News from our Members

• Gary Roberts, Herrick Memorial Library at Alfred University has been selected as the new Director of Information Technology Services.

• Laurie McFadden, Herrick Memorial Library at Alfred University has had an article published in the July/August 2005 issue of College & Research Libraries News. In her article titled: “With honors: Librarians benefit from teaching in honors programs,” Laurie writes of the many benefits of librarians teaching elective classes in honors programs. She makes a case for librarians to propose classes that revolve around personal research interests or hobbies.

• Steve Bachman is the new library director at Your Home Public Library, Johnson City, NY.

• A new online database offers web users the ability to search for past, present and upcoming temporary glass exhibitions around the world. Compiled and maintained by The Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Research Library of The Corning Museum of Glass, the world’s library of record on glass and glassmaking, the Worldwide Glass Exhibition Database can be found at www.cmog.org/exhibitionsdatabase.

• Please note that Broome Tioga School Library System, Broome Tioga BOCES has new phone numbers. Gail Barraco is 607-766-3730 and Lynn Anstey is 607-766-3731.

• Julia Schult has taken the position of adjunct librarian at SUNY Cortland.

• Cindy Maier, Associate Librarian for Reference and Archives at Corning Community College; Gretchen Douglas, Information and Computer Literacy Coordinator/Instructor at SUNY Cortland, Joyce Sen, Systems, Cataloging, Acquisitions at SUNY Delhi, and Stuart Basefsky, Senior Reference Librarian, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Catherwood Library, Cornell University received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship, May 2005. Congratulations to all four of you.

• Diane Dolbashian has been appointed head librarian of The Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Research Library of The Corning Museum of Glass.

• Finger Lakes Library System is pleased to announce that Linda Beins will join the staff as ILL/Reference/Delivery Department Head.

• Herbert Finch, former Assistant Director of Cornell University Libraries, former President of The History Center in Tompkins County and a long time member of the SCRLC Board of Trustees and a great friend of the Council has been posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the New York State Board of Regents and the New York State Archives. Finch was also recently recognized by The History Center in Tompkins County with an award bearing his name: The C. Herbert Finch Award for Excellence. Herbert Finch passed away in April, 2005.

Board Activities:

In September the Board of Trustees took the following actions:

• Amended the 2005/2006 Budget to show the correct cash balance (reasonably healthy!), and the actual state aid received. The SCRLC budget is now better organized to indicate more clearly the pass through funds such as WALDO payments and grants.
• Reviewed briefly the annual report now submitted to the Division of Library development online. The current printed version is not very user friendly so SCRLC has produced a published Annual Report to the membership (online at http://www.lakenet.org/scrlc/04-05annualreport.pdf)
• Accepted a report from the Nominating Committee with the slate of Board members to be elected at the Annual Meeting:

William Demo, Tompkins Cortland Community College, academic library seat, for a first full term, 2006-2010.

Patricia Neal, Tompkins Seneca Tioga BOCES, School Library System, school library seat, for a partial term, 2006.

Sue Bretscher, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, special library seat, for a first full term, 2006-2010.

David Karre, Four County Library System, public library seat, for partial term, 2006-2007.

Nan Hyland, Cornell University, largest academic library seat, for a first full term, 2006-2010.

• Amended the By Laws to simplify the mission and add an article about what to do in the event of the dissolution of the organization (not imminent let me assure you!).
• Approved the Resource Sharing Subsidy. SCRLC makes $25,000 available to regional libraries based on their borrowing and lending to each other within the region. Thanks to everyone for their generosity.
• Approved the merger of the Advisory Committee on Information Technology and Services and the Electronic Resources Committee. This will take effect in 2006.
• Reviewed the almost completed, totally revised, Employee Handbook. There was some discussion of vacation leave and retirement benefits which the Personnel Committee will resolve. This final version should be ready for approval and legal review by the end of the year.

October Board Meeting

At the short meeting of the Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting, the Board took the following actions:

• Tabled the Audit for more detailed discussion in December. The auditor praised the Council for exemplary business practices!
• Approved a resolution to expand the number of people who can access the safe deposit box. The Council stores microform copies of important archives such as Board minutes, annual reports etc. at the bank.

(JC)