2021 President's Message

Dear Chapter Members and Friends,

I am honored to be sending my second New Year message as President of the SLA New York Community. Due to some unexpected changes to the Community's Board positions, I am serving another term in the lead role. When I wrote my 2020 New Year message we still had no idea what the coming year had in store for us. I am pleased to say we did manage to organize several in-person events before the pandemic hit, but virtual meetings became the norm for the rest of the year. I am so impressed at how quickly our Community has adapted to remote communication. I am sure many of you share my gratitude for the support our extensive program of online social and education events are providing us, during these very challenging times. I do believe we are heading for better times in 2021 and once again the New York Community has lots planned for its members. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to expand your professional network, work on your professional development, and become more involved in your professional association.

Welcome our New Board

President - Victoria North
Vice President - Christine Pelosi
Secretary - Alice Griffin
Program Events Coordinator - Clara Cabrera
Communications Chair - Jo Polanco

The Board meets monthly, normally on the second Tuesday of the month.

Check our Exciting Program of Events

Toast the New Year; an opportunity to network with Community members and look ahead to the year to come - January 21
In Support of the Women's March - Virtual Roundtable - January 23
The Financially Savvy Librarian with Guest Speaker Penny Wang of Consumer Reports - January 28
Quarterly Managers round table meetings - the first will be on February 5
Black History Month Event - week of February 12
Words on Pictures; four presentations on the history of the New York Public Library's picture collection and its impact on social reform - March 23
Audobon Mural Project Virtual Tour - April 21
Pride Month an interview with a scholar of Gloria Anzaldua- lesbian Chicana feminist poet activist- June
Juneteenth celebration - conversations on the biographies of black librarians - June 19
NY Community Annual Business Meeting - November.

Currently we are planning for all these events to take place via video links or conference calls. Registration details will be distributed nearer the time via the NY Community Newsletter, Connect, and social media.

For more information on the events scheduled for January see our website.

Annual Conference
We hope to see many of you at this year's virtual annual conference in August. Financial assistance for attendance may be available, more details to follow later in the year.

The 2021 Annual Conference will be a virtual interactive experience taking place August 4-13. The 2021 call for proposals is now open, and a timeline for community planners and individuals interested in submitting education sessions, posters, and continuing education courses is posted on the conference web page.

Membership Drive
Help us spread the word about the benefits of being a member of the SLA New York Community and encourage your colleagues and friends to become SLA members this year. You can now be a member of the New York Community, your local Community and a Community which represents the sector you work in at no extra cost.

Membership Options
$220 - Full Member
$100 - Unemployed Member (Rate is available for one year only)
$50 - Full Member (Outside of North America and salary $18,000 annually or less)
$10 - Student Member
$100 - Retired Member
$750 - Organizational Member

Click here to join!

A Call for Volunteers

If you would like to get more involved with the New York Community we are always looking for volunteers to join the Board, help organize events, manage the website, promote and market the Association, and help recruit new members. If you are interested, please contact Victoria North at vnorth63@gmail.com.

Wishing you a healthy and productive New Year.

Victoria North
SLA New York Chapter President