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Vol.23-07 | 2.14.23

Authority Control Backfile

The MHLS cataloging department has recently completed authority control backfile processing with MARCIVE, Inc. Any shared system-wide resources in our catalog have had their author names, subject headings, genre headings, uniform titles, and series titles verified or updated to match the current Library of Congress headings. As new records continue to be added and authorized terms change over time, MHLS will maintain these headings through ongoing services with this vendor.


As part of our continuous efforts towards equity, diversity, and inclusion, this project also offered us the opportunity to add some alternative subject headings to records where the current authorized terms may seem outdated, insensitive, or confusing to our users. Any valid Library of Congress headings will still be included and searchable on any of these records as always. The additional terms will provide further search keywords and will help more people to find these materials with terms they are familiar with or more comfortable using. 


Our catalog now offers more inclusive terminology for describing groups of people using the words that these people often use to describe themselves. Terms from the Chicano Thesaurus are now included on materials about people from various Latin American countries. For example, "Boricuas" has been added to all materials that had a subject heading of “Puerto Ricans” and "Chicanos" has been added to all materials with a subject heading of "Mexican Americans". Also added are the preferred names used by groups of indigenous people as an alternative to the names given to them by colonizers. For example, adding “Niimíipuu” on records with a subject heading of “Nez Percé Indians”. 


Here is a partial list of some of the other alternative terms:

- "Undocumented Immigrants" on instances of "Illegal immigration"

- "Hard of hearing" on instances of "Hearing impaired"

- "Inuit peoples" on instances of "Eskimos"

- "Indigenous peoples" on instances of "Indians"

- "Low-wage work" on instances of "Unskilled labor"

- "Children in difficult situations" on instances of “Problem children" 


This list will continue to grow as we expect to add new terms regularly. If you have more suggestions of alternative terms we might add to our catalog, please send a message to cataloging@midhudson.org for consideration. 


An additional benefit of this project was the inclusion of Accelerated Reader and Lexile Measures on many records. These can now be used by library staff and catalog users to identify lists of books that match certain criteria. The catalog help page http://resources.mhls.info/ has been updated to include links for searching the catalog by a range of Lexile scores, as well as searching by Interest Level for Accelerated Reader. Library staff can also make use of this data with Sierra’s Create Lists function to get even more specific results. For more information on using create lists with Lexile and Accelerated Reader, please refer to this Knowledge Base page.


Finally, an unexpected bonus to come out of this project was the opportunity to review our "near match" report. This is a list of headings, mostly from old or incomplete records, that didn't contain enough information for the authority control vendor to fully process. The cataloging team has been able to take a closer look at these records over the past several weeks. It's given us the chance to further consider some of the terms used in our catalog and make improvements to old records that otherwise may not have gotten another look. Thank you to the MHLS cataloging specialists for helping prepare and carry out this multifaceted project that has been many years in the making.

MHLS Announcements

A message from MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

"I may be a little late in wishing you a Happy New Year but that’s because we’ve hit the ground running here at MHLS for 2023! From the launch of a brand-new service, Training on Demand, to our leadership role to advocate for state legislation to reduce the number of signatures needed on municipal ballot petitions, to our first authority control project in over a decade to a full schedule of Trustee Handbook Book Club dates… MHLS Staff are working hard for your library and your patrons. 

 

The Governor’s proposed cut to library aid is particularly tough for MHLS. Seventy-five (75%) of our budget comes from state aid and after years of chronic underfunding we run a pretty tight ship over here. Even small cuts have a big impact on our organization. 

 

While the state average is a $7 return on investment for libraries and communities when $1 is invested in a public library system like MHLS, for MHLS members you get a $10 return. We work hard to help you keep costs down, solve problems, and ensure you can meet the needs of your community.

 

We thank you in advance for your solidarity in advocating against the Governor’s proposed cut. Come to today’s Advocacy Day Briefing. Call your state legislators. Help educate the public about MHLS and why even though we aren’t their local library, we help make local library services affordable. 

 

We are all in this together."

MHLS will be closed on Monday, February 20th, in observance of Presidents' Day. There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.

MHLS Libraries

Brewster Public Library partnered with the National Guard to bring the New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program to their community. This program teaches residents to have the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions through an introduction to responding to a natural or man-made disaster. Participants learn how to properly prepare for any disaster, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies.


