De-Stress Your Mess!

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? We hear your concerns about dealing with difficult patrons and stress in the post-pandemic world.

Join the Diverse & Underserved Populations Committee in an informal and safe environment to share your concerns and suggestions with your colleagues. What happens here, stays here!!

All staff (non-directors) dealing with the public are welcome to attend.

Meeting link will be provided the day before the meeting.

We’re offering three sessions, so please register for whichever one works best for you.

Register Mon. Sept. 20 2-3PM

Register Tues. Sept. 28 7-8PM

Register Thurs. Sept. 30 10-11AM

Ignite Your Programming with Sparks!

Wednesday, September 29 | 10:00am via Webex

Register Now!

To make sure that this program is a success, we need your help!

The BCCLS Adult Services Committee will be partnering with PALS Plus to host Ignite Your Programming with Sparks. It’s a great opportunity to network with and share ideas with colleagues both in our local libraries and neighboring communities.

Ignite Your Programming with Sparks is designed to be a fast-paced brainstorming session for all programming staff, focusing on in-house, low-cost, and community-led programs. As we transition from virtual programs, to outdoor programming, hybrid programming, and in-person programs we want to give staff the opportunity to share programming ideas including tips and tricks as to what has worked well and what hasn’t. Youth Services staff is also welcome to attend! This workshop will also cover programming that bridges the age gaps, including family and all age events.

We know there are a lot of you out there providing fun and interesting programming for your patrons every day and we would love for you to share your great ideas. All you need to do is submit your program ideas and join us on Webex to speak about what you did, how you did it, and how much your patrons loved it. Simple, right? But also a powerful resource for your colleagues.Please submit your program ideas (include promo materials if you have them) through this Google Form (https://forms.gle/BMEBPWpdQmoZX5YB6) by Monday, September 13, and we will reserve you a 3 minute time slot. We promise it’s going to be low pressure and fun.

Best, Jessica Bielen BCCLS Adult Services Committee Chair

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – A Webinar

The BCCLS Diverse & Underserved Populations Committee is pleased to invite our library colleagues, trustees, and Friends to participate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, a virtual program customized for our library community that will provide skills and tools for effective communication, aiding in the creation of a culture of empathy, cohesiveness and understanding. The session will help attendees:

Explore past, present and future cultural beliefs and behaviors Learn how to cultivate fresh and meaningful workplace relationships Develop techniques that support maximizing personal and professional goals and results

For your convenience, the program will be offered on September 30 and again on October 13.

Please open the attached flyer and register for your preferred date.

We look forward to a stimulating and productive event!

FINAL_Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion-Event-FlyerDownload

Department Head Meetup Hour: Youth Services Join us for the Member Services Department Head Meetup series. We will be hosting a virtual meeting each month for BCCLS Department Heads and Managers. We will rotate each month’s focus between Adult Services & Circulation and Youth Services, but all department heads are welcome at all meetings.

Here are the additional sessions that have been added:

October 15th at 10am – Circulation November 19th at 10am – Adult Services December 17th at 10am – Youth Services

Why Attend?

Bounce ideas off other department heads Ask questions and get advice Find out what others in similar positions are doing to meet similar challenges

Friday, September 17th 10:00-11:00 AM

Register Now! If you are a department head and would like to join the DEPTHEAD Google group to receive these emails and to ask questions and share ideas with other department heads in between meetups, please click on this link and “Join Group” https://groups.google.com/a/bccls.org/g/deptheads

Geidi

Named after the black planet in Dune, four year old house-rabbit, Geidi (Prime) plays in her ball pit. Geidi loves a banana slice before bed.

From the President

August 2021

The “Beloved” BCCLS Scholarship Program

Have you seen the news lately? I will be more specific, are you caught up on the feel good stories section? If you are, you saw that announced names of significant figures to replace the geographical names of the rest areas dotting the Garden State Parkway. It is a bold move as most of the nation is name shaming these days as statues, schools, teams and the like have been named after people or groups whose moral character, in some cases long overdue, is under a microscope. It is back to the drawing board for those communities, team owners, politicians and boards. Yet in a celebration of New Jersey Day, the headline broke about what we can look forward to during our next road trip through the Garden State. The reporters noted that politely declined the offer. He was born to run, but apparently not to the restroom. However, he commends and supports the work of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the group overseeing the revamp. It reminded me of the recent anonymous donor to our scholarship fund.

