ABOUT THE GST SLS
Our Story
In 2006 Steuben-Allegany (SA) BOCES and Schuyler-Chemung-Tioga (SCT) BOCES merged to form the Greater Southern (GST) Tier BOCES. The two library systems joined together as well forming the GST School Library System (SLS) that we know today. In the past, the SLS was supported by the Coordinator and five staff members with Mandarin being the primary library automation system used by districts. FUN FACT: the SLS offices have been located on all three BOCES campus as well as in the Campbell-Savona high school.
Currently the SLS is located in Coopers, Building 1 and has a staff of two, the SLS Director and a support person. The system provides support for all 21 GST districts and Notre Dame HS. We provide services and support for two library automation systems (OPALS and Destiny), handle the regional ILLs, database purchasing and support, cooperative collection ordering, and have a shared collection of resources to lend including print classroom sets, subject sets, and makerspace items. In addition to the databases provided by NOVEL NY, the SLS purchases a variety of resources for all districts including: Sora (audiobook and e-book platform); NoodleTools (citing and electronic notecards); TeachingBooks.net (supplemental resources for books); Learn 360; Science Online; EBSCO Professional Journal database; Swank (district dependent); and Rosen Learning Center (a variety of subject area ebooks). SLS absorbed e-Learning services in 2023.
Our Mission
The mission of the GST BOCES School Library System is to empower, support, and advocate for member school librarians in order to aid in the creation of quality school library programs essential to teaching and learning in an ever-changing world.
SLS Council - January, 2022
Our Vision
We see our school libraries as equitable, safe, inviting spaces where the expertise of our School Librarians and innovative programming produce critical and ethical users of information and technologies while developing a lifelong love of learning, reading, and creating.
We believe our school libraries will empower and support others through diverse library resources and collections to collaborate, be creative and grow our school communities within a global society.
SLS Council - January, 2022
Our Staff
Mary Ann Munroe is your SLS Director and currently handles Overdrive/Sora platform, Swank, as well as database support, professional development, budgeting, and purchasing including print and virtual resources.
Charlene Watson is your support staff extraordinaire. Charlene works hard to make your library resources magically appear and troubleshoot any technical issues you may have with your automation system. Charlene is responsible for technical support, cataloging and inventory support, ILL, CCD orders, BARC articles, and lending for our BOCES collections.
Mary Ann Munroe - 607-739-3581 x. 2112 mmunroe@gstboces.org / Charlene Watson - 607-739-3581 x. 2115 chawatson@gstboces.org