To learn more about the program or schedule an event in your area visit https:/dmna.ny.gov/cpc/.

Professional Development

Registration is open for Computers in Libraries 2023, Libraries: Tech Partners for Community Sustainability. This year’s conference will be in Arlington, VA from March 28th– 30th. Organized and produced by Information Today, Inc., the Computers in Libraries Conference provides a unique, annual opportunity for library and information professionals from all over the world to gather and discuss the myriad of ways technology impacts libraries and the people who use them. 


View the schedule of events and register. Early Bird Registration ends February 24th. 

Resource Sharing & Sierra

REMINDER: Please clear your hold shelf every day the library is open. Clearing the hold shelf purges the holds table of more than the items on your physical hold shelf it also removes cancelled and expired holds. Please do your part in keeping this very critical process running smoothly by making this a priority task every morning. 

 

You can find instructions and a video tutorial under holds at https://kb.midhudson.org/circulation/.

Sustainable Libraries

There is still time to register for the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library Informational Session on February 23rd at 10:00 am. In this one-hour online program New York State Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) Senior Librarian Jane Bentley will provide an overview of services, focusing on institution membership and the important role public libraries play in connecting community members to accessible reading materials. There will be plenty of time for your questions. If you would like to send a question in advance of the event, please email your question to MHLS Outreach & EDI Specialist, Kerstin Cruger with TBBL Information Session in the subject line before February 15th.  


This session is open to all member library directors and staff.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) through the U.S. Currency Reader Program provides currency readers (pictured below), free of charge, to all eligible blind and visually impaired U.S. citizens and national residents. The device is small, compact, and runs on a triple-A battery, which is included. To use the currency reader, simply insert a U.S. bill into the reader and press the button. The device will tell the note’s denomination. Currency reader applications can be downloaded here in English and Spanish.

The BEP encourages organizations that support the blind and visually impaired community to use any of the following materials to help promote the program:

 

For questions about an existing reader, please call (202) 707-0048. For questions about acquiring a reader, the status of your application or reader, or the U.S. Currency Reader Program in general, please call (844) 815-9388 or email meaningful.access@bep.gov.

Reference & Collection Development

MHLS Data Operations Supervisor, Nina Acosta has put together a curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks on OverDrive for Black History Month. The collection is pinned to the front page of https://mhls.overdrive.com/ and will be up throughout February.  

Programming

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Talk Story grant, American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander programs. Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture is a family literacy initiative that connects Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian communities across generations. The Talk Story grant celebrates and explores Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian stories through books, oral traditions, and cultural arts to provide interactive and enriching experiences for all ages. This grant provides financial support to libraries and community organizations who are motivated to promote intergenerational literacy through programming, services, and collections. Talk Story programs may be conducted in-person or virtually. 

Two grant winners for each organization Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN), a total of four winners, will receive $500 each to fund a program that meets the criteria of the grant.


Access the application and learn more about the grant program. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 15th, 2023.

Administration & Management

REMINDER: All member library Annual Reports are due by February 17th, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Any questions about the report should be directed to MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Laura Crisci.

Are you ready to do your part as a library advocate? Join us in Albany for Library Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February 28th! 


Make your transportation plan: MHLS has set up a carpool and ride share service that allows individuals to volunteer as drivers and coordinate rides with others. No log in is required for this free service. Use this link to sign up and be sure to review the directions and parking details. Please note: MHLS is not responsible for ensuring driver availability. This is a volunteer only service and helps with coordination of carpooling.

Job Openings

Part-time Library Clerk, Hyde Park Library


Qualifications: 

  • Must be friendly and courteous and provide outstanding customer service.
  • Strong Computer Skills
  • Knowledge of print and electronic information resources
  • Ability to perform detailed and repetitive work accurately.
  • Ability to stand for long periods, use stairs, bend, and lift 25 lbs.


Duties Include:

  • Checks library materials in and out and places holds for patrons.
  • Creates and updates patron records.
  • Assist patrons with copiers, faxes, and computers.
  • Provides reference assistance.
  • Sorts, inspects, and processes all library materials.
  • Does related work as required.


Hours: 12-15 hrs. per week.

Please send resume to hplibrary@hydeparkfreelibrary.org, Att: Library Director or drop off resume at the Hyde Park Library Circulation Desk.


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. 

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