DID YOU KNOW? There are 48 public library outlets in the Southern Tier Library System (STLS) with a coverage area that includes Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties, and serving roughly 265,000 residents.
The STLS aims to serve all people. “The needs and wants of our community are great,” said Executive Director Brian Hildreth. “Libraries have this wonderful opportunity to help people work through difficulties and aspirations. On any given day, our libraries help people with food insecurity, homelessness, or mental health challenges, but in the same day, they also assist residents with finding a job, filing their taxes, or finding the right book to read to their grandchild at bedtime. Libraries and librarians provide an immeasurable return on investment.”
DID YOU KNOW? In 2024 alone, the libraries were visited 727,000 times, further emphasizing the importance of these institutions in our communities.
DID YOU KNOW? Libraries have been helping community members make sense of the information fed to them by rapidly evolving technologies since the beginning of the Internet. The STLS were among the first community hubs to introduce people to public computing, eBooks, downloadable content, and streaming services. Now, artificial intelligence has become a big part of our everyday lives. It is moving so quickly and everywhere. Librarians have been helping residents make sense of it in real time through education, training, and experimentation.
DID YOU KNOW? There is a big gap between what is expected of libraries and how libraries are funded. Local and state funding for libraries has not kept up with the demand for services. People can help by supporting their local library budgets and informing their elected officials that libraries are important to our rural region and democracy.
“Our community is an amazing place to live, work, and play,” Brian said, “I think we as residents struggle with limited time, too much information, and separation from family, friends, and neighbors.” He added, “Libraries throughout our community can address all three of these challenges. Our libraries continue to demonstrate that they are really good at meeting people where they are, providing access to trusted information, and bringing community members closer together.”
DID YOU KNOW? Library usage is on the rise. Residents are attending programs, checking out library materials, and using all the resources libraries have to offer. People can assume libraries are outdated or underutilized. It is just not true. “It is exciting to see people of all ages make good use of our region’s libraries,” Brian concluded. “It is proof of why libraries are one of our nation’s longest-standing democratic institutions and will continue to thrive far into the future. Most people in our community love and value them.”
DID YOU KNOW? One of the programs being offered at the Southeast Steuben County Library (SSCL) – Corning is Coffee, Tea & English, which, like all library programs, is free and open to the public.
On Tuesdays from 9:15 – 10:15 am, the focus is on vocabulary. “We practice a variety of activities, including listening practice, writing practice, pronunciation practice, vocabulary, and grammar instruction with practice exercises,” said Maryalice Little, Volunteer Coordinator of the program. “Though the session is intentional and structured, the atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging. We laugh a lot. Perfection is not required. Any worksheets or instructional materials are sent as Word documents, with a reminder sent the day before. Follow-up notes, including additional information discussed and worksheet answers, are sent following the meeting.”
On Tuesdays, 10:30 – 11:30 am, the focus is on conversation. “This is a time for relaxed conversation,” shared Maryalice, “A broad topic is included in the reminder to get the conversation going, though we talk about whatever people want to talk about. Participants are welcome to chat or just listen. We have a few native-speaking participants, so that if we want to break into smaller groups, there can be a native speaker in each group.”
Thursdays, 10 – 11 am is for Book Club! “This is intended for those with advanced language skills,” said Maryalice, “but is still open to anyone who wants to participate, even if it is just to listen to the discussion. We meet via Zoom; I send the invitation the day before. We read a portion of the book each week on our own (usually 10-12 pages) and then discuss it during the weekly meetings. In September, we started reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Our conversations often go in many directions, as prompted by the book’s content, so you are welcome to join us even if you have not read it.”
Coffee, Tea & English meets weekly from mid-September (the week after school starts) through Memorial Day in May with occasional breaks for holidays. The group meets in person (Tuesdays) for the vocabulary class and the conversation group. The book club meets only by Zoom (Thursdays). They will probably meet only for conversation in June and July, if people are interested. There are no meetings in August.
How many people attend varies, Maryalice said, but they have had people from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, France, Colombia, Pakistan, India, Algeria, Morocco, Ukraine, and Russia! Everyone is welcome to attend and participate at their convenience.
Also note: There is an English as a Second Language (ESL) program that meets at the library on Monday and Wednesday mornings in the conference room at the back of the library. This program has a formal curriculum and is sponsored by the local Board of Education Cooperative Services (BOCES). The program is free, but advance registration is appreciated by calling 607-962-3175.
Visit the library to sign up and learn more about this and all the programs offered in Corning and across the Southern Tier Library System!