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Volume 20-23 | 6.9.20
Standing in Solidarity 
The Mid-Hudson Library System stands with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association , the New York Black Librarians' Caucus , the American Library Association and the Urban Libraries Council in condemning systemic racism and social injustice. We believe in working together to co-create a society that is free from racism. We stand with the protesters who are calling for immediate, collective action against injustice, inequality, and violence against the African American community.  
 
As a cooperative library system, we are committed to working with our member libraries to create space for discussion, self-reflection, and resources to aid in the development of more inclusive collections, programs and partnerships. Our overarching goal will be to build empathy, respect and understanding among neighbors, to activate civic engagement, and to build community resilience that will authentically uphold our core values of diversity, democracy and social responsibility.
 
-The Board of the Mid-Hudson Library System & Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director
MHLS Announcements
MHLS Delivery will do a two-day "clean up" run on Wednesday, June 17th & Thursday, June 18th to pick up items in member library facilities labeled for delivery* and to leave you bins to reset for the restart of delivery. We will be stopping at all libraries unless a director would like to opt out of this, for any reason. If you would like to opt out, please contact  Tom Finnigan , MHLS Delivery Operations Manager, by end of day Monday, June 15th.
 
MHLS has discussed health screening, personal protective equipment (PPE) standards and social  distancing protocols with Valley Courier, our delivery vendor, and will have amended our contract with them by the 17th to incorporate our agreements about driver procedures on these subjects.
 
Reminders to ensure a smooth delivery restart.
  • Place outgoing bins for pickup in the same spot in your library as prior to the shutdown
  • If quarantining items, please have those items away from your outgoing bins
  • Clearly label bins/boxes/items not ready for pickup with signage reading: Not for Pickup
  • *Clearly label outgoing bins with signage reading: Outgoing to MHLS
  • If you do not have enough bins for delivery, please let us know and we will do our best to resupply your library. Please note: MHLS delivery bins cannot be used to quarantine materials.
On Monday, June 22nd both system-wide holds will be turned back on in the online catalog and delivery services will resume. Our drivers will only stop at libraries that have officially reported to MHLS that they have started, at least, curbside service as of June 22nd.
 
If you have questions regarding delivery, please contact  MHLS Delivery Operations Manager, Tom Finnigan, tfinnigan@midhudson.org .
MHLS Libraries
Morton Memorial Library (Pine Hill) Director, Gisi Vella makes her animated debut in a short video outlining the library's new curbside service with stop motion construction paper characters made by Aunt Katie's Place. Gisi lends her voice and likeness to the animation to lay out the do's and don'ts of safe curbside pickup for patrons through this fun and engaging medium. MHLS gives it two thumbs up. Check it out at youtube.com/.
Professional Development
The second Library 2.020 mini-conference: "Small, Rural, and Independent Libraries," will be held online (and for free) on Wednesday, June 17th , from 3:00 - 6:00 pm. This mini-conference will focus on innovation and innovative thinking in rural, independent, tribal, and other small libraries--as well as the many unique challenges that they face. A diverse array of keynote panelists and curated presenters. To register visit,
 
The Library & Leadership Management Section (LAMS) of the New York Library Association is seeking candidates for the Dewey Fellowship award to attend the 2020 NYLA Conference in Saratoga, whether the conference is offered in person or virtually. The Dewey Fellowship pays for up to $1,000 of the cost of attendance of the NYLA conference. Dewey Fellows are acknowledged on NYLA's website, will be announced at conference and in the NYLA bulletin. To be considered for the award, all applicants must submit the following:
  • Current résumé or CV
  • Have 5 years or more of library experience
  • A personal statement of no more than 2 pages single-spaced addressing accomplishments in your profession
  • How your involvement in activities help to advance the library community?
To apply for this scholarship, submit all requested items via email to Julie Kelsall-Dempsey at jkelsall@highlandlibrary.org by June 30th. All applicants will be reviewed by the LAMS' Scholarship Committee. Selection will be made by July 15th.
 
