Minutes for the Annual Meeting are on the Communications tab above or on Minutes tab from the Board tab.
To find the By Laws, click the Board and Officers tab above. Then click the By Laws tab on the page that comes up.
Updating our Long Range Plan
Please review this plan, and submit comments/suggestions to RLRT President Michelle La Voie (director@oleanlibrary.org) or incoming President Keturah Cappadonia (cappadoniak@stls.org) by October 21st.
Rural Libraries Round Table Long Range Plan DRAFT
2023-2025
Rural Libraries Roundtable Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the New York Library Association (NYLA) Rural Libraries Roundtable (RLRT) is to foster communication among individuals who work in or serve as trustees for rural libraries in New York State. The group will serve as a platform for discussion and peer-support on issues of specific interest to rural libraries.
Introduction
In 2009, the founding members of the Rural Libraries Roundtable drafted a Long Range Plan (LRP) to help guide the work of the roundtable.
In 2022, the RLRT Board surveyed membership to determine what issues were most important to rural libraries’ staff. Those results have directed an updated LRP serving the years 2023-2025.
Goals and Actions
In response to the 2022 survey, the following goals and actions were developed to meet the needs of RLRT membership.
Goal One: To provide quality training, programming, and resources to help support the operations of rural libraries.
Actions:
- Direct membership to Continuing Education opportunities both online and in-person that are specific to the needs of rural libraries.
- Sponsor programs at the NYLA Annual Conference that are focused on issues that directly impact rural libraries.
- Develop a regional mentoring program pairing Directors/staff for resource and knowledge based sharing.
Goal Two: To build Rural Libraries Roundtable membership and provide opportunities for networking and recognition.
Actions:
- Distribute information about RLRT membership and its benefits to NYLA sections and other roundtables including the New Members Roundtable, library schools, public and school library systems, and regional library councils.
- Staff an informational and recruitment table at the NYLA Annual Conference Trade Show.
- Offer a scholarship opportunity to the NYLA Annual Conference.
- Facilitate networking opportunities for rural library staff regionally and at the NYLA conference to share and discuss issues that are unique to rural libraries.
Goal Three: Create marketing and public relations tools to promote RLRT and build awareness of rural library issues, areas of opportunity, and accomplishments.
Actions:
- Continue to publish the newsletter and update the RLRT webpage and social media pages to promote RLRT members and rural libraries throughout New York State.
- Advocate for Trustee support of Continuing Education opportunities, including conference attendance, for rural library staff.
Evaluation
The RLRT Board, led by the President, will continuously monitor and evaluate the RLRT’s progress towards these goals, presenting an update to membership at the Annual Meeting.
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RLRT Board 2022 – 2023
Our newly elected board members officially begin their term of office on Friday, November 4th. This year, only the president and vice-president are new to those roles. Please congratulate Keturah and Suzanne.
President: Keturah Cappadonia, Southern Tier Library System
Vice-President / President Elect: Suzanne Macaulay, OWWL Library System
Treasurer: Debby Emerson, Wadsworth Library, Geneseo
Secretary: Karen Ash, Angelica Free Library
Immediate Past President: Michelle La Voie, Olean Public Library
Member-at-Large: Vince Sperrazza, Clayville Library Association
RLRT Board 2021 - 2022
President: Michelle La Voie, Olean Public Library ( director@oleanlibrary.org)
Vice-President: Keturah Cappadonia, Southern Tier Library System
Treasurer: Debby Emerson, Wadsworth Library, Geneseo
Secretary: Karen Ash, Angelica Free Library
Immediate Past President: Rebecca Budinger-Mulhearn . Avon Free Library
Member-at-Large: Vince Sperrazza, Clayville Library Association
About Rural Libraries Round Table
This roundtable is designed to be of interest to libraries of all types including public, school, rural libraries, special and corporate, and small academic libraries.
Defining characteristics of “rural libraries”:
- Limited service population
- Limited budget
- Minimal staff
- Geographically isolated
The roundtable is able to serve these functions:
- Create a network of people who work, volunteer or are interested in rural libraries.
- Provide a forum for the smallest of NY state libraries to exchange ideas and experiences.
- Provide an opportunity for continuing education relevant to rural libraries.
For comments, suggestions, or questions contact RLRT member Vince Sperrazza at vksperr@gmail.com.