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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Be a Sustainability Leader!
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New Collaboration Offers Leadership Opportunity for Public Libraries in New York State:
The New York Library Association (NYLA), and Westchester Green Business have announced a new collaboration that will strengthen libraries and their communities for decades to come by providing a clear path forward toward environmental sustainability for participating libraries.
Through funding awarded through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Cleaner, Greener Communities (CGC) Program, Westchester Green Business has opened access to their groundbreaking program that has helped dozens of businesses, nonprofits and the award-winning Hendrick Hudson Free Library make operational decisions that result in more sustainable, resilient futures for themselves and their communities. This collaboration helps bring to life the Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries unanimously passed in 2014 by the Council of the New York Library Association [
http://bit.ly/1LHzre3
].
The CGC program is a statewide initiative, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), that encourages communities to incorporate sustainability goals and principles into local decision-making, and then form partnerships to transform markets, leading to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and generation of economic development benefits.
"Participation in the certification program not only provided us the opportunity to evaluate and enhance our sustainability efforts," said Hendrick Hudson Free Library director Jill Davis, "but it allowed us to become part of a greater movement which has created unique partnerships and educational possibilities."
 The program, Green Business Certification, provides a turnkey system to successfully integrate sustainable practices into library operations. Library leaders will learn exactly where resources are being wasted and identify opportunities to increase efficiency and save money. Proprietary performance tools are used to calculate the economic and environmental impacts of energy, travel, waste, water and refrigerants in a library, while staff surveys gauge behavioral impacts.
Dani Glaser, Westchester Green Business Program Director commented, "It is an honor to have been selected by NYLA to provide the benchmarking platform for their Sustainability Initiative. Libraries are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact influencing patrons, communities, and libraries across the nation about the importance of sustainability."
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MHLS Announcements
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Best wishes to
Robert Drake
, MHLS Technology Operations Manager, who has been named the new Assistant Director for Technology Operations at the Nassau Library System.
MHLS will be closed on Monday, February 20th in observance of President's Day.
There will be no MHLS Delivery Services. MHLS technology staff will be available via the MHLS ticket system
(
techsupport@midhudson.org
)
from 8:30am to 4:30pm to support system-wide Sierra Encore issues. During these hours, MHLS staff will be checking the ticket system periodically each hour and will address system-wide Sierra Encore issues, sending tickets as necessary to Innovative, and posting to MHLS-Alerts. Please note, phone and general technology support will not be available during this time.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra
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Sierra Lunchtime Webinar:
MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O'Connell will offer his monthly lunchtime webinar of training and Q&A on Wednesday, February 22 from noon - 1:00pm. The topic will be patron data entry. The session will take place online. Seats fill up fast for this session so sign up soon! Registration is required. Log-in information for the webinar will be sent to your email address in advance of the event. Register today at
http://calendar.midhudson.org.
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The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation seeks applications for their EJK Mini-Grant Program. The foundation awards up to $500 to libraries and other eligible organizations for projects that provide creative and innovative programs outside of or within the standard curriculum. Deadline: March 31, 2017.
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Online Advocacy Day Briefing:
Friday, February 17 from 10:00 - 11:00 am.
This event is designed for all library advocates - library directors, staff, trustees, Friends Groups, volunteers and patrons - who are interested in speaking up for libraries during the New York budget negotiation season. Between now and April 1st library advocates have the opportunity to influence a number of key issues such as the Governor's proposed cut to library aid and state aid for library construction. During this live online webinar we will discuss:
- Budget timeline and pressure points
- Budget & legislative priorities
- Effective talking points
- How, when and where you can speak up for libraries!
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