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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Local Preferences in OverDrive
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The Directors Association of the Mid-Hudson Library System have approved a service enhancement to the MHLS Digital Download Collection (OverDrive) that enables "Local Preference" for filling holds, just like our online catalog does for the physical collection.
 "Local Preference" means that for items purchased by an individual library, that library's patrons have "first dibs" on those items. Regardless of how many holds may be on that item, your library's patron receives your library's items first.
This enhancement was available thanks to a new sharing feature called Advantage Plus offered by OverDrive for member libraries who have Advantage accounts. These accounts are available to every member library and have already been adopted by the Beekman, Coxsackie, East Fishkill, Highland, Mahopac, Poughkeepsie, and Saugerties libraries.
This latest decision came out of a system-wide discussion aimed at providing a sustainable OverDrive service that
meets the needs of library patrons. It is acknowledged that as a collective, MHLS must plan, implement, and evaluate a more comprehensive structure for funding and operation of the service given some of the latest statistics provided through the Central Library/Collection Development Advisory Committee.
With a
21% increase in circulation of the Digital Download Collection and just a 1.77% increase in investment in the collection the
average patron wait time for items in the MHLS Digital Download collection DOUBLED between 2015 and 2016, from a 15-day average to 31 days.
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MHLS Announcements
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In preparation for another busy summer season, the
MHLS Delivery Operations Department
has custom fabricated new carts to support a fraction of all the items shared by member libraries that pass through the department daily. The department is sorting an average of
5,500 items per day
! Check out these photos which show the new carts (and staff!) before and after the daily sort has been completed:
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Pictured left to right: Tom Finnigan, Chris Herron & Michael Tsahalis
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Pictured left to right: Tom Finnigan, Michael Tsahalis, Chris Herron,
John Barath, Chris McCann, and
Vinnie McCombs
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Federal Funding Update
: Congressional negotiators have reached agreement on a bill to fund the U.S. government through September. The "omnibus" bill included $231 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - a $1 million increase over FY2016. However, library advocates are keeping their eye on the President's proposal to zero out funding for IMLS in the FY2018 budget. Stay tuned!
Custom Demographic Reports: Each MHLS member library is receiving a custom demographic report that has been generated by MHLS Marketing & Program Assistant Kerstin Cruger. Kerstin used a product called Policy Map to draw custom maps based on each library's legally chartered service area - some of which are quite complex!
The product then overlays demographic information from the US Census and a few other national government to provide a detailed report that provides a library director with the latest data on:
- population trends
- racial characteristics
- age
- income
- housing
- immigration
- employment and
- crime
Kerstin Cruger (center) assisting Laurie Buckley, director of the Dover Plains Library (left) and Dawn Jardine, director of the Red Hook Public Library (right) to understand their custom demographic reports.
Kerstin, along with MHLS Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, are visiting each county's director's association to hand deliver the reports and facilitate a discussion on how to make the most of these reports for:
- Long-range and strategic planning
- Service and program design
- Grant writing
- Reports to the Community
- Trustee and Staff Education
The Claverack Free Library is featured in the May 2017 New York Library Association's Sustainability (NYLA-SI) Newsletter
for their plans for the 2017 Summer Reading Program theme of "Build a Better World": "
We're working with local engineers and teens to build small free libraries for those who live in sections of our community that have barriers to using the library in person."
What is your library planning to do for the "Building a Better World" Summer Reading Program theme that will empower children, teens and adults to create a better world in your community?
NYLA-SI wants to know:
http://bit.ly/2oHWueF
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Material Handler Part-Time:
The Mid-Hudson Library System is seeking a responsible person who possesses a strong work ethic for up to 20 hours per week sorting a variety of library materials such as books, DVDs, CDs, etc. Position requires a strong attention to detail, ability to follow directions, and capability to work in a team environment. Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position by being on your feet, able to lift 50 pounds, and assist in unloading cargo vans. Hourly wage is $13.20 per hour. Position is Monday through Friday and hours are late morning(10 am) into the afternoon(2:30 pm). Send resume with prior or present employment references to Mid-Hudson Library System, 103 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Attn: Delivery Operations Manager. Email: delivery@midhudson.org or fax: 845.454.5940 (fax). No Phone calls please.
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