The Board of the Mid-Hudson Library System met on Tuesday, December 13th and:

• Passed resolutions recognizing Priscilla Goldfarb and Lynne Ridgeway, thanking them for their service to the MHLS Board; and for Richard Swierat, to thank him for his service as board president over the past three years;
• Approved the 2023 Capital Plan;
• Set the 2023 Board Meeting Dates:
• Thursday, January 19th (snow date: Monday, January 23rd)
• Saturday, March 11th (snow date: Saturday, March 25th)
• Wednesday, May 17th
• Wednesday, July 12th
• Tuesday, September 12th
• MHLS Annual Membership Meeting: Friday, October 27th
• Wednesday, December 6th (snow date: Monday, December 18th)
• Approved a 1-year contract extension with Valley Courier for delivery services;
• Approved a 3-month contract with Impact PR & Communications to be paid for through a grant from The Dyson Foundation and private donations from the MHLS Board;
• Approved the 2023 budget, assuming no new income from New York State. With this budget the board has met its goal to pay all full-time staff a living wage;
• Voted unanimously to become a partner of the Unite Against Book Bans Campaign;
• Held a public hearing on the proposed CIPA-Compliant Internet Access Policy and Procedures for MHLS Board Member Videoconferencing Pursuant to Public Officers Law 103-a, approving both policies after the close of the hearing;
• The MHLS Board reviewed and approved unanimously the results of a performance appraisal for MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich; and
• Received a presentation from Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich on the System’s recent completion of the Sustainable Library Certification Program.

The following was submitted by Allison Mikulewich, Rosendale Library. Allison was one of five recipients of the 2022 New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference Scholarship from the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS).

"The 2022 annual NYLA Conference was an experience that enhanced my knowledge of library practices as well as fostered new connections to those in the library field throughout New York state.

While attending the ESLN Luncheon: Transformative Conversations in Hiring for Diversity I was able to sit with peers and discuss our roles at our establishments. I joined a table that had Queens College alumni and as graduate myself that was a valued connection.

I am empowered to try new things as a result of what I learned during the Lightening Rounds such as performing a diversity audit of our catalog as well as engaging effectively with teens through programs that center on social media platforms like TikTok.



On the subject of teen engagement at the library the program “Think Outside the Book” offered many helpful tactics to encourage teens to participate in summer reading programs. The suggestions were simple and the results were effective. I appreciated hearing a first-hand account of steps the Teen Librarian took to understand what teens are interested in and how this can align with programs the library offers.

Ultimately, the NYLA Conference was a unique opportunity to gain insight into best practices in the library field and network with colleagues from across the state of New York.

The NYLA Conference Scholarship from MHLS helps provide new library directors and new library staff with the opportunity to attend the annual NYLA Conference by matching funds provided by the library to underwrite conference attendance."

Articles from all our scholarship recipients will be published in the MHLS Bulletin over the next few weeks!

MHLS now has access to 373,772 digital resources from the NY Heritage Digital Collection available through the public library catalog, including this recent addition by the Claverack Public Library documenting the blizzard of 1888! MHLS is unique in the state for providing access to this content in their public catalog. For all your cataloging questions please contact cataloging@midhudson.org. 

Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director & Co-Author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State is a monthly installment where Rebekkah will answer your questions! Feel free to submit your question here or contact Rebekkah at rsmith@midhudson.org with the subject line: AMA Trustee Question.

Q. What is the recommended broadband speed for libraries?

A. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the E-rate Modernization Order on July 11, 2014, in which it recommends:

• 100 Mbps or greater – libraries serving fewer than 50,000 people
• 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) or greater – libraries serving more than 50,000 people

The recording of the Public Library Association (PLA) webinar, Spotlight on Safety: Addressing Threats in Public Libraries is now available on the PLA On-Demand Webinar page. Additional resources are also available, including the American Library Association (ALA) resources on safety, wellness, and trauma-informed care; ALA resources on intellectual freedom and advocacy; public library policy guidance and examples; and resources from the Department of Justice Community Relations Service.

Library Director II, Grinnell Public Library District 

The Grinnell Public Library District Board of Trustees is seeking an experienced and innovative Library Director II to lead our busy, service-oriented library serving the 28,000 residents of both the Village of Wappingers Falls and the Town of Wappinger. Established in 1867, the Grinnell Public Library serves a vibrant and diverse community. The successful candidate will possess excellent leadership and communication skills and have a strong desire to connect meaningfully with the community, staff, and Trustees. With experience in budget preparation, emerging technologies, facilities management and grant writing, the Director will successfully blend the library’s historic traditions with the best practices of a modern library district. 

The Director of the Grinnell Public Library District must meet the Dutchess County civil service requirements for a Library Director II and take the civil service exam. Minimum qualifications for the position include a Masters in Library Science from an ALA accredited institution, an eligible NYS Public Librarians Certificate and at least 4 years relevant professional experience. 

Salary is negotiable starting at $70,000 plus benefits including participation in the New York State Retirement System.

Inquiries about the position may be made to the Grinnell Board of Trustees President, Ed Cheetham, trusteeec@grinnell-library.org.

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. 

MHLS Calendar