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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Sustainability Adopted as Core Value
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The American Library Association's (ALA) Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries states that libraries are uniquely positioned and essential to build the capacity of the communities they serve to become sustainable, resilient and regenerative
. Following the resolution, the final report of the Special Task Force on Sustainability, led by MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, established the Triple Bottom Line framework of sustainability: "To be truly sustainable, an organization or community must embody practices that are environmentally sound AND economically feasible AND socially equitable," and recommended that ALA adopt sustainability as a core value of librarianship. The ALA Council adopted the Triple Bottom Line framework and sustainability joined the core values of librarianship alongside access, confidentiality / privacy, democracy, diversity, education and lifelong learning, intellectual freedom, the public good, preservation, professionalism, service and social responsibility at the ALA 2019 Midwinter Meeting.
In adopting sustainability as a core value of librarianship, ALA took an important step to address the findings in the latest report of the United National Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was written and edited by 91 scientists from 40 countries who analyzed more than 6,000 scientific studies and found that the immediate consequences of climate change are far more dire than originally predicted. The report called for a transformation of the world economy at a speed and
scale that has no documented historic precedent. "This is a pivotal time for libraries and the communities we serve," said ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo. "Libraries are helping to better the education and the lifelong learning of the communities they serve. By adding sustainability to its core values, ALA is recognizing that libraries of all types can act as catalysts and inspire future generations to reach solutions that are not only sensible but essential to sustaining life on this planet."
With sustainability as a core value, ALA will work to provide library professionals access to professional development opportunities including books, grants and library school curriculum dealing with the topic, and ALA will also explore collaborations with the New York Library Association (NYLA) to nationally offer a Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). Currently, the SLCP, a set of tools libraries can use to help their organization and their community meet the Triple Bottom Line, is only available to libraries in New York. The Mid-Hudson Library System is currently enrolled in the SLCP, as are member libraries Desmond-Fish Public Library, Highland Public Library, Mahopac Public Library, Millbrook Library, Phoenicia Library, Saugerties Public Library, Town of Esopus Library and Town of Ulster Public Library. For more information about the SLCP please contact MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin at
cconlin@midhudson.org
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MHLS Announcements
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MHLS will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day
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There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.
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(above) A New Lebanon Library patron experiences virtual reality!
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The
New Lebanon Library recently started a new program at their library that introduces seniors to virtual reality. Director of the New Lebanon Library, Moriah Sears, said that, "We wanted to be able to bring seniors the world from the comfort of the library. Many of them cannot travel extensively due to health reasons. This provides them with a simple, fun way to explore and have new experiences-especially when the winter sets in." Reactions to the program have been positive, with a few seniors hesitant about how "high tech" the virtual reality headsets are. Sears says, "...we have the Apollo 11 app where participants can go through the launch that set men on the moon or Tai chi to help them get moving."
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Professional Development
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Join us for the first meeting of the MHLS Social Media Roundtable on September 20th
from 10:00-11:30am in the MHLS auditorium. The roundtable is for member library staff and trustees to discuss how libraries use social media, ask questions, share their current practices, and learn about upcoming trends in the marketing world that will affect libraries. Please register for this event through the MHLS online calendar http://calendar.midhudson.org/
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(above) Members of the Dutchess County "Complete Count" Committee
at their first planning meeting.
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The newly appointed
Dutchess County Complete Count Committee includes Poughkeepsie Public Library District Executive Director, Tom Lawrence
. Made up of government and community-based organizations, the committee will promote the census through locally based, targeted outreach efforts and participate in local community events. "We want to ensure every person in Dutchess County is counted for the upcoming census. People have the right to be accurately represented," said County Executive Molinaro. "Census results also determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed annually, so there is a direct financial impact to ensuring an accurate count." Libraries will play an important role in making sure people know the Census is coming and why they need to fill it out and providing support for completing it.
While the Supreme Court struck the citizenship question from the 2020 Census, the brief presence of the question may have already had a chilling effect on Census completion, especially in hard-to-count (HTC) communities. To make sure everyone in your community is counted: start now! Talk to community organizations, faith-based organizations, town and local governments in your community or your county to figure out how you can reach everyone, including HTC populations in your area, to let them know they need to complete the Census. Promotional materials for the Census can be found at
https://bit.ly/2ZzWJek
You can also publicize Census jobs found at
https://www.census.gov/fieldjobs
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Property tax levy growth for libraries with fiscal years that close on December 31st will be capped at 2 percent for the 2020 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. All libraries that have their own board and their own budget vote - even if you did hold a vote or don't plan to hold a vote in 2019 are required to file the online "tax cap form" with the NYS Office of the State Comptroller by the end of the year. A reminder that any override of the cap must be accompanied by a cap override resolution passed by a super majority of the library's board of trustees prior to the adoption of the 2020 budget. A primer on the Tax Cap for libraries is available from MHLS at
http://bit.ly/2ceMNlO
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Programming Coordinator (Part-Time), Clinton Community Library
The Clinton Community Library seeks a creative, energetic, and detail-oriented individual to join its team as a Programming Coordinator. The coordinator will oversee all aspects of library programs. While the focus will be on adult and teen programming, he/she will also be expected to assist with children's programming. Additionally, the coordinator will support marketing and public relations outreach, with primary responsibility for updating our website/events calendar and maintaining the library's social media presence.
Responsibilities include:
- Planning, promoting, and implementing programs for adults and teens and assisting with programming for elementary-aged children.
- Providing departmental information for the director's monthly report.
- Maintaining library website and events calendar as well as the library's social media presence
- Managing online public information calendars, news media postings, and writing and distributing press releases and event alerts
- Sending weekly subscriber e-newsletters, and event-specific email blasts
- Providing reference and readers'advisory when needed.
- Assisting with circulation and other library functions as necessary.
Required Skills:
- Excellent working knowledge of computers, mobile devices, and e-readers.
- Strong level of comfort with Microsoft Word & Excel. Familiarity with Wordpress, MailChimp, and Canva is preferred.
- Self-starter who takes initiative
- Team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Enthusiastic about working with the public and providing exceptional customer service
Prior experience in marketing, public relations, or public libraries is helpful, but not required.
Instructions to Applicants
Interested individuals should email their résumé and letter of interest to Carol Bancroft at clinton.director@gmail.com. Please include "Programming Coordinator Position" in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
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