New Jersey State Library Newsletter

The New Jersey State Library was recognized for Public Relations excellence for its Tell Us Your Story public relations campaign by the NJ Library Association at its annual conference in Long Branch. Accepting the award was Nancy Dowd, NJSL director of marketing, and Gary Cooper, NJSL public relations & news media contact.

The campaign was created to collect compelling stories from library users to show how libraries transformed their lives and to show librarians how to effectively use those stories for local advocacy efforts. One element of the campaign trained librarians in the art and process of public relations and storytelling, which resulted in a change of attitude toward marketing and a better understanding of its value. An overwhelming majority of people who participated in the campaign indicated they now viewed marketing as an important service essential to the financial health and viability of their libraries. The stories provided the NJSL marketing department on how libraries were meeting their customers’ needs in the economic downturn resulted in an expansive statewide media campaign that reached millions of people through news media stories, commercials, outreach and the Web.

With over 240 NJ libraries and 800 individuals participating, the campaign established an effective communication network through the NJSL Marketing Blog and listserv, and created a foundation that strengthened the librarians’ ability to convey the transformative role that their libraries play as the needs of their communities evolve. The influence of this campaign continues to grow as libraries in Maryland, Florida, California and Vancouver adopt elements of it for their marketing and advocacy efforts.

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Rick Malwitz (center), reporter for the Home News Tribune and Courier News, received a Journalism Award at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference for his articles in support of libraries. Malwitz was nominated for the award by Norma Blake (left), NJ State Librarian, and Gary Cooper, public relations and news media contact.

Malwitz’s exceptional journalistic coverage and support of New Jersey libraries in his front page articles of Sunday, February 1, 2009, entitled “Current Demands outweigh resources, In Tough Economic Times, Business Booms at Libraries,” and of Monday, February 2, 2009, entitled “High volume at area libraries, as economy remains slow, usage of resources increases,” brought home to his Central New Jersey readers the important role libraries were playing in the down economy and how vital they were to the businesses, children and adults of every community. These articles gave residents a much clearer picture of the crunch libraries faced and gave their customers a much stronger voice in their communities.

At the 2010 New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference, the NJLA History & Preservation Section honored Michele Stricker, deputy director of the New Jersey State Library’s Library Development Bureau, with the Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award for her leadership, creativity and commitment in the field of preservation and conservation of library resources. The award has been presented since 2003 and honors the memory of Susan G. Swartzburg, a librarian and author whose leadership in New Jersey inspired and influenced many others in the areas of preservation of library materials, archives and the book arts.

According to the committee, “we have all had cause recently to reflect on the value of the work done by the State Library, and … the impact a dedicated and energetic leader can have within that institution in forwarding the mission of the History and Preservation Section. This award recognizes Michele’s activity in dealing with the big picture issues in New Jersey.”

In her five years at the State Library, Stricker has taken on the role of preservation, conservation and disaster-preparedness specialist in addition to her other duties. She has diligently brought to the attention of NJ libraries workshops, grant opportunities and program presentations, and has most recently worked with the American Library Association on programs and resources for the first ever ALA Preservation Week, May 9-15, 2010.

Her other accomplishments include creating workshops for NJ librarians on “How to Survey your Public Library’s Preservation Needs;” “A Matter of When, Not If: Preventing and Preparing for Library Disasters;” and “Fund-raising for Preservation;” and the creation of a Preservation Resources Web page on the New Jersey State Library Web site that has information on state, regional and national preservation programs, institutions, organizations and funding sources. She has partnered with the Newark Museum, Rutgers University Libraries, the New Jersey State Museum and the New Jersey State Archives on an Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Connecting to Collections grant for the purpose of developing a statewide conservation plan. She was responsible for the selection, purchase and dissemination of eighty-five disaster response kits to NJ libraries that attended the 2008 disaster preparedness workshops, as well as the grant posting for the Library Regional Response Network Initiative grant that funded the contents of one emergency response locker with $10,000 of emergency supplies to be used in the case of a large-scale disaster.

The Burlington resident holds a bachelor’s degree from Tyler School of Art of Temple University, a master of fine arts in Museum Studies from Syracuse University, a master of arts in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s in Library & Information Science from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program was established to support the development of library leaders, to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians, to attract high school and college students to consider careers in libraries, and to assist in the professional development of librarians and library staff. Through a grant received under this program in 2006, the New Jersey State Library and its partners, the NJ Library Association, Thomas Edison State College, the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University and the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, recruited individuals to become librarians or further their education with the idea of creating a “Multicultural, Multilingual Library Staff.” Those recruited to obtain an undergraduate degree attended Thomas Edison State College; those pursuing an advanced degree attended Rutgers University.