If you missed the announcement at the July Executive Board meeting – in the feel good stories section of the meeting – the fund received two one-time $8,500 scholarships to be doled out to 2022 awardees. Quite a windfall for a fund that relies heavily on its annual event which was cancelled last year and may be scaled back this fall. Much like Bruce Springsteen, the donor wanted no spotlight but showed emphatic support. If you read the full list of notables, you would see that Springsteen’s polite decline was the gain for librarians everywhere, but mostly here. There will be Judy Blume and Toni Morrison outposts. Two prolific writers, one a Nobel Prize Winner … and, in my best Adam Sandler voice, “both Jersey!” As a child, I remember traveling the New Jersey Turnpike and asking questions about the people who emblazoned the buildings in which I refueled with a candy bar. I asked my parents of course; the only pre-Google option in those days. My father, a voracious reader, was at-the-ready to particularly chat up , Joyce Kilmer and . Our family road trips sounded great – eh? Anyways, I think travelers along the GSP may ask similar questions and hopefully their car companions can share good anecdotes about these people that called the 3rd state their home. Which circles me back to the BCCLS Scholarship Program.

So many of our scholarships are named after individuals that made a mark on our consortium. Some, so many years ago, we rely on the seasoned members among us to recount the tales. And as time goes by, one we will have new awards established, anonymous or otherwise. Please continue to support the program by directly donating, encouraging colleagues to apply for the assistance and attend the fundraising events. And always be searching for that next BCCLS Land professional to have a scholarship created in his/her honor. As the stewards of this amazing program, I hope the yet- to-be-named awards will give us all the feels. Like how my fellow passengers will feel when I blurt out, “whoa we’re half-way there!” when I reach the rest stop on my way to NJLA next spring. And promise me that you will see to it that this endowment, like my family road trips, will go on forever!

Cobalt – August 2021

LIBRARY NEWS, PANDEMIC INNOVATIONS, AND MORE!

Millburn

The Millburn Library launched its new website on Mon 8/2/2021. The URL is the same but the content and appearance is all new. www.millburnlibrary.org

The Millburn Library has advertised for bids for an upcoming renovation. The MFPL expects to close for renovation starting in October and reopen in January. The library plans to open a pop-up site in the township to offer temporary “express” services while the main building is closed for renovation.

Paramus

Paramus has combined its World Language and Adult Services Departments. Matthew Mitchel is the Adult Services Supervisor.

The Paramus Reid Branch Library has been named 201 Magazine’s Best in Bergen Public Library. Staff Updates

Leslie Taylor Danielle Cesena Englewood Livingston Reference Librarian Head of Library Technology and Community Outreach Cynthia Cole Angela Lattanzi Englewood Paramus Circulation Assistant Assistant Financial Manager Lynn Reiff Hyeran Chang Englewood Paramus Reference Librarian Adult Services Librarian Jennie Pu Lisa Sedita Hoboken Paramus Director Circulation Supervisor Barabara Abbamont Hanna Blatt Paramus Paramus Assistant Financial Manager Adult Services Librarian Retired after 20 years of service Retired after 35 years of service Valerie Danhart Paramus and Westwood Circulation Supervisor Retired after 35 years of service

Buy a Plant, Donate to BCCLS

Green for green!

Did you know that you can make a purchase valued at $50 or more at the Metropolitan Plant & Flower Exchange, and Metropolitan will donate $10 to the BCCLS Scholarship Fund? Just download and complete the form below, and present it at the time of your purchase.

Thank you for supporting the BCCLS Scholarship Fund!

View Form Library Subscriptions

Lynda and Mango and Gale, oh my!

Did you know that many BCCLS libraries provide eResources in addition to the eSources available to all BCCLS patrons? Check them out by clicking the button below. Please contact the library directly for details.

Let’s Go!

Libraries can update this information by submitting the website support form on MyBCCLS. Support Form

If your library has some news that you think should be included in the next issue of Cobalt, please submit the form below.

Department Head Meetup Hour: Circ & Adult Services The Member Services Committee is continuing to host our monthly department head meetup hour. Our next session will be Friday, August 20th at 10am and will focus on Circ & Adult Services. However, all department heads are certainly welcome to attend. These events are meant as an informal chance for department heads to ask questions, float ideas and learn from their colleagues at other BCCLS libraries. Questions about library policy? Wondering what other libraries are doing when faced with a challenge you are encountering? Want to float a new idea you have for a service or program? Stop by and chat at our meetup! Here is our upcoming schedule of sessions:

August 20th at 10am – Circ & Adult Services September 17th at 10am – Youth Services October 15th at 10am – Circulation November 19th at 10am – Adult Services December 17th at 10am – Youth Services

Register Now!

