 |
Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
|
|
|
|
|
Sierra Annual Users Group
|
|  |
|
The Sierra Annual Users Group on Friday, October 16th starting at 10:00 am offers an opportunity for MHLS member library staff, who use Sierra, to come together online with peers from other libraries to discuss the platform and share ideas. The 2-hour Users Group meeting will consist of release updates, feature showcases and a forum for sharing.
This year's 'virtual' Users Group meeting includes:
- Updates to the Sierra Roadmap. We are in the 2nd leg of our journey - Road Map 2.0 has begun! Join us to learn about the new features that we will be rolling out soon.
- Open Forum | Ice Breaker topic: Training staff
|
|
MHLS Announcements
| |
|
REMINDER: The adjusted delivery schedules went into effect on Monday, October 5th. We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time and will continue to monitor volume and van capacity as libraries adjust their in-person service levels. Please let us know when you change your service level as we are using this information for trendspotting and forecasting purposes.
If you have any questions please contact Tom Finnigan, MHLS Delivery Operations Manager at 845.471.6060 ext. 244 or tfinnigan@midhudson.org.
|
|
| |
|
 The LaGrange Association Library's Capital Campaign Committee created a video to help keep the community up to date regarding the status of the relocation of the library (new space pictured above) as well as the Capital Campaign. The five-minute video features LaGrange Association Library Director Mary De Bellis and Library Trustee Andrea Mondello. The video was posted on the library's website, GoFundMe page, social media channels, and shared with community partners. You can view the video at https://youtu.be/NuWrIHbSnhA.
|
|
Professional Development
| |
|
Southeastern New York Library Resources Council will offer a webinar on Self Care, Self Defense & De-escalation on Tuesday, October 20th at 10:30 am. Front-line library staff encounter a range of attitudes and behaviors from patrons, mostly good, but sometimes - not. Emergencies (from the personal to the pandemic) add even more stress to daily interactions. This webinar will cover ways that library staff can take care of their mental and emotional health and will offer practical strategies for staying safe while diffusing antagonistic or threatening behavior in the library. Presented by Dr. Amy Nitza, Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz and Karla Vermeulen, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health and an Associate Professor of Psychology at SUNY New Paltz. To register, visit https://www.senylrc.org/Self-CareSelfDefenseDe-escalation.
 Ready to Read at NY Libraries presents, The Development of Early Literacy Learners webinar. At this webinar on Thursday, October 29th at 1:30 pm, participants will gain a stronger understanding of early literacy learners and what prepares them for success, many children's book examples highlighting the features that support growth in early literacy skills and knowledge, and new tools to further enhance programming, outreach, and collection development related to Ready to Read at New York Libraries' goals. Registration and more information about this webinar are available at the Division of Library Development webpage.
 Do you have an idea, innovation, collaboration, or case study you think other public libraries would benefit from? Share it with your peers by submitting a Public Library Association (PLA) webinar proposal! PLA webinars are a great opportunity to expand your presentation skills, grow your professional network, advance the public library field, and become more involved with PLA. Webinar proposals are reviewed by PLA staff and member volunteers on a biannual basis. Submit by November 30th to be considered for presentation in February or later. If you have any questions or need assistance with the proposal form, please contact plawebinars@ala.org.
|
Resource Sharing & Sierra
| |
|
RBDigital eBook and Audiobook content will be moving to the OverDrive Libby platform on October 8th. OverDrive has purchased Recorded Books, which includes RBDigital and have determined that consolidating those two media types to their own Libby platform is how they will provide access. MHLS has a very small number of titles that were purchased from RBDigital, and the balance of the audio collection consists mostly of classic audio titles provided at no cost through RBDigital. The RBDigital magazines will continue to be available through the RBDigital site and mobile app for now. No plan is in place to move those items yet. Questions? Please contact Laurie Shedrick, MHLS Assistant Director/Technology Operations Manager, lshedrick@midhudson.org.
Join MHLS OverDrive Coordinator Nina Acosta on Wednesday, October 14th at 2:00 pm for, Introduction to OverDrive Marketplace part of the eCollection Development Series. This webinar will provide an orientation to the OverDrive Marketplace for library staff who are cultivating collections. Nina will review basic reports and features that are available and provide an overview of where to find policies, statistics, and additional support and training materials. Please register for this webinar through the MHLS calendar.
|
|
|
| |
|
Nominate an amazing librarian for the national I Love My Librarian Award. The American Library Association (ALA) is inviting all library users to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries. Nominations are accepted online now through Nov. 9th, 2020. Ten librarians will each receive $5,000 in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Awardees will be honored at the virtual I Love My Librarian Award ceremony on January 23rd, 2021, which will take place during ALA's Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits; winners will also receive free full conference registration as part of their award packages.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, librarians have gone above and beyond to continue serving their communities, from offering digital programs and materials to providing hunger relief and much-needed Wi-Fi access. Nominees are encouraged to reflect on how their librarians' creativity, passion and expertise have made an impact during these unprecedented times.
|
Reference & Collection Development
| |
|
Poughkeepsie Public Library District youth services staff have compiled a resource guide on COVID-19 for parents and children. The resource guide is available at the Central library's webpage and member libraries are encouraged to share this information with their patrons.
