Governor Hochul has signed S3594, the bill to reduce the number of petition signatures for libraries to get onto the municipal ballot into law. Association and Municipal Public Libraries will now only need 25 signatures, the same as the school district ballot.

Thank you to everyone who helped to advocate for this bill. This is a game changer for our municipal and association libraries. This bill removes the #1 barrier to all libraries being on the ballot annually. Hopefully this will help our municipal and association libraries to start to correct years of chronic underfunding.

MHLS is deeply appreciative to our entire MHLS Community, as well as the New York Library Association (NYLA) Community who pulled together to get this bill passed and signed into law.

Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) announced $15,000 in funding for the Highland Public Library, enabling the purchase of a digital sign. Library Director Julie Kelsall-Dempsey said, “We are incredibly grateful to Assemblymember Jacobson for securing funding for the new digital sign. The new sign makes it easier to connect with the public concerning library and community events.”

Jacobson said, “Public libraries play a crucial role in the vitality of the communities which they serve. This sign will enable the Highland Library to keep the public aware of what’s going on at both the Library and in the entire greater Highland Community."

We can now accommodate a preferred name and a legal name within the Sierra Patron Record. Both names are fully searchable and can be used in holdshelf slips, notices, and all patron views. 

A new field has been added to the patron record which is linked to the same index as the Patron Name field. It can be searched in the same way and even used in custom templates where necessary. The field is a container, used when the Patron Name is needed to be used to accommodate a preferred name.

Each Member Library Director must determine if their library will implement this process or not. It is not required. Staff should refer to their director before using this process.

Instructions are located on the MHLS Knowledge Base, a tutorial is available for assignment in the Technology Training Library at MHLS Training on Demand. Watch this 2-minute video to see it in Sierra.

All member libraries now have access to the 2024 online Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Summer Reading Program manuals and artwork through the CSLP site. It’s free to access all these components provided to you by New York State. The access code was sent out via the MHLS-Notice list on October 25th. Member libraries can also request the code from Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Outreach & EDI Specialist. 

The recording from the Fall 2023 READsquared training session is now posted on the READsquared page of the New York State Library Youth Services Summer Reading site. The session covered wrap-up of Summer Reading 2023 programs, running reports, and cleanup of 2023 reading programs. The session also discussed tips for using READsquared for fall or winter reading programs.

REMINDER: All NYS employees and trustees must complete sexual harassment prevention training annually. For guidance on making sure your Library’s sexual harassment prevention policy and training meeting the requirements of the law, view the MHLS webpage on this topic. 

Library Clerk (part time), Dover Plains Library

Dover Plains Library in Wingdale, NY (Town of Dover) is looking for a part-time circulation clerk to join our team. Interested applicants should email a resume and list of 3 references to the library director, Amy Smith at director@doverplainslibrary.org.

View the complete job description and how to apply.

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. 

National

• American Library Association and Sustainable Libraries Initiative to join forces on climate action strategy for libraries | ALA Press Release 10.25.23

• Judge dismisses lawsuit against Michigan school district over ‘explicit’ books in library | MLive 10.25.23

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