The Library of Local (LoL), a collaboration between Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley and the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS), is back for another year of building community resilience and local self-sufficiency through books, tools, resources, and programming! In 2022, the LoL is going to be even bigger, supporting more communities through 10 satellite libraries that will host a smaller collection of LoL materials and quarterly events that focus on Regenerative Land Use, Green Building, Renewable Energy, and Climate Change. These satellite libraries will join the LoL anchor libraries, Hudson Area Library, Kingston Library, Morton Memorial Library and Community House in Rhinecliff, and Mountain Top Library in Tannersville, who piloted a successful first year amid the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver tools, books, seeds, and programming around the theme Sow, Grow, Reap, Repeat! Gardening and Foraging for Resilience. In 2022, the Howland Public Library in Beacon will join the LoL as an anchor library. Anchor library collections will also be expanded to include AV equipment that can be checked out by local community organizations and initiatives to support community organization efforts.
All of the LoL libraries participating in year 2 will receive a collection of materials to support patrons and community leaders in furthering their work and understanding of this year’s topics, access to a curated speakers bureau of local experts relevant to these topics, event promotion through LoL communication channels, and access to catalyst grant funds for seed libraries and other relevant projects. LoL libraries will also develop partnerships with local community groups and leaders working to address climate change at the local level, participate in the LoL listserv, and receive support from MHLS and the LoL Project Team at monthly LoL library calls to share and develop ideas to create more resilient communities.
Additionally, all MHLS member libraries will be welcome to invite patrons to and develop local programming around four Library of Local Climate Solutions events, which will be broadcast live from LoL anchor libraries throughout 2022.
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The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, January 11th. Highlights from the meeting included:
- Appointment of Peter Carey to fill the seat representing Putnam County recently vacated by a resignation.
- Review of the board’s 2022 Priorities;
- A review of the new gender-neutral protocols for the board’s minutes;
- Approval of the annual fiscal designations;
- Approval of an amended Suspension of Services, Emergency Closing, or Early Release Policy;
- Approval of a Memo of Agreement with the CSEA bargaining unit; and
- A presentation on “Digital Equity & Inclusion” by MHLS Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the MHLS Board of Trustees is on Saturday, March 12 th at 10:00 am. All documents from the board packet are available at https://board.midhudson.org/
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As part of the Dutchess County 2022 Agency Partner Grant (APG) Program the Pawling Free Library and the Poughkeepsie Public Library District were awarded funds as part of the Dutchess Reads program.
Pawling Free Library was awarded $39,250 for Children’s Programming to Promote Literacy and Learning, among children ages 8 and under, with the addition of an event series which will focus on music, reading, playing, talking, and writing, as well as the use of science and robotics kits, an indoor/outdoor block set and a sensory table.
Poughkeepsie Public Library District received $27,025 for the Ready for Reading program, which will provide early literacy toolkits for families in the Poughkeepsie City School District to use with preschool-age children to prepare them for reading as they enter school.
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Discussion Leaders wanted for the 23rd annual Fall into Books Conference! The Fall Into Books (FIB) Conference is an annual Children's & Teen's Literature event with a full day of discussion groups and speakers. This year the FIB will take place on Tuesday, October 25 th, 2022 at the Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel and Conference Center. The planning committee is currently looking for volunteers to lead discussion groups for picture books, elementary, middle, or teen level books. If you are interested, please fill out the Google form and submit by February 7 th.
A mandatory practice session for the discussion leaders will be held on Tuesday, June 13th, 2022, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm (location to be determined). Conference registration and lunch will be complimentary for all discussion leaders.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra |
REMINDER: The legacy OverDrive app will be removed from app stores and the download links for the desktop app for Windows and Mac will no longer be available at https://www.overdrive.com/apps on February 23 rd, 2022. New users looking for the OverDrive app will be directed to the Libby app. All users can continue to access your library’s OverDrive website.
The OverDrive Resource Center provides an overview of these changes, FAQs, Libby promotional materials and more. Join OverDrive on February 2 nd at 2:00 pm for a webinar on best practices to help your library prepare for this change. |
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Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley (DNHV) applications are due by Friday, January 21st. The DNHV program will prepare library workers with new skills and resources to perform the duties of a Digital Navigator including, connecting community members to resources and services to secure affordable broadband, computers, and devices, and providing basic digital literacy training and support in completing necessary paperwork and applications. As part of the program, Digital Navigators will receive training in identifying local resources and services, understanding learner needs, and collecting data.
For more information about this program visit the DNHV site or contact MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin. |
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation empowers underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. The FINRA Foundation is now accepting grant applications to help public and academic libraries meet the financial education needs of their communities and foster financial inclusion. The maximum grant amount is $50,000. The first application deadline is March 1st, 2022. For details, visit the FINRA Foundation Library Grants Program.
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Updated publisher permissions for use in virtual programming. As libraries and schools continue to offer virtual events or even move back to more virtual offerings as COVID cases rise, please note that some publishers have extended their permissions for virtual storytimes. The list below was recently updated, but please check each publisher’s website for changes, updates, and specifics on any titles you are using in virtual programming.
View the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Virtual Storytime Services Guide for information about all aspects of virtual programming, including copyright considerations.
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Administration & Management |
On Friday, January 15th Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill into law that was recently passed by both houses of the New York State Legislature that would extend the current adjustments to Open Meetings Law that enables online meetings throughout the remainder of the COVID-19 state disaster emergency. |
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