EBSCO is sponsoring the 6th NYSHEI Annual Meeting at the bronze level.

“EBSCO Publishing is proud to partner with NYSHEI to promote higher education initiatives in NY,” said Jim Kropelin, Regional Sales Manager.

“It is gratifying to have EBSCO among our supporters. NYSHEI continues to grow and strengthen because of the partnership of organizations like EBSCO. I sincerely thank them for their support,” said Jason Kramer of NYSHEI.

This is the first year that EBSCO is sponsoring the NYSHEI Annual Meeting.

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State Senator Joseph Griffo (R-Utica) recently hosted a hearing at Utica College to examine how government, educators and business leaders can improve their partnerships, to the benefit of all. Joining Senator Griffo were members of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, and invited speakers.

Below are samples from the evening. All demonstrate the critical niche NYSHEI’s ARIA can fill in meeting the challenges of empowering the higher education sector while leveraging it to the benefit of the broader economy. The impact of NYSHEI advocacy heralding the potentiality of academic and research libraries as “information infrastructure” is being felt by our state decision makers.

“We must recoginze that the rivers and water wheels of the 19th and early 20th century are the universities, knowledge and internet bandwidth that connects our universities, businesses and our government. Therefore we must make the universities accessible to smaller businesses and entrepreneurs and promote innovative partnerships that leverage technology, innovation and money to mutual success,” said Michael Ryan, CEO of North Bay Technology Development.

“SUNY is committed statewide in promoting the State’s economy, and certainly sees economic development as essential to the services it provides to the people of New York as well as its primary missions of education, research and healthcare,” said Dr. John Clark, Interim SUNY Chancellor.

“Colleges are economic engines. Our colleges are an asset we need to see strengthened through investment and collaboration,” said Shawna Papale, Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises.

“University-industry partnerships yield the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, which produce goods and services when effectively harnessed. Government plays a crucial short term and long term role in promoting these collaborations. The long term role requires the application of public policies and the allocation of scarce resources to develop those who drive the innovation process. The short term role focuses on the development of public policies and allocation of resources to accelerate yield from the university-industry collaboration,” said Anthony Collins, Clarkson University President.

“More work needs to be done to connect businesses to the significant resources available on New York’s private and public higher education campuses,” said Abe Lackman, President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.

“Higher education is an important as any industrial sector we have. It is, and will remain, one of the single most important drivers of growth in our state. Our policies and spending priorities must reflect that for us to remain competitive. That is why we strongly support the draft proposals made by the Commission on Higher Education,” said Robert Simpson, President-elect, Metropolitan Development Association.

We could not have said it better.

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Elsevier is sponsoring the 6th Annual Meeting of NYSHEI at the platinum level. This is the highest level of direct support.

“Elsevier has sponsored every single meeting of NYSHEI, and their support continues to grow. Elsevier has been an active and energetic partner as NYSHEI pursues it goals. I sincerely thank them for their commitment to the academic and research libraries of New York,” said Jason Kramer, Executive Director of NYSHEI.

“Working with NYSHEI has helped us to gain a better perspective of the ongoing challenges facing New York libraries, allowing us to better anticipate their needs and open the dialogue toward solutions. Our continued partnership with NYSHEI is essential to building stronger relationships with these libraries and provides an opportunity to help further their missions,” said Kelli L. Gonzalez, Account Manager, Elsevier.

Elsevier will have a visible presence at the Syracuse meeting, and will offer product demonstrations in a private room next to the main meeting space.

“I hope that all NYSHEI members will stop by, thank Elsevier for their support, and take a few minutes to learn more about the company, its people and products,” said Kramer.

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Blackwell’s Book Services is sponsoring the NYSHEI Annual Meeting at the Bronze Level.

Blackwell’s serves over 15,000 academic, research and special libraries in 120 countries. Through a personalized network of services, from approval plans, firm orders, out-of-print, standing orders, and opening day collections to other features such as table of contents enrichment and electronic new title announcement services, Blackwell’s combines longstanding methods of traditional bookselling with the latest information technology.