|
Library Journal's Measuring Diversity in the Collection provides an overview of the importance and methods of evaluating the library's collection to identify gaps in representations of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and other traditionally marginalized perspectives. Diversity audits should be customized to fit the community the library serves and can be broken into smaller more manageable projects like diversity in library-led book discussions or films. Any attempt to view library collections and programs through an equity lens is valuable, and any actionable data provides a foundation for developing strategies to make the library more representative of the people it serves.
|
|
| |
|
 The next Big Library Read kicks off on November 2nd with the young adult eBook and audiobook title Reverie by Ryan La Sala, a wildly imaginative story about what happens when the secret worlds people hide within themselves come to light. Get your community excited about Big Library Read with marketing materials and a press release from OverDrive. And when readers use #biglibraryread on social media they'll have the chance to win Libby merchandise!
|
|
| |
|
Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director for Trustee Essentials on Tuesday, October 13th at 10:00 am. Particularly for new board members, but open to all. Library board members looking for essential, basic information to increase their effectiveness in serving on a library board will benefit from attending this session. Attendees will develop a working knowledge of library funding and organization in New York State; receive a clear overview of stakeholder roles and responsibilities and receive an introduction to Open Meetings Law and best practices for effective board meetings. This webinar provides a foundation of knowledge that other workshops in the MHLS Trustee Education Series will build on. Register today!
With the passage of Executive Order 202.67, the adjustments to NYS Open Meetings Law to allow for online meetings have been extended to November 3rd. There were no alterations to the provisions that allow for online open meetings, meetings still need to be accessible to the public, recorded and transcribed.
|
|
Administration & Management
| |
|
 The Census Bureau has announced it will comply with last week's court ruling to continue self-response and field operations to count households through October 31st. Libraries can continue to promote the importance of the Census through electronic communication and social media, fliers, and word of mouth. Visit the MHLS Census webpage for help getting started including articles, images videos, and captions.
The New York State Library is seeking recommendations for membership on the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. The Regents Advisory Council on Libraries advises the New York State Board of Regents regarding the New York State Library, library development programs, library aid programs and other matters related to the operations of libraries and library systems in New York. The Council works with the officers of the State Education Department in developing a comprehensive statewide library and information plan and makes recommendations to the Regents concerning the implementation of the program of library service. The Council meets a minimum of four times a year. Members of the Regents Advisory Council are leaders in a wide variety of endeavors across the State, including business, human services, education, and libraries. Deadline for recommendations is October 15th. For more information please visit
|
|
| |
|
Part time Circulation Clerk, Hyde Park Free Library
The Hyde Park Free Library is seeking a Part- time Circulation Library Clerk. Candidate must have experience with use of computers, attention to detail and excellent customer service.
Responsibilities include but not limited to opening and closing the library, checking in /out library materials, reserving materials for patrons, answering phones and reference questions and technical support to patrons.
Other duties as assigned by the Head of Circulation and the Director.
High School Diploma /GED required. Library experience is a plus.
Physically able to lift /carry boxes up to 30 pounds as well as bend, reach and walk up and down stairways.
Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 am-5:00 pm and every other Saturday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Additional hours may be available but not to exceed 17 ½ hrs. per week.
Training will start in October and position begins in November.
________________________________________________________________
Assistant Library Director, Kingston Library
The Kingston Library seeks innovative, motivated and resourceful applicants for the position of Assistant Library Director. The successful candidate will be a dynamic, flexible, community-oriented person who is able to embrace change, has a strong customer service orientation, and a collaborative approach to library service. Applicants must have a desire and ability to work in an urban public library that serves a wide variety of people and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion.
As a professional Librarian, the Assistant Library Director provides reference and adult services in support of the mission and vision of the Kingston Library, champions excellent customer service, and encourages responsiveness through interactions between and among library staff and the public. The Assistant Library Director will work collaboratively to identify and build on cooperative opportunities; establish, support and maintain relations with community partners; and will support staff in responding to public concerns and interests.
Under the general direction of the Library Director, the Assistant Library Director is responsible for assigned aspects of library administration and services. Specific job activities may include, but are not limited to: personnel administration; budget oversight; collection development; customer service; program planning and implementation; implementation of technology to enhance library services; and marketing/public relations. The Assistant Library Director acts for the Library Director when delegated to do so.
The City of Kingston, dating to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652, is a diverse and vibrant city with an engaged citizenry. In addition to its rich history and heritage, Kingston has a thriving arts community that supports a broad range of cultural events. In a prime location on the Hudson River, Kingston has many outdoor parks and is highly walkable and bikeable. Kingston Library is well connected to the larger community and is an enthusiastic partner to many affiliated organizations.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Possession of a Master's Degree in Library Science* from a library school that is accredited by the American Library Association or recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable education practices, and 2 to 5 years of professional library experience, at least 1 year of which must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity. Eligibility for a New York State Public Librarian's certificate at the time of application is required and possession of the certificate is required at the time of appointment.
*SPECIAL NOTE: Some universities have renamed their programs and no longer designate the degree as a Masters in Library Science or MLS. Contact the New York State Library's Division of Library Development for assistance.
The Assistant Library Director is a full-time (40 hours per week) position including regular evenings and weekends. Compensation is $55,000 per year with paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, and health insurance. This is a provisional appointment pending Civil Service examination of training and experience.
To apply, email cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three professional references to Margie Menard, Library Director at mmenard@kingstonlibrary.org with the subject heading: Assistant Library Director.
Application review will continue until the position is filled.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
