Consultant Profiles

Meet your STLS consultants!

Don’t let the title “consultant” in our job titles and descriptions put you off. The Southern Tier Library System was formed by forward thinking librarians in Allegany, Steuben, and Yates counties to share not just material resources – but intellectual resources as well. They knew no one library could have all the skills in-house that a library needs.

As STLS gained its charter, it was funded through the Department of Education to support a staff of professional librarians who would create a culture of equitability between our service communities. Included in our mandated staff because of their vitally important role in library service to community were Outreach Consultant & Resource Sharing positions. For quick contact reference, visit the STLS Staff Page.

As ever, remember that consultation from STLS is free of charge to our membership. It is funded through the annual state budget. If you value our service to you, join us when we advocate for state funding. We can’t support you if we can’t support our consultants in the impactful work they do.

Ken Behn – Assistant Director – Director of Information Technology

Ken oversees the Division of Information Technology, which includes the ILS (the catalog which contains all of our member library collections and the database which contains all of our member library patrons), E-Rate (the federal reimbursement program that subsidizes member library internet costs), website servers, IT procurement and support, and STLS email.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
• Business Continuity Planning after Disaster
• IT Planning & Policies
• IT Security Practices and Security Awareness Training

Keturah Cappadonia – Outreach & Sustainability Consultant

Keturah joined STLS after nearly a decade of service to community libraries in our greater region. Keturah’s mission-driven librarianship has led her to creating new outreach opportunities between agencies and member libraries, as well as unprecedented support to our historically under-served community members: those incarcerated, experiencing homelessness and poverty, as well as those for whom physical boundaries limit access.

• Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
• • Health & Wellness Literacy in the Library
• • Programming & Resources for Independent Learning
• • Building & Strengthening Agency Partnerships
• • Services to historically under-served community members
• • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice
• • Sustainability

Mandy Fleming – Manager, Integrated Library System

Mandy oversees the ILS (STARCat) and has long been recognized as the go-to person at STLS for directors and staff throughout our membership. Mandy never slows down in her efforts to support member libraries as they provide the best collection experience to their communities.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
Cataloging
• Local cataloging process & system-wide impacts
Workflows
• Tips to improve service & accuracy
BlueCloud Analytics
• Data analysis for selection, weeding, & open hours
Policy Development
• Circulation – fees, item types, loan periods
• Patron registration

Brian Hildreth – Executive Director

Winner of the 2024 New York Library Association’s Public Librarian of the Year Award, Brian works with STLS member libraries to help with all administrative and governance consulting.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
Administration
• Budgeting, Tax Compliance, Personnel
Governance
• Policy Development, Director Hiring & Evaluation
Funding
• Advocacy, Public Vote Referendums, Capital Campaigns
Facilities
• Construction Aid Program Administration

Erika Jenns – Assistant Director – Director of Librarianship

Erika assists member libraries with policy development, Friends groups, trustee roles and responsibilities, and special collections preservation/management. She is a strong advocate for public libraries in NYS and looks forward to making the trip to Albany each year to meet with legislators about funding for libraries. Erika also oversees the coordination of professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers across the Southern Tier Library System, in partnership with her STLS colleagues.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
• Policy Development
• Trustee Roles & Responsibilities
• Friends Groups
• Advocacy
• Preservation Planning & Book Repair
• Professional Development

Kendyl Litwiller-Sutherby – Engagement Consultant

Kendyl takes the lead system-wide marketing, manages digital resources, coordinates the Annual Report for Public and Association Libraries for all library outlets, and provides consultation assistance on website development, social media management, graphic design, and digital resources.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:
Digital Marketing & Interfaces
• WordPress, Facebook, Instagram, Canva, etc.
Digital Library Platforms
• OverDrive, Libby App, NOVELny, JobNow, Peterson’s Test Prep, Ground News, Kanopy, Mango Languages & ASL
Annual Report to the State

Haleigh Mikolajczyk – Program Consultant

Haleigh has a background in public services and program coordination stemming across both academic and public libraries. She assists member libraries with system-wide public awareness events, youth services, program resource kits, and interlibrary loan.

Ready Consultation / Presentation Topics:

Programming
• Youth Services (all ages)
• Passive/Self-Directed Programming
• Shelving for Programming
Program Resource Kits
Out-of-System Inter Library Loan (ILL)
Collection Management
• Weeding
• Shelf Appeal