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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Get Ready for Advocacy Week!
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It is time, once again, to stand up and speak out for increased aid for libraries and public library systems in New York State. As reported in last week's MHLS Bulletin, the Governor has proposed cuts to both library aid, the source of the majority of MHLS operations revenue; the Local Library Service Aid to local libraries; the Central Library program which underwrites digital collection components such as OverDrive, eMagazines, Mango, and Job Now; and the State Aid for Library Construction program, which brings much needed assistance to member library renovation and construction projects.
To provide you with the opportunity to connect with your representatives and let them know how important this aid is for your library and your community, the Mid-Hudson Library System will host Advocacy Week, a series of online meetings with our state legislators from Monday, February 22nd through Friday, February 26th, and targeted social media advocacy action on Friday, February 26th.
Getting Ready for Advocacy Week:
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Fine tune your talking points about how your library has helped your residents during the pandemic and how MHLS has supported you in this work. We want to focus our messaging to demonstrate to legislators that we are more than just books and that local libraries can do more, for less, thanks to their partnerships forged within the Mid-Hudson Library System.
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Reserve time on your calendar to participate in online advocacy activities or even come to an online meeting with your legislators MHLS staff and trustees to show your support. You can register for scheduled legislative district appointments through the MHLS Calendar.
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Coming to an online meeting with MHLS staff? Be sure to make your sign for the photo opportunity at each meeting! We're asking all attendees to hold up a sign that says "Libraries Matter" or "Invest in Libraries" at the same moment.
"Face-to-Face": Each online meeting will be facilitated by Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin or a public library system representative from a neighboring system to ensure an organized and productive session. Much like our in-person Advocacy Day meetings the system representative will kick things off and supply all the pertinent legislative information, and library advocates attending meetings will be encouraged to share stories and information to help legislators understand the critical role the library plays in their community. Visit https://midhudson.org/library-advocacy-week/ for the most up to date appointment schedule and helpful advocacy resources.
If we were unable to book a session with your legislator or if you are unavailable for your legislator's pre-scheduled appointment, you can still have your voice heard!
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Send a letter to your representatives in Albany! The New York Library Association (NYLA) has provided customizable letters that can be sent to your legislators in Albany and to the Governor. It only takes two minutes to send a letter to all your representatives through NYLA's Online Advocacy Center.
Even when we are physically apart, we can make a difference together!
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MHLS Announcements
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In the coming months, the MHLS staff and board will be working to create our state-mandated 2022-2026 plan of service. One of the activities we will engage in to inform this plan will be "community conversations" with member library directors. The schedule for these conversations was sent out via the MHLS-Notice List early last week and registration can be accessed through the MHLS Calendar. We encourage all member library directors to plan to participate in a county session to help influence future areas of emphasis, service and program design at the System.
The MHLS Bulletin is getting a new look! Starting in March the Bulletin will get a new format that will better support mobile users and streamline our content. The best part is you don't have to do a thing. Your subscription will remain the same. Simply continue to open your weekly email and enjoy!
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MHLS Libraries
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  Diversify Pine Plains (DPP), led by a group of teens with support from the Pine Plains Free Library and Alexis Tackett, Pine Plains Free Library Assistant meets weekly for a virtual discussion on issues such as race, gender, privilege, and social justice. In February, the group is focusing on Black History, and plans to start incorporating a piece of media/literature to discuss once a month beginning in March. The group is open to anyone from any area, and members are enthusiastic about gaining more diversity in the group as articulated in the DPP's mission statement: "We hope to make space for community members, regardless of age, race, sex, gender identity, immigration status, home language, or any other identifier to meet and build knowledge and understanding of the experiences of others. We are striving to develop a deeper sense of community, a deeper sense of inclusion, and a deeper sense of personal responsibility in building a more just and welcoming Pine Plains. We hope any and all who are interested attend!"
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Professional Development
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Join MHLS for the Strengthening Families Through Early Literacy Practices Webinar on Thursday, March 4th beginning at 2:00 pm. Learn about strengthening families through early literacy practices with Dr. Susan Neuman, Professor of Childhood and Literacy Education at NYU. Dr. Neuman will be speaking about early literacy skills and particularly focusing on talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. In this one-hour webinar Library staff will learn why teaching simple early literacy teaching methods to parents is important, and examples of what parents can do to help strengthen early literacy skills outside the library. This session is open to all MHLS member library staff who work with families with children under the age of five-years-old. Registration is available through the MHLS Calendar.
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Sustainable Libraries
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New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions can now make appointments at state-run mass vaccination sites. This initiative began on February 14th. Please help spread the word about vaccine eligibility to those in your community who are not digitally literate. They are greatly disenfranchised through the processes in place and need advocates to help them connect with trusted information and vaccine appointment opportunities. For more information please visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/.
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The Friends of Libraries Section of NYLA (FLS) is gathering data that will help them better assist Friends groups serving small rural libraries throughout New York State. FLS defines "small" in relation to the population of the library's potential service area (generally 10,000 or fewer residents) and/or libraries that are distant from an urbanized area. The size of the Friends group roster is unimportant as far as survey participation is concerned. FLS welcomes any library or Friends group that identifies as rural and/or small to complete the survey. The survey is open through Wednesday, March 31st. Multiple survey replies from various group members are acceptable and would be appreciated.
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Programming
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Write on, NY! is a New York State Education Department (NYSED) website and initiative that promotes and supports student writing in New York State. The initiative utilizes the Lifelong Practices for Readers and Writers to encourage students' engagement in writing. To promote this initiative, NYSED invites students statewide to enter the Write on, NY! Logo Design Contest. The contest is open to all New York State students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The deadline for entries is February 28th. Winning logo designs will be announced in March 2021. The student's name, school, and district (if applicable) will be published with the design. Questions pertaining to the Write on, NY! initiative or the logo design contest can be directed to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at emscurric@nysed.gov.
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Trustee Resources
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Speak Up for the Vaccination of Library Workers. The New York Library Association (NYLA) has issued an online advocacy form to expedite the call to add library workers to phase 1b of the vaccination schedule - please promote this widely.
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Administration & Management
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Single-Use Restroom Signage Law: By March 23rd, 2021 New York State Law requires that all single occupancy public restrooms be designated "...as gender neutral for use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use...Such gender-neutral bathroom facilities shall be clearly designated by the posting of such on or near the entry door of each facility." Existing single-occupancy bathrooms must remove any signage designating the bathroom as "male" or "female" and replace it with signage indicating it is open to people of all genders.
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Job Openings
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Tech Support Specialist Part-time, Mid-Hudson Library System
IT / Technical support to libraries (part-time 20 hrs./week): Join a celebrated IT support team! We provide phone, email, and in-person support to the 66 members of the Mid-Hudson Library System. Your work would include troubleshooting hardware, software, network and communication equipment for regional libraries as well as helping them to maintain and build their web presence. Our work impacts the success of library services regionally. Do you want to feel like you are contributing to your community or doing meaningful work? We are looking for someone who is motivated and interested in technology services. View the full job description . To apply, submit a cover letter and résumé to jobs@midhudson.org. Review of applicants will begin immediately.
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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