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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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MHLS Reimagining Library Services Series
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In the final installment of MHLS's Reimagining Library Services series,
Dealing with the Digital Divide, member libraries shared their experience in addressing the connectivity needs in their communities. The webinar included information about loaning Wi-Fi hotspots and laptops, and community Wi-Fi initiatives including expanding the reach of the library buildings to-date for people trying to access the library, and tools and strategies to make library services more accessible including free chat reference services, a virtual craft fair with local sellers, digitized local history resources, and a readers advisory form. Panelists included Carol Fortier, Beekman Library Director, Margie Menard, Kingston Library Director, and Amy Smith, Red Hook Public Library Head of Programs & Youth Services.
As the world struggles with the resounding and far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries have stepped up to support their communities in new and significant ways. We see libraries leveraging local partnerships and resources to battle food insecurity and close the digital divide, conditions in our communities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and its effects on our schools and businesses. We also see libraries developing new ways to deliver traditional services as they adapt to safely connect users with materials and collections and opportunities to learn and grow alongside their neighbors through programming. The 2020 Reimagining Library Services series of webinars feature presentations from MHLS member libraries who are working to address these issues in their communities. Thank you to the library directors and staff who took the time to share their experience as panelists in this series.
Recordings of the webinars are available on the MHLS YouTube channel and you can access each of the recordings at the links below.
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MHLS Announcements
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MHLS will be closed on Thursday, November 26th in observance of Thanksgiving and Friday, November 27th. There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.
A message from MHLS Board President, Ric Swierat:
 On March 20th, 2020, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo enacted a statewide COVID-19 "stay-at-home" order which went into effect at 8:00 pm on March 22nd, requiring all "non-essential businesses" to close or transition entirely to telecommuting until at least April 19th. However, we now know that this order and practice remained in place well into June. As a result, our member libraries and MHLS quickly adjusted to new practices to address the community needs. We all learned quickly to use virtual or remote access to acquire library resources. Since late summer, most of our libraries instituted limited re-opening practices in accordance with the Governor's plan. We now hear that COVID-19 is spiking in specific areas of the nation and in New York State, so we may need to return to some version of a "stay-at-home" order in some communities. What have we learned since then?
Our libraries learned a great deal about how to meet the needs of their patrons and the community since March. Most libraries have increased their capacity for accessing resources virtually and remotely. Many libraries have supported remote programming for all ages in the community. Libraries have learned how to deal with the health and safety issues related to social distancing, cleaning processes and quarantine procedures for materials. Libraries have learned how to support library workers as they continue to process requests and handle shared materials. And, most libraries, including MHLS, have learned to manage and support these new practices with limited resources. We are prepared for the next wave of COVID-19 closure policies and directives.
We continue to advocate with state officials for direct guidance for libraries that recognizes the essential nature of library services and the importance of library worker safety. We have found that our communities need and expect libraries to be there for them regardless of closure directives to overcome digital inclusion challenges, access trusted information, and combat social isolation. Library workers are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response and we thank local library boards for the recognition of this fact in local decision-making. Let's help ensure all elected officials recognize the importance and value of library workers as we face down this next wave of COVID-19. If you have newly elected officials, please reach out and let them know what your library is working on. If your representatives were re-elected be sure to connect with them to let them know what life looks like on the frontlines for libraries. They need to hear your stories.
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MHLS Libraries
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 Highland Public Library recently launched Uncover & Discover a monthly series that highlights the Hudson Valley creators and businesses doing amazing things right in their own backyard. They talk with guests about what inspires them as well as their current projects. From the website, "It is our passion for learning and our creativity that unites us as a community, and despite being separated, we can still learn from one another and stay connected. Through Uncover and Discover we hope to engage with one another and share our appreciation for the wonderful people that make our community special." You can view the first video in the series at
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Professional Development
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There are still spots left for the New York State Library one-hour webinar
Exploring the New York State Parent Portal on Friday, November 20th at 1:30 pm. The Parent Portal houses the four websites created by the NYS Council on Children and Families with state agency partners to help parents and caregivers by providing positive parenting resources. You will learn how to use these resources to make families aware of childcare options, helpful hints to navigate concerns about developmental delays, and parenting support in your community. Register online.
The Digital Equity Webinar series continues with CanCode: Virtual Digital Literacy for All presented by Annmarie Lanesey, Founder and CEO of
AlbanyCanCode on Thursday, November 19th at 2:00 pm. The unprecedented crisis facing New Yorker's has two defining characteristics: a critical need for digital literacy as our youth, parents, and businesses struggle to work virtually, and an overwhelming wave of newly unemployed people. CanCode's Virtual Digital Literacy program was designed to create a bridge for underserved populations to take their first steps towards careers in technology. Now more than ever this program has the opportunity to change the lives of those who can participate. To register and to view upcoming programs in the series visithttp://www.nysl.nysed.gov/digitalequity.htm. The Digital Equity webinar series is organized by the New York State Library and the New York State Education Department, in partnership with the METRO Library Council and the Northern New York Library Network.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra
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The Sierra 5.2 upgrade commenced at 3:00 am this morning, Tuesday,
November 17th. The upgrade was expected to take between 2-3 hours, at which time both Sierra and Encore were unavailable. MHLS Tech Support will post information about the upgrade on the MHLS-Notice list as it becomes
available. Please allow some additional time in the morning to start Sierra for the first time. This is a big release, so please do anticipate a delay in the time it takes to launch the Sierra desktop application. Staggering your staff logins is recommended. Review the full documentation for Sierra 5.2 here.