At the NJ Library Association Annual Conference in Long Branch, the 28 scholars whose educational goals were supported by this grant were recognized for their accomplishments.

AA Degree
Terri Carpenter, Bridgeton Library
Shileen Shaw, Newark Public Library
Elias Vazquez, Ocean County, Lakewood branch

BA Degree
Aurelia Rodriguez, Newark Public Library
Violet Valentin, Gill Memorial Library
Audrey May Samuels, Plainfield Public Library
Ellen Rice, Jersey City Public Library
Lisa Morris, originally from Trenton Public Library

MLIS Degree
Sharon Shrieves-Ward, Trenton Public Library
Thomas Michael Eck, Mt. Holly Library
Michele Dupey, Jersey City Public Library
Paulette Doe-Williams, Willingboro Public Library
Alice Caffrey, Cumberland County Library
Tonya Badillo, Long Branch Public Library
Rosary Van Ingen, Hoboken Public Library
Nicole Gardner, Vineland Public Library
Christal Blue, East Orange Public Library
Janice People, Plainfield Public Library
Megan McCarthy, Monroe Public Library

Degrees in Progress to be finished by 11/2010:
Lolata Greggs, AA, Newark Public Library
Malakia Oglesby, BA, Asbury Park Public Library
Thalia Sweet, BA, Long Branch Public Library
Sandra Jones, BA, Atlantic City Public Library
Jamie Vigue, MLIS, Atlantic County Library, Pleasantville branch
Angelica Mullen, MLIS, Atlantic County Library, Pleasantville branch
Theresa Michelle Rausa-Campbell, MLIS
Edith Beckett, PhD, New Jersey State Library
Hannah Kwon, PhD, Rutgers University (originally from Newark Public Library)

Photo: Megan McCarthy (left) of the Monroe Public Library with Michele Stricker, deputy director of the NJ State Library’s Library Development Bureau.

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TEDxNJLibraries, a conference devoted to “ideas worth spreading,” will be held on Friday May 7, 2010, at the Princeton Public Library, Princeton, from 12:30 to 8 p.m. TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. Since then, its scope has become ever broader to include new TEDx community programs.

TEDx events are independently organized conferences licensed by TED. TEDxNJLibraries is being sponsored and curated by Princeton Public Library, the New Jersey State Library, South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, and the bloggers of Library Garden. The licensed name incorporates the word libraries due to the strong affiliation with the NJ library community, but the conference is open to all and will have a diverse set of speakers and participants. The goal is to have representation of people from all walks of life. Speakers will definitely have a wide array of backgrounds and will discuss all aspects of the relationship between culture and community.

Speakers include:

Salman Ahmad, rock star and founder of the hugely successful band Junoon.

Steven J. Bell, Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University.

Leslie Burger, Executive Director of the Princeton Public Library and a past-president of the American Library Association.

Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS, an international citizens’ lobby dedicated to creating the political will to end poverty.

Alfa Demmellash, Chief Executive Officer of Rising Tide Capital, headquartered in Jersey City.

Alison Byrne Fields has spent her life mobilizing people to create social and political change.

Mimi Omiecinski, founder of the Princeton Tour Company.

Eric Mintel, leader of one of the finest straight ahead jazz quartets in the country today, the Eric Mintel Quartet.

Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, aka “The Restaurant Guys,” have been in the restaurant and wine business on the high end for about 20 years.

Merrick Rosenberg, President & Chief Learning Officer of Team Builders Plus. As coach, trainer and speaker, he has worked with more than a third of the Fortune 100 companies in 33 states and around the world.

Lynette Young, Vice President of Creative Endeavors at Purple Stripe Productions, specializing in social technology strategies and implementation services.

Registration to attend TEDxNJLibraries is open. Registration does not require payment, but if you are chosen to attend, there will be a $25 fee to take part in the day. Payment will be handled as part of your notification that you have been chosen to attend. Limited spaces remain for the conference, so apply early.

For information or to submit a registration application, go to: http://tedxnjlibraries.com.

