Mohawk Valley Library System

Category: Online

  • Free Mini-Conference – Fundraising for Friends and Foundation Groups

    Date: Wednesday, June 09, 2021
    Time: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/18804361522
    Cost: Free

    COVID-19 caused many of us to have dramatic decreases in our fundraising efforts over the course of 2020 but it also provided an opportunity for most Friends and Foundation groups to pivot and completely revisit their fundraising and development strategies.  Join us for this virtual mini-con to hear about some of these strategies and programs.  It is our hope that you will be inspired to replicate an idea or two from our mini-con and build those budgets back up.  And the mini-conference is free!

    As an added bonus, New York Times Best-Selling author of “The Paris Library” Janet Skelsien Charles will be joining us live all the way from Paris, France!

    Registration is required, deadline to register is June 01.

  • Free Webinar – Summer Reading Lunch & Learn with 4-H

    Date: Thursday, April 29, 2021
    Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
    Place: Online at https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/
    Cost: Free

    This year’s Summer Reading theme of animals/Tails and Tales is the perfect opportunity to connect with 4-H and STEM team educators in your part of the state! Tap into the expertise of 4-H staff and learn how to take advantage of programs and resources in animal science and other areas that can be adapted to your Summer Reading programs and activities this year and beyond. Explore online 4-H resources as well as resources and kits that can be borrowed from local offices to enhance programs in libraries of all sizes, whether rural or urban. There will be time for questions at the end of the session.

    Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H is a valued partner of Summer Reading at New York Libraries.

  • Free Webinar – Fundraising Beyond the Book Sale

    Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
    Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://tinyurl.com/twrr9x8
    Presenters: Rebecca Fuss, Kathy Shay, Jenny Goodmote
    Cost: Free to MVLS libraries (select CDLC as your ESLN Council when registering)

    The Central New York Library Resources Library Council and the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association are happy to present this special program regarding library fundraising this Earth Day 2021!

    Looking for some best practices for fundraising that can be implemented within pandemic safety guidelines?  When you cannot gather crowds at large-scale book sales, are there other creative projects and tactics your Friends and foundation can undertake?   Rebecca Fuss of the Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library will discuss annual appeals, donor relations, peer-to-peer fundraising, and other community-wide donation efforts that provide a good return on the investment of your time.  Jenny Goodemote and Kathy Shay of Wood Library in Canandaigua will share the details of their “knock-out” fundraiser, Pursapalooza, a sale of purses, jewelry, artwork, and more.  Organized by a committee of trustees, this in-person annual event morphed into an online store of designer handbags in November 2020.  Until large-scale book sales can resume once more, strengthening connections with long-time supporters and adapting the library’s profitable fundraisers is the name of the (socially distant) game!

    Learning Objectives

    After the webinar, attendees will be able to:

    • Adapt previous fundraising techniques to better fit today’s environment.
    • Communicate with either your Friends group or Board of Trustees about the future of library fundraising.
    • Identify best practices for connecting with your community and communicating your needs to them.
    • Begin planning your own library fundraiser using one or more suggestions from our presenters.
    • Evaluate online platforms for virtual, in-person, and hybrid fundraising events.
    • Expand your ability to reframe and organize library fundraisers.

  • Free Webinar – Making the Most of your Volunteer Program

    Date: Wednesday, April 07, 2021
    Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=971&reset=1
    Presenters: Angela Bomgaars

    Planning and preparing for volunteers can be a lot of work, especially when there isn’t a strategy in place to effectively utilize their work. With a few important tips and tricks, a volunteer program that is worth the return on investment is possible.

    In this one-hour webinar, we will touch on the importance of investing in volunteers in the first place. Next, we’ll look at putting together a strategy which includes planning, setting expectations, communicating, building relationships, and training. Finally, we’ll cover how to evaluate staff time so that you will be able to maximize volunteer efficiency at your library.

    Whether you’re looking to start a volunteer program or improve your existing program, this webinar will provide you with straight forward advice and guidance.

    At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

    • Be comfortable with identifying next steps to move forward with starting a volunteer program or be comfortable with assessing their current volunteer program
    • Be able to identify a plan for utilizing volunteers
    • Be able to determine how to get the most out of a volunteer program

    This webinar will be of interest to: Library staff who work with volunteers or who have considered working with volunteers.

    Webinars are free of charge, you can pre-register by clicking on the Register Now button on the InfoPeople page. If registering with less than 30 MINUTES from the start of the webinar you can join directly from the thank you page by clicking the Join Now button. If you pre-registered you will receive an email with login link and a reminder email the day before the event. All webinars are archived for later viewing at http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived.

  • Solo Librarian Interest Group Meeting

    Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021
    Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    Place: Online at https://cdlc.libcal.com/event/7505497

    Running a library on your own and looking to touch base with other librarians doing the same? Please join in next week on Zoom for an online meeting for Capital District Area Solo Librarians. This meeting will focus on time management – how do you juggle everything when you are the only person to do it? How do you advocate for time to network or participate in continuing education?

    If you have any questions please contact Chris Tosh at ctosh@cdlc.org.