NYSHEI News

The 2010 NYSHEI Annual Meeting is set for June 8, at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Plan on joining us at beautiful Skidmore, located off historic Broadway in Saratoga.  Register today.

This year’s program will feature leaders from the higher education community, state government and economic development organizations.  By continuing to explore the role of academic and research libraries as critical “information infrastructure” supporting teaching, learning, scholarship, research, and the broader economy, NYSHEI’s annual gathering will help all sides understand the challenges and opportunities in developing greater collaboration.

Recognizing the difficult budgets facing our institutions, NYSHEI is pleased to offer free registration for attendees from NYSHEI member institutions and invited guests.  This offer is made possible by the generous support we receive from event sponsors.

Look for the full program to be announced in the next few days.  Information about our sponsors, available lodging, and travel will soon follow.  Register now.

Please contact Jason Kramer with any questions.

NYSHEI is now a member of the New York Roundtable on Innovation.

The NY ROI is an alliance that is steadfastly committed to attracting sustained investment in the bioscience and technology sectors of New York State.  Accordingly, this alliance is focused on the advancement of innovation, enterprise, economic development, higher education, public-private partnerships, and the creation of infrastructure, institutions and policies needed to further these goals.

The goal of the Roundtable is to ensure that New York is recognized globally as a place that is second to none for innovation.

“Receiving an invitation to join this impressive group is a testament to the continued ascendancy of NYSHEI as an influential voice among state policy makers and opinion leaders.  NYSHEI is very pleased to join this alliance and looks forward to working collaboratively to enhance our state, our economy and our member institutions,” said Jason Kramer, Executive Director of NYSHEI.

The New York Roundtable on Innovation has participants from a variety of private corporations, public agencies, and not-for-profit associations.

The background to the 2010 State of the State is a multi-billion dollar state deficit that will grow to a $17 billion deficit when the federal stimulus money runs out in FY 2011-12.  In his response to these hostile challenges Governor David Paterson offered a fresh start in his speech.

The Governor admitted that something – if not everything – had to change if New York were to avoid descent into bankruptcy.  In his State of the State address the Governor offered an overhaul of state finances that would include significant budget cuts, a dramatic retooling of government practices and ethics that would include term limits, and a vision to reignite the “Innovation Economy” in New York.  This is a difficult agenda that is already being met with reticence from the legislature.

A list of all initiatives referenced in the State of the State is available online.

Of particular interest to academic and research libraries may be some of the ideas contained in the Governor’s economic development proposals.  While it is difficult to predict specifics in advance of the release of the Executive Budget proposal (January 18, 2010), there were encouraging moments during the speech.  When Paterson discussed the importance of an innovation infrastructure, the role of colleges and universities, and information age economic growth, many heard an argument in favor of the Academic Research Information Access (ARIA) act.

The Excelsior Jobs program, as a described successor to the Empire Zone program, may provide one opportunity for ARIA to seek enactment.  So too the Governor’s call to include small business in research and development entrepreneurial incentives.

The legislative session has begun.  With no money in the bank, a closely divided Senate, a unpopular Governor placing blame on an even less popular legislature, and looming elections, 2010 will be an unusually difficult year.  May analysts predict that gridlock and in-fighting will be the hallmarks of the session.  Only time will tell.

NYSHEI, like every other group in the state, will face formidable challenges.  Creativity and hardwork will be needed as never before, but may still not be enough to achieve progress.  Rather, nearly every interest in the state will need to muster all their resources to minimize losses rather than realize gains.

NYSHEI Executive Director Jason Kramer is featured in a new pamphlet from Elsevier: Library Connect.

The pamphlet deals with developing strong library budgets.  Mr. Kramer’s article focuses on the bare essentials of advocacy for academic and research libraries.  The full article and pamphlet are available online.

Monday, NYSHEI hosted a summit of groups representing academic and research libraries and librarians.  The purpose of the summit was to share information and build collaborative channels in support of advocacy and public policy initiatives.

Groups were invited to send two representatives to participate in the summit.  With a mostly informal agenda, the summit sparked conversation addressing both the reasons why greater collaboration has yet to occur and opportunities for enhanced cooperation in the months and years ahead.

During what was a frank and open dialogue a general consensus seemed to build for continuing efforts to improve communication among the groups.   Some participants  emphasized that the need for joint-action was perhaps greater than ever as a forecasts of grim financial circumstances extend through the foreseeable future.

Participating in the summit were representatives from the 3R’s councils, ACRL/NY, the Academic and Special Library Section of NYLA, Connect NY, the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians, the CUNY Office of Library Services, Eastern New York ACRL, the IDS Project, the Librarians Association of CUNY,  NELLCO, the New York Library Association, the NYS Higher Education Initiative, Nylink, the State Library,  the SUNY Council of Library Directors, the SUNY Librarians Association, the SUNY Office of Library and Information Services, Upstate NY/Ontario Chapter Medical Library Association, and the Western New York ACRL.

For more information about the summit contact NYSHEI, or the leadership of your participating group.