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Opening Minds, Closing Doors:
The Threat of Censorship in Libraries
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The 65th Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) Annual Membership Meeting will take place on Friday, October 25th at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, New York.
Following the business meeting and awards we will hear from our keynote speaker, Lisa Varga, Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association. Ms. Varga will be presenting on the topic of Opening Minds, Closing Doors: The Threat of Censorship in Libraries.
In an era where the free exchange of ideas is more critical than ever, libraries stand as bastions of knowledge and intellectual freedom. However, these sanctuaries are increasingly under threat from censorship efforts aiming to limit access to diverse and challenging materials. Join us for an illuminating session that will delve into the phenomenon of censorship in libraries, and how that censorship plays a pivotal role in the upcoming election.
Lisa Varga is the Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association, a professional organization representing more than 5,000 librarians and library staff in Academic, Public and Special libraries throughout the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, she was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. Lisa is the immediate past Chair of the Virginia Beach Public Library Board. She is a member of the International Council of Library Association Executives, the Virginia Society of Association Executives, and the American Library Association Policy Corps, working on the Unite Against Book Bans program. She has presented locally and nationally on a variety of library and association topics and is a mom to three young men who all went through a “reluctant reader” phase.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
• Registration Fee: $37
• Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 16th at 5:00 PM
• Register Here
Questions about this event can be directed to ateal@midhudson.org. Please include MHLS Annual Membership Meeting in the subject line.
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The October 1st Headline article had an error in the ranking for the 2024 Middle School Battle of the Books Finals. The correct ranking is as follows:
1st Place - Butterfield Library (Cold Spring)
2nd Place - Poughkeepsie Public Library District
3rd Place - Claverack Free Library
4th Place - Staatsburg Library (Division Champions)
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After many unexpected delays, the groundbreaking for the Pawling Library’s new Kids Corner took place at the library at noon on Monday, September 23rd, and many well-wishers, including board members and library staff, were present. Attendees included Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, executive director of MHLS, along with Pawling Library’s director Chris Fisher, young adult program coordinator Maureen Meltzer-Mcgrath, children’s program coordinator Neena McBaer, adult program coordinator Donald Partelow, and library staffers Lisa Geocos and Celinda Gomez; library board of trustees president Amy Emke, vice-president Megan Burlington, treasurer Trinity Boscardin, and trustees Pauline Mansfield, Mary Ellen Ros, Stephanie Mclaughlin, Katy Fritts and Wanda Rusiecki. Also in attendance were Ed Hauser, project manager, and Susan Stone, former trustee and chair of the library’s Centennial Celebration. | |
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Meet Up for New Directors | December 5 | 10 AM – 12 PM | MHLS Auditorium, 33 Market Street, Poughkeepsie | REGISTER
Topic: Library Finances. You are not alone! Join us for an informal gathering of New Directors (in your role for 3 years or less) to discuss relevant topics related to finding your path as a new director. Facilitated by MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, author of the Handbook for New Library Directors in New York State & co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees in New York State, this program will address questions submitted in advance by attendees, particularly in the areas of working with your board, planning, and project/time management.
Submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/GVVDxvEGmprPXTfWA
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Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.
To be eligible, a library must have a legal area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.
ALA will award four rounds of grants to be distributed over the next four years ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.
Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide the improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.
Library workers may now apply online for funding until December 11, 2024. Up to 300 libraries will be awarded in this application period.
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What’s new in the Trustee Handbook? Technology
The Technology chapter was greatly changed from the last edition to address issues surrounding digital equity, inclusion, and justice as well as the importance of staff training in light of the new minimum standards for association and public libraries. Also discussed in the chapter are the realities for budgeting for technology in a way that does not leave it to change but makes the necessary investments in this important aspect of library infrastructure.
Trustee responsibilities are small in number but broad in scope. This monthly Bulletin feature is designed to point out sections that are new in the updated version of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State.
Purchase a bound copy of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, 2023 edition from the Mid-Hudson Library System. Order Form.
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Administration & Management | |
Incarcerated Individual Reference Request Procedure: A reminder to all MHLS member libraries that should you receive - by mail - a reference request directly from an incarcerated individual in a correctional facility you should not respond to them.
Please send the letter including the envelope to MHLS, ATTN: Kerstin Cruger, to forward to the senior librarian at their correctional facility. This will legitimize and facilitate their access to information as the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has a mechanism and procedure for information sent to the incarcerated, and it must involve the facility library. Keep in mind that there is seemingly innocent information that certain incarcerated individuals are not allowed to have, due to their history of criminal actions, and when the requests come to you unmediated by a facility librarian it is not possible to determine what those specific parameters are.
The best way to serve this patron, if they contact your library directly, is to send the request to Kerstin Cruger, Outreach & EDI Specialist at MHLS through the delivery.
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Children’s Program Coordinator – Town of Esopus Library
The Town of Esopus Library in Port Ewen is seeking an energetic, positive, creative, people-person to step into the recently vacated role of Children's Program Coordinator. The Children's Program Coordinator, who reports to the Director of the Library, will maintain, develop, and facilitate an inclusive, diverse, and educational annual roster of programs and events while fostering a warm and welcoming environment. Starting pay is $25/hour with a generous benefits package. Working 25 to 30 hours per week, the Coordinator's schedule will include occasional Thursday evenings and Saturdays. If interested please email your resume to Jesse Chance at director@esopuslibrary.org or mail your resume to Town of Esopus Library, PO Box 1167 Port Ewen, NY 12466. View the full job description on the library’s website at www.esopuslibrary.org.
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Public Library Director – Chatham Public Library
Immediate full-time position for a very active library in a vibrant community. Must be Civil Service qualified as Public Library I, currently in Public Library I title, or willing to take provisional appointment pending civil service qualification. A Master’s of Library Science Degree or equivalent Master’s and Public Librarian Certification, plus 2 years of library management experience required. The salary range is $60,000 - $70,000 per year. If interested, please submit a letter outlining qualifications, resume, and 3 reference letters, no later than October 11, 2024, to Mr. Andrew Kourt, Superintendent, Chatham Central School District, 50 Woodbridge Avenue, Chatham, NY 12037; kourta@chatham.k12.ny.us. View the full job description.
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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