The election of MHLS trustees will be an item of business at the Mid-Hudson Library System’s Annual Membership Meeting, Friday, October 21, 2022. MHLS is governed by a fifteen-member board, three trustees from each of the five counties served. A Term of Office is defined in the MHLS Bylaws, Article IV. Section 4, as follows:

As per the “Procedures for Election of MHLS Trustees,” the county library association of each county for which a trustee is to be elected shall meet for the purpose of selecting a candidate from their county to nominate. The chair of the county library association shall submit to the MHLS Executive Director the name of the county library association’s nominee no later than two months prior to the Annual Membership Meeting. In the event a county does not put forth a candidate, the MHLS Executive Director, in consultation with the MHLS Board President, shall seek a nominee from that county where a vacancy needs to be filled.

MHLS member libraries are chartered to provide service to every resident in its service area – residents who comprise a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives and expectations. Similarly, the MHLS Board should be comprised of members who, in the aggregate, can touch upon many of these backgrounds to better understand the diverse needs of each member library. Board diversity can take many forms, as explained in the “Achieving Diversity within the MHLS Board of Trustees,” document prepared by the MHLS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group which has been provided in this year’s election notice to directors and board presidents. We ask for your help in creating a diverse MHLS Board that helps to reflect the rich diversity of the residents of the Hudson Valley.

If you wish to nominate a Dutchess County representative to the MHLS Board of Trustees, please provide their name and contact information to Carol Fortier, Chair of the Dutchess County Directors Association, and director of the Beekman Library: cfortier@beekmanlibrary.org; 845.724.3413 ext. 5.

If you wish to nominate an Ulster County representative to the MHLS Board of Trustees, please provide their name and contact information to Margie Menard, Ulster County Library Association Chair, and director of the Kingston Library: mmenard@kingstonlibrary.org; 845.339.4260 ext. 14.

If you wish to nominate a Putnam County representative to the MHLS Board of Trustees, please provide their name and contact information to Stephanie Harrison, Chair of the Putnam County Library Association and director of the Patterson Library: director@pattersonlibrary.org; 845.878.6121 ext. 16.

All nominations are due to MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, before July 1st, 2022.

Kingston Library and the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History recently launched a collaboration with the Kingston Immigrant Oral History Project to gather, document, preserve, and share the oral histories of the immigrant experience in their community. The project was motivated by a lack of materials in the library’s Local History collection on the immigrant experience of the latter twentieth and early twenty-first century. Recordings of interviews and transcripts can be accessed through the Kingston Library website. This project began in March 2022 and is ongoing. 

The Kingston Immigrant Oral History Project is supported with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the New York State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by Southeastern NY Library Resources Council.

The American Library Association (ALA) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ We Can Do This campaign to share trusted information about COVID-19 vaccines with parents and families with children. The "We Can Do This" campaign provides a range of expert-verified outreach tools and sharable resources that libraries can use to inform their communities, including resources about COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 and older.

The partnership will focus on information for parents and guardians of children younger than 12 years old. COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in November 2021. Currently, vaccination rates for ages 5-11 are significantly lower than older age groups: just 35 percent of people ages 5-11 have received at least one dose, compared to 87 percent of people ages 12 and older.

Access the Outreach Guide which includes customizable content and social media posts.

MHLS Data Operations Supervisor, Nina Acosta has put together a curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive to focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices. The collection is pinned to the front page of https://mhls.overdrive.com/ and will be up throughout May to help celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

Reserve your spot for Afterschool Meals in Libraries – Offering Year-Round Nutrition online event on May 18th at 3:00 pm. This free webinar is hosted by the No Kid Hungry organization and would be of interest to libraries that want to get involved in providing nutritious meals or snacks to kids in their local community.  

  

Libraries provide a unique opportunity to combat food insecurity and improve the health and well-being of children in their communities. Join this webinar to learn how the Afterschool Meals Program can provide nutritious meals and snacks in libraries. You will hear from two libraries and a program sponsor – Jasmin LoBosso from the Kern County Library in California, Sarah Wright from the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio, and Shannon Amos from the Children’s Hunger Alliance about their experience starting Afterschool Meals Programs in libraries.

Catalyst Grants: A new fund to support your climate action. Beginning in June, Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley (PCAHV) will invite proposals for bold actions. Grants will support communities to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate and restore our ecosystems. Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000.

Applicants must represent a municipality, school, library, nonprofit, or grassroots initiative working in partnership with one or all these groups. Residents from Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, and Putnam are welcome to apply. Underserved communities will receive special consideration.

Learn more and stay up to date at https://www.climateactionhv.org/initiatives/catalyst-grants.

The Clinton Community Library has an immediate opening for a creative and enthusiastic Programming Coordinator. The Programming Coordinator prepares, promotes, and implements events and programs for our community. This part-time position (24-30 hours per week) will require some Saturdays and occasional evenings. Hourly rate: $15.50-$17.50 depending on experience.

The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of programs for adults, teens, and elementary-aged children in order to encourage lifelong library use. The Programming Coordinator also supports marketing and public relations outreach, with primary responsibility for updating the library’s website/events calendar and maintaining the library’s social media presence.

Part-time, 24-30 hours/week. Typical weekly schedule is Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 11:00 AM-5:00 PM, but there is flexibility; some Saturdays 9 AM-1 PM; occasional evening hours as necessary for programming needs.

The job requires the employee to stand, sit, twist/turn, maintain flexibility, hear, listen, see, and speak clearly; frequently stoop/bend and walk. The job also requires the employee to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 lbs.

Please send a cover letter and résumé to Carol Bancroft at clinton.director@gmail.com

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East Fishkill seeks two enthusiastic and high-energy individuals to fill the role of Library Clerk; part time (see hour requirements below). Primary responsibilities include but not limited to checking items in and out, pulling holds, processing materials, registering patrons, collecting fines, shelving and shelf maintenance. Customer service skills are a must.

Requirements: Graduation from high school or possession of GED.

Compensation: Starting $15.00.

Hours: Clerk Position #1 Hours: Monday 9am-5pm, Thursday 5pm-8pm; Clerk Position #2 Hours: Thursday 9am-3pm, Friday 12pm-6pm

Hours subject to change and candidate must take part in the Saturday and Sunday rotation.

To Apply: Interested candidates should apply with cover letter, 3 references (at least 2 professional), and résumé via email to Nicole Williams at williams@eflibrary.org with the subject heading “Part Time Library Clerk Position”. Accepting applications until May 20th.

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The Woodstock Library has an immediate, full-time opening (35 hours/week) for a friendly, patient, reliable, tech-savvy, flexible, detail-oriented and customer-service oriented person who is excited to work with patrons in a bustling community library.

Responsibilities include working with the public: assisting patrons, both in-person at the Library and over the phone, with a wide variety of informational needs. Staff person will be responsible for sorting, shelving, and locating library materials; maintaining organization and general appearance of library; providing simple directional information to patrons; and basic assistance on the use of the online library catalog, library resources, computers, and other technology or software.

Computer and alphabetization skills and high school diploma or equivalency required. Sense of humor recommended. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required. 

Hours: Tuesdays - Saturdays, 35 hours/week. 

Wage: $15/hour, with paid vacation, sick, and personal time. 

To apply please send your résumé to Library Director Ivy Gocker at director@woodstock.org with a cover letter explaining why you’d like to work with the community at a busy public library.

Special Notice: The Clerk I position is a civil service provisional appointment pending future examination. Applicants must meet all Ulster County Civil Service minimum qualifications for the position and be reachable upon exam for permanent appointment.