All library staff who work with families and young children are invited to join us on Friday, April 9^th at 2:00 pm for the webinar Bringing Components to Life in Library Programs. New York Ready to Read (the statewide early literacy program) has many expectations for librarians to put in place in order to make their library "a vital community hub for early learning." The program seeks to lead librarians to create exciting and engaging programs for literacy development, but not all the components are user friendly. Learn how one children's coordinator found ways to bring the challenging components to life and create programming that really makes a literacy difference! 

Presented by Karen DeGennaro a trained educator with degrees in elementary education, psychology and special education. Karen holds a M.A. in Special Education. She has spent a lifetime working with children in a variety of settings including as a special education resource teacher, teacher consultant, kindergarten teacher, children's library program coordinator and family ministry coordinator. Her passion is creating learning experiences for children and their families that are so much fun, no one realizes they are learning. Registration is available through the MHLS calendar. 

Wednesday, March 17^th at noon join Laurie Shedrick MHLS Assistant Director/Technology Operations Manager to become acquainted with the necessary skills and workflows needed to manage the primary tasks of circulation desk work. Circulation 101 is intended for any new staff or perhaps experienced staff wondering if there are more efficient ways to do things while covering the circ desk. Register today. 

Wednesday, March 31^st at noon learn about Editing Your Custom Print Templates. Custom Print Templates, used for notices, overdues, bills, and your due slips can be a great way to keep patrons informed of your location, hours, contact, and more. Creating the templates is a bit of a task, but if you want to dip your toe in the water and learn to edit the existing templates, you will find it is not so hard, and maybe it will be the steppingstone to creating your own in the future. To learn more about the webinar and to register visit the MHLS Calendar.  

The NYLA Developing Leaders Program has decided to create a toolkit to help generate excitement and attract recruits to the world of libraries. The main goals for this project are to debunk some of the preconceptions and myths about working in libraries, and show some of the fun, interactive tasks that library professionals do on a regular basis that people outside of libraries may not have thought about. In order to create this toolkit, they are sending out this survey to current librarians and library staff to gather input and hear about your experiences. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Please submit responses by Friday, March 12^th.

Sisters in Crime Doris Ann Norris We Love Libraries Prize. Libraries are the heart of their communities and play a vital role by inspiring lifelong learning and love of reading. This year, Sisters in Crime will make six grants of $500 each. All you have to do is upload a photo showing one or more of your staff, with 3 or more books in your collection by 3 or more different authors that are Sisters in Crime members. For more information and to apply visit https://www.sistersincrime.org/.

First ever National Library Outreach Day to take place during National Library Week. The American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS), and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) agreed to rebrand National Bookmobile Day in recognition of all that outreach library professionals do within their communities. Libraries across the country will observe National Library Outreach Day on April 7^th, 2021. Formerly known as National Bookmobile Day, communities will celebrate the invaluable role library professionals and libraries continuously play in bringing library services to those in need.

REALM test results from tests 7 and 8 are now available, which compared the effect of colder and warmer temperatures on the attenuation rate of the virus on materials previously tested at ambient room temperatures including book covers for hard and soft cover books, protective plastic covers, and EPS foam. Results show that attenuation rates for materials held at the colder temperature were significantly slower compared to the warmer and ambient temperatures, and full report is available at the REALM Project Research Page. The recording of the January 29^th REALM webinar, “Project Update and Community Reflections,” is now available on demand. Panelists shared updates on project activities and research findings as well as perspectives from the field.

The Library District seeks an individual to lead an active and engaged department that focuses on maintaining high-quality and responsive service at the Boardman Road Branch Library as well as participation in Library District outreach and engagement activities. The selected candidate should have the ability to work a flexible 35-hours per week schedule to potentially include occasional early mornings along with weekly rotating evenings and weekends. This is a Civil Service appointment, requiring the candidate to be reachable on the Librarian III Certification of Eligibles list as established by the Dutchess County Department of Human Resources. Current list has been exhausted. For the complete job description and how to apply please visit https://poklib.org/.