April 26, 2007 – New York City!
I took the train from Albany to Penn Station – I believe I slept the entire way down, though I had good intentions of completing the New York Magazine crossword puzzle. Because I was schlepping my suitcase, NYLA bag and purse, I felt justified (and guilty) about taking a cab to the METRO offices on East 11th Street. Forgive me, Galina!
Dottie Hiebing, Executive Director of the Metropolitan New York Library Council, was a gracious host. She gave me a tour of the facility which was recently redecorated. The walls are a soft yellow, and with the high ceilings and beautifully framed photos of METRO member libraries, the office is subdued and elegant, a quiet respite from the chaos of the city outside.
Dottie and I talked about the needs of the city’s libraries, most of which are under stress. METRO serves 260 libraries, providing professional development opportunities, hospital library (HLSP) and documentary heritage (DHP) programs. I love the idea of METRO’s community forums, which bring a panel of librarians together to discuss topical issues, plus lots of networking through Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
Dottie had the following suggestions for NYLA:
- collaborate more with the Systems to offer programs and to encourage advocacy
- encourage more downstaters to participate in NYLA leadership
- make a conference theme “Changing Roles of Libraries“
- help libraries promote themselves within their own institutions (academic) and communities (school and public)
She also told me her wish list for METRO:
- a full-time web person who could help member libraries
- a professional development person
- access to more new technology, such as social networking software
Dottie introduced me to Robert Schmidt,
Special Projects Manager for METRO, whose primary responsibilities are delivery services and advocacy. METRO’s service area is daunting – 230 locations getting a delivery every week in NYC and in Westchester County. Robert estimated that over 100,000 packages are transported by METRO annually! At one point, a consultant was hired to evaluate the delivery service to, and now barcoded labels help to track lost books and an eNewsletter is published to facilitate communication.
METRO developed and runs an “Internet Research Strategies for Public Policy” training program for legislators and their aides. The workshops are hands-on computer-based sessions that include a printed manual. Dottie suggested that this is something METRO could share with NYLA so that NYLA (in collaboration perhaps with the State Library and/or the Division of Library Development) could offer these programs in Albany.
Tom Nielsen is METRO’s Member Services Manager. 
He was a solo librarian in an engineering firm prior to coming to METRO, and so he started a SIG for Solos! His challenge is to entice special libraries to join the system, particularly law libraries and corporate libraries. METRO is also moving toward individual memberships – students, retirees, the unemployed – by conducting surveys and focus groups to determine needs.
Dottie and I met Tula Giannini, Dean of Pratt-SILS, for lunch at a lovely cafe, where I had two celebrity sitings! On our way to the restaurant, we walked right past Steven Van Zandt 
(Silvio Dante on The Sopranos and guitarist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band). And sitting by the window in Le Monde was actor Gabriel Byrne, 
in town for the Tribeca Film Festival. Yes, his eyes ARE that blue!