The Encore 5.2 upgrade will commence before 6:00 am on Wednesday, November 18th. The Encore upgrade should take less than 1 hour. During that time, the public catalog will be unavailable. MHLS Tech Support will post information about the upgrade on the MHLS-Notice list as it becomes
| In January 2021, MHLS will move to a new, streamlined Inter Library Loan (ILL) experience for both patrons and staff, making keeping track of your patron's requests much easier. Please join us at 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 16th or Thursday, December 17th for a MHLS ILL Workshop. This session will provide workflow and best practice procedures to get your library in the flow of our new comprehensive ILL process. This webinar is for MHLS member library staff who submit and manage your library's ILL requests. Please register for either session through the MHLS calendar. |
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Sustainable Libraries
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The New York Library Association's (NYLA) Pathways to Librarianship Task Force will be a first attempt at realizing an equitable, straightforward path towards librarianship for all people. The composition of the multi-sector task force will seek to be as inclusive as possible including geographic diversity among a broad pool of non-degreed clerks and paraprofessionals working in libraries, library deans and directors, and librarians across all disciplines and specializations. Interested parties should register for the Town Hall meeting
taking place on Thursday, December 3rd at 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve as an opportunity to outline the vision for the task force and answer questions from interested participants. Register for the Town Hall and stay up to date on the task force by visiting https://www.nyla.org/pathways/.
The eighth open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began on Sunday, November 1st and will run through December 15th, 2020 during what may be the most challenging year in its ten-year history. Millions of Americans have lost jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic, leaving many without employer-sponsored health coverage. In its third consecutive year, the Public Library Association (PLA) initiative, Libraries Connecting You to Coverage, offers a suite of free tools and resources to help library practitioners assist patrons in enrolling in health insurance coverage.
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Programming
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 First Book is a non-profit social enterprise that provides new books and educational resources - for free and at low cost - to schools and programs serving children in need, ages 0-18. First Book Members have access to the
Book Bank, a clearinghouse of free, brand new books in bulk donated by generous partners in the publishing industry. School districts and nonprofit organizations serving kids in need pay just the low cost of shipping and handling to get the books into the hands of children. To find out if your library is eligible and to
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Trustee Resources
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The last two sessions in the MHLS Online Trustee Education Series will take place in December.
Financial & Fiduciary Responsibility | Wednesday, December 2nd |
5:30-7:00 pm | Register
Presented by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director this intermediate-level course is for trustees who have been on the board for at least a year. Library boards are trusted with public and private funds to provide quality library service to their community. Transparency and accountability must be at the forefront as a board makes decisions pertaining to the library's finances. This course will focus on the financial and fiduciary responsibility involved with:
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The library's budget
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Library funding
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Financial policies
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Reports to the board
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External audits
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Boards | Tuesday, December 8th |
5:30-7:00 pm | Register
Presented by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director & Casey Conlin, MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator this advanced-level course is for trustees who have been on the board for at least a year. It is recommended that trustees have already attended the Trustee Essentials workshop prior to this event. An effective board is a knowledgeable, professionally organized group of diverse individuals working with consistent collaboration and dedication to the common goal of providing quality public library services to all residents of the community. Attendees will be able to recognize the habits of effective boards, understand the value of effective recruitment and self-evaluation, and appreciate the importance of continuing education in developing a dynamic, high performing group that operates with the best interest of the library at heart.
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Administration & Management
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The MHLS Board annually sets local priorities for the State Aid for Library Construction Program funding to enable the ranking of member library
applications should the total amount requested through eligible member applications exceed the amount of funds allotted through this program to the MHLS service area. Member library directors are asked to complete Action Memo 20-08: Construction Grant Funding Priorities to share their input with the MHLS Board. The link to this Action Memo was sent out via the MHLS-Notice list on Monday, November 16th and is also available in the current DA Packet. Please respond to Action Memo 20-08 by November 30th, 2020.
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Job Openings
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Part-time Tech Support Specialist, Mid-Hudson Library System
MHLS is seeking a Tech Support Specialist (part-time) to work under the direction of the IT Operations Supervisor; provides phone, email, and in-person support to member libraries; analyzes and resolves hardware, software and networking/communication problems; assists in managing library websites; provides documentation/ training on technical issues, assists in managing server and network equipment, provides technical advice to member libraries and System staff. View the full job description. To apply please submit a cover letter and résumé to jobs@midhudson.org. Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a master's degree in the same community.
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