The Fall Into Books Children's & Teen Literature Conference that was scheduled for October 14th, 2020 has been postponed to 2021. Usually held annually, Fall Into Books brings together school and public librarians from eight counties within the Hudson Valley and features book discussion sessions - ranging from picture books to young adult and author presentations.
Resource Sharing & Sierra
On Friday, June 12th beginning at noon MHLS Assistant Director & Technology Operations Manager Laurie Shedrick will facilitate the webinar, Staff Briefing : Sierra During COVID-19 Reopening. This one-hour webinar is for the staff of Mid-Hudson Library System member libraries to bring library staff up to date on the process for restarting Sierra and Encore patron services. We will cover Circulation, Holdshelf, Paging, Notices and much more. The session will include a moderated Q&A, and an opportunity for feedback and follow up.
 
Please register for this event at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/

Join MHLS ILP Operations Supervisor, Thomas O'Connell for the latest series of Sierra Lunchtime Webinars. All events begin at noon.
You can register for any of these sessions through the  MHLS calendar .
Sustainable Libraries
The deadline for residents to complete the Census has been extended to October 31st . Libraries can use the Census outreach posters and rack cards provided by MHLS before stay at home orders to encourage library patrons to complete their Census questionnaire as they begin curbside pickup services. Area Census Offices in Pawling and Albany have reopened, and restarted field operations including Update and Leave operations, in which Census workers visit residences that don't receive mail and leave Internet Choice packets. These packets include a paper questionnaire that residents can use to complete the Census, as well as directions for completing the questionnaire online and by phone. It is not necessary for residents to wait for this packet to complete the Census; the census can be completed online at 2020Census.gov or by phone by calling 844-330-2020.
Programming
Ulster County libraries have teamed up and partnered with the Mohonk Preserve, the Department of Regional Art Workers (DRAW) Kingston, and Woodland Playhouse to offer Ulster County children, teens, and adults a Summer Reading experience featuring challenges in Art, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and local museums and organizations. Participants read and complete challenges by watching videos and engaging in activities to fill up their bingo cards and earn virtual tickets to redeem at their library. For more info visit https://uclib.org/srp-2020/ .
Administration & Management
Update from the REALM Project's COVID-19 Tests on Library Materials The REALM Project has released their   Test Plan  documentation, which explains the process for testing materials provided by libraries, archives and museums, including details about the time periods for testing, as well as the environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. You can also now access REALM's  Preliminary Literature Review , which compiles information used to develop the Test Plan. Information from these tests is anticipated in June 2020.  
 
A new American Library Association (ALA) survey of U.S. libraries documents a shift in services to support students, faculty, and communities at large during the crisis and phased preparations for the months ahead. While virtually all libraries (99%) report limited access to the physical building, survey respondents shared leaps in the use of digital content, online learning, and virtual programs. More than 3,800 K-12 school, college and university, public, and other libraries from all 50 states responded to the survey between May 12th-18th. Public libraries represented about 2,900 of all responses, with an estimated 30% response rate.

Highlights from the report:
  • COVID-19 crisis response: of respondents involved in community crisis response, the majority reported new partnerships, distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), addressing food insecurity, and sharing accurate community information and resources.
  • Caution with facility re-opening: Virtually all libraries have expanded virtual and phone services during the crisis, continuing a trend of library activities beyond physical walls. The survey finds that most libraries have limited access to their buildings while they work to establish health and safety protocols for staff, social distancing requirements for patrons, and processes for sanitizing materials. Curbside pickup, delivery, and by-appointment services are the most common next steps as national and state/local guidance evolve. 37% of respondents expect phased re-opening in June and July, and almost half (47%) are unsure when buildings will begin to re-open to the public.
  • Public demand for library services: libraries overall report increased use of virtual library cards, digital content and virtual programming. As libraries re-open, they anticipate demand for access to physical and special collections, access to computers and the internet, helping students make up for lost ground, supporting faculty and teacher needs, and application support for government services and employment. More than half of public library respondents reported they were transitioning summer learning programs from in-person to online.
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