The New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC) and the New Jersey State Library’s Diversity Committee hosted an open forum on “People of Color Living with Disabilities” on Tuesday, February 23 at TBBC headquarters in Trenton. Over fifty people attended and discussed challenges related to both disability and ethnicity. Pictured, from left, are Andrea Wright, local voice-over artist, who spoke on “Living with Multiple Sclerosis,” Lorraine Jenkins, principal library assistant and chair of the NJSL Diversity Committee, and Gail Stokes, TBBC’s reader services advisor, whose topic was “Living with Macular Degeneration.” Karen Carson, Volunteer Coordinator for TBBC, developed and facilitated the program. (Photo by Mary Crain)

Thomas O’Malley, head of the New Jersey State Library law library, is one of the two-member New Jersey team chosen to attend the upcoming conference, A Training on Public Libraries and Access to Justice. The team is one of only 13 from across the country selected to participate of the 42 teams that applied. The two-day conference in Austin, Texas, will address how public libraries can improve access to online legal information. Joining O’Malley, is Nancy Gramaglia, Esq., Litigant Services Manager, NJ Administrative Office of the Courts.

The conference, held Jan. 11-12, is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the National Center for State Courts and the Center-hosted Self-Represented Litigation Network, in cooperation with the Legal Services Corporation. It will give public librarians an opportunity to meet with legal and court experts to discuss strategies for assimilating access to legal information into their programs. This information will include how to best locate content and tools, how to talk about the matter with library patrons, how to work with content partners to make sure that needed subject matter is developed, how to share what they have learned statewide, and how to use successful programs to advocate for the importance of public libraries as gateways to government institutions.

“Our law librarians provide exceptional service on a daily basis to state officials and their staffs, state employees, students, and our other customers,” said Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Tom to share his expertise with a select group of librarians from across the country and to learn the latest best practices from experts in the field.”

Colleen Dazé, director of the State Library Information Center said, “Tom has been helping the residents of New Jersey locate answers to their legal questions for more than a decade. We are proud that his team was chosen to attend.”

Gary Cooper, public relations & media contact for the NJ State Library, presented Denise Milby of Little Egg Harbor with a Basket of Books she won for her school in a drawing held at the 109th Annual NJ PTA Convention in Atlantic City, Dec 2 & 3.

Alka Bhatnagar (center), analysis & trends specialist for the NJ State Library, accepted the Francis Keppel Award given for timely submission of public library data. The award, which was presented at the State Data Coordinators Conference, is given annually by the U.S Dept. of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

A workshop is planned for the next meeting of the UL Section on November 10, 2009, 9:30 - noon, at Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.

It is an informal gathering but promises to be highly informative and thought provoking. As much as we may think it not so gangs are a part of the many communities in New Jersey. Understanding the nature, purpose and degree of their presence in our libraries is important so that we may continue to provide a safe environment for all our users and staff. There is no charge for this workshop.

Please RSVP directly to Paul Pattwell at ppattwell@npl.org.

Presenters are:
DSG Ron Hampton a New Jersey State Trooper for 14 years and is a New Jersey Superior Court qualified expert on gangs.

Tina Kerestury, Associate State Librarian for the New Jersey State Library. She served as coordinator for the State Library’s successful day long forum: “Safe Teens = Safe Streets: New Jersey’s First Working Forum on Community Collaboration.” She will discuss the purpose of the forum and share her insights on the long term benefits of this collaborative effort for libraries and other community organizations.

Directions

On August 25, 2009, at the Mount Laurel Library, the NJ State Library sponsored a workshop for interested librarians on developing the graphic novel collection at their library.

Presenters were (from left in photo): David Lisa, the State Library’s Urban Libraries and Adult Services Specialist; Sophie Brookover, librarian with Eastern Regional Senior High School, Audubon; David Inabnitt, librarian with the Brooklyn Public Library; Laverne Mann, librarian with the Mercer County Library; and John Cunningham, vice president of marketing for DC Comics.

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NJ State Librarian Norma Blake (second from left) with the IMLS scholars who attended the NJLA Annual Conference. If not for the grant, they would not have been able to afford to attend. With Blake are, from left: Janice Peoples from Plainfield Public Library, and Aurelia Rodriguez, Shileen Shaw and Lolata Greggs, all from the Newark Public Llibrary.

Erin MacCord, development officer for the Library for the Blind & Handicapped, discussed services offered to visually impaired and handicapped veterans with William “Billy” Mack, national executive committeeman, and Betty Baranowski, rehabilitation - hospital chairwoman, at the 2009 American Legion Department of NJ Convention in Wildwood.