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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Warning: Rough Road Ahead
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State budget deficit predictions of $2.3 billion have some legislators and top administrators in Albany worried
. "This is the most serious revenue shock New York has faced in many years," said New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in a recent article in the Times Union, "And that $2.3 billion figure will frankly get worse before it gets better."
In a recent meeting with MHLS leadership, immediate-past chair of the Assembly Libraries & Education Technology Committee, expressed concern about the deficit in relation to the potential for the legislature to restore the Governor's proposed cuts to Library Aid.
As reported in the January 29th MHLS Bulletin, the Governor has proposed cuts to both library aid - the source of the majority of MHLS funding and Local Library Service Aid to local libraries - and library construction aid - which brings much needed assistance to member library renovation and construction plans.
State Senators and Assemblymembers are faced with many hard choices in the next few weeks and it is critical that the library community help connect legislators with the reality of how local library services and public library system services impact their constituents.
With more than 10 million library cardholders in New York State that means more than 50% of New Yorkers are directly impacted if cuts to library aid go through.
What will you do to help
your legislators understand that more than half of their constituents are library cardholders and that library aid makes a HUGE difference in their lives?
Send a letter to your representatives in Albany!
The New York Library Association (NYLA), our lead advocate in Albany, has provided customizable letters that can be sent to your legislators in Albany and to the Governor. It only takes two minutes to send a letter to all of your representatives through NYLA's Online Advocacy Center:
http://bit.ly/1LwV3Ex
Get the word out through social media by participating in the
Real People. Real Dollars. Campaign. Real People. Real Dollars. tells a story in pictures by working with a patron or a family of patrons to calculate how much they save annually by using the library. Learn more at
http://midhudson.org/real-people-real-dollars/
 Join us for Advocacy Day on February 27th!
Hundreds of library advocates from all over New York State come to Albany,on this day, to let their legislators know how important libraries are to their communities. MHLS creates the schedule of appointments and provides participants with talking points. Drive up on your own or take the bus for just $5. The deadline for bus registration is Thursday, February 21st so hurry!
http://midhudson.org/library-advocacy-day/
View the Advocacy Day Briefing Webinar
presented
by Jeremy Johannesen, Executive Director of the New York Library Association alongside MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
to learn about:
- Budget timeline and pressure points
- Budget and legislative priorities
- Effective talking points
- How, when, and where you can speak up for libraries!
Please join us to advocate for library funding. Now is the time for all of us to speak up
. Your voice matters!
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MHLS Libraries
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Many families struggled to pay bills, buy groceries, and find childcare during the partial government shutdown. Over the course of the 35-day shutdown, libraries all over the country reached out to federal employees who were negatively affected. There are over 2,100 federal employees within the MHLS service area according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of our libraries found ways to help these federal employees who felt the full impact of the shutdown.
The East Fishkill Community Library
(above) is collecting food to donate to Dutchess Outreach and The Beverly Closs Food Pantry in Poughkeepsie. The food will be distributed to those who need assistance in the community. The Highland Public Library has posted information and resources for furloughed employees on their webpage, and are offering to waive fines to help relieve financial stress. Through these generous acts, these libraries are making a positive difference in their communities!
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Professional Development
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Registration is now open for the NYLA Youth Services Section (YSS) Spring 2019 Conference, taking place on Friday, April 26th from 8:30 am-4:15 pm at the Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY.
This year's theme is T
hrough The Looking Glass: Reflecting and Responding to an Ever Changing World which celebrates the vibrant and diverse present of youth services. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kimberly Parker, Literacy Advocate & Educator | Luncheon Speaker: Susan Kuklin, Author.
- Early Bird Registration ends March 1st
- Standard Registration ends March 26th
For more information about this event and to register visit http://bit.ly/2GIEexS
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The
upcoming 2020 Census
will be primarily digital for the first time, and there are a lot of communities and populations that stand to be left out of the count, including traditionally hard-to-count populations and people with limited access to internet and limited experience with technology. A Complete Count is in the interest of all communities and organizations, and the Census Bureau has already identified public libraries as key partners in making sure everyone gets counted. There are a lot of things tied to the Census, including the basic tenets of democracy and representation in our State and Federal government and state and federal funds received locally for things like local school aid and Community Development Block Grant programs.
