C J R L C  UPDATE

   Retiring Monmouth County Library Children’s Librarian Jean Klerman had a day named in her honor by the Freeholders for her service of 30 years with “grace, creativity, passion and dedication.” Congratulations, Jean!

   A new leadership training opportunity will join the suite of existing NJ leadership programs. The Emerging Leaders Program is targeted to librarians with fewer than five years experience in the profession. It is funded by the Karma Foundation through NJLA. The participants will be chosen by lottery.

   Each participant will be expected to join an NJLA Committee or Section as part of the training. The first session will be January 9 at the State Library in Trenton. State Librarian Norma Blake and NJLA President Leslie Burger will discuss the NJ library landscape. On February 13 participants will learn about leadership styles and opportunities. On April 4, the Emerging Leaders will be invited to participate with the NJ Academy for Library Leadership. Maureen Sullivan will be discussing Creativity and Risk Taking. That program is at the Monmouth County Library.

   There will be a reception for the group at the NJLA Conference April 11 and 12, with an opportunity to meet the Committee and Section Heads of NJLA. On June 12 there will be a full day program on Communications and on September 11, the topic is How to Run an Effective Meeting. The final program will be in November.

   There is no cost to attend, but the participant the his/her director must indicate a willingness for the attendee to be at every session. Applications may be faxed to NJLA at 609-394-8164 and are to include a statement of willingness to attend, contact information and the signature of the library director.

   The Monmouth County Library hopes to pass a public library milestone; an annual circulation in excess of one million items at our Headquarters Branch. With present levels of circulation we expect to achieve a one-millionth item circulation at our Headquarters location mid-December of 2001.

   All registered library cardholders are eligible to participate at a chance to borrow the one-millionth item. However, Monmouth County employees are excluded from winning the gift certificate.

   To mark this significant event, the Monmouth County Library is planning a celebration at the time the one-millionth item is circulated. In addition, the lucky patron who circulates the one-millionth item will receive a gift certificate for a family brunch at the Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank, New Jersey as a prize. The Molly Pitcher Inn was chosen the best restaurant for brunch in Central Jersey in New Jersey Monthly's readers' choice 2001 annual survey. The prize will be presented to the patron who circulated the one-millionth item at our January 20, 2002 program at our Headquarters Branch.

   Nancy Kranich, former ALA President, gave an emotional keynote address to 75 librarians gathered at Monmouth County Library to plan the next steps for Recruiting. Kranich, who lives in NYC, described the importance of libraries and librarians to NYC residents.

   Six candidates were elected to the CJRLC Executive Board for a three year term beginning January, 2002, according to Kathryn Holden, CJRLC Nominating Chair. The official results will be announced at the Fall Membership Meeting.

   Mary Ann Fox, The Hun School, was elected to a second term as Mercer County Member at Large. Larry McNamara, Mercer County Library, is elected to a first term as Mercer County Member at Large.

   Linda Greenwood, Manchester Twp. HS, was re-elected for a second term and will represent Ocean County. Gloria Stravelli, also of Ocean County, will be the new lay representative. Serving as Members at Large are Ken Sheinbaum, Monmouth County Library, and Ingrid Bruck, Long Branch PL.

   Three teleconferences will again be offered at Georgian Court College and subsidized by CJRLC. All sessions are from 12 noon to 2 PM and will include lunch for the cost of $15.

   The first one is on November 16 and the topic is Customer Service...It’s More Than Just a Smile, with Debra Wilcox Johnson. On Friday, January 18, the topic is Bringing Order to the Chaos: Using Search Engines Efficiently with Bill Erbes. On Friday, March 22, the topic is Whatever Happened to Carbon Paper? A Look Toward the Future for Librarians, Library Assistants and the Printed Word by Bill Erbes and a Panel of Library Staff.

   At the request of the State Library, INFOLINK Regional Library Cooperative convened a gathering of librarians interested in Youth Services on October 25 at Monmouth County Library.

   Committee Chair Carol Phillips welcomed the 100 attendees and introduced MaryKay Dahlgreen, Youth Services Coordinator for the Oregon State Library. Mary Kay discussed the differences and similarities between Oregon and NJ (one has land and not many people, the other one lots of people, not much land, among lots of other differences). Oregon’s funding is primarily for children and youth services.

   After her presentation, groups were charged with coming up with a list of needed services for NJ’s youth, categorizing them according to whether they are best provided by the State, the Regions, or by local libraries. The list was then ranked and the most important five services were listed for each group.

   There was widespread support for a youth services consultant at the State Library.