Library Advocacy Day is February 28, 2023

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Anyone can advocate for their public library! We need many voices to tell leaders in the Legislature why libraries are essential.

Advocacy helps to inform people about library services and their value to the community. It can influence important decisions about legislative and budget priorities in order to strengthen libraries in New York State and ensure that they have the resources to continue offering these important services.

The New York Library Association suggests various ways to tell your story about why libraries are important:

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Black History Month

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Celebrate and learn more about Black History month with all of the great resources available to you for free with a library card. Find books and DVDs you can check out from your local library via our online catalog. Browse all of the ebooks and e-audiobooks available about African American History or check out African American Fiction titles. Visit our own Black History local guide to find out more about organizations and projects like the North Country Underground Historical Association (NCUGRHA), as well as educational resources.

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New Additions to the Team

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We’d like to take a moment to welcome the newest additions to the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System crew. First off, Rebecca Klein has joined as a library clerk in the Technical Services Department. Rebecca is a SUNY Plattsburgh history department alumna and aspiring archival librarian. When she isn’t reading about lesbian history or doing genealogical research, you can find her knitting, watching bad sci-fi movies with her fiancée, or playing with her cat Marceline. She’s been making quick work of dealing with interlibrary loans and rotating collections, helping us provide fresh titles to patrons in every corner of the three counties. And even more recently, Justin VanCour has also joined the team as an accounting clerk in the Administration Department. He comes to us with more than a decade of experience working in insurance and account clerk positions with Clinton County. Justin’s passions away from the office include music, writing, and Star Wars. He loves doing things with his family, including coaching his kids in youth sports. He’s been learning all about the ins and outs of the financial side of the Library System and member libraries. We’re so glad to have both Rebecca and Justin join and look forward to working with them to provide service to libraries and their patrons.

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Native American Cultural Programs at Your Library

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Skywoman by John and David Faden

Skywoman, Iotsitsisen (Mature Flower), from the Haudenosaunee Story of Creation, by John Fadden, colorized by David Fadden.

The Tsi ietsenhtha Plattsburgh Art Project and CEFLS libraries are presenting a series of events this fall to help build a bridge between the more than 4,000 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people who live in Northeastern New York, and those who may be unfamiliar with their rich culture. The events, to be hosted by various local libraries, include storytelling, film, crafts and singing, are designed to foster communication and understanding of diverse cultures.

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“Creating Oceans of Sound” with RiverJack Z!

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Creating Oceans of Sounds with RiverJack Z

The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System is pleased to invite children and families to have some fun “Creating Oceans of Sound” with RiverJack Z! Eight area libraries will be hosting this free musical event featuring Jack Zucchini, the guitar-playing singer/songwriter from The Zucchini Brothers. Participants will also be provided with an art activity that will be created at the event or sent home as a make-and-take activity.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.

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Routes to Recovery Has a New Home

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Routes to Recovery Screenshot

Routes to Recovery, our guide to local and online resources for those needing services related to substance abuse as well as the professionals and loved ones providing support, has found a new home at routestorecovery.org. While we’ve discontinued support of the Routes to Recovery app on iOS and Android, the new website version hosts all of the same content and still features smart device compatibility, and we will continue to develop the website for the foreseeable future.

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Making Music With RiverJack Z

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Have some fun “Making Music with RiverJack Z” this summer! Sixteen area libraries will be hosting this free songwriting workshop for children and families. RiverJack Z (a.k.a. Jack Zucchini, the guitar-playing singer/songwriter from The Zucchini Brothers) will guide participants through the craft of songwriting by composing and recording a song that is uniquely their own. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in this event that is fun for the whole family.

Each library will receive a high-quality audio file with the song to share. Participants will also be provided with an art activity that will be created at the event or sent home as a make-and-take project. The workshops will be held in outdoor spaces as an added precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Gnoming Around Event

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We invite residents in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties to participate in our “Gnoming Around” event for a chance to win a prize bag. Our bookish gnome will travel to 20 member libraries starting May 5th. He will visit each location for about a week, so watch for his appearance outside of your local library. To be entered for a chance to win a prize bag, just snap a picture with him and post it on one of our social media pages (facebook.com/cefls or @cef_librarysystem) or send it to info2@cefls.org and we’ll do it for you. One winner will be selected from each location.

The prize consists of a drawstring bag containing a variety of goodies including a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut for ages 12 and under, a single scoop of ice cream from Stewart’s, a decorative mini clipboard, and more! We would like to express our appreciation to Pizza Hut and Stewart’s Shops for their generous donations.

The gnome’s itinerary will be: Dannemora Free Library, Wead Library in Malone, Lake Placid Public Library, Keeseville Free Library, Paine Memorial Free Library in Willsboro, Belden Noble Memorial Library in Essex, Keene Public Library, Wilmington E.M. Cooper Memorial Library, Au Sable Forks Free Library, Peru Free Library, Rouses Point Dodge Memorial Library, Mooers Free Library, Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center, Plattsburgh Public Library, Saranac Lake Free Library, Wadhams Free Library, Hammond Library in Crown Point, Black Watch Memorial Library in Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake Public Library, Keene Valley Library Association, and Chazy Public Library.

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Leaving Our Fingerprints on History

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This is an invitation to share your experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone has a story to tell and these accounts provide insight into daily life during these challenging times. You are a witness to history. By collecting your stories, we are adding to the historic record. Just as we relied on information about the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1917-1918 to inform our response to COVID-19, future generations may benefit from understanding what we experienced.

How can you get involved? All you have to do is answer some questions about the challenges of the pandemic, how your life has changed, ways that you’ve adapted, etc. Feel free to share it with your friends, family members, and neighbors! The more people who participate, the better understanding we’ll have of the impact of COVID-19.

We would like to express our appreciation to the Southern Adirondack Library System for providing the opportunity to participate in this important project.

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