Feel free to send any questions you have my way. Otherwise, you can click on the link above to register and then get an email with the Zoom information before the meeting. Thanks!

Matt Latham BCCLS Member Services Committee Chair

Cobalt – July 2020

UPDATES

New Smart Scanners: After eBCCLS: We continue to much research and testing of see circulation movement in new models, we are excited to the use of econtent. For the announce a new model of Smart Catalog: Technology Committee, month of June, ebooks were Scanner to replace both our working with the BCCLS office, down 26% from what they laser scanners and existing provided a proposal for an app and were during the pandemic smart scanners. These new discovery layer to Executive Board last year, while eaudiobooks scanners have just about all of for consideration. It includes were up 1% compared to the capabilities of the old smart additional capabilities for better June of last year – possibly scanner and are extremely patron experience and an increased buoyed by many people reliable and fast, with a similar level of patron engagement and returning to the work price tag to the laser scanner communications. commute. Also in June, that we were previously emagazines continued offering. This model will replace downward with usage 5% both existing barcode scanner lower than June of last year. options with one well-rounded scanner. Cataloging: This is a gentle reminder: 1) Those who need to submit non-Roman material records Library Routers: We are but did not ask for a Record Manager well past the halfway point account, please email and have installed 52 new [email protected] since these Aruba firewalls at member records can’t be submitted in library buildings! The new CatExpress. 2) Please don’t “Save to network is more secure, Office Phones and Catalog” in CatExpress if the 040 $b providing only necessary Internet: Our new phone in the record is not “eng”. Our access for the appropriate system has been installed at cataloging intern successfully computers (e.g. staff BCCLS HQ and Warehouse, and finished her internship from April 6 machines can access staff we are waiting for installation to June 9. We have a new cataloging sites and applications, while of our new internet circuit to intern who started on June 23. She is public PCs are restricted to replace Lightpath. working on correcting format icons website, general web in the catalog in order to improve browsing, and catalog). searching. Margaret continues Migration is on track to be cataloging eContent and assists with completed by the end of this the ILS. Please be patient as we year. transition responsibilities to mitigate the staff shortage. Pandemic Support: Helping Director Portal: Please take a libraries and their patrons by moment to check that your Library offering digital library cards for Info, Regular & Summer Hours, and new patrons and compiling lists Holiday Closings are up to date of virtual library program ideas, within the Director Portal on MyBCCLS: The MyBCCLS live streaming events, CE and MyBCCLS. The directions for remediation project professional development updating each of these items can be continues while we continue opportunities, and free found at the top of each section to look at alternatives that resources beyond BCCLS. within the portal. Keeping all of this integrate with our existing Trying to assist libraries information up-to-date is not only infrastructure. with PPE needs when possible important for the library information and providing information pages on the BCCLS website, but about library services available also for updating the proper ILS during the pandemic for settings for your library. directors to share with their boards. MyBCCLS Support: The Polaris: We recently upgraded BCCLS support forms were our test server to a newer recently moved to the new version of Polaris and upgraded site. You can navigate our production server on May directly to them here. Be 24th. More information coming advised, you will be asked to soon! log in.

DELIVERY REMINDERS

As we head into summer let’s remember…

Check out these short training videos to brush up on preparing your items for delivery.

From the Executive Director

July 2021 Mission: BCCLS empowers our member libraries by providing a collaborative framework made stronger by the uniqueness of its members. We demonstrate our commitment to collaboration through cost-effective resource sharing, shared professional development, and the fostering of initiatives to facilitate a forward-thinking public library system.

Summer or New Year’s Eve

There was a recent article in the news in which there was a new phenomenon highlighted – whole groups of people were taking the time to get together over the July 4th weekend and celebrate all the holidays they missed over the last year and a half. I thought it was a neat idea, but also perhaps apt to how many of us may be feeling right now. The pent-up desire for life to restart and make up for lost time is palpable in our daily lives. I see it in staff, in patrons, and even in myself. Some days I’m cautious about the whole thing. Some days I’m ready to sprint forward. So while I am not among those that are choosing to celebrate all the missed holidays from the past several months, I am celebrating something that I do think gives me hope. For me this year, the start of summer feels like New Year’s Eve … that moment in the darkness of winter when hope arrives and things seem very possible again. With that, I raise a glass to summer and the start of a new time of hope where possibilities can again match the dreams of public libraries everywhere.