Vol.21-51 | 12.21.21
Pre-Sort Procedures Start January 3rd
MHLS is pleased to announce we have signed a renewal contract with Valley Courier, extending our working relationship with this vendor through June 2023.  

As part of this negotiation, and with the help and agreement of the MHLS Directors Association, a new procedure will be implemented starting January 3rd, 2022 as part of this working relationship: Member libraries that were not already doing this are now asked to pre-sort items going out for delivery that can be “forward sorted” on the route that day.

What is “forward sorting”? 
Forward sorting is the practice of expediting items coming from your library to libraries after you on the same route, on the same day.

So, for example, if this is the delivery route:
Library A
Library B
Library C
Library D
Library E
Library F
Library G
Library H

And if you are at Library E, then all items for Libraries F, G, and H would be pre-sorted into one bin for forward sorting on route by the driver.

What are best practices for pre-sorting? 
  • The delivery route list should be posted in a spot accessible to staff preparing items for delivery.  
  • One delivery bin should be earmarked for pre-sorted items and marked as such. 
  • Items going to a library after you on the delivery route should be batched together with rubber bands. 

Will your library need extra delivery bins for pre-sorting? 
Not all libraries will, but some may. To this end, MHLS Delivery Operations Staff have analyzed the volume of items on each route and identified libraries that are statistically likely to need an extra bin to accommodate this. As this process unfolds, if you find that you are short on bins please contact Tom Finnigan, Delivery Operations Manager at tfinnigan@midhudson.org

Where can I get a list of the libraries on the route after our library on a day-to-day basis?
Up-to-date delivery routes by day are available at https://midhudson.org/topics/resource-sharing/delivery/
MHLS Announcements
Vega Development Update: The MHLS ILS Road Map 3.0 calls for the introduction of a new online catalog in 2022. To this end, MHLS staff have been working with our ILS vendor, Innovative Interfaces Inc. as a development partner on their next generation catalog, also referred to as a discovery platform, Vega Discover.

MHLS Staff have been meeting with Innovative staff weekly to help configure Vega for a consortium such as ours. A Vega test site has been put in place and in the last few months MHLS and Innovative have collaborated on settings, coding and corrections to ready the site for intense testing. Recently a pilot of the new catalog was launched with the partnership of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District (PPLD). First PPLD staff reviewed the catalog and now their patrons have been invited to try out the new catalog through direct email and access points on the PPLD website. Staff and patrons have been welcomed to provide feedback on the catalog via an online form.

Issues identified by MHLS Staff, PPLD staff and currently, PPLD patrons, are curated by MHLS staff and shared with Innovative to ensure they are addressed before a wider pilot project which will involve several more MHLS member libraries in early 2022.

MHLS is excited about the promise of this new catalog, features we think your patrons will be particularly excited about include:
  • Modern search environment with linked data using BibFrame 
  • Topic and Author pages powered by Syndetics Unbound 
  • Curated and dynamic “showcases” to highlight items in the collection 
  • Fine and fee payment integration 
  • The ability for patrons to save lists and frequent searches 

To follow our development progress please visit: https://kb.midhudson.org/vega-discovery/ 
MHLS Board Report
The MHLS Board met on Wednesday December 15th. Highlights of the meeting included:
  • The passage of resolutions in recognition of the departure of two MHLS Trustees, Lisa Baker Brill, who is wrapping up her second and final term on the board, and Michele Ment, who is leaving the board a bit early due to a planned move out of Putnam County.
  • The approval of the 2022 Budget.  
  • The announcement of funding for a second year of funding for The Library of Local Project.  
  • The renewal of the employment contract with MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, for five years.  
  • Approval of the MHLS Capital Plan, which will prioritize decarbonization projects for 2022.  
  • Approval of the 2022-2026 Action Plan.  
  • A report on the board’s first annual self-evaluation.  
  • Identification of the 2022 goals for the MHLS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group.  
  • Approval of the Free Direct Access Plan for submission to the New York State Division of Library Development.  
  • The board received an orientation on the topic of information literacy.  

The board’s next meeting is on Tuesday, January 11th, 2022. All documents from the board packet are publicly available at https://board.midhudson.org/
MHLS Libraries
Pictured above: Note Cards featuring Line Drawings of Prominent 1871 Hudson Buildings. This is one sample of the many products available for purchase. Picture courtesy of Hudson Area Library.

The Hudson Area Library’s History Room Shop was recently launched. All items in the shop can be purchased online or in-person at the library. The sales support the preservation, archiving, and making accessible of Hudson’s history.
Please welcome our two newest member library directors: 

  • John Faria began working as the new director at the Putnam Valley Free Library on December 7th

  • Ivy Gocker started as the new director of the Woodstock Public Library District the first week in December.  
Administration & Management
Tax Cap Reminder: Libraries that have a calendar fiscal year and have ever had a public vote on their budget should be sure to complete Property Tax Cap Form before the end of the year. Answers to frequently asked questions about the Tax Cap are available as well as a Tax Cap Refresher Recorded Webinar. 
This is the time of year for libraries to review their profiles in EPC ("epic") during the administrative window before the E-Rate filing window opens in early 2022. Once the filing window opens, libraries cannot update their profile. The dates for the filing window, and list of eligible services have not yet been announced by USAC.



If you have any questions on E-Rate, contact Natalie McDonough at the New York State Library (natalie.mcdonough@nysed.gov)
Job Openings
Library Clerk (part-time), Pawling Library 
The Pawling Library is looking for a part-time clerk to join our team by working at the circulation desk. This position will work alternating weeks on Mondays 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Tuesdays 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, and Saturdays 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.

This job requires attention to detail, ability to work independently and with others, multi-tasking, and most importantly strong customer service skills.

The library clerk performs the following functions: 
  • All circulation duties: included but not limited to checking items in and out, pulling holds, processing materials, registering patrons, collecting fines, shelving and shelf maintenance. 
  • Provides information to the public on library policies and procedures. 
  • Performs routine searches and updates of computer records. 
  • Contacts patrons to deliver messages or information on library materials. 
  • Provides reference and readers advisory when needed. 
  • Performs other duties as assigned by the library director. 

We are looking for a candidate with the following skills: 
  • Interest in library materials (such as books, movies, and video games) and library events. 
  • A large degree of comfort with technology. 
  • Ability to answer questions about the library. 
  • Ability to work cooperatively with others. 

Position: Part-Time - 11.5 hours per biweekly pay period

Pay: $13.25 - $16.25/hr, depending on experience

Benefits: Part-time employees accrue paid time off in proportion to their hours worked.

Deadline to apply: Monday, January 17th, 2022.

Interested individuals should apply online at https://www.pawlingfreelibrary.org/jobs/
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