services manager at Southern Tier Library System received recognition for implementing cataloging and processing efficiencies for member libraries. The 2015 New York

A Weekly Message from the Executive Director There is Hope for Sustainable LibrariesBy Brian M. Hildreth, Executive Director – Southern Tier Library System Friday, October 9th, 2015 Hope Decker of Cohocton Public Library, Janice Dekoff of Dunkirk Library (CCLS) and myself had the privledge of discussing sustainable library funding for rural libraries at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System