“I am grateful to Blackwell’s for supporting NYSHEI, and look forward to future opportunities to partner together. I encourage all attendees to take a few moments to visit our friends on June 2,” said Jason Kramer of NYSHEI.

This is the first time Blackwell’s is sponsoring the NYSHEI Annual Meeting.

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The annual ALA “most challenged books” list is out, with “and Tango makes three” again topping the list.

On the occasion of the list, Media watchdog Brent Bozell challenges some librarians’ notions of intellectual freedom.

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NYSHEI is now a member of the Business Council of New York State.

“This a tactical decision that should bolster our advocacy efforts by opening doors to new collaborative relationships, amplifying our voice, and establishing our credibility as a committed actor in improving the state’s economic climate,” said NYSHEI Executive Director Jason Kramer.

“Last year, NYSHEI made the strategic move to promote ARIA not merely as beneficial to higher education, but also as critical to developing knowledge-based economy. This approach has paid significant dividends in winning supporters to our cause. Joining the Business Council is one way to take this approach to the next level,” said Kramer.

The Business Council of New York State, Inc., is the largest business organization in New York State. Its membership is made up of thousands of member companies, as well as local chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations. Though 72 percent of their members are small businesses, BCNYS also represents some of the largest and most important corporations in the world, including IBM, Verizon, Eastman Kodak, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Corning, Pfizer and many more.

The BCNYS also counts among its members diverse groups such as the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Proprietary Colleges, the Center for Government Research, the American Chemistry Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Medical Society of New York, the College Board, the New York Press Association, and many others.

The primary function of the Business Council is to serve as an advocate in the state political and policy-making arena, working for a healthier business climate, economic growth, and jobs.

“The mission of NYSHEI, as embodied in ARIA, closely complements the work of the Business Council. I believe that by partnering with them NYSHEI stands to gain access, influence and critical assistance. As NYSHEI aggressively pursues state support for the information infrastructure of academic and research libraries amidst a darkening state fiscal climate, relationships with energetic players like BCNYS make ever more sense,” concluded Kramer.

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When David Paterson took the office of Governor everyone knew that some things would change. Among the myriad changes expected was a new policy thrust. Where Eliot Spitzer put rhetoric and effort behind developing an “innovation economy,” it was expected Paterson would emphasize health care.

However, instead of elevating health care to the top priority, the Buffalo News reports that Paterson may actually be de-emphasizing economic development, particularly upstate. It is still early, but this is a development worth monitoring.

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The state has unveiled the new “I Love NY” campaign. This time with a squirrel. The idea is to make it less NYC-centric.

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With the retirement date of State Librarian Janet Welch fast approaching, the New York State Education Department is undertaking a broad search for her successor.

To assist in finding the best person to lead in the information age, the State Education Department is asking NYSHEI, as well as other library groups, to offer a formal statement on the qualities, abilities and vision the next state librarian should possess.

Please help NYSHEI by offering your thoughts by adding a comment to this blog post or, if you prefer, by emailing nyshei@nyshei.org subject line “next state librarian.”

This is an important opportunity for academic and research libraries to contribute their expertise to an important decision. Please do not hesitate to add your two cents.

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Governor David Paterson is attempting to do something that has not been done since Hugh Carey put an end to the “days of wine and roses.” Paterson is preparing a state budget proposal that will cut spending by 10 percent.

George Pataki proposed the occasional state budget cut, but once the Legislature got involved the best he could manage was 0 percent spending growth in 1997. Should Paterson succeed in actually reducing state spending he will do something that has not been done in decades.

It is hard to imagine real cuts that reduce the total level of spending, especially from Paterson whose own record as a legislator shows him to be no fiscal prude, and big battles will have to won in the legislature. But, as Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow, and NYSHEI Annual Meeting Speaker, E.J. McMahon points out, “it is a good start.”

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