The WLA (Westchester Library Association) and LARC (Library Association of Rockland County) Annual Conference is being held Friday, May 4th, 8 am to 4 pm at the Doral Arrowwood Conference Center in Rye Brook, NY. Keynote speaker is Dawn LaValle, Director of the Division of Library Development at Connecticut State Library. This is an opportunity for Librarians to meet to discuss problems common to libraries of similar size and location. Both members and non-members are welcome to participate in the full day or half day programs.
While you are there, be sure to stop by our new Clancy Relocation and Logistics Tri-State Depository booth for your free gift and consult. Clancy has provided the tri-state area with library relocation and high-density retrievable storage for over 50 years. Learn more about our sustainably provided services for public and private library collections at www.LibraryRelocation.com
8:00am – 3:00pm — Registration —-
8:00am – 9:45am Breakfast, Vendors, Exhibits, Networking
9:15am – 9:45am WLA Annual Membership & Business Meeting
10:00am – 11:15am Workshop A: Mix and Match: Creativity in the Workplace
Ardsley Room Doug Coe, Executive Director, RiverArts; Mary Lou Carolan, Director, Cornwall Public Library;
Allison Midgley, Technology Trainer, WLS; Molly Robbins, Assistant Director, Ossining Public Library
Explore what creativity means to you and why you should allow yourself to be sensitive to and inspired by nature and the world around you. Our four creative panelists will inspire you to be poetic, artistic, and musical by learning to pay attention to your inner experience and thus enhance your professional life.
Larchmont Room Workshop B: Innovative Customer Service: Build your Library Image by Highlighting Your Skills
Grace Riario, Assistant Director & Outreach Coordinator, Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS)
Your patrons already know your library and they like what you are doing! They are really the best people to advocate for your library. We will talk about keeping your loyal patrons happy, dealing with the angry customers, the importance of taking breaks and working together as a team. This session includes fun activities, delicious goodies, and door prizes. Together, we will make this session an experience to remember.
11:15am – 12:00pm Vendor Announcements, Networking, Raffle
12:00pm – 1:00pm — Buffet Lunch in Atrium Restaurant —
1:00pm – 2:00pm Keynote Address: Excite Your Library Community: How Connecticut is Transforming Librarians through Collaborative Innovation.
Main Ballroom — Dawn LaValle, Director of the Division of Library Development, Connecticut State Library
The ALA “Libraries Transform” campaign implied that libraries transform their patrons’ lives and transform as organizations with new services and ideas. How do librarians transform themselves? To cultivate the next generation of library leaders’ community engagement and leadership skills, the CT State Library, partnering with Innovation Builders, are leading a team-based experiential program: “EXCITE: Transformation for Libraries” which is designed to help build library leaders who are true collaborative innovators who lead libraries’ cultural change. Dawn will take you on the EXCITE journey of innovative collaboration that is transforming librarians and their communities.
2:00pm – 2:45pm Legislators’ Speeches; Awards; Raffle, Networking with Legislators & Colleagues
2:45pm – 4:00pm Workshop C: A Path to a Sustainable Future
Ardsley Room M. Jill Davis, Director, Hendrick Hudson Free Library
What will it take to make your library relevant in this uncertain world? Come hear about one library’s journey to be socially, economically and environmentally up to the challenge. Leave with ideas that you can implement immediately as well as ones that spark your imagination and set you on the path to a sustainable future.
Larchmont Room Workshop D: Creating Health & Wellness Connections at your Library
Catherine Riedel, Teen Librarian, Ossining Public Library
Engage with your community to meet their health and wellness needs through experiential programming, collection expansion, and creating new library spaces where like-minded people can connect and feel supported. This workshop will present a multi-age approach to mindfulness and well-being that you can initiate immediately to connect your patrons to the library as a supportive and caring environment.
Please visit http://www.westchesterlibraryassociation.org for more information or to register.
