 |
Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since library buildings have closed, library staff have been getting creative with their programming. Many libraries are now holding online programs to ensure that social distancing does not mean social isolation. These programs are designed to help people socialize, learn, and connect with each other even though they cannot meet in person. The following examples are just a few of the many great programs our libraries have been working on.
The D.R. Evarts Library has been holding an online Gardening Club. This club is a support group for amateur gardeners to ask questions and share ideas. The club is designed to keep neighbors and friends connected over a topic they all enjoy.
 At the Howland Public Library, their Dungeon Master, 7th grader Kekoa (pictured left), volunteered to organize a D&D campaign online. The players follow Kekoa's campaign using the free website Roll20. Not only is Kekoa running the middle school campaign, recently a 4th grader asked for advice about how he could play D&D online and Kekoa offered to start a second campaign for 4th & 5th graders.
The Highland Public Library is holding Highland Happy Hour. The YA & Programming Librarian, Caitlyn Stever, says that, "We started the virtual program as a means to connect with our community during our physical closure. We were especially worried about our patrons that may live alone and feel isolated during this time." The Happy Hours have rotating weekly topics like movies, books, cooking, and crafting.
The Roeliff Jansen Community Library is holding a Community Art Project designed to keep people connected through art. The library is asking people to send pictures of their own artwork, photos, or other images that best answer the question: "What Does Social Distancing Look or Feel Like to You?" The library has been sharing the artwork they have collected on their social media and will host a Community Art Exhibit featuring the artwork and photos when the library reopens to the public.
The Putnam Valley Free Library has held online Census programming that has received a lot of positive feedback from their community. Tiffany Wacaser, a local genealogist taught patrons about the history of the Census and about how to use the Census to find information about ancestors. The library also held a Facebook Live Citizenship Trivia event, using questions directly from the civics test. During the event, they answered questions about the Census, and taught attendees why the Census is important.
|
|
MHLS Announcements
|
|
|
New resources to help you plan for reopening your library
including
Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
from the Environmental Protection Agency & the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are available at
midhudson.org/COVID19
. The response and resources available to help us face the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly evolving, and this page is continually updated with information member libraries need to help their communities thrive in the face of these difficult and uncertain times. The resource page includes, NYS Executive Orders, online programming, social media best practices, promoting your collection and services, online board meetings, policies, staff training, complying with COVID-19 sick leave laws, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
Above:
Library Director, Thea Schoep
(front),
Katy Cashen
(right) and
George Duntz
(back) pass out masks at the Claverack Free Library.
The Town of Claverack received a limited amount of face masks (not medical grade) from the County to distribute for free to Claverack residents who have been unable to obtain them elsewhere. A limited supply of these masks were distributed in the Claverack Free Library parking lot on Saturday, April 25th led by library director Thea Schoep.
|
|
|
|
|
Join Amy Nitza, Ph.D, LMHC, Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health SUNY New Paltz for Psychological First Aid on Thursday, May 21st from 2:00-3:30pm. What is Psychological First Aid (PFA)? PFA is a non-clinical, supportive intervention that can be delivered to affected individuals by anyone, not just mental health professionals and first responders. The purpose of PFA is to assess the immediate concerns and needs of an individual in the aftermath of a disaster, and not to provide on-site therapy. In this webinar, we will cover topics related to:
- Dealing with our patrons' stress, both related to this current COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters
- Managing professional relationships while under stress
- Community stress management
|
Resource Sharing & Sierra
|
|
|
Thomas O'Connell, MHLS ILP Operations Supervisor will be offering Sierra Lunchtime Webinars
beginning at 12:00pm all next week. Each day covers a different topic:
You can register for any of these sessions through the
MHLS calendar
.
|
|
|
|
|
On April 29th, library staff met to learn about the future of the 2020 Summer Reading Program
. The Summer Reading Program will look very different than past years, and library staff learned about setting goals, how to move programs online, and the importance of creating partnerships. The recording of this webinar can be accessed
here.
On May 13th at 1:00pm, library staff are invited to a follow-up meeting to discuss their plans for the Summer Reading Program and share ideas
. If you would like to share your plans or ideas for the summer reading program at the May 13th program, please fill out this
brief form
. Registration for this program is open on the
MHLS calendar
.
 Help spread the word about local blood drives in your area!
The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. To find a blood drive near you and learn how you can help, visit
https://www.redcrossblood.org/
 Help library patrons access reliable online information with free-to-use NOVELNY social media content. Timely information and essential tools for online research and learning with easy-to-share promotional content available on
the
NOVELNY Facebook page
. Updated weekly with posts showcasing individual NOVELNY databases and inviting users to explore these resources according to their needs and interests. Libraries are encouraged to share, re-post, and repurpose these posts to best reach their communities and respond to the specific needs of patrons navigating online spaces.
|
|
|
|
|
 The 2020 Mid-Hudson Library System Battle of the Books has been cancelled.
This was a very hard decision for the Battle of the Books Executive Committee to make due to all the hard work and dedication member library staff put into organizing this program. The Battle of the Books will be using the same books selected for this year when the competition returns next summer.
 Between now and May 31, 2020, tell OCLC about a current project, or one completed within the past year, that impacts and extends your public library's reach by
engaging with your community
. How do you build stronger relationships? How do you partner to meet local needs? How do you encourage better conversations? How do you create programming that positively impacts your community? Three $5,000 winning library programs will be chosen by a panel of OCLC member library leaders. Each winner will be contacted prior to a public announcement in July 2020. For more information and to submit your project, visit
https://www.oclc.org/
|
Administration & Management
|
|
|
 Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Survey of Response & Activities
. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Public Library Association (PLA) surveyed the public library community to understand the immediate impacts the crisis is having on their operations, staffing, programs and services. Over 2,500 unique library systems responded to the survey, representing a nearly 30% response rate. Discover how libraries are responding to the current crisis by
viewing the summary report
(PDF). More information about the survey, including the full set of questions, can be found at
|
|
|
|
|