Libraries can help with the Census by
building partnerships with local governments, community based organizations and anyone looking to help with Complete Count efforts, and making sure staff and technology are ready to support people looking to respond to the Census. Visit our 2020 Census Resources page https://midhudson.org/census-2020/ for more info, or contact MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator Casey Conlin, cconlin@midhudson.org
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Library Assistant for Youth Services, Howland Public Library
The Howland Public Library in Beacon, NY has a part-time position open in our Youth Services Department for a Library Assistant, at an hourly rate of $15.50 for 20 hours per week, with the possibility of additional hours in summer. HPL is a member of the New York State & Local Retirement System.
We are looking for a responsible, friendly, and team orientated individual who has experience working in a library or school setting with young children. Experience with STEAM programs for children highly preferred. The Youth Services Library Assistant works closely with the Youth Services Librarian to deliver outstanding programs to children birth to 18 years. The incumbent will have the following duties:
- Assist in developing and executing youth programs
- Outreach and collaboration with schools, parents, community organizations including conducting story time once a week with local children's organizations such as Head Start.
- Reference assistance in Children's Room
- Maintaining statistics
- Maintain and create displays in Children's Room, assist in developing display ideas
- Assisting Librarian with special projects (creating bibliographies, annual events, and collection development)
- Assist with Battle of the Books development, meetings, practices, etc.
- Incumbent will work 20 hours at the following set schedule:
- Monday 11am-3pm
- Tuesday 11am-5:30pm
- Wednesday 1pm-4pm
- Thursday 11am-5:30pm
- One Saturday per month 11a- 3p -most likely the third or fourth Saturday (some flexibility here) in place of Monday hours
- Some flexibility in summer including possibility of adding more hours
Please submit a résumé and letter of interest to Director Kristen Salierno via email at director@beaconlibrary.org by March 1, 2019. This position is a civil service provisional appointment pending future examination. Applicant must meet all Dutchess County Civil Service minimum qualifications for the position of Library Assistant and be reachable upon exam for permanent appointment. Civil service minimum qualifications are:
EITHER: (A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a bachelor's degree; OR: (B) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate's degree and two (2) years of paid work experience in the provision of non-clerical library activities which do not require the possession of a Master's degree in library science (i.e., the conduct of a specific library program including video or craft programs; the selection and processing of literature; or the preparation of library artwork and decoration); OR: (C) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and four (4) years of paid work experience in the provision of non-clerical library activities which do not require the possession of a Master's degree in library science (i.e., the conduct of a specific library program including video or craft programs; the selection and processing of literature; or the preparation of library artwork and decoration); OR: (D) An equivalent combination of education, training and experience between the limits of (A) and (C) above.
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Assistant Director/ Program Support Specialist, Philmont Public Library
The Philmont Public Library is a small community library where all staff works together for daily responsibilities and value excellent service to our patrons. We are searching for candidates for an assistant director position of 12 hours per week including Monday and Wednesday evenings 6-8 and Thursday and Saturdays from 10-2. Library experience is a plus, but not necessary.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Act in supervisory capacity in absence of the director
- Update and maintain library website
- Send mass e-mails regarding programming
- Manage online public information calendars, news media postings and PSAs
- Help to promote and grow the library's social media presence (ie. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Implement at least two monthly programs for children and adults including technology skill workshops.
Required skills:
- Word press editing
- Comfortable and knowledgeable with various computer programs: Microsoft Office, Excel, Google Docs, and social media platforms
- Self-motivation and independence
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills especially with youth, teens and seniors
- Strong organizational skills
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
Please send résumé and letter of interest to:
Tobi Farley, Library Director,
library@philmont.org
or mail to
Philmont Public Library,
101 Main Street,
P.O. Box 816,
Philmont, NY 12565
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