Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision Update at 2013 New York Library Association Conference

More than 100 people attended the update on Creating the Future implementation during the 2013 NYLA Annual Conference in Niagara Falls. Attendees heard from John Hammond, Regents Advisory Council on Libraries (RAC) Chairperson and Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education. John Hammond summarized the outcomes of the June 2013 RAC report to the Board of Regents Cultural Education Committee.

In addition RAC members, John Monahan, Mary Muller, and Bridget Quinn-Carey, who chair Creating the Future Implementation Working Groups, reported on progress to date. Sheryl Knab, Director, Western New York Library Resources Council updated attendees on the implementation status of the I2NY report recommendations, which are closely aligned with Creating the Future. Topics included school libraries, public library districts, services to youth and young adults, and academic libraries. Deputy Commissioner Cannell wrapped up the event by discussing immediate next steps in making the recommendations in Creating the Future a reality.

The handouts from the program, which include the RAC report to the Board of Regents Cultural Education Committee as well as proposals for youth services may be found at
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/future/index.html

Thank you to the RAC members, members of the Implementation Working Groups and others in the library community who are working so hard on implementing the 60 recommendations in Creating the Future.

Bernard A. Margolis

State Librarian Endorses “Empire State Information Fluency Continuum”

Bernard A. Margolis, the State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries, has officially endorsed the “Empire State Information Fluency Continuum.”

The “Empire State Information Fluency Continuum,” developed by the New York City School Library System, is aligned to the New York State Board of Regents Common Core Learning Standards. It provides a K-12 framework for library programs in an effort to provide students with the skills necessary to become independent readers and learners, and is a crucial tool for improving information literacy.

Margolis stated that the Continuum, ”has already become the standard which defines information literacy and helps to define the inquiry skills essential for student success,” and commented that he is, “pleased with the enormous effort demonstrated by the work of school librarians on the Information Fluency Continuum and honored to join those endorsing this essential effort.”

Margolis joins the New York Library Association, the School Library Systems Association of New York State, Inc. and many individual school library systems in his endorsement of the Information Fluency Continuum. He recommends that the Benchmark Skills for Grades K – 12 Assessments/Common Core Alignment receive the widest distribution. To view this document, visit: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1A931D4E-1620-4672-ABEF-460A273D0D5F/0/EmpireStateIFC.pdf.

The Continuum is also now available through the State Education Department’s EngageNY website at http://engageny.org/resource/selection-of-authentic-texts-for-common-core-instruction-guidance-and-a-list-of-resources, where you can click on the link for NYS School Library Systems Association, https://nyslsa-schoollibrarians-elamodules.wikispaces.com/. EngageNY can now also be accessed through the NOVELNY website, http://novelnewyork.org/, and NOVELNY is accessible from EngageNY. In addition, the Continuum has also been posted to the State Library website at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/slssap/index.html

To read more about the State Librarian’s official endorsement of the Empire State Information Fluency Continuum, visit: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/slssap/letter.htm. For more information, contact the Office of the State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries by email at ppaolucc@mail.nysed.gov.

 

State Librarian Update Number 11 Released

The latest State Librarian Update, Number 11 is now available at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/about/updates/20130327.htm. In this update, I discuss everything from State Budget news, the “EveryoneON” national ad campaign, E-rate news, public library charters and the best library schools!

You’ll also find out how your library or system can submit an application for the $1,000 Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award. Apply by June 14!

Enjoy!

 

Bernard A. Margolis

Assistant Commissioner for Libraries and State Librarian

State Librarian Update Number 10 Released

Check out my latest State Librarian Update, Number 10 from November 1 at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/about/updates/20121101.htm where I discuss current library issues and changes!

Included is a section on Creating the Future, where I state, “We need champions and cheerleaders for the recommendations as we proceed to strategize to reach our successful goals. I applaud the libraries that have already begun to build local planning initiatives around the themes and goals of the Vision 2020 plan.”

Thanks for reading!

 

Bernard A. Margolis

Assistant Commissioner for Libraries and State Librarian