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<p>Marc David Horowitz</p>
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<p>and Frustrated Horn Player</p>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> SLI-Public <sli-public-bounces@lists.suffolknet.org> on behalf of sliadmin--- via SLI-Public <sli-public@lists.suffolknet.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 4, 2022 10:44 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> sli-schools@lists.suffolknet.org <sli-schools@lists.suffolknet.org>; sli-public@lists.suffolknet.org <sli-public@lists.suffolknet.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [SLI-public] Congratulations, Paula Michalak!</font>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For Immediate Release</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">May 4, 2022</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Paula Michalak, District Librarian at Silver Creek Central School District is Certified Sustainable
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Sustainable Libraries Initiative has recognized Paula Michalak as a leader in sustainability.</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> New York State – May 4, 2022 – Paula Michalak, District Librarian at the Silver Creek Central School District in Silver Creek,
NY has been certified through the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program. Paula is the second school librarian to be certified through this program, the first of its kind in the world, through the
<a href="https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/">Sustainable Libraries Initiative</a>.
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><img border="0" width="248" height="140" id="x_Picture_x0020_2" style="width:2.5833in; height:1.4583in" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:image003.png@01D85FA3.EDAA0440"></span></p>
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Paula Michalak, District Librarian at Silver Creek Central School District with her Sustainable Library Certification Program Certificate.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in; line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Paula’s mentor for the Sustainable Library Certification Program, Dr. Jen Cannell has offered guidance throughout the school
year to assist Paula as she completed the benchmarks that make up this substantive and reflective program. Regarding Paula’s certification, she stated:</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“It is clear that Paula has been systemically working to integrate the ideals of the SLCP into her program, even before she began working on the benchmarks. It is wonderful to read about all
she is doing to truly integrate the principles of sustainability into all areas of the curriculum. She is developing strong relationships and advocating for student needs in order to ensure that transformative learning takes place. It is especially impressive
that she has worked to connect people, ideas and resources.”</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in; line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The comprehensive Sustainable Libraries Certification Program for School Librarians requires each member to work through
Action Items in five categories covering the three pillars of environmental, social, and economic sustainability included in the Triple Bottom Line definition used by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. Focusing on Community Involvement, Leading Beyond the
Library, Social Equity and Resiliency, Standards and Curriculum, and Collections, all program participants choose from the suggested actions to identify those that are most beneficial to their libraries. Working through these actions, reflecting on their impact,
and sharing these resources as they move through the program, they are creating a community of practice that is moving their schools and communities towards a more sustainable future.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in; line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Pursuing this certification has helped Paula focus her efforts for the benefit of her students, school, and community. As
she worked through the Action Items, she was able to reflect and demonstrate to her administration and community that the school librarian plays a vital role in students’ leaning and community engagement. Her efforts have helped to elevate her role and have
gained her much deserved recognition. She reflects:</span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“I believe a school librarian has a unique responsibility to always be current in teaching trends, collection development needs, technology, advocacy for literary needs, while also keeping
a birds eye view of the curricular needs throughout the grade levels. School librarians can speak to vertical and horizontal alignment in a way many people cannot, and have a unique ability to see trends within student learning to help students achieve… the
school library is a great place to develop connections with students and families through programs created and run by the school libraries, like the High School Internship Program or MS Minecraft Club or Elementary Lego Robotics or Newspaper Club…The SLCP
helped me clearly articulate the many aspects of being a school librarian and the clear benefit of a school librarian in any school.”</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in; line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For the 2021-2022 school year, there is a cohort of 12 School Librarians in New York State enrolled with the goal of becoming
certified in June 2022. These participants have individual guidance from a mentor and regularly scheduled online group meetups and work sessions. Working together, sharing resources, and being able to network with other school librarians who are advancing
the principals of sustainability in their buildings keeps these participants engaged and motivated to take action. </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in; line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Sustainable Library Certification Program is now enrolling School Librarians throughout New York State, Public Libraries
nationwide, and will launch an Academic Library Certification Program in the fall.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For more information:</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Annemarie Gordon, Sustainability Coordinator</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/">Sustainable Libraries Initiative</a></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">sliadmin@suffolknet.org</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><a href="https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/"><span style="color:windowtext; text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="314" height="158" id="x_Picture_x0020_1" alt="Sustainable Libraries Initiative Logo" style="width:3.275in; height:1.6416in" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D85FA3.EDAA0440"></span></a></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Annemarie Gordon</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Sustainability Coordinator</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><a href="https://portal.suffolklibrarysystem.org/">Suffolk Cooperative Library System</a></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">sliadmin@suffolknet.org</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">631-286-1600 x1355</p>
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