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In attendance: Teresa Pavoldi (Guilderland Public Library), Cherry Neil (Guilderland Public Library), Barb Goetschius (RCS Community Library), Pat Sahr (Nassau Free Library) Julia Doellefeld (Bethlehem Public Library), Sharon Hodges (Petersburg Public Library), Carol Gaillard (Cheney Library), Dave Cole (William K. Sanford Town Library), Beth Nagel (Brunswick Community Library & Sand Lake Town Library), Ginny LaJuene (Altamont Free Library), Darlene Miller (Castleton Public Library), Lisa Neuman (Menands Public Library), Rebecca Lubin (Rensselaerville Library), Joyce Laiosa (Voorheesville Public Library), Diane Riganti (UHLS) Mary Fellows (UHLS)

Pre-and post-meeting
Representatives of libraries reviewed children’s and YA books from publishers, discussed the books with one another, and had the opportunity to choose among them for their own collections.

UHLS updates

1. Migration: UHLS is hub of lots of activity this week and next as everyone prepares to go live.
2. Storytelling Grant is mostly going very well. Kids in classes are excited about the camp.
3. Riverway Storytelling Festival is going ahead full steam. Publicity will be out to libraries in March.
4. Das Puppenspiel arts grants for summer awarded.
5. Fall workshop topic will be children’s and adult audiovisual materials – to be held on 9/11/03
6. Summer Reading Club Workshop—March 6th at Schenectady County Public Library. Car-pooling will be explored to counter parking difficulties. Mary will send out information.
7. Best Books for 2003 Day: Mary suggested that next January we hold a Book Day during which we have presentations in the morning on best books of 2003 and hold a mock Newbery, Caldecott and Siebert during the afternoon. General approval was voiced. Barbara Goetschius also suggested a Battle of the Books for Youth Services Staff, to demonstrate to librarians who might want to implement it how such a program might be run.

Volunteers reading to kids in library

A discussion was held of a recent query by a patron about opportunities to read aloud to children. Suggestions included a Reading Buddy program, scheduling guest readers during storytime breaks to keep the storytime habit for families and offer volunteers a chance to read, and taking the person’s name and address with the prospect of someday starting a program, then sending them a thank you note for offering their time.

News From You

Cherry Neil brought in a craft—a Guatemalan Worry Doll made out of twist ties, nesting in its own handmade paper box.

Barbara Goetschius related success at kindergarten registration, where she handed out 90 packets consisting of a reading list, bookmark, Families Read brochure, library card application, and library magnet.

Julia Doellefeld related that Simmons College has online courses and continuing education workshops of interest. Find their offerings at http://www.simmons.edu/programs/gslis/ce/index.html.

David Cole related the success of their joke of the week idea, which they stole from Guilderland Public Library. Cherry Neil related their process for making this easy effort into a bulletin board as well. Mary suggested that the libraries have a joke telling program where young joke lovers tell the ones they submitted.

Ginny LaJuene told of the library sponsored-tree in the Altamont Festival of Trees. Community wide event in Altamont Free Library was very well attended. A brief discussion was held about the importance of libraries participating in community events.

Carol Gaillard noted that on Feb. 8th she would do a winter storytime for the Winter Festival in Hoosick Fall.

Lisa Neuman brought an idea from a recent journal to promote Summer Reading Program by having stickers made to put on report card envelopes. Stickers could say “Summer Reading Means Better Grades!” followed by information about the library.

Darlene Miller noted that Castleton is starting a Chess Club the last Monday of the month. Cherry Neil added suggestions from GUIL’s success with this low effort, high popularity program: paint old tables with boards for checkers and chess.

Great Reads

Barb-RCS Community Library
Micawber
John Lithgow
0689833415

Julia- (Bethlehem Public Library)
To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers
Wendie Old
061813347X

Born Confused
Tanuja Desai Hidier
0439357624

Cherry- (Guilderland Public Library)
Snowmen at Night
Carolyn Buhner
0803725507

Best Books 2002 continued
Mary finished the survey of best books of 2002 with booktalks of fiction and nonfiction.

Performer showcase: Paul Rosenberg

Next Meetings

Next meeting: February 15, COLN
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Small library concerns discussion group
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon YSIG meeting
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Large library concerns discussion group

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Fellows, Manager, Youth Services