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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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eMagazine Migration February 1st
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3,200 eMagazine titles will be available to download from Libby and OverDrive starting February 1st! The MHLS TechOps team is working hard to make the transition from RBDigital to OverDrive as seamless as possible. MHLS libraries will soon offer over 3,200 popular magazines available to download with no wait lists, holds, or checkout limits in the OverDrive website and the Libby app, that patrons have come to know and love. The MHLS OverDrive electronic collection, which includes bestselling eBooks and eAudiobooks will grow to include current and up to three years of back issues of magazines like Cook's Illustrated, The Economist, House Beautiful, and more. Patrons will be able to browse, search, and borrow magazines in Libby and OverDrive starting February 1st. The RBDigital platform will also be updated with the new titles on February 1st, as an overlap in service, but the RBDigital platform access will be ending completely and all access will take place in the OverDrive and Libby apps, after March 31st this year. For more info including the complete list of 3,200 titles, library staff should visit the MHLS Knowledgebase. For MHLS marketing materials visit https://midhudson.org/emagazine-promotional-materials/. Questions? Contact MHLS Tech Support.
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MHLS Announcements
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Attention Member Library Directors: The 2020 Annual Report Software will be opened today, January 26th. This week each member library director will receive, via the delivery, a packet from the Mid-Hudson Library System of pertinent information to complete your report. A detailed email will be sent via the MHLS-Notice List regarding changes and access to the report. For continuously updated information please visit
https://midhudson.org/annualreporttips/. All reports are due by Monday, March 1st.
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The MHLS Board met on January 21st, 2021. Highlights from the meeting include:
- Identification of four areas of focus for the year:
- Follow through on recommendations from the MHLS Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Working Group
- Manage the financial challenges brought on by cuts in state aid and to follow the recommendations from the MHLS COVID-19 Response & Recovery Working Group
- Development of the 2022-2026 Plan of Service
- Outreach efforts to member library boards and county library associations through the Board-to-Board visits program.
- An update from MHLS Executive Director on the library service status of member libraries in light of rising COVID-19 infection numbers as well as the effort to have library workers recognized as education workers by the NYS Department of Health for the purposes of vaccine access.
- Approval of the System's Emergency Health Plan.
- An orientation to the issues surrounding broadband access in the System. A presentation provided by Ms. Aldrich discussed the topics of:
- Broadband as library infrastructure;
- Local library efforts to bolster Wi-Fi, hot spot and deployed Wi-Fi networks;
- Net neutrality;
- Member library connection speeds*; and
- Both short and long terms area of focus to ensure equitable access to broadband connectivity throughout the Hudson Valley.
*Did you know that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the American Library Association (ALA) have both adopted recommended bandwidth targets for libraries?
- Libraries that serve fewer than 50,000 people: 100Mbps
- Libraries that serve 50,000 or more: 1 Gbps
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 The Highland Public Library recently began a campaign asking patrons to use the savings calculator linked on their website and then encouraging patrons to share how much they saved at the library through a Facebook post.
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Professional Development
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 On Wednesday, February 17th at 2:00 pm MHLS hosts Libraries Addressing Food Scarcity with Hunger Solutions NY. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented rise in food insecurity. Fortunately, librarians are no strangers to connecting children and families with resources they need; as trusted messengers and community hubs, libraries can help connect patrons with federal nutrition programs that alleviate hunger. Join Krista Hesdorfer, Child Nutrition Programs Specialist at Hunger Solutions NY, and participating MHLS member libraries to learn about the ways libraries can get involved, from serving summer meals for kids to sharing information about SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other vital supports. Please register for this event through the MHLS calendar.
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 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is now accepting applications for Green Library Award 2021. Objectives of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Green Library Award include rewarding green library projects that communicate their commitment to environmental sustainability, create awareness of libraries' social responsibility and leadership in environmental education, supporting the worldwide green library movement, concerned with environmentally sustainable buildings, environmentally sustainable services, activities, programming, information resources, collections and projects, and conservation of resources and energy. All types of libraries are encouraged to submit their outstanding green library projects, initiatives or ideas Green Library Award. Libraries with a small budget but a great impact are explicitly invited to participate in the competition. Applications are due February 28th.
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Reference & Collection Development
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 Publishers Weekly has announced it will launch a new American publishing trade fair named the U.S. Book Show, the debut event will run virtually May 26th-28th. The intended audience includes booksellers, librarians, publishers, and literary agents from across the U.S. and the world. Programming will be limited to five hours per day to facilitate further networking and parties, as well as to accommodate participants from a variety of time zones across the U.S. and the world. The news comes in the wake of the closure of BookExpo, announced in December. The fair will be run via a new, proprietary digital platform that will facilitate online exhibitors, presentations, and networking. In addition to Book Buzz and Galleys-to-Grab author events aimed at librarians and booksellers the show will feature an extensive professional programming series that will discuss the state of the industry as the nation begins to emerge from the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information visit publishersweekly.com/bookshow.
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The first Digital Equity Summit hosted by the Board of Regents and the State Education Department will take place on Thursday, January 28th at 10:00 am. The opening and closing sessions will be streamed live on the State Education Department's website.
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Administration & Management
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The MHLS New Directors Forum will take place on Thursday, February 18th at 1:00 pm after the DA Business Meeting. The topic will be Sierra for New Directors. Sierra plays a significant role in the day-to-day operations of your library. Getting to know Sierra can be an essential step towards the success of managing your library. In this session, we will discuss Sierra from an administrator's perspective. We will review the areas where administrative policies and workflows are implemented in Sierra. You will begin to see the possibilities and the limitations of working within Sierra in our consortia environment, as well as gain insight on what reports and statistics are available to help move your library forward and tell your story. This session will incorporate an overview of the MHLS Resource Sharing Standards and cover the following topics:
- Introduction to an integrated library system
- Managing staff logins and workflows
- Library parameters, preferences, options and templates
- Messaging and notices
- Reports and statistics
- Projects
- Resources
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Library Director, New Lebanon Library
The New Lebanon Library seeks an energetic, imaginative full-time library director who is committed to patron service and community outreach.
New Lebanon, NY is located near the Massachusetts border in the foothills of the culturally rich Berkshires and half an hour away by car from the state capital of Albany.
The New Lebanon Library is a vibrant association library which serves the Town of New Lebanon and surrounding area and is a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System.
The Library Director, as the primary representative of the library, is responsible for carrying out the mission of the library according to the Strategic Plan.
The Director's responsibilities include:
- preparing and overseeing the annual budget
- developing employment and service policies
- adherence to strategic planning
- solidifying public and governmental relations
- reporting to the governing library board
- ensuring compliance with laws
- overseeing staff
- Identifying and pursuing grants
- Attending professional meetings
Qualifications:
Must have or be in the process of acquiring an ALA accredited Masters Degree (MLS or equivalent).
Public Library experience is preferred.
Salary and Benefits:
- Starting salary range: $43,000-$46,000 depending on experience.
- Full time position: 37.5 hours a week.
- Two weeks paid vacation
- Personal and sick days
Anticipated start date mid-April 2021
Send letter of application, résumé and letters of recommendation and/or prior employment references to Dianne Hobden, Search Committee Chair, PO Box 222, Canaan, NY 12029 or by email at diannehobden51@gmail.com
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Librarian 1 - Full Time, Rosendale Library
The Rosendale Library is seeking an energetic, innovative and engaging professional librarian to join the friendly staff at the Rosendale Library.
We are looking for a caring individual who will bring excitement and innovation to the Rosendale Library's programs and collections. This is a job for someone who has lots of imagination, curiosity and fun and is an opportunity to use your knowledge and expertise to bring new experiences to the library and our community.
The candidate should have the ability to design meaningful educational programs for people of all ages, and a willingness to foster partnerships with outside organizations in providing services to the residents of Rosendale.
This position requires: excellent communication skills; flexibility; a positive attitude; an understanding and ability to work with people of all ages; the ability to multitask; knowledge of children's, teen and adult literature; and an excellent working knowledge of and comfort with current technology and digital content trends affecting public libraries.
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Creates, plans, and coordinates library programs.
- Creates, plans, and coordinates promotional material for the library.
- Seeks alternative funding for programs (e.g. grants and sponsorship).
- Performs outreach to local residents and community groups.
- Coordinates volunteers.
- Collection development.
- Provides reference and readers' advisory.
- Assists with circulation and other library functions as necessary.
- Acts as the person in charge of the library when the library director is absent.
- Creates and maintains a calendar of events and a system of event registration.
- Fosters partnerships with outside organizations which provide services to local residents.
- Reviews, abides by, and enforces all library policies.
This is a full time, 35-hour per week position which may require nights and Saturdays. Vacation, sick, and medical benefits are offered as well as participation in the New York State Local Retirement System. Salary $35,000 to 40,000 per year, depending upon experience.
Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Masters Degree in Library Science.
Special Requirement: Possession of a New York State Public Librarian's professional certificate at time of appointment.
This will be a provisional appointment. Permanent appointment will be contingent upon successful completion of a civil service examination and becoming reachable on the resulting eligible list.
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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