NYSHEI News

The NYSHEI Annual Meeting was a success.

Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak (pictured left), Chair of the Assembly Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation, kicked off the day by emphasizing the role of libraries in supporting innovation and workforce development.

The record number of registrants reacted with enthusiasm to Keynote Speaker Martin Babinec, President of Upstate Venture Connect.  Babinec, a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur who returned to his New York roots in establishing UVC, set the theme of the day when he asked why, with its leading higher education sector, New York lagged in generating the ventures that would lead us through the 21st century.

During a panel anchored by Margaret Moree of the Business Council of New York State and Brian McMahon of the New York State Economic Development Council, the NYSHEI membership got a chance to understand the needs of small businesses and explore what academic libraries could do to foster better collaboration with these entrepreneurs.

Finally, the day was capped by Janet McCue, Associate University Librarian at Cornell, who spoke about Cornell’s efforts to have its library reach into the local and global community, serving as a valued partner for campus researchers, and supporters outside the Cornell grounds.

Register now for this free event.  Program below.

8:30: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00: Welcome

Ruth Copans, Skidmore College

9:15: New York’s Commitment to Innovation and Information.

Assembly Member Dennis Gabryszak (D-Erie), Chair of the Assembly Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation

10:00: Winding Down Nylink Operations

W. David Penniman, Executive Director, Nylink

10:45: Break

11:00: NYSHEI Advocacy & Activities

Jason Kramer, NYSHEI

11:30: NYSHEI Business Meeting

Pamela McLaughlin, Syracuse University and NYSHEI Board Chair

12:00: Lunch and Keynote Address: The Challenge of NY in the Information Age

Martin Babinec, Founder and Chairman, Upstate Venture Connect

1:00: Facilitated Networking & Vendor Demonstrations

Vendor demonstrations:

Elsevier, Room 3

Thomson Reuters, Room 4

Networking Conversations:

CIRA Outreach and Program Development, Cristina Pope, SUNY Upstate

Statewide Licensing and Procurement Options (?), Loretta Ebert, NYSL

SUNY Libraries and Strategic Plan, Carey Hatch, SUNY System Administration

2:00: Panel Discussion: Non-traditional partnerships and the economic growth agenda

Brian McMahon, NYS Economic Development Council

Maggie Moree, Business Council of NYS

Barbara Drago, SUNY System Administration

3:00: Conference Address: Reaching out from the library

Janet McCue, Cornell University, AUL for Teaching, Research, Outreach and Learning Services

4:00: Farewell

Charling Fagan, Sarah Lawrence College and NYSHEI Board Chair

Janet McCue will offer the conference address at the June 8, 2010 Annual Meeting of NYSHEI at Skidmore College.  Ms. McCue is the Associate University Librarian for Teaching, Research, Outreach, and Learning Services at Cornell University and will reflect on her work to achieve the greatest extension of the libraries value.

Early in her career, McCue headed a technical services unit, hired the first Metadata Librarian at Cornell, and led the development of technical services workstations for staff.  More recently, McCue was in charge of the Albert R. Mann Library and directed a variety of projects, including a major renovation and a fund development campaign.  In her new role as AUL, she is responsible for all the campus libraries in the Cornell system.

McCue is on the Board of the Cornell-Sathguru Foundation and The History Center, and is a PI on several digital library projects. She is the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship (1996) and more recently, the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service (2009)  Like the 19^th century librarian and naturalist, McCue believes that “librarianship offers a better field for mental gymnastics than any other profession.”

Registration for the event is still open, and free to all staff of NYSHEI member institutions.

New York State Assembly Member Dennis Gabryszak (D-Erie) will speak at the upcoming NYSHEI Annual Meeting.

Mr. Gabryszak chairs the Assembly Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation.  He will offer his thoughts and insights on the role of the state in fostering that collaboration for the benefit of both parties, and reflect on specific proposals, such as ARIA, that will advance the level of cooperation.

The NYSHEI Annual Meeting will be held at Skidmore College on June 7th, 2010.  Register online.

The 2010 NYSHEI Annual Meeting will feature Martin Babinec, Founder and Chairman of Upstate Venture Connect, as the keynote speaker.

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is a newly launched not-for-profit corporation that is designed to make New York an

“innovation powerhouse,” by connecting entrepreneurs and innovators with the talent and resources they need create and grow innovative businesses.  Mr. Babinec, as the visionary and prime-mover behind UVC, is working to cultivate the “entrepreneurial ecosystem” needed.

Jason Kramer, NYSHEI Executive Director, said, “Mr. Babinec and UVC are getting attention.  When I first learned of their efforts I knew immediately that the NYSHEI vision of an information infrastructure supporting teaching, research and economic growth found an ally in UVC.”

Upstate Venture Connect is rapidly advancing and the media is taking note (see here, here).

“I am very gratified that Mr. Babinec will join us in Saratoga Springs on June 8th.  For the past few years NYSHEI has worked to connect its member libraries to resources and voices in the policy making and economic growth worlds.  The program assembled for our Annual Meeting and featuring Babinec maintain that tradition and keep us moving forward,” said Kramer.

The NYSHEI Annual Meeting is offered at no cost to all librarians and staff of NYSHEI member institutions.  